What Not to Fix or Update Before Listing Your House
Not every remodeling is worthwhile when preparing for a home sale. Before you allocate a lot of money to repairs, get a reliable real estate agent who will tell you where your house stands compared to other properties in your region.
If your house is above the competition, you might not need to complete any repairs to sell fast. Besides, you can talk to a cash home buyer like Crown City Home Buyers since we buy houses Kansas City. And if your house requires some improvement, your real estate agent will guide you to projects that will draw the attention of buyers.
If you're preparing to put your house up for sale, you likely have several things on your to-do list. From cleaning every room from top to bottom to staging your house, there are several steps involved in the process, including making a few updates to get your home ready to sell. While certain changes can be worthwhile (think: a fresh coat of paint to brighten up a room), others end up being costly and unnecessary when it comes to attracting buyers. To help you save time and money, we tapped real estate experts to share what not to fix when selling your home.(1)
Get professional advice from a local realtor on issues in your market.
During the house-selling procedure, call a local real estate agent. They know the real estate market in your area and what local home buyers are looking for. Consulting a local real estate agent will offer you insight into which repairs are needed to get your home in line with the competition. A faulty AC unit may not be an issue in some places but a deal breaker in others.
After getting an offer from potential buyers, the realtor will help in negotiating any requests the buyer makes after getting the inspection reports.
but if you do not have the time or resources to fix or update anything, you don't have to panic. We buy ugly houses Kansas City and we will purchase yours as well.
Things not to fix when selling a home:
Old home appliances
You don’t need to upgrade home appliances before listing a property. Not many people rate new appliances as an essential part of the renovation.
If the appliances are completely worn out, broken, barely functioning or even missing, replace them with used ones. If you must upgrade the appliances with new items, avoid buying the top-of-the-line models. The standard version will add too much value to the look of your house without affecting your bank account.
Normal wear & tear
Unless the house you are selling is new, home buyers expect ordinary wear and tear like:
- Faded or worn-out carpets
- Loose and dirty grout around tiles
- Sun-faded blinds and curtains
- Scuff marks on linoleum or hardwood flooring
You do not require extreme remodeling to sell your house fast, especially when working with us because
we buy houses in Kansas City. Instead, focus on things like painting and landscaping to improve the curb appeal. These are affordable and quick options that will make a great impact on your house’s value.
Cosmetic preferences
Cosmetic preferences, such as the color of the cabinets and countertops, will vary from individual to individual. What may be an attractive upgrade to you can be a turnoff to potential buyers. Provided these features are clean and functional, it's not worth the money and time it will take to upgrade them. Besides, the new homeowner might change them.
Consult your real estate agent before making any cosmetic changes. They suggest you skip the updates and concentrate on big-ticket issues like repairing the furnace.
Outdated faucets, fixtures, and cabinet hardware
Styles are ever-evolving. Your faucet, fixtures, and cabinet hardware might have been trending for a few years and are now outdated, but they do not need sprucing up before listing your home.
Some home buyers prefer to include their flair in the home by choosing their hardware and fixtures. Instead of swapping them, concentrate on ensuring cabinet drawers and doors open and close effortlessly and faucets are leak free. Like we've mentioned, Kansas City we buy houses fast and in any condition. so, just leave it as-is and our experts will offer the best price.
Walkway or driveway cracks
While the curb appeal will give you a huge bang for your buck, buyers will understand that there may be a hairline in the sidewalk and driveway. These are ordinary occurrences for many homes that a few potential purchasers can consider a deal breaker.
Removable items
If you are thinking of what to replace in your home before the sale, cross removable things such as rods, curtains, and valances off the list. Such things will fade and wear, and getting new ones will cost a lot of dollars.
If the outdated or worn-out items distract from the feel of the house, remove them instead of replacing them.
Painting some areas
Having fresh paint in some rooms will draw attention to the lackluster in other parts of the house. Unless you have specific bright colors such as lime green, you are ok not painting any room before listing the house for sale.
Even if you repaint, the new homeowner might paint over your work. Since we understand this,
we buy houses Kansas City MO in the as-is condition. Then, we complete the major repairs or remodel before listing it.
Minor electrical problems
When dealing with electrical problems, there is a huge difference between minor and significant issues. Before listing a home, you will want to address issues like exposed wires, outdated electrical service panels, or underground outlets. However, things like a light switch, loose outlet plugs, and other minor problems can be ignored.
Partial room upgrades
It's not a good idea to begin an upgrade or renovation that you cannot complete before selling the house. Home buyers can visualize the completed impact of partially completed work. Pay attention to time and budget before you start any upgrade or remodeling.
If you are planning to sell your house, you are in the right place. at Crown City Home Buyers, we buy houses Kansas City, irrespective of their condition. get in touch with our team for more information.
About the author
Benjamin Allgeyer
Benjamin Allgeyer is a real estate investor and the owner of Crown City Home Buyers, a cash home buying company based in Kansas City, MO. Benjamin has a passion for helping homeowners who are facing difficult situations, such as foreclosure or financial distress, by providing them with a quick and hassle-free solution to sell their homes. He is committed to providing his clients with exceptional service and helping them achieve their real estate goals.
We here at Crown City Home Buyers are dedicated to getting the most cash possible into your pockets for your home as-is, so that you can get the most out of this situation and prepare to move on. We will buy houses in any condition without you needing to fix your home before sale.