Gearing up to sell your home is exciting, but the process certainly comes with many twists and turns. Among them is the renovation process. Because you’re moving, an already expensive process, you may be reluctant to pour money into the one you’ll be leaving. Every house has its flaws, whether it be an outdated kitchen or an exterior facade looking worse for the wear.
When preparing to sell, it is the homeowner’s job to determine if fixing up those repairs is necessary for selling. Is it something that will make or break a buy? Or can it wait until the next homeowner? Today, we will be looking at what you should fix before selling your house — and what you can get away with skipping out on.
Home buying and selling are all about risk versus reward. Homeowners may question if any repairs at all are worth the time, energy, and (most of all) money they may require. However tedious and money-intensive they are, we can say for sure that a lack of repairs can greatly affect selling – and we wouldn’t be the first. Most realtors and housing specialists agree that there are necessary repairs that need completion before putting your house on the market or, at a minimum, closing a sale.
A lack of repairs can have many drawbacks. First and foremost, it limits the number of buyers you may have. Damages can be seen both in person and in online listing photos, meaning that homes with repairs may not even be considered by some buyers. Secondly, repairs can greatly reduce the price of your home. It’s not just the cost of repairs that are factored into a lowered home price, but also the inconvenience (and risk) of taking on a home that needs a facelift. Moreover, homeowners are likely to overestimate the amount of money necessary to repair things themselves — aka, it’s best to just do them yourself.
Before diving into what it means to sell a house that needs repairs, we should first clarify: what defines a repair? Repairs can range from retiling a bathroom and repairing some drywall holes to rewiring a house and leveling the foundation. For homes that need a lot of work, “repairs” may look much more like a “renovation.”
If bathrooms are crumbling, major facilities or utilities don’t work, or an infestation is present, it’s simply not economical to sink money into the home for updating and upgrading. In situations like these, most real estate agents will suggest pricing your home on the lower end to attract multiple offers — many of which will likely be contractors or home flippers. The concept of buying a fixer-upper home used to be appealing, but the recent decade and generation of home buyers have made turn-key homes far more desirable. Fixer-uppers nowadays are those with cosmetic fixes, not structural ones.
Comparing your home to other homes currently for sale in the area is a good way to get an idea of what fixes should be completed. For instance, if your home’s front-facing features like windows, siding, and front door need an upgrade, and every other house on the block seems to have brand new ones, it’s a sign. Even when minor, buyers will automatically notice this difference. Even if the rest of your home is comparably better for the price, they may automatically count it out based on needing renovations everyone else has improved already.
When fixing up your home, there are fixes that are “must-dos” and others that are just nice to have. Be sure to weigh the cost of things to determine what’s worth it, keeping in mind that the time to complete repairs is part of that price. You should only make improvements if they raise the value of your home compared to their cost. Otherwise, they’re not worth the return on investment, and better to take a cut in your house’s sale price.
Curb appeal is everything, which is rooted in human psychology. People are more likely to accept facts that support their initial perception of something, called confirmation bias. If someone walks up to your house and has an initially positive look, they’ll notice the best parts of your house during their walkthrough. Conversely, if their first look at the house is a bad one, they’ll continue to subconsciously pick up on outdated features and damage more throughout their tour. Usually, this can all be fixed with some simple landscaping! You’ll want to trim bushes, lay mulch down, pressure-wash the walls and siding, add a new welcome mat, and apply a fresh coat of paint on the front door if necessary.
Next on your list of things to fix is, well, everything you’ve been putting off! Deferred maintenance refers to the small maintenance issues that you’re aware of, but have avoided fixing because it doesn’t directly impact the function of the home. It’s typically small cosmetic fixes and the result of poor upkeep. Examples include updating caulking around the bathtub, unclogging gutters, and patching small holes in drywall. These updates are those easy enough for you to fix quite quickly, but also things that buyers will absolutely notice. Because they’re looking for a new home, homebuyers can be easily overwhelmed by these repairs as well as overestimate the cost of taking care of them.
