Which Projects Are Worth Your Money When Trying To Sell Your House?

There are a lot of people that ask what they should do with their home when getting it ready to sell.  Some things are DIY (do it yourself) and cost no, or very little money.  But there are other things that could..and should be done that cost money.  So, of these projects that cost money, which ones are worth it and which ones can you skip?
Exterior Painting:  If the outside of your home has a good amount of chipped and pealing paints, but the inside of your home is in good, move-in condition, then you should consider having this done before selling.  I know this is a large expense, but unless you have people lining up to buy houses in your area, this could be an instant turn-off for potential buyers. The only time I would recommend leaving that pealing paint alone is if your house is in a condition that would most likely attract investors who can fix it up or want to flip it.
Interior Painting:  Most of the time, I say leave this one for a buyer to do. Unless you have a room that may have a wild paint job or color or there are marks covering the wall that make a room seem "dirty" then let the next person put their own personalization on their new home.
Fixtures:  There are a number of homes that have older lights or things like bathroom fixtures.  This one depends on how the rest of your home looks. If you have updated things like flooring, appliances, and counter tops but you still have brass lighting fixtures, then change them out.  But if your home hasn't been updated in a longer amount of time, then leave it for the buyer.
Appliances:  This is on the list as one of my personal least favorite things to see in a home...mix matched appliances. If you have a stainless steel stove and dishwasher but a white refrigerator, buy a new one so they are all of the same look. I can even say from personal experience, I did this when I sold my own home. 
Carpeting:  Don't assume that everyone hates carpeting...this isn't true. So if your carpet is still in good condition, keep it.  And on the other hand, if it's not in great condition, maybe still consider leaving it.  This is a larger expense and flooring is a person to person preference.  Some like dark wood floors, others prefer laminate wood-like floors, and others may go for a stone. But very often when showing houses I hear that people either do or do not like a certain flooring, no matter what the condition.  It seems to be such a strong like or dislike at times that it would be a pity to spend a lot of money putting down wood flooring that just might turn off a potential buyer. This being said...if your house is in a very nice condition and has been updated in recent years but your carpet is in question, then perhaps throw in the incentive to buyers that you will credit them a certain amount of money at the close of the sale toward new flooring and let them choose their own.
Landscaping:  Yes, yes and more yes! Curb appeal is high on the list of what you should do to make your home marketable for buyers.  Don't go over board and make it seem as if it is a yard that only a professional gardener could manage, but do spend the money cutting the weeds, trimming the bushes and planting some nice flowers. 
Professional Staging: I would rely on what your realtor says about this one. If your home is larger and empty, then this would most likely be a good idea. But it really is a case-to-case decision based on a number of different factors.

So when you are selling, I know you will add these costs up in your head and think things like "well a new refrigerator would be about $1500, that is a lot of money and I may not make that money back in the price." And you may be right....that is a lot of money.  But believe it or not, unless it is a hot seller's market, your house could loose out on offers because of something like that so you may want to think of these expenses in terms of selling vs not selling or having your house sit on the market for a long time. I hope this helps and if you have any real estate needs in the Los Angeles area, feel free to call me.  I am always here.