What Should I Fix Before Selling My House?

WHAT SHOULD I ACTUALLY FIX BEFORE SELLING MY HOUSE?

You decide you're ready to sell.

Then you start looking around the house differently.

That loose cabinet handle suddenly bothers you. The bedroom could probably use paint. There's a spot on the carpet you've been ignoring for three years.

And now you're wondering:

“How much of this do I need to fix before I put the house on the market?”

The answer isn't necessarily everything.

The goal is to figure out which improvements could help your home show and sell better — and which ones probably aren't worth your time or money.

START WITH THE THINGS BUYERS WILL NOTICE

You've lived in your home long enough that there are probably little things you barely notice anymore.

Buyers don't have that luxury.

They're seeing everything for the first time.

Loose handles, burned-out light bulbs, damaged trim, dripping faucets, stained carpet and unfinished projects can make a home feel like it hasn't been maintained — even when the issues themselves are relatively minor.

Taking care of the obvious small stuff can make a difference.

FRESH PAINT CAN GO A LONG WAY

You don't necessarily need to repaint your entire house.

But walls with heavy wear, unusual colors or obvious damage may be worth addressing.

Neutral doesn't have to mean boring.

The goal is simply to make it easier for buyers to walk into the room and picture their belongings in the space instead of yours.

DON'T START REMODELING JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE SELLING

This is where I want sellers to be careful.

You don't automatically need a new kitchen because your cabinets are older.

You don't necessarily need to replace every bathroom.

And spending $30,000 preparing a home doesn't automatically mean you'll sell it for $30,000 more.

Before making a major improvement specifically for resale, let's talk about whether buyers in your price range and area are actually likely to reward you for it.

CURB APPEAL MATTERS

The first showing starts before the buyer walks through the front door.

Cut the grass.

Trim overgrown landscaping.

Clean up leaves and debris.

Pressure wash where needed.

Make sure the entrance looks clean and inviting.

You don't need to turn your front yard into a landscaping commercial.

You just don't want buyers pulling into the driveway thinking about work before they've even seen the kitchen.

CLEANING MAY GIVE YOU MORE RETURN THAN RENOVATING

Never underestimate a really good cleaning.

Floors, windows, bathrooms, kitchens and frequently touched surfaces should feel clean.

Decluttering helps too.

We're not trying to make the house look like nobody lives there.

We're trying to make the rooms feel open enough that buyers can actually see the house instead of everything inside it.

WHAT ABOUT BIGGER PROBLEMS?

Roof issues, HVAC problems, plumbing concerns, electrical issues, water intrusion and other significant defects require a different conversation.

Depending on the issue, your situation and the market, we may decide to repair something before listing, price accordingly or handle it another way.

This is where having a strategy before the For Sale sign goes up becomes important.

SOMETIMES SELLING AS-IS MAKES SENSE

Not every homeowner wants to spend months preparing a property.

Maybe you inherited the house.

Maybe you're relocating.

Maybe you simply don't want to deal with repairs.

Selling as-is may be an option, but that doesn't automatically mean accepting the first low offer that comes along.

We still need to understand the home's condition, comparable sales and what buyers are likely to pay.

BEFORE YOU SPEND MONEY, LET ME SEE THE HOUSE

This may be the most important part.

Don't assume you need $20,000 worth of work before calling a REALTOR®.

I'd rather walk through the property with you before you start spending money.

We can separate things into three categories:

Fix it.
Consider it.
Leave it alone.

Then we can build a preparation and pricing strategy around your actual property, neighborhood and goals.

If you're considering selling in the St. Louis or St. Charles area, let's start with the house you have today.

You might be closer to being ready than you think.

Micadez Favors, REALTOR® | MRP
EXIT Elite Realty

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