Bailey Alexander / Unsplash
Knowing whatnotto fix when selling a house is as important as knowing whattofix.
Exclude key items from your list ofthings to fix or replace.
This saves time and frustration, while putting more money in your pocket.
Bailey Alexander / Unsplash
Tip
Any fix or upgrade should ease the sale or contribute to a higher sales price.
Otherwise, you’re simply giving away free stuff to the homebuyer.
Window Treatments
Blinds, shades, curtains, and drapesenhance the appearance of the entire room.
It’s tempting to replace thewindow treatmentswhen selling a house.
But the cost of purchasing new curtains or blinds generally isn’t borne out in the house sale.
Remove damaged or outdated window treatments.
Buyers will likelywant to choose curtainsof their own anyway.
Not only are appliances expensive to replace, but the seller has no obligation to repair or replace them.
These items typically don’t remain with the house unless specified by the contract.
Remove the large appliances or leave them behind, unrepaired.
As with window treatments, homebuyers expect to buy new appliances.
Coordinate with your real estate agent.
They may tell you that a certain fix is indeed necessaryor that you should skip it altogether.
Unfinished Spaces
Your home may have unfinished spaces that are more like blank canvases than actual rooms.
Basements are routinely left unfinished by builders.
Asmall bathroom remodelmight be in-process next to that guest bedroom.
Unfinished projects are far too expensive to build out simply for the sake of a house sale.
Leave them unfinished and let the next owner dream of what to do with them.
Floor Coverings
Floor coverings like carpeting, laminate, vinyl plank, andsheet vinylgradually wear down.
Floor coverings are meant to be occasionally replaced; that’s why they’re called coverings.
Instead of replacement, have carpeting professionally cleaned.
Hire cleaners to deep-clean hard floor coverings like vinyl or ceramic tile.
Solid hardwood costsfar too much to replace, so sand and refinish it if it is severely damaged.
The cost of refinishing a solid hardwood floor is usually recouped upon sale of the house.
Windows
Outdated or poor windows are unattractive energy-wasters.
Instead, have a window cleaner clean the windows inside and outside.
Touch up paint and clean stubborn stains.
Otherwise, leave the windows as they are.
Partial Improvements
It’s not uncommon to start a remodel and thenput it on hold.
Money or time run short or perhaps you have second thoughts.
Save money and leave partial home improvements as they areunfinished.
But now is not the time to fix them.
Some repairs are inexpensive, but they aren’t worth your time.
The home inspector will note them on the inspection report.
Upgrading or replacing some types of home technology is expensive.
More so, home technology is personal, mobile, and transferable.
Thewireless video doorbellthat you installed is a personal item, and it can easily be removed and installed elsewhere.
Code Violations Allowed Earlier
Building codes are continually in flux.
Today’s code may not be applicable to your house as it was ten or twenty years ago.
Remote Places
Homebuyers tend to look at the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and common spaces.
Laundry rooms, laundry sinks, outdoor sheds, and carports are too remote to warrant repairs or upgrades.
Focus on noticeable areaslike the kitchen or bathroominstead of replacing the shed roof.
National Association of Realtors.
