Which Home Improvements Are Worth It Before You List?
A Springfield seller's guide to energy upgrades, lead disclosure, and radon — before your home hits the market.
Talk to The Haney GroupPublished June 2026 · Updated June 2026 · By The Haney Group, Springfield, OH
Quick Answer
Before listing a Springfield-area home, prioritize upgrades buyers notice on a utility bill — attic insulation, an efficient water heater, and updated windows, per Energy Star. If your home was built before 1978, you're also legally required to disclose any known lead-based paint hazards, and the EPA recommends testing for radon before you list, regardless of your home's age.
Every Springfield seller asks some version of the same question before they list: which upgrades are actually worth the money, and which are simply paperwork you have to handle either way? It's a fair question. Springfield's housing stock spans nearly a century — from established in-town neighborhoods built well before World War II to newer construction on the city's edges — and the right answer depends on where your home falls on that timeline.
Before spending a dollar on a remodel, it's worth knowing what your home is actually worth as-is. You can request a free, no-obligation home valuation any time. From there, this guide covers the upgrades that tend to pay off, plus two items that stop being optional once your home crosses a certain age: lead-paint disclosure and radon testing.
Our team — Doug Haney, Lisa Ackerman, Brad Shuman, and Amanda Russell — walks Springfield and Dayton sellers through exactly this conversation every week, and the upgrades worth prioritizing are rarely the ones people assume.
Which Energy-Efficiency Upgrades Are Worth It Before You Sell?
The upgrades with the most reliable payoff are the ones a buyer can see on a utility bill, not just in photos. According to Energy Star, the federal ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade program identifies six high-impact improvements designed to work together — and several come with published savings figures worth knowing before you decide where to spend money.
| Upgrade | Reported Savings | Why Buyers Notice It |
|---|---|---|
| Attic insulation & air sealing | Up to 10% off annual energy bills | Comfort and utility costs come up constantly during showings |
| High-efficiency heat pump water heater | About $550/year for a 4-person household | Water heaters are typically a home's second-highest energy user |
| ENERGY STAR certified windows | About 12% lower energy bills on average | Window age and condition are common inspection questions |
| Smart thermostat | Helps manage heating & cooling — nearly half a typical bill, $900+/year | Low-cost, visible upgrade buyers can point to immediately |
Sources: Energy Star — ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade
None of these require a gut renovation. Sealing and insulating an attic, swapping a water heater, or adding a smart thermostat are all projects that can typically be scheduled and finished before your listing photos are even taken.
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Before committing to any single upgrade, find out what your home would sell for as-is. Request a free home valuation and we'll tell you honestly which projects are likely to move the needle for your specific Springfield or Dayton home — and which ones won't.
Do You Have to Disclose Lead Paint Before Selling an Older Springfield Home?
Yes — if your home was built before 1978, federal law requires you to disclose any known lead-based paint hazards before a buyer signs a purchase contract. The EPA's Real Estate Notification and Disclosure Rule applies to most pre-1978 housing regardless of whether you've ever had the home tested, and it gives buyers a minimum 10-day window to conduct their own lead inspection before they're bound to the contract.
In practice, that means sellers of pre-1978 homes must give buyers an EPA-approved lead hazard pamphlet, disclose any known information or records about lead-based paint in the home, and include a signed Lead Warning Statement as part of the purchase contract. Records have to be kept for three years after closing, and the EPA notes that sellers, landlords, or agents who skip these steps can face penalties under federal law.
Many homes in Springfield's established, in-town neighborhoods were built well before 1978, so this is a conversation we have with sellers regularly — and it's worth having before your home is listed, not after an offer is already on the table. If you're not sure whether your home falls under the rule, our team can walk you through the disclosure paperwork before you go live.
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✅ Reasons to Test Before You List
• Removes a surprise from the closing timeline • You control the timing and cost of any remediation • A clean result can be a reassuring talking point for buyers |
⚠️ Reasons Sellers Hesitate
• Testing is a cost upfront, before you have a buyer • A positive result becomes a "known hazard" you must disclose • Buyers can still test during their own 10-day inspection window anyway |
Radon is worth the same consideration. It isn't legally required the way lead disclosure is, but the EPA recommends testing all homes for radon — it's described as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and it can't be detected without a test, regardless of a home's age or which part of Springfield or Dayton it's in.
What This Looks Like for Springfield and Dayton Sellers
In Springfield, this conversation comes up most often in the established, walkable neighborhoods closer to downtown, where housing stock tends to be older. In Dayton, the same is true of many close-in neighborhoods with similar-era construction. In both markets, the lesson is the same: know your home's age and history before you list, so disclosure and any related testing happen on your timeline — not a buyer's.
💡 Haney Group Insight
Not every improvement pays off the same way in every neighborhood. Before you invest in a project, talk with an agent who knows what buyers in your specific price range are actually rewarding right now — that's exactly the kind of second opinion our team provides sellers, and you can see how we support Springfield and Dayton sellers before you decide what to spend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What home improvements are worth making before I list my Springfield home?
The improvements with the most reliable payoff are the ones that lower a buyer's future costs — attic insulation and air sealing, an efficient water heater, and updated windows, according to Energy Star. Cosmetic refreshes matter too, but energy upgrades are easier to back up with real numbers during a showing.
Do I have to disclose lead paint when selling a home built before 1978?
Yes. Federal law requires sellers of most pre-1978 housing to disclose any known lead-based paint hazards, provide an EPA pamphlet, and give buyers a 10-day window to test for lead before they're bound to the contract, per the EPA's disclosure rule.
What happens if I don't disclose lead paint hazards I'm aware of?
Sellers, landlords, and their agents who fail to comply with the disclosure rule can face penalties under federal law, the EPA notes, and undisclosed hazards can also resurface as disputes after closing.
Should I test for radon before I list my home?
It's worth considering. The EPA recommends testing all homes for radon, since it's a leading cause of lung cancer nationally and can't be detected without a test, regardless of a home's age or part of town.
Are older homes in Springfield required to test for radon or lead before selling?
Radon testing isn't legally required, but lead disclosure is required for most homes built before 1978, regardless of whether you've ever tested. Many homes in Springfield's established neighborhoods fall into that pre-1978 category.
How long does a buyer have to do a lead inspection after I disclose?
Federal law gives buyers at least a 10-day period to conduct a lead-based paint inspection or risk assessment before they're bound to a purchase contract, per the EPA, though buyers may waive this period if they choose.
Whether you're weighing a window replacement or just making sure your disclosure paperwork is in order, the goal is the same: spend money where it counts, and handle the legal requirements early enough that they don't slow down your closing. That's the kind of guidance Springfield and Dayton sellers can expect from our team before, during, and after they list.
Ready to Make Your Move?
The Haney Group — Doug Haney, Lisa Ackerman, Brad Shuman, and Amanda Russell — is here to guide you every step of the way.
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The Haney Group at Coldwell Banker Heritage · (937) 821-8103 · thehaneygroup.com
