What Should You Fix Before You Sell?

I recently met with potential sellers who wanted me to take a look at their home and make recommendations as to what they should fix or remodel before they list their home. Like any sellers, they want to make the most money they can on the sale. Luckily for them, their home is in a very desirable part of San Diego, in a great location on a cul de sac with high-ranking schools in the area. It is an expensive area so they wanted to make sure that they would meet buyer expectations.

All sellers want to make the most they can on the sale of their homes, and the question they all ask is the same: what should we do to make our home look the best it can in order to attract buyers and get the best price possible?

My advice usually veers toward not spending a lot of money to prepare a home for sale. I have written numerous blogs over the years about ways sellers can make their homes look better without emptying bank accounts.  Here are some factors to consider so that your home shows in the best light possible:

1.  Location. First and foremost, the location of your home may determine how much money you need to spend in order to have a sale-ready property. If you live in a desirable location obviously that is a plus, and it will mean you may not have to do much to get your home in tip-top shape. Discuss with your agent how your location may or may not determine the extent of pre-sale preparations.

2.  Local market and neighboring homes. The hyper-local market obviously has a big impact on what a seller needs to do to get a home ready. If all the homes in the neighborhood are remodeled and upgraded, and the sellers’ home is not, then that is a consideration. However, a seller should not always assume that just because their home is the ugliest on the block they need to dump money into it in order to sell – it really depends on the the market. Like many local markets today, if inventory is scarce it may not make a difference if a home needs TLC. Another consideration is that you cannot please every buyer – some may like wood floors, some tile, some carpeting – so it may make sense to let the new owners decide. Sellers really need to discuss these concerns with their agent, using all the local data and comparable sold properties available…things could go either way. Of course a cost analysis needs to be done for any work that is a consideration. There are also many ways to make the home look as appealing as possible without spending a lot of money.

3.  Eyesores and functionality issues. If a home has specific rooms or areas that really stand out as undesirable it may be worth it to address them, however that does not always mean spending a lot of money. For example, if a room is dark (which is not generally desirable), the sellers can consider inexpensive ways to brighten it up without adding windows or skylights. Lighter color paint and removing window treatments are just a few ideas.  Of course, it is all very project specific, so again it is a good idea to consult with your real estate agent or a home stager.

In the case of homes that were rented and not cared for, or homes that have pet stains and odors, it may make sense to replace carpeting or flooring, as odors are big red flags to most buyers. If there are items known to the seller to be in disrepair (for example, plumbing or electrical issues), I usually recommend taking care of those – it is important that all major systems function properly. If the fix is too expensive you will need to disclose and be prepared to lower your price. The key is to make the home as appealing to potential buyers as possible…if they know they will need to spend money to fix big issues it may be a turn-off. If a home potentially has multiple issues it may be a good idea to get a pre-sale inspection and address issues in the report. Of course, there are some homes that may need to be sold as-is, and priced accordingly.

4.  Smart alternatives. As alluded to above, there are many ways to really dress up a home for sale without breaking the bank – landscaping and paint are two of the best ideas. De-cluttering is a must. Brightening and cleaning are also imperative. For those properties that just need a little extra help, staging is terrific. Talk to your agent and consider your options before jumping into any expensive remodeling project or upgrade.

There are some inexpensive things you can do to really enhance your curb appeal – for ideas on staging click here. For other ideas click here.

It is important to remember that it is not always necessary to assume that you need to spend a lot of money to get your home sale-ready. Of course, every home is different and will have it’s own set of issues to conquer. But with a little creativity and likely not a lot of money, it is possible to present your home in the best light.