Articles and Advice

What to Repair Before Listing Your Home

Getting your home ready to list for sale is rarely a matter of massive upgrades and renovations. It's more often about a few repairs that will make a noticeable difference, while others can wait. Knowing the difference can save you both time and money.

Start With What Buyers Are Likely to Notice

Put yourself in the shoes of a buyer walking up to your home for the first time. Chipped paint, a faulty screen, and a light fixture that no longer works are all things that can turn off a buyer before they've even seen the rest of the house. These are the kinds of visible issues worth addressing first.

Get the Little Things Fixed

Small issues can have a big impact on a buyer's impression of the home and may also come up during an inspection. A leaky tap, loose doorknob, or window that sticks may seem minor, but they can become points of discussion during negotiations.

Quick and inexpensive fixes like these are often worth handling before the home is listed. If something is likely to come up during an inspection anyway, it may be easier to repair it on your own time and within your own budget rather than dealing with it once an offer is on the table.

Think About the Value of Each Repair

Some repairs offer more value than others. Upgrades and repairs to kitchens and bathrooms, along with larger-scale work involving the roof, plumbing or furnace, may matter more to buyers because they can affect safety, comfort, and long-term costs.

Eavestroughs are another area worth checking. If freeze-thaw cycles have caused them to pull away from the fascia, water may run down the side of the house instead of being directed away from the foundation. Larger issues, such as foundation repairs, should also be evaluated carefully rather than ignored simply because they may not produce an obvious return at resale.

Don't Upgrade Beyond Your Local Market

Keep the local market in mind before making major upgrades. Buyers may not be willing to pay substantially more for improvements that go well beyond what is typical for comparable homes in the area.

Ask your agent about recent comparable sales and look at similar homes online or in person. This can give you a better sense of which improvements buyers in your area are likely to value before you spend money on major repairs or upgrades.

Ask Your Agent for a Second Opinion

Before making repairs, ask your agent to walk through the home with you and offer a fresh perspective. An experienced agent can help you identify where your time and money may be best spent, from furnace or electrical repairs to smaller cosmetic improvements.

A second opinion from your agent or another trusted professional can also draw attention to things you may have stopped noticing, such as a loose banister or a sticking door. Make a list, prioritize what needs attention, and keep records for any repairs that involve a significant expense.

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What to Repair Before Listing Your Home

Start With What Buyers Are Likely to Notice

Get the Little Things Fixed

Think About the Value of Each Repair

Don't Upgrade Beyond Your Local Market

Ask Your Agent for a Second Opinion

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