Buying a house is just as exciting as selling one, and people looking for their dream home often have lofty expectations about what they expect to buy. Reality tends to hit them soon enough and, over the course of looking for the right place, they tend to whittle down their “must have” lists to a few areas that are most important. But what are those areas? It’s an important question to ask, of course, as understanding what buyers find important will help you pick the right areas in your house to upgrade. With that in mind, let’s take a look at which home improvements really matter to buyers.

Bathroom

The bathroom is an important area to upgrade if you’re hoping to attract buyers. Many of today’s home seekers are looking for retreats from their busy lives. They want space that makes them feel comfortable and relaxed, in other words, and a place that offers respite from the stress in other areas of their days. The bathroom can be a big sticking point for these individuals.

Buyers tend to want a “spa-like” bathroom, particularly if the home offers a master bedroom. That means that the space should look new and clean and feature as many upgrades as you can realistically fit in. Affordable updates like replacing the vanity, adding new hardware, and replacing the lighting fixtures are great places to start.

Kitchen

According to House Method, the kitchen is major when it comes to valuable home improvements. In fact, most buyers will assess the kitchen first when determining if a home is worth its asking price. They’ll want to see things like new appliances—stainless steel is huge—and upgraded countertops. A nice backsplash and kitchen island will serve you well, too.

That doesn’t mean that you necessarily have to completely renovate the area just because you want to sell your home, of course. Even updating the cabinet paint color to something bright and airy and adding new hardware can make the space feel brighter. Try to make the room feel as large and cheerful as possible.

Outdoor Space

You might see your backyard as perfectly adequate, but chances are good that buyers will be searching for a great space to entertain, meaning that an “adequate” or “fine” backyard accommodation might not cut it. The good news is that this is a fairly easy fix. If you already have a deck, give it a new stain or coating of paint and fix any potential wobbles. Add some reasonable outdoor furniture with bright cushions to show how comfortable the area can be.

If you’re working with a larger backyard, dividing the space up into a few different areas—perhaps one space with a firepit and another with the grill and meal seating, for example—can help showcase its potential.

Are you ready to sell your home? If you’re hoping for the best price possible, keep these commonly sought-after upgrades in mind and help your home look its best. Your buyers are sure to be “wowed” by the space.