What to Fix Before You Sell Your Home

It’s not easy putting your home up for sale, even if you’re excited about “moving on up.” The longer you’ve lived there, the more cherished memories you have to carry with you. Neighbors you won’t see as frequently, if at all.

Aside from all that, you’re faced with numerous decisions on what to fix or replace, and what’s okay to leave as is.

Here’s just some of what you need to consider.

How’s the market, especially in your neighborhood? Are homes flying off the market or sitting month after month? Are they selling at or above asking price or going through several price adjustments? If it’s a seller’s market, you may be able to sell with fewer repairs or updates. To attract buyers in a buyer’s market, expect to roll up your sleeves or open your wallet.

How quickly do you want to sell? Need a quick sale and for top dollar? Consider tackling that to-do list, erring on the side of caution. If time is of the essence but you don’t want to (or can’t) handle costly upgrades, adjust the price of the home to reflect its current condition. If you have the time and resources before listing your home, you’ll most likely benefit from making some repairs.

Does your home look uncared for? Cracked tile, broken appliances, and leaky faucets can make a home look uncared for and quickly turn off buyers. It’s not uncommon for a buyer to think “If Mr. & Mrs. Seller can’t take care of the small stuff, are they really taking care of the big ticket items?”

Can you get by with a less costly fix? Let’s say nearby homes for sale all have beautifully updated kitchens, but yours hasn’t been touched in a decade or more. Can you make some less costly updates, like painting the cabinets, adding new fixtures, a fresh coat of paint, new lighting, and maybe new appliances? It might not be a top-of-the line remodel but could be just enough.

Will it ruin a first impression? When deciding on what to fix and what to leave as is, ask yourself this: Will a buyer notice the faulty item as he or she approaches your home from the curb and when stepping inside? A broken window, stained wall-to-wall carpet, or a water-stained ceiling, for example? If so, take the time to fix it.

Could it be a deal breaker? Some repairs are simple and inexpensive. Others, like a new roof or HVAC system, could stop a deal in its tracks. If time and a hot seller’s market are on your side, you could test the waters without making any big repairs. Otherwise, either make the changes before listing your home or price your home accordingly.

Here in North Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, the condition of heating and cooling systems is a big deal for any prospective buyer. Not sure what condition yours are in, either as the buyer or seller? If so, contact Correct Temp for our pinpoint inspection service after which we’ll tell you exactly what’s going on so you can make the right decision before moving forward.