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For those of you who were planning to put your home on the market in 2020 before the coronavirus outbreak, there is no reason you cannot proceed with your plans.

Real estate business is still taking place all across greater Houston. It is just being conducted a little differently, as Realtors continue to adopt virtual technology to help market homes with minimal, if any, person-to-person contact.

Every day, more and more Realtors are scheduling virtual open houses and virtual showings, and properties are being bought, sold and rented. Be sure to ask your Realtor about what high-tech tools he or she is using to ensure everyone’s health and safety during the process.

Before putting your home on the market, however, it is important to consider ways to make the home as attractive as possible to potential buyers. Some remodeling choices may add value to homes. Others can actually take away value. Some choices, such as a built-in aquarium, may make a property extremely challenging to sell.

Most remodeling projects cost more than the amount your home’s value will increase, so never assume that you will recoup every cent you spend on a home improvement project. However, some types of projects come closer to paying for themselves when you eventually sell.

When considering selling a home, it may make sense to undertake a particular project to make the house more attractive to buyers. When you live in a home and will remain there for some time, the best reason to remodel is to get more pleasure and functionality out of it. While you’re at it, making wise choices can pay off in the long run.

Here are some of the best ways to get the most value from your projects:

• Homeowners use kitchens to entertain. Therefore, upgrading kitchens can be a great remodeling project.

• Solid-surface counters in granite, marble, Corian or Silestone are popular, as are professional-quality appliances. Stoves with more than four burners and cabinets in maple, cherry and birch make even the most jaded home buyer swoon.

• Bathrooms have become private havens, and more people are adding luxury master baths with jetted tubs or steam showers like the ones often seen in spas.

• Natural materials or synthetic materials that look natural (like laminate flooring) tend to attract buyers.

• A fresh coat of paint or a new color can do wonders for your home. And if you don’t like the color, just paint over it.

• First impressions are everything, so make sure your home looks “inviting” from the outside, because a well-kept home is more attractive to potential buyers. Drive down your street and check out the neighbors’ yards. Then grab those hedge clippers and get to work. Think landscaping isn’t a big deal? Mature, beautiful trees can add thousands of dollars in value to a property, according to appraisers. Lush grass is preferable to compacted dirt. Trimmed bushes and edged grass make the whole yard look better.

• If your home has a porch, clean it up and make it useable. Front and back porches are selling points.

• It may sound obvious, but fix what needs fixing. If something’s broken in your house — however minor — it can make your home less appealing and detract from the value if it goes unrepaired.

• Browse home design websites and magazines for some ideas on how you can improve your home.

• Make a list of the improvements you want to make. Then rank them in order of importance. Your priorities might depend on your budget, in which case you may have to start with painting the trim.

The value of improvements can vary from region to region and even neighborhood to neighborhood. Ask a Realtor when considering a room addition or kitchen remodel if you want an opinion on how it might affect the resale value of your home. And if you are getting ready to sell, a Realtor can offer advice about which remodeling projects might help your home sell faster or increase its value.