Your improvements are an investment in a quick and profitable sale.
When selling, remember that you're trying to show buyers how easy it is to live in your home. You will get the best return on your investment by addressing any deferred maintenance items first. Then move towards making it as move-in ready as possible. You want your home to offer the most value, but not at the expense of yielding a lower return. Compare your property to surrounding listings, find the places where your home is lacking, and spot the simple improvements that set yourself above the rest. Avoid updates for the sake of updates, and remember, it's not a beauty contest. Your improvements are an investment in a quick and profitable sale.