Most home sellers understand the value of having a well-maintained and upgraded property can increase its selling price, but it is essential to identify which improvements will pay off and which won’t.
Replacing an older window with a new one can be seen as worthwhile improvement, while painting walls a different hue won’t.
1. Damaged Windows
If you are wondering what not to fix when selling a house, many sellers make the mistake of spending too much money on repairs or renovations prior to selling their home, only for these improvements not to bring any significant return on investment and could actually discourage potential buyers from purchasing it.
Replacing windows may be costly and time-consuming, yet may not add significant value to a property. Buyers typically prioritize properties with clean and functional designs.
Cosmetic defects typically aren’t worth spending money or energy to rectify; rather, use that time and energy on more important repairs instead. For more information on what repairs should not be addressed when selling a house, click here.
2. Broken Doors
Homeowners invest both time and money in home improvement projects to make their properties more appealing to potential buyers, but it’s essential that when preparing to sell, only worthwhile improvements should be undertaken; other enhancements might add no real value or even reduce its appeal.
Major repairs like electrical wiring issues or roof leaks must be addressed prior to listing, while minor cosmetic upgrades like painting may not always pay off in terms of selling potential. Cosmetic fixes could even turn away buyers and prevent them from making an offer on your home.
3. Cracked Floors
As soon as it comes time to selling your home, the to-do list quickly grows long. While some efforts may provide an adequate return-on-investment, others can prove costly or unnecessary.
Painting your home with trendy hues or updating out-of-style window treatments won’t attract most buyers; they may actually turn them off. Instead, focus on small projects that make an impactful statement such as weeding flowerbeds and painting your front door to increase curb appeal.
Consult with a realtor to assess which cosmetic improvements will pay off and which may be time and money wasters.
4. Broken Appliances
House repairs that don’t add enough value aren’t always worth their expense; for example, painting over brightly-colored walls or landscaping with harsh lines doesn’t justify their expense.
Replacing outdated appliances won’t do much to increase a home’s appeal; buyers often prefer selecting their own style of appliances and prefer secondhand options. Furthermore, trying to resolve isolated plumbing or electrical problems yourself may scare off buyers and consume time during the selling process; rather than try fixing these problems yourself, simply disclose these in the seller’s disclosure and let the new owners address them as needed later.
5. Broken Plumbing
Some repairs should be completed prior to selling your home, while other upgrades may not warrant the effort. Frayed electrical wires, leaky pipes and broken appliances can turn away potential buyers and lengthen the selling process.
Galvanized pipes can corrode and leak over time, so switching over to copper, CVPC or Pex pipes could save money in the long run.
However, buyers should be capable of managing minor electrical, plumbing and gas issues on their own. Instead of fixing these problems yourself, it is better to disclose them so buyers can select upgrades according to their personal tastes and budgets.
6. Damaged Electrical Wiring
An older electrical wiring can pose a fire risk and threaten a sale if lenders or home insurers require the seller to replace it. Pre-listing inspections should be conducted to make sure the system complies with modern standards.
However, some issues don’t warrant incurring the expense of fixing before selling, says Upton. Aside from any fire hazards present, problems like upside-down outlets or broken light switches won’t likely put off buyers as much as more serious problems would.
