Thinking about making home improvements in 2026? Whether you’re planning for long-term enjoyment, or preparing your home for sale in Ventura County - The Ventura Homes Show & Expo is the place to be this weekend! We’ll be scoping it out for everything new and exciting in home living and improvement. Learn more about the show in this post, and if you want free tickets you can register here:  

Ventura County Fairgrounds - 10 W Harbor Blvd, Ventura, CA 93001

  • Fri, Feb 20th: 10am-5pm

  • Sat, Feb 21st: 10am-5pm

  • Sun, Feb 22nd: 10am-4pm


The Ventura Homes Show offers something for everyone when it comes to home improvement and home building:


• ADUs and Tiny Homes

• Kitchens and Baths

• Doors / Windows / Window Treatments

• Flooring

• Solar 

• Pools & Spas

• Garage Doors

• HVAC

• Plumbing

• Patios and Landscaping

• BBQ Grills

• Concrete / Stone / Granite / Tile

• Organic Gardening 

• Home Security

• Water Filtration

• Painting

• Home Interiors / Exteriors

• Home Furnishings

• Interior Design


This year, 2026, the Ventura Homes Show will have a special area dedicated to ADUs and Tiny Homes, as well as green home features and indoor outdoor living. If you keep up with home trends, like the 2026 Zillow Home Trends Report, then you’ve heard buyers are preferring homes that are resilient (“smarter” and safer), like fire resistant features, zero-energy systems, or electric vehicle charging.



Which Home Improvements PayOff?


If you’re thinking about selling your home in Ventura County, the Lydia Gable Realty Group at Compass specializes in helping home sellers understand which home improvements have a better ROI in our local area, and preparing your home for sale with our expert team. 


We also offer “Compass Concierge” which pays your cost of home improvement upfront when you are ready to sell. The key is focusing on updates that actually matter. And that’s exactly where return-on-investment (ROI) data comes in handy.


Every year, Zonda looks at which home improvements deliver the most bang for the buck when you go to sell the home. And the results can be a little surprising. While there's a wide range of projects represented in this National data, the cool part is, some of the top winners aren’t big to-do's. 

Small Updates, Big Impact

This goes to show little projects can have a big impact. So, you don’t have to spend a fortune. Now that buyers have more homes to choose from, a lot of them are going to opt for what’s move-in ready.

The best advice? Focus on what your house needs, whether it’s listed here or not Have any repairs you’ve been putting off? A front door or shutters in need of a little TLC? Piles of leaves in the yard? Scuffed up paint where your kids play inside?…

These seemingly small things help buyers focus on the home itself – not the work they think they’ll have to do after moving in. Buyers are often willing to spend more on homes that feel well cared for, updated, and move-in ready.

That’s why the first step should always be to talk with a local real estate professional before you start, like Lydia Gable. Lydia can help you answer questions like:

  • Which updates do buyers in Conejo Valley expect?

  • What can you skip without hurting your sale?

  • Where will a small investment make the biggest difference?

That guidance helps you avoid over-improving and under-preparing. If you’re not sure where to start, let’s talk through what makes sense for your house. What’s one upgrade you’ve been thinking about – and wondering if it’s worth it?



Why home improvements are more important in 2026 when it comes to selling?


More Competition

Over the past year, the number of homes for sale has been climbing. And this year, a Realtor.com forecast says it could go up another 8.9%. That competition matters. As buyers gain more options, they also re-gain the ability to be selective. 


Stronger Offers

Ventura County homes that are move-in ready typically attract more buyers and stronger offers. On the flip side, when a home needs work, fewer buyers are willing to take it on. That can mean fewer showings, fewer offers, more time on the market, and often a lower final price.


The good news is, there's still time to get repairs done before selling your home this year, and the Ventura Home Improvement Show is a great place to get started and get inspiration.