Damaged floors are a big giveaway that something has gone amiss in a home. They may suggest that a house wasn’t cared for, there is underlying water damage, or that the property lot has a tendency to experience major natural disasters. For those with pets, urine-soaked floors are another big way that wood can become warped, and is usually a huge red flag for potential buyers. Repair damaged flooring, and replace any carpet older than 5–7 years. For flooring that doesn’t need full repairs, it may be worth restaining wood, recaulking tiling, and getting carpet steam cleaned.
You’ve likely heard it a hundred times: the appearance of your kitchen and bathrooms is most important during the home selling process. It’s true; these parts of the home are most commonly used and often the most expensive to renovate. Before selling, you’ll want to ask yourself when the last time these spaces were updated was. Cosmetically, bathrooms need some updating about every five years and kitchens do every 10. For appliances and full redos, bathrooms and kitchens should both be examined and renovated every 15–20 years. With that said, most homeowners don’t mind fixing cosmetic changes in the kitchen because it’s considered a “fun” thing to redo. Update if necessary, but to a point of giving the new owners a good base to build off of. Paint the walls white or neutral colors, and make sure appliances, plumbing, and electricity are all in good working order.
Plumbing and electrical repairs are a must-fix for any homeowners getting ready to sell. Issues with these areas in the home are not only a huge hassle, but they can also be expensive and dangerous. Faulty wires lead to electrical fires, and plumbing problems can lead to leaks and water damage. For your electricity, check for missing wire nuts, damaged junction boxes, frayed wiring, or faulty light switches and outlets. For plumbing, choose to repair any faucet leaks, toilet leaks, and damaged pipes. Some repairs may need to be handled by a professional, including snaking large clogged drains, large pipe replacement, sewer buildup, and electrical rewiring.
While not a repair per se, paint is a relatively inexpensive fix that can drastically affect the home’s overall appearance. For instance, a children’s bedroom painted an unfortunate shade of vibrant color can be seen as something that needs “fixing up” by potential home buyers. While the paint is something most buyers are willing to change themselves, providing a blank canvas (or at least some neutral, easy-to-paint-over colors) is always helpful in selling your home.
The land we build on is never guaranteed to stay exactly the way we found it. It’s extremely common for homes to “settle” over the years, causing cracks both on the interior of the home as well as manifesting as tilted walls and fences, or uneven and cracked driveways. Look out for slanted doors, crooked windows, doors that don’t shut properly, and any visible cracks inside and out. Many homeowners ask, “Should I repair my driveway before selling my house?” The answer is yes; driveways are where families park and play. A lack of proper asphalt care can be a big turnoff for buyers and affects their initial perception of a home.
If you’re gearing up to sell, the easiest way to determine your home’s repair needs is to make a list of everything on your property that is broken, old, or defective. Remember that repairs may be a bit of a nuisance, but they’re vital for showing potential new owners that your listing price is worth it. Get quotes on everything you’d prefer to have fixed, and narrow your list down to possible repairs from there. Your agent or broker may be able to refer tradespeople for your repairs, though it’s still important to do your research and find the professionals best for your budget and timeline.
To maximize your home’s sale price and simplify the selling process, use Taelah for selling your property! Taelah is a human-assisted artificial intelligence that helps people just like you sell their homes. Our unique system provides support with home selling processes, including getting through pre-sale repairs. Join Taelah today for personalized guidance in your realty process!
Many homeowners are hesitant to fully repair their home before listing it on the market. After all, why sink money into a house you're leaving? However, a lack of updating and upgrading can lower your home's sale price and lengthen its time on the market. For homes that do not need a total renovation, it's usually beneficial to perform repairs that prove to have financial returns. Some of the most important repairs to make include those that affect curb appeal as well as any deferred maintenance, flooring, kitchens, bathrooms, electrical, and plumbing concerns. For help with your home's selling process, choose taelah for a personalized experience with guidance through repairs and more!