When it’s time to sell the home, it can be difficult to know how many home repairs and fixes you should make before you leave. How much does the home’s current condition fall on you as the owner? Do you leave everything as-is for your buyer, or use repairs as leverage to increase your selling price?
Selling your home in tip-top condition makes for a great selling point on a home listing. But this may require a lot of time and investment that you don’t have (or don’t want to part with). Here are some pieces of advice we can offer you about the balance between home maintenance and the potential value you can gain from them.
The Balance Between Home Maintenance and Selling
Most buyers are going to be concerned with the condition of the house, but some may also be preoccupied with repairs and other problems that have occurred over time. It is important to figure out how much you are willing to invest in fixing the home’s current condition before you list the home. If you are just “casually” selling the home, it is probably not worth it to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars fixing it up to sell. But if you are selling to refinance and move somewhere new, having the house just be structurally okay could be worth the cost.
But remember, no matter how well you market your house, there is always the chance that you will be outbid by someone who can afford the cost of the repairs. They may even prefer to do it themselves, depending on what needs to be done. Fixer-uppers are a popular choice for young people looking to buy their first home.
How Much Time and Money Should You Spend on the House?
The old adage: “you get what you pay for” is true, even if you’re selling. Cost estimates can be tricky when you’re fixing up the home, because you may want to tackle some big projects before you put the house on the market to get it just right. The best part is that you can compare a number of quotes from different contractors, and have them all quote for similar projects to get an accurate estimate of your costs.
What’s Worth Fixing and What’s Not?
There are times when home repairs can be so minor that it won’t be worth your time and money, especially if you have the time to do all of the repairs and pay for the improvements you’d like to make anyway. Plus, there may be better ways to spend the money instead of fixing something that isn’t necessary or is more trouble than it’s worth.
However, you should never ever leave something alone and just forget about it. A leaky faucet, a damaged floor, an uncovered plaster patch, an uneven floor that’s just not even (one-quarter inch or less), a loose or missing deck rail, a roof that’s damaged or discolored from leaks or snow, or a sink that just won’t stop draining are all noticeable things you need to fix before you sell your home.
The Negotiation Point for Sellers
Say a home needs a new roof, and with the initial inspection completed, the buyer offers much less than your asking price. Do you cut the deal? Do you perform the work or wait for a better offer? Can you afford to let the buyer wait until the repairs are done?
If work needs to be done and the buyer is willing to up their offer, it’s always worth having a detailed conversation about it with your buyers. The “before” price you are offering them might be quite low, but the “after” price might be quite high.
No Matter the Current Condition, Sell My House For Cash Atlanta Will Buy Your Home
If you don’t have the time or money for all the home repairs and maintenance your home needs, there’s no need to negotiate with buyers. Contact us and we will buy your home for cash, no matter its state of repair. We cover all closing costs and don’t work on commission; you can sell on your schedule!