Would you like to sell your worn-out home and move on, but extensive repairs are out of the question? If time and/or money are holding you back, there are a few options. You could sell your home as-is. Other options include completing just minor repairs, or, you could focus on only the big-ticket items buyers are most concerned about.
If you are already thinking about moving, you probably don’t want to get into lengthy projects either. Here are some good options for quickly selling a house that needs repairs.
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Sell as-is
Selling your house “as is” is just as it sounds- you are indicating up front that you won’t be spending time on repairs. In the selling process, we can include an “as-is addendum.” A buyer may still request an inspection, and they may still ask for items to be corrected, but your agent can reinforce the expectation that no major repairs will be made.
You should expect a lower sale price when you sell a house as-is, compared to a similar home that has been updated or completed maintenance projects before listing.
Inspect and disclose everything: You may want to consider having a pre-inspection. This is something you pay for rather than the buyer, but it does a couple of things. It gives you an advance view of all of the deficiencies of your home so there are no surprises for you later during the negotiation process. You can also disclose everything found on the report. An investor, home flipper or DIY’er looking for fixer-upper opportunities will find this useful when deciding whether or not to bid on your property.
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Make some cosmetic updates
There are some easy things you can do before selling your house that make a big difference. Many of these items can be tackled over a couple of weekends before putting your house on the market.
- Apply a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color, light beige or light gray
- Remove old caulk and redo caulk in bathrooms and kitchens
- Thoroughly clean the home, including windows
- Dispose of clutter, donate items you don’t need, and store other items out of sight
- Improving lighting by adding fixtures or replacing bulbs
- Having the carpets professionally cleaned
- Remove yard waste and rubbish from outside and clean up the yard
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Complete a few home improvements
If you have some funds to invest, take on just the top home improvement projects. You may avoid a sticking point that would otherwise kill a deal. Here are the top projects worth doing, that are most critical to buyers.
- Replacing or repairing the roof
- Updating the electrical panel
- Installing a new water heater
- Addressing termite, mold, or water damage
- Repairing pipes, sewer connection, or septic system
- Updating the HVAC system
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Sell your home without completing repairs
Selling to a cash buyer or investor is another way to skip the renovations. Let us know if this is something you are interested in. We may have the perfect investor looking for a house like yours.
How we’ll market your fixer-upper
Our team not only focuses on beautiful lakeshore homes. We work extensively with first-time and move up home buyers that often are willing to put a little sweat-equity into a home.
Our Homes and Lakeshore team will:
- Focus on the positive features of your home and lot, such as floor plan, lot size or proximity to amenities
- Price it appropriately, showing you what similar properties to yours have sold for and what price adjustments would be made (up or down) in pricing your home.
- Use our multi-layered marketing tools to expose your property to the most buyers possible.
- Help you understand the market (spoiler alert: it’s a great time to sell), and keep you updated throughout the process.
Even if your home is a little rough around the edges, there are several different options for you to sell your home quickly. Just get in touch to discuss the possibilities.
