IN THIS POST
- Partial Renovations
- Cosmetic Flaws
- Minor Electrical Issues
- Cracks in the Driveway
- Repainting With a Trendy Colour
- Removable Features
- Older Appliances
Selling a house can be a long and daunting experience. Not only do you have to give frequent tours of the place to prospective buyers but also spend a significant amount of time adding to its curb appeal and undertaking various renovation projects in a bid to increase the value of your property. However, did you know that you are not obliged to spend thousands of bucks to give your house a complete makeover before putting it on the market? Since many first-time sellers believe they need to renovate every last inch of their property, we have put together a list of what not to fix when selling a house to help them out.
As we all know, selling a house in poor condition can bring down its value. Nevertheless, hiring a professional to fix the cosmetic flaws or adding a highly customised room to the house is not the wisest decision either. Many real estate flippers, who make money by fixing up homes and reselling them for a higher price, usually focus on repairing structural damage as well as addressing any plumbing or electrical problem before listing it for sale. They don’t focus too much on fixing things that don’t matter in the long run – and neither should you.
Furthermore, before planning to update your house, you must ask yourself if the repairs are actually worth the cost. You can also check out our comprehensive guide on costly home improvement projects that don’t add value to your home for some guidance. The idea here is to not spend more than the projected gain in the added value.
It is also worth mentioning that you cannot change many of the key factors affecting property value – such as location and square footage. Of course, there are a plethora of home fixes you must complete before selling, including resolving structural issues and landscaping the garden. But things such as highly personalised décor and partial renovations don’t make much of a difference in the overall price of your property.
Since we have already discussed what to spend money on when selling a house, let’s look at the things you can skip fixing when putting your property for sale.
What Not to Fix When Selling a House
Here are a few things that don’t make much of a difference to the value of your home.
Partial Renovations
If you are going to remodel a part of your home, make sure to give the space a complete makeover or let it be – especially when it comes to your kitchen or bathrooms. More often than not, sellers try to make their outdated cooking space more aesthetically appealing by swapping the old countertops with something new and elegant while completely forgoing the other fixtures. As a result, they end up with a kitchen that has brand-new countertops but old cabinets and damaged flooring, which often does more harm than good.
The same goes with bathrooms. Replacing your old and dated bathtub with a state-of-the-art walk-in shower may sound appealing, but unless you update your flooring and other fixtures as well, your space is bound to look underwhelming and visually confusing. In other words, unless you are going to update every element in the room, it is advised to skip the minor updates.
Cosmetic Flaws
The debate between investing in a new house vs. an old house is not new. Many buyers prefer acquiring new properties due to their lower cost of maintenance and relatively modern designs. On the other hand, many people prefer buying older houses as they are generally more spacious and much more affordable.
That being said, when a prospective buyer walks into an old home, they never expect it to be in a completely flawless or pristine condition. They know someone has been living there for quite some time, so inconsequential cosmetic flaws such as slightly scuffed floors and chipped paint are likely not going to deter them from buying the property. However, they will most certainly walk away if your house shows visible signs of water damage indicating out-of-date plumbing or bowed walls, which are usually a result of structural issues.
Minor Electrical Issues
Fixing electrical issues is usually at the top of the list of what to fix before selling a house. While this stands true for major repairs such as faulty wiring or a malfunctioning circuit, sellers don’t have to worry about fixing the wobbly sockets or the odd light switch that does not turn anything on. Remember, these minor problems won’t turn away any potential buyers and neither would they affect the overall value of your property.
When it comes to electrical issues, a good rule of thumb is to fix anything that might cause a fire hazard or show up in the inspection report. You can also consider replacing broken light fixtures if your budget allows. Otherwise, you can leave them be, as there is a good chance that the new owner of the house may want to upgrade the light fixtures according to their requirements and preferred style.
Hairline Cracks in the Driveway
There is no denying that visible cracks in a concrete driveway or porch can have a negative effect on the value of your property. If the surface looks extremely damaged, you can use these DIY steps to repair the concrete cracks. However, if your driveway only has a few hairline cracks that don’t pose any inconvenience, you don’t have to spend any time and money fixing them.
