Selling a house that needs repairs

Should I Fix Up My Home or Try to Sell My House As Is?

Selling my Home in As Is Condition

Is the house is need of major repairs?  Can you afford to fix up your house and still have room to sell without being under water and requiring to short sale my house?  These are questions you have to ask yourself.  If you cannot afford or don’t want to fix up your house, you can usually contact a “we buy houses” company in your area that will make a cash offer and take care of all the repairs.  These companies specialize in buying ugly houses or handyman specials, fixing them up, and reselling them in brand new condition.  This is a great way to sell my house fast.

Do Home Buyers Want Fixers or Fixed Up Homes?

Some buyers are looking for a fixer upper that they can put their own finishing touches on, while other buyers are looking to find a home that they can move into and have no work needed.  It depends on your area and real estate market conditions.  Most fixer buyers are willing to do simple repairs such as paint the walls, put in new carpeting or replace light fixtures. They typically don’t want to rebuild a foundation or move walls.

Before Fixing Up Your Home

Weigh the cost of  improvements against the home’s market value after the repairs or upgrades are completed. If an upgrade won’t return the investment, such an improvement might not be worth it. Before you decide to lift the roof and install skylights in the master suite, realize that kitchens and baths are where most buyers spend their time.

Here are 10 minimum improvements to make before selling your home:

• Patch all holes and cracks in walls and ceilings.
• Fix all broken appliances and HVAC systems.
• Repair leaky faucets.
• Replace worn carpeting.
• Repaint dark or marred walls with neutral paint (not white).
• Replace broken windows.
• Repair the roof.
• Change out dated light fixtures / ceiling fans.
• Replace old linens / window coverings.
• Fix code violations.