Top 10 home improvements to gain by

These add the most to home sellers' bottom line, and are recommended by over 600 real estate professionals across the nation.

The top 10 home improvements are listed by the greatest return on investment (ROI):

1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($290 cost / $1,990 price increase / 586% ROI)
2. Lightening and brightening ($375 cost / $1,550 price increase / 313% ROI)
3. Home staging ($550 cost / $2,194 price increase / 299% ROI)
4. Landscaping ($540 cost / $1,932 price increase / 258% ROI)
5. Repairing electrical or plumbing ($535 cost / $1,505 price increase / 181% ROI)
6. Kitchen and bathroom ($1,265 cost/$3,435 price increase/172% ROI)
7. Replace or shampoo carpets ($647 cost/$1,730 price increase/169% ROI
8. Paint interior ($1,012 cost/$2,112 price increase/109% ROI)
9. Repair floors ($931 cost/$1,924 price increase/107% ROI)
10. Paint exterior ($1,467 cost/$2,222 price increase/51% ROI)