There is a good chance your prospective buyer won’t even notice these minor flaws during the house tour. So, as long as your driveway and porch don’t present any safety risks, your property will likely impress the visitors.
On a side note, don’t forget to check out our tips on how to boost the appeal of a boring concrete porch.
Repainting the Home a Trendy Colour
It may be tempting to give your house a modern makeover by switching up its colour palette to something trendier, but it’s rarely a good idea to do so when you are putting your house on the market. The main reason many property experts warn sellers against repainting their walls a trendy hue is because it may have an opposite impact on prospective buyers than what the homeowners intended. For starters, the buyers may not be fond of the colours that are all the rage right now. After all, not everyone is a huge fan of the Pantone Colour of the Year.
Secondly, you cannot fool buyers by sprucing up your walls with a fresh coat of paint when the rest of your home looks dull and dreary. However, if your wallpapers are peeling off or the paint has started to chip in several places, you can consider choosing a neutral colour palette for your home. This will make your space look less personalised and allow the buyers to envision what it would be like to live there.
Removable Features
The next item on our list of what not to fix when selling a house is removable features.
Not everyone has the same taste in interior design. While some prefer minimalistic décor with a few contemporary pieces and sophisticated fixtures, others like to add a splash of colour and brightness to every room through statement pieces and modern furnishing. Therefore, if you are planning to update your window fixtures or incorporate an accent wall into your living area, you may want to take a step back and reassess the situation.
Most buyers tend to replace removable furniture after acquiring a house. Therefore, the money you spend on these upgrades will pretty much go to waste. Similarly, unless you are planning to include your furniture in the sale of the house, you don’t have to worry about upgrading it to impress buyers either.
If you truly want to grab the interest of potential buyers visiting your property, you should consider decluttering it. Doing so will not only make your space look visually appealing and spacious but also give you a head start on what to take to your new home and what to donate. Feel free to check out our tips on how to declutter your home in a weekend for some much-needed inspiration.
Older Appliances
So, how perfect does your house have to be to sell? While there is no one answer to that question, the truth is that buyers don’t expect to walk into a perfect house. Hence, if you are wondering what you should fix to sell your house, consider refraining from replacing your outdated electronic appliances with the latest models – unless they are completely broken or affect the aesthetics of your space.
Even if the appliances in your home are out-of-order, you can always replace them with their second-hand substitutes for a fraction of the amount it would have cost you to buy newer ones. You can start your search from online e-commerce platforms or even visit local stores that deal with used appliances for lower prices.
Want a Second Opinion on What to Fix Before Selling a House?
Are you still on the fence about what not to fix when selling a house? If yes, your real estate agent might be able to help you out.
Real estate agents know exactly what the buyers are looking for, which means they can assist you in determining which home improvement projects should be at the top of your list. While all realtors and estate agents encourage sellers to declutter their homes and improve the curb appeal, the ones that are the best at their jobs always guide their clients toward the cost and time-effective ways to add value to their property.
To conclude, selling a house in poor condition is never a good idea. But that doesn’t mean you should put a dent in your wallet to make your home look like something right out of an interior design magazine. It is also suggested to check out other houses for sale in your neighbourhood to determine if you need to improve certain aspects of your property.
Furthermore, sellers must keep in mind that every house is different, just like every real estate market. What may work in one neighbourhood or city may be considered unappealing or useless in another.
This brings us to the end of our guide on what not to fix when selling a house. If you have already put your property on the market but aren’t getting any good offers, our tips for selling your home quickly may come in handy.
Please stay connected to Zameen Blog to learn all about home fixes you must complete before selling as well as what to spend money on when selling a house. You can also share your ideas and comments with us by dropping an email at blog@zameen.com. Last but not least, make sure to visit our Facebook page and hit the like button to receive the latest updates about investment opportunities in your area.
