In many neighborhoods these days, home sellers have become supremely confident. A severe shortage of available homes has many relaxing on their recliners while buyers must hustle.

“As demand has outstripped supply in the housing market over the past three years, buying a home has become an exercise in speed and agility,” says Aaron Terrazas, a senior economist for Zillow, a real estate data firm.

As Terrazas notes, “The typical buyer spends just over four months searching for a home and makes two offers before successfully buying a home.”

But such a buying frenzy doesn’t mean owners can count on recouping every dollar they put into upgrades and renovations -- even in the most torrid and inventory-short areas, says Sid Davis, an independent real estate broker in the business for more than 30 years.

“Owners are always at risk of getting carried away,” says Davis, author of “Home Makeovers That Sell: Quick and Easy Ways to Get the Highest Possible Price.”

Davis stresses to sellers the importance of not topping neighborhood standards with presale improvements. While it’s important for sellers to constrain presale expenditures to what’s reasonable for the locale, it’s also critical they invest in essential and cosmetic improvements.

“If you have laminate countertops in your kitchen, they’ve got to go. Ditto for worn carpeting, kitchen appliances in dated or mismatched colors and single-pane windows that aren’t energy-efficient,” according to Davis.

Here are a few other pointers for sellers:

-- Contain your enthusiasm for kitchen improvements.

For home sellers, the road to overspending is paved with good intentions. Davis contends they’re especially likely to veer off course on kitchen improvements.

For instance, he says most sellers don’t need to tear out and replace their worn kitchen cabinets, only the cabinet doors. Or, if that’s not a feasible solution, they can freshen their kitchen’s look by sanding and repainting their cabinets in a high-gloss white.

-- Acknowledge the importance of fresh paint.

Seasoned real estate agents are nearly universal in their appreciation of a newly repainted home. Painting is one of the most cost-effective improvements sellers can do, says Elisa Dewees, a long-time real estate agent affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com).

But Dewees considers it a mistake to repaint in what she calls “custom colors.”

“People don’t want to see your favorite colors, whether they’re pink, purple or blue. But a nice neutral tone will help them imagine living in your home,” she says.

Dewees has no financial interest in the Pottery Barn, a home furnishings retailer. But she suggests would-be sellers examine the color palette shown in the company’s catalog -- tones she believes reflect current homebuyer tastes.

-- Focus on bathroom lighting.

Many people who’ve lived in their home for a decade or longer still have the original light fixtures in their bathrooms, even if they’ve updated their tile work, cabinets and faucets.

But the multiple-bulb Hollywood-style lighting many people still use in their bathrooms doesn’t appeal to most contemporary buyers, who want a fresher, less retro look, Dewees says.

“Search for lighting fixtures that are more stylish. In many cases, you can upgrade your fixtures for $50 to $100 per bathroom,” she says, adding that sellers can find current lighting design suggestions on popular real estate TV shows.

-- Discard problem carpeting.

Many sellers would rather offer buyers a “carpeting allowance” than replace worn, stained or outdated-looking carpet. These sellers argue that it’s “inconvenient” for them to undertake the project themselves.

But real estate agents scoff at the idea of using a carpeting allowance, which they say undermines a seller’s prospects for a successful sale. That’s because few buyers can envision how much better a home will look when its bad carpeting is replaced.

“If you have an average house, replacing your carpet will cost you a couple of thousand dollars at most. But if you opt instead for a carpet allowance, buyers will assume it will cost them multiple times that,” Dewees says, noting that a growing number of buyers will refuse any property that’s not in move-in condition.

Can’t afford new carpeting for the whole house? Then focus on the areas most visible to visitors.

-- Trim trees that hide your place.

Many longtime homeowners are extremely fond of the trees in their front lawn, even if they now dwarf their property or have grown perilously close to the house.

But given that curb appeal is paramount, Davis urges sellers to spend as much as necessary to trim or remove any tree that hides their property. Otherwise, he says many buyers will summarily reject their property based solely on how it looks from the street.

“If they can’t see your house, they’ll never buy it,” he says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

A couple in their early 30s have been diligently saving to buy their first home for more than 12 months. Both have steady jobs and have accepted overtime to help amass a down payment. But now, as they embark on their house hunt, they’re feeling alarmed.

Available properties in their price range are very few in number. Moreover, as soon as they spot a house to their liking, they face fierce competition from rival buyers willing to bid over the asking price. This situation has led to sharp disagreements as to whether they should push forward or postpone in hopes the market will cool down.

Economists who track real estate markets aren’t surprised by the couple’s reactions to the situation they’re now facing.

“First-time homebuyers face a perfect storm this spring. Affordable, move-in-ready starter homes have become harder to find amid rising home prices and mortgage rates,” says Cheryl Young, a senior economist at Trulia, a real estate data firm.

John Rygiol, a veteran real estate broker who works solely with buyers, says current market conditions are leading to many heated arguments among couples about how to proceed. But he insists that postponing a purchase would be a mistake for most people who are now renting.

“Home prices aren’t going to drop, and neither are mortgage rates,” says Rygiol, who’s affiliated with the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

To meet the challenge of the highly competitive starter-home market, some couples are considering a “fixer-upper” that requires substantial work to meet their standards. But Young cautions that such a property could require more costly upgrades than many buyers anticipate.

Here are a few pointers for home-buying couples:

-- Let go of the notion that either spouse has all the right answers.

Real estate agents often observe battles fought between spouses trying to agree on home selection. And often, amid the bickering, they hear one partner assert that the other is mistaken in expressing his or her preferences.

