What Not to Fix When Selling a House: 10 Tips Pros Want You to Know
Selling a house is stressful. You must pack boxes and plan your move. You also feel pressure to make your home look perfect.
This is where many people make mistakes. They spend thousands of dollars on repairs that do not pay off. You want to make a profit, not lose money on upgrades buyers do not care about.
It is important to know what not to fix when selling a house. Some repairs are not worth the cost. Here are the pros recommendations for what you should skip.
1. Big Kitchen Remodels
TV shows make you think you need a brand-new kitchen to sell your home. That is not true. A full remodel costs a lot of money and takes a long time. You almost never get that money back in the sale.
Buyers are picky. They want to choose their own counters and cabinets. If you spend $30,000 in a kitchen they hate, you lose. Just paint the cabinets or change the handles instead.
2. Old Appliances
If your stove and dishwasher work, leave them alone.
Most buyers will bring their own appliances or buy new ones to match their style. Unless an appliance is broken or dangerous, do not replace it. A working older fridge is fine.
3. Scratched Floors
You see every scratch in the woods or spot on the carpet. Buyers are not looking that closely. Ripping out floors is a huge job.
Hire a cleaner for the carpets. Polish the wood floors. That is usually enough. Let the new owners choose new flooring if they want. Selling a home that needs repairs usually means fixing safety issues, not cosmetic wear on the floor.
4. Driveway Cracks
Little cracks in the concrete are normal. Do not pay to repair the whole driveway unless it is crumbling apart.
Power washes the driveway instead. It makes the house look great and costs very little. Buyers expect older driveways to have some lines.
5. Old Windows
New windows are very expensive. You will not get a full return on your investment if you replace them right before selling.
If a window is broken, fix it. If they are just old or a little drafty, leave them. You can adjust the house price slightly rather than spending $15,000.
6. Small Electrical or Plumbing Quirks
Fix a dripping faucet. Fix a loose outlet. But do not rewire the whole house.
Wait for the home inspection. If the inspector finds a safety issue, you can fix it then. Buyers will overlook minor quirks when deciding how to sell a house that needs to work if the price is fair.
7. Fancy Landscaping
A neat yard helps sell a house. A fancy garden does not. Do not spend a fortune planting a new tree.
Just mow the lawn. Trim the bushes. Maybe plant a few flowers by the door. A clean yard looks good. A complicated garden looks like too much work for the new owner.
8. Adding Rooms
Do not try to finish the basement or build a sunroom now. These are big projects. If you rush them, the work will look bad.
Sell the house as it is. Buyers looking for a 3-bedroom house will buy one. Adding a room in a panic rarely adds enough value to be worth the stress.
9. Trendy Paint Colors
You might love a dark blue wall. A buyer might hate it. Do not paint the house in trendy colors.
If you must paint, use white or cream. If your walls are clean, do not paint at all.
10. Trying to be Perfect
Do not try to fix everything. Used homes have character. You cannot make a 20-year-old house look brand new. Focus on cleaning and decluttering instead.
7 Home Fixes You Must Complete Before Selling
We talked about what to skip. Now, here are the 7 home fixes you must complete before selling:
- Water Stains: Even if the leak is gone, a stain looks bad. Paint over it.
- Loose Handles: Tighten doorknobs and cabinet pulls.
- Dead Bulbs: Dark rooms look small. Change every dead light bulb.
- Safety Issues: Fix exposed wires or mold. You must do this.
- Bad Smells: This scares buyers away. Clean the carpets or scrub the walls if the house smells.
- Dirty Grout: Clean the caulk in the shower. It is cheap and makes the bathroom look new.
- The Front Door: Paint it if it is peeling. It is the first thing buyers see.
How to Sell a House That Needs Major Repairs
Sometimes a house needs a lot of work. The roof is leaking, or the foundation is bad. You might wonder how to sell a house that needs major repairs without spending all your savings.
You have two choices.
First, price the house low. Be honest about the work needed. This is the best way to sell a house that needs to be worked on if you use a real estate agent.
Second, sell it to a cash buyer. They buy houses "as-is." You do not fix anything. No painting and no cleaning. This is often the fastest way to handle selling a house that needs repairs.
Signs Your House Will Sell Fast
How do you know if your plan is working?
Good signs your house will sell are lots of visits in the first week. If agents are calling you with questions, that is good. Another one of the signs your house will sell fast is getting offers right away. This means you priced the house perfectly.
Need to Sell Without Doing Any Repairs?
Does this list of chores sound exhausting? If your house needs work and you do not have the cash or time to fix it, there is a better way. You can skip the contractors and the open houses. We buy homes exactly as they are. You do not have to fix the roof or paint the walls. We will make you a fair cash offer.
For sale with zero repairs, visit Bama Home Buyer today. See how easy it is to sell your house.
Final Thoughts
You need to balance what to fix before selling a house with what to leave alone. You want the home to look good, but you need to keep your money. Skip the big renovations. Focus on cleaning and small repairs. Remember, buyers want a house they can make their own, not a house you made perfect for yourself.