When preparing to list your home for sale, it may seem like there’s an overwhelming number of tasks to complete. However, not all of these tasks are essential, and in some cases, they may even result in a loss of money without providing any return on investment. In this article, we will discuss nine repairs that homeowners should avoid making before selling their home. Additionally, we offer a professional cash buying service that allows you to sell your house quickly and easily, without the need to make any of these unnecessary repairs. If you’d like to skip the hassle of repairs altogether, please call us at (781) 549-0271 to receive a fair cash offer. We can close in just two weeks, and we’ll even cover all closing costs!
Aesthetic Imperfections
It might be tempting to fix up all of the little things that are wrong with your house before putting it on the market… but remember: most buyers care about the BIG things more than they care about the little things.
So unless there’s something truly wrong with your house — such as appliances, foundation, etc. — you don’t need to worry about fixing the aesthetic imperfections.
Small Electrical Problems
Small electrical problems can be a real nuisance, but they’re not something that’s going to scare away potential buyers.
In fact, most people are actually willing to deal with a few small electrical problems — such as light switches that lead to nowhere or wobbly sockets — in order to get a good deal on a house.
So unless the problem is really bad, you don’t need to worry about fixing it before putting your house on the market.
Driveway Cracks
Curb appeal is important, of course, but fixing every little crack in your driveway is likely overkill — and it’s definitely not going to earn you any return on investment.
In fact, driveway cracks are actually a pretty common thing, and most buyers won’t even bat an eye at them.
So unless the crack is really large or really unsightly, you can leave it be and focus on more important repairs.
Partial Remodel
A partial remodel is another one of those repairs that might be tempting to do before putting your house on the market… but it’s not really necessary.
In fact, a partial remodel can actually end up costing you more money than it’s worth — since you’re not doing a full remodel, you’re not going to get as much benefit as you might expect when it comes to finding buyers and selling your home.
Also, partial remodels can make it look like you’re trying to hide something rather than making helpful updates to the home. It’s better to leave it as-is, even if there are some minor imperfections.
Brand New Appliances
If your appliances are in bad shape, you’ll need to replace them before you can attract many buyers to make an offer on your home.
BUT…
That doesn’t mean you need to spend an arm and a leg to replace those appliances. Instead, just purchase some used appliances that are well-functioning. You can save a ton of money on appliance repairs by going with used instead of new.
Deep Renovations & Remodels
A deep renovation or remodel is another one of those repairs that can be tempting to do before putting your house on the market.
But it’s also not really necessary, and it’s definitely not going to earn you much return on investment.
In fact, a deep renovation or remodel can actually end up costing you more money than it’s worth… and it will always take longer than you expect.
(Trust us)
It’s better to leave your home as-is and focus on the most fundamental repairs rather than trying to redo your entire home.
Normal Wear & Tear
Don’t bother repairing normal wear and tear on your home before putting it on the market.
Buyers expect to see some signs of aging in a home, and they understand that homes aren’t perfect.
In fact, most buyers will actually be impressed by how well you’ve taken care of your home over the years… even if there are some small cracks in the walls or a few pieces of furniture that could use an update.
Trendy Paint Colors
Trendy paint colors are another thing to avoid when preparing your home for sale.
Although it might be tempting to go with a trendy color scheme in order to make your home more appealing, it’s not really necessary.
Most buyers prefer neutral paint colors, since they want to be able to imagine themselves living in the home. If your walls are covered in bright pink or green paint, it’s going to be harder for them to do that.
So stick with neutrals, and save the trendy colors for another occasion.
Renovating Beyond Neighborhood Norms
Renovating beyond the norms of your neighborhood can also be a bad idea.
Unless you’re planning on moving soon, it’s not really worth it to renovate your home in a way that doesn’t match the rest of the neighborhood.
This is because buyers will expect your home to be in line with the other homes in the area.
Plus, if you do renovations that are too out-of-the-box, you might lose more money than you make.
Final Thoughts: Skip The Repairs & Sell To Us!
So now that we’ve gone over the repairs that you DON’T need to make before putting your house on the market, it’s time for a quick reminder about our professional cash buying service.
If you’re looking to sell your house quickly and without any hassle, then give us a call! We’ll make you an offer, you pick the closing date, and we’ll take care of all the paperwork for you. It’s as easy as that!
Who is Old Harbor Properties?
We are local New England residents that focus on buying properties off-market (with no commissions) for cash. We are not “flippers” or “investors” looking to pay pennies on the dollar. We are local Sox fans with families and we focus on buying rental properties. This allows us to make fair market value offers based on comparable sales and needed repairs. If you want to sell the property where you’re currently living, give us a call at (781) 208-7362 we can make you a fair cash offer, buy as-is, and close in as little as two weeks!