“A lot of times, clients don’t realize how stubborn and self-righteous they can get about what they consider the best place to live,” says Mark Nash, a longtime broker and author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home.”

Nash urges couples planning a purchase to go through a methodical process of setting priorities before they venture into house hunting.

“As a first step, each partner should sit down alone to draft a list of their own wishes in a home. Only then should they get together to create a joint list -- one that reflects the factors most valued by each person,” Nash says.

But what if both spouses are unclear about what they’re seeking in a home? One method of gaining focus -- sometimes advocated by real estate agents -- is to “go negative.” List all the things you dislike about the place where you now live; then flip these to reveal what you want most.

-- Look to your real estate agent for help to iron out differences.

Some would-be purchasers -- especially those planning to buy in high-cost areas -- struggle to reach agreement on how best to allocate their scarce dollars. In such situations, each partner should focus not only on their priorities but also the trade-offs they could accept, says Merrill Ottwein, a broker who heads a realty firm specializing in relocation.

“(A) real estate agent can help them pick their better trade-off,” Ottwein says.

Of course, agents aren’t marriage counselors, and they can’t be expected to resolve irreconcilable differences between husband and wife. But they can help mediate conversations that help couples settle minor disputes.

“A good agent will ask penetrating questions, encouraging the buyers to reach their own conclusions,” Ottwein says.

-- Allow yourself extra home shopping time if your marriage is young.

Obviously, people who’ve been married for many years know a lot more about each other than do younger couples. Therefore, they’ll need to deliberate longer to ensure that both partners’ views are taken into account when a home is chosen.

“People who’ve just gotten remarried after many years of living alone should be extra wary about misjudging a partner. Your spouse may have developed some very strong predilections through the years,” Ottwein says.

You may need several long conversations -- or perhaps even a getaway weekend -- to reach agreement on the best housing choice for both of you.

“It’s vastly better to hash out your differences before picking a property than to make a choice your spouse despises, which could lead to many quarrels later,” Ottwein says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

In an average real estate market, people who must sell in a hurry due to a personal crisis may be compelled to accept a sacrificial price to unload quickly. But that’s not the case this year, at least not for those planning to sell an entry-level home.

A severe shortage of available properties in the starter home segment has created nearly ideal conditions for sellers in most areas, says Elizabeth Mendenhall, president of the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org).

“First-time buyers continue to make up an underperforming share of the market because there are simply not enough homes for sale in their price range,” says Mendenhall, the CEO of a Missouri realty firm.

Although current demand for homes is at an extremely high level, those who must sell in a hurry should still delay as long as possible to minimize stress, says Marcia Naomi Berger, a psychotherapist and author based in California.

“Moving is traumatic for everybody, so give yourself the maximum time possible,” says Berger, an expert in marriage and family issues.

Here are a few pointers for sellers in a hurry:

-- Locate an experienced listing agent to represent you.

“People often feel their lives are out of control when going through a personal crisis ... At times like that, a very competent and compassionate real estate agent can help enormously,” says Ashley Richardson, a seasoned agent.

She recommends you find someone with substantial experience selling properties in your immediate area.

“What you’re also looking for is an agent with a track record for recommending list prices that are neither too high nor too modest for current market conditions,” Richardson says.

Calling the managing broker of a local real estate office is one way to identify a sharp agent, though be sure to indicate you’re looking for one with substantial experience selling your type of housing in your price bracket.

“Asking a broker could be a good starting point. You might also wish to call references. But remember that agents won’t give you the names of people who didn’t like working with them,” Richardson says.

-- Review recent sales in your area prior to pricing your home.

Prior to accepting any pricing recommendation from an agent, all sellers, no matter how hurried, should do at least a nominal amount of research.

“What you should do is ask your agent to give you a list of nearby properties that have sold within the last year within your ZIP code -- along with the final amount they brought at closing. Then drive by these homes, noting how they compare with your own. This process should take no more than one hour,” Richardson says.

If your drive-by tour raises questions in your mind about the price suggested by your listing agent, request a justification.

“Final selling decisions, such as pricing, should always be reserved for the owners,” says Richardson, who’s affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com).

-- Attempt to compress the timetable to prep your home for sale.

Typical homeowners spend more than a month or two preparing their property for market. They clean, cull through belongings, prune their greenery and paint wherever needed.

But if you’re selling your home during a crisis phase of your life, chances are you have no more than a couple of weeks to get the home in showing condition.

“What’s important is to have a selling plan that’s compressed yet still covers all the basics,” Richardson says.

One obvious way to cut back on your home prep time is to hire contractors for work you might normally do yourself.

“Not everyone is willing to pay others to do work they could do themselves, particularly if they’re going through a financial crunch. But if time is short and skilled people are readily available in your area, chances are the work will go much faster if you hire help,” Richardson says.

Moreover, as she points out, home sellers with properties that are sparkling clean and freshly painted typically recoup more at closing than they invested in paid services.

“What’s important to know is that time is money if you must move promptly and can’t afford your house sitting on the market,” says.

-- Create a contingency plan for your property’s sale.

Sometimes, even a home that’s in good condition and correctly priced will fail to sell quickly for reasons hard to determine.

To avert panic in this situation, Richardson suggests anyone attempting to sell in the midst of a life-changing situation should develop a “Plan B” for coping if the process takes longer than expected.

Maybe you’ll arrange for a trusted relative to take over responsibility for your home sale. Or perhaps you’ll want to buy time by putting your property up for rent for six months.

Arranging for a contingency plan helps keep you focused on the positives in your situation.

“No matter the strength of the market, having a default plan can help calm your nerves and let you sleep at night,” Richardson says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)