Selling Your Home in Des Moines in 2026? Read This Before You Spend a Dollar.

If you’re planning to sell your home in 2026 in Des Moines or the surrounding suburbs like Ankeny, Waukee, Johnston, Urbandale, or West Des Moines, now is the time to start thinking strategically.

I’m already having conversations with homeowners across the metro who want to maximize their home value before they list.

And here’s the biggest mistake I see Des Moines sellers make:

They don’t understand the difference between home maintenance, home improvements, and major replacements.

If you want top dollar in the 2026 Des Moines real estate market, you need to know where your money actually makes sense and where it does not.

Let’s break it down.

1. Home Maintenance: Non-Negotiable When Selling Your Home in Iowa

This is not optional.

If you’re selling a home in Des Moines in 2026, buyers expect it to be well cared for. Deferred maintenance is one of the fastest ways to lower offers.

Essential home maintenance before listing:

• Replacing furnace filters

• Cleaning gutters and downspouts

• Servicing your HVAC system

• Touching up scuffed or chipped paint

• Fixing minor plumbing leaks

• Replacing burnt-out light bulbs

• Deep cleaning carpets and floors

• re-caulking bathtubs and areas where its needed

These items do not necessarily increase your home’s value.

But they absolutely protect it.

In today’s Iowa housing market, buyers notice small issues quickly. A dripping faucet or dirty vents may seem minor to you, but to a buyer it signals neglect. That perception can cost you thousands.

If you’re selling in 2026, your home should feel clean, functional, and move-in ready from the moment someone walks in.

2. Home Improvements: Where You Can Actually Increase Home Value

This is where strategy matters.

If you’re wondering what home improvements add the most value in Des Moines, the answer depends on your price point and neighborhood, but certain updates consistently perform well across central Iowa.

High-impact improvements in the Des Moines metro:

• Light kitchen remodels (painted cabinets, new countertops, updated hardware, modern lighting)

• Bathroom updates

• Adding or upgrading a deck

• Finishing a basement

• Improving curb appeal with landscaping or a new front door

Buyers are especially drawn to modern kitchens, functional layouts, and finished lower levels. In older Des Moines neighborhoods, thoughtful updates that preserve character while improving function are key.

These are upgrades buyers can see and emotionally connect with.

And when buyers feel like they are getting something fresh and usable, they are often willing to pay more.

This is where smart sellers make money.

3. Major Replacements: Protecting Your Resale Value

Now let’s talk about the big-ticket items.

• New roof

• New HVAC system

• Water heater replacement

• Foundation repairs

These projects are essential, but they are not glamorous.

They rarely give you the same visual impact as a kitchen update. Instead, they protect your home’s resale value.

If your roof is near the end of its life in Iowa’s climate, buyers will likely:

• Ask you to replace it

• Negotiate aggressively

• Or walk away entirely

A new HVAC system may not wow a buyer, but it reassures them. It reduces risk. And that confidence protects your price.

Think of major replacements as stability investments, not showpiece upgrades.

How to Decide What to Fix Before Selling Your Des Moines Home

Before you spend $20,000 to $50,000 on renovations, ask yourself:

• What are buyers expecting in my neighborhood?

• What upgrades are standard in comparable homes near me?

• Will this project increase my list price or simply help the home sell faster?

• Am I over-improving for my area?

What makes sense in West Des Moines may not make sense in Southside Des Moines. What works in a newer Waukee development may not be the right strategy for Beaverdale or Highland Park.

This is why a local pricing and improvement strategy matters.

Why 2026 Is a Smart Year to Prepare Early

If 2026 is your year to sell in Des Moines, starting now gives you:

• Time to budget intentionally

• Time to phase improvements wisely

• Time to avoid rushed contractor decisions

• Time to maximize resale value

The sellers who prepare early almost always walk away with stronger offers.

The sellers who rush often overspend in the wrong places.

If you’re even thinking about selling your Iowa home in 2026, let’s walk through your house together and create a plan that makes sense for your goals, your neighborhood, and your bottom line.

Because not every dollar you spend before listing earns you money back.

But the right ones absolutely do