Are you confused about what to fix and what not to fix when selling a house? We’ve got you covered! In this article, let us explore what not to fix when putting up your home for sale. So, let’s get started!
1. Home Sweet Home
Buying a house to spend the rest of our lives in is a dream for everyone. From choosing the paint color to deciding where to put the couch, every one of us puts in our blood, sweat, and tears to call the house ‘our home.’
But, you might be forced to sell your home to start a new chapter or pay your dues.
In this stressful situation, you might be confused about what to fix when listing your house for sale. In this write-up, we provide solutions to clear all your doubts and details about “What Not To Fix When Selling A House” before you decide to list your house for sale. Let’s dive in!
2. What is Staging?
Staging is when a house is renovated and decluttered to make it look more presentable to potential home buyers.
It is usually done by real estate agents who provide end-to-end services for a considerable amount. It became hugely popular after home renovation reality shows started airing.
3. Importance of Staging
The basic rule in any business is to make the product attractive so that it can be sold fast for profit. The rule applies to the real estate business as well. Once you have decided to put up your house for sale, you need to make it look presentable.
As already said, you can hire real estate agents to help you fix the basics and eliminate the clutter.
4. Is Staging Necessary?
Yes, selling your house at a higher price is necessary. By staging, you do the necessary TLC to make your house look more secure and comfy.
But, some might go overboard by renovating the house completely, hoping for a decent buyer. News flash: potential home buyers pay more attention to the necessities and the living space than the fancy fixtures and tasteful furniture.
5. Real Estate Agent-Your New Best Friend
As staging is really important, you should consult with a savvy realtor to know the neighborhood pulse and the recent trends in the real estate market. They will advise you regarding the necessary repairs and things to ignore in your house.
6. What Needs to Be Fixed When Selling a House?
6.1. Interior
6.1.1. Ceilings and Walls
This is the most basic repair of all. Before listing your house for sale, re-paint the walls and repair minor scratches and holes. You should also check for any water seepage in your ceiling, but on the safer side, re-paint the ceiling, too.
Pro Tip: Always opt for lighter colors when painting your house, as they make it look big and well-lit.
6.1.2. HVAC
Repairing your Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System (HVAC) is very important before putting up your house for sale. As this is one of the basic features, the potential buyers will be very interested in the house’s room temperature.
So, you must always ensure that it works well and is free of leaks. If you have no idea, hire an HVAC technician to do the job.
6.1.3. Electric Panel
You must check the house’s electric panel for any damages, as faulty wiring is a major letdown. Also, check the house’s wiring to see whether it is up to date and meets the safety requirements. Contact an electrician to clear your doubts if you are unsure what to check or repair.
6.1.4. Water Heater
Faulty water heaters can be a serious fire hazard. So, you should ensure that the heater works well and that all its wires and pipes are insulated. Also, if you are not able to check it, you should call your local plumber to assess the appliance.
6.1.5. Smoke Detector
Smoke Detectors are one of the basic features in a house that should stay up to date. A good smoke detector should be less than 10 years old and should detect even the tiniest particles in the air. So, make sure they are working and change their batteries whenever necessary.
6.1.6. Leaky Faucets
If your faucets are leaking, you can repair or replace them. A word of caution: do not replace your entire sanitary ware to make it look trendy.
6.2. Exterior
6.2.1. Basic Foundation
You must check the overall structure of your house by inspecting if there are any cracks in walls, both interior and exterior. If you are in an earthquake-prone area, double-check whether your house is earthquake-resistant and has passed the necessary standards. If you have no idea, consult a local contractor.
6.2.2. Roof
This is one of the basic features of a house that requires maintenance. If you see any cracks or holes, you can try repairing it yourself. You can also check whether any water seepage might weaken the house’s foundation.
6.2.3. Chimneys and Fireplaces
When inspecting your roof, you should always check for any chimney blockage or cracks. You can also check whether the fireplace area is well-equipped to avoid recurrent expenses.
6.2.4. Exterior Doors
No major overhaul is needed; you can varnish the doors and repair the faulty hinges. The same goes for garage doors, too. Make sure it works properly and does not get stuck. You can also repair any tears or cracks in yard doors, as it will decrease the risk of wild animals entering your house.
6.2.5. Yard
You can consult with your landscaper to make some minor changes. Before selling your house, you must consider trimming overgrown branches and leaves, mowing your lawn, and constructing a good fence with a fresh coat of paint. It is unnecessary to make it look aesthetic, which might cost a lot.
7. What Not to Be Fixed When Selling a House?
7.1. Fixtures and Fittings
It might sound tempting to renovate all of your rooms so your house might be sold at the highest price. But doing this will empty your wallets fast! You should not change the room’s fixtures and fittings just to make the house look straight out of a magazine! You can do any minor repairs. Otherwise, you can skip this.
7.2. Furniture
If you want to sell your furniture along with the house, just leave it as it is. As already said, you need not buy new furniture to make your house look trendy; if there are any broken ones, just get rid of them.
7.3. Home Appliances
Same as furniture, do not buy new appliances just to replace the old ones. You can repair or throw them out if they are not functioning well. Psychologically speaking, buyers are more interested in the rooms’ space than the appliances that come with the house.
7.4. Smart Tech
You need not upgrade your security system with high-end gadgets to get your house sold fast. You can check whether they are working properly or leave them there. Or you can even remove it if the new owner wants to try something new.
7.5. Window Shades
If your window shades are broken, don’t try to fix them or buy a new one. Just get rid of them, as you might spend a lot fixing this.
7.6. Floors
Replacing the entire flooring is not necessary, as it might make you lose money. Also, do not change floors just because the color does not ‘fit’ with the rest of the house. Just repair any cracked or broken tiles. You can polish the hardwood floors. Otherwise, just leave it as it is. If you have carpets, dry clean or remove them if they cannot be spruced up.
7.7. Cabinets
The same goes for cabinets, too. There is no need to overhaul them completely. Just replace anything that is cracked, chipped, or loose hinges. You can do it yourself or consult your local carpenter to repair it.
8. F.A.Q
8.1. What is Staging?
Staging is the process where a house is renovated and decluttered to make it look more presentable to potential home buyers. It is usually done by real estate agents who provide end-to-end services for a considerable amount. It became hugely popular after home renovation reality shows started airing.
8.2. Should I consult a real estate agent?
Yes, you must. You should consult with a savvy realtor to know the neighborhood pulse and the recent trends in the real estate market. They will advise you regarding the necessary repairs and things to ignore in your house. They have good field experience, so their insights will be really helpful when you decide to sell your house.
8.3. What are some of the things that have to be fixed in my house?
You must fix leaky ceilings, check your plumbing and electrical set-up, and mow your lawn. You must also check the ventilation support attached to your house. Along with these, you must check the chimney and the fireplace, too.
8.4. What are some of the things that need not be fixed in my house?
Changing decorative features like fixtures and buying modern furniture or art pieces are not really necessary. Also, you need not change the flooring or cabinets unless they are damaged beyond repair.
8.5. I know the basics of repairing. Can I DIY?
If you know the basics, you can. But you should always consult with your realtor and other professionals before trying out something new.
9. Bottom Line
Selling your beautiful home can be pretty stressful. But if you make smart plans, you can easily get higher returns when selling it. Also, the above-mentioned tips are just to get a concrete idea.
If you maintain your house regularly by adhering to safety measures, you need not spend so much money before selling your house. Always consult with your realtor before taking further action. We hope this article on “What Not To Fix When Selling A House” was able to answer all your questions.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty