When you’re deciding how to make your “home sweet home” a little sweeter, where do you start? If you’re not sure how long you’ll live in your house, is it even worth investing the time, money and effort into new construction or upgrades?

There are some updates you may want to do just to meet your personal preferences, while other improvements are important for potential buyers in the future (think roof repairs or a new A/C system). While only you can determine which changes fit your budget, this list can help you decide which updates are right for your house.

If you’re planning to sell your home, you should add these projects to your to-do list:

• Give your house a facelift by patching any holes or cracks in the walls and ceilings, and painting dark areas with neutral colors.

• Stop any leaks by fixing dripping faucets.

• Do some cost-effective updating by paying attention to light fixtures and ceiling fans.

• Spruce up the floors by replacing cracked tiles. If your carpets are torn, worn or stained, either spend some money on a professional cleaning service or invest in some floor coverings.

• Add some curb appeal by making sure your yard is clear of clutter and your front door is inviting and freshly painted.

If you’re looking to invest some money in larger updates, you may want to consider the following:

• Balance your bathrooms with what the other houses in the neighborhood have. If most of the homes selling around yours have two baths and your house only has one, it might be a worthwhile investment to make your home competitive.

• Keep your focus on the kitchen. If you’re wondering which room you should upgrade and your kitchen is on the list, that’s probably the room you should go with. Shiny new appliances and countertops can go a long way with potential buyers, and with the kitchen being the “heart of the home,” it’s a safe guess that this will be where buyers plan to spend a great deal of their time anyways.

• Go back to basics. Make sure everything in your home is functioning well. If you’re showing buyers your home in the heat of summer with no air conditioning, you’re probably not going to make that sale. If a buyer has to choose between a sparkly new kitchen or a roof that doesn’t leak, chances are they’ll take the functioning roof every time. Cosmetic updates are nice, but they should be put on the back burner if you have a major repair issue on the horizon.

A bigger question than “Which renovations should I complete?” could be “How am I going to pay for this?” If you’re considering making significant updates, you may want to consider a Home Equity loan, which would allow you to use the equity you’ve built up in your home to make updates and renovations.

And of course, if you’re making these updates in anticipation of selling your home, why not talk to an RBFCU preferred real estate agent? They can meet with you and put you on the fast-track to completing a successful home sale.