There are many benefits to repairing a house before selling it. When your house is in good condition, it becomes much easier for you to attract buyers, just as it becomes easier for them to get approved for a mortgage.
A well-maintained house is likely to carry a higher value to potential buyers. It is particularly advantageous if your primary strategy is to sell my house fast. However, repairing and upgrading your entire house is not a good idea without enough time and money for a complete overhaul. You must focus your efforts on what matters the most to potential buyers.
If you’ve been wondering what to fix up when selling a house, here is where you should get started.
1. Water damage
If your house has mould, mildew, rot, or ugly stains caused by water damage, fixing these issues should be one of your priorities.
Even if these problems don’t seem too important or visible, you can expect them to catch the eye of potential buyers. And it could be enough to make them change their mind about buying your house.
Remember that some types of mould can be toxic to humans, so even if getting rid of it is costly, it will be a worthy investment. Your house will be much easier to sell without nasty water damage.
2. Plumbing issues
If your house has water damage, it also probably has plumbing issues. And yes, it’s important to get those issues fixed up when selling a house.
Whether it’s a leaky pipe, a clogged drain, or a toilet that won’t flush properly, it’s best to call a plumber to the rescue before potential buyers visit your house.
Plus, if the plumbing fixtures in your kitchen or bathroom are loose, rusty, or outdated, replacing them with new ones might be a good idea.
3. The kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a house. If you have remodeled your kitchen just a few years ago, you probably have nothing to worry about. But if your kitchen looks outdated and requires a lot of repairs, you need to do something about it.
Most buyers will not be interested in buying a house with a kitchen with broken appliances, broken cabinet doors, rusty fixtures, and heavily damaged countertops.
At the very least, you need to take care of minor repairs before you try to sell your house.
4. Electrical issues
Most buyers are also not interested in buying a house with electrical problems. Any problem that could potentially cause a fire needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
But even small issues should be fixed. You might just be used to these quirks if you have a light switch that doesn’t work properly or a few sockets with no cover. But these issues might look unappealing to someone visiting your house for the first time and even cause concern.
5. Major appliances
Major appliances are another thing to fix up when selling a house.
You will have difficulty convincing someone to buy your house if the furnace is broken during a cold winter. A broken air conditioning system or water heater will make buyers think twice before making an offer for your house.
However, if they are old but still functional, you shouldn’t bother replacing them with new ones. Only repair or replace a major appliance if it’s not working properly.
6. The floors
It might also be a good idea to fix the floors of your house if they are damaged or very dirty.
If your carpeting shows a lot of ugly stains, for example, you should invest in professional carpet cleaning to make it look spotless.
If your floors are made from hardwood, laminate, or tile, it might be possible to do a few repairs instead of replacing your entire flooring. For example, a hardwood floor with unsightly scratches could easily be fixed with the right colour of repair marker.
7. The walls
Simply fixing up the walls of your house could be enough to attract potential buyers. If you have walls that clash with our outdated colours, give them a fresh coat of neutral paint to instantly upgrade their look.
Before painting a wall, just make sure to properly fix any hole, crack or imperfection you notice. It will make a big difference to anyone who visits your house.
Of course, if the exterior walls of your house suffer from imperfections or peeling paint, be sure to fix these issues as well. It will help improve your house’s curb appeal, especially if you do a bit of landscaping.
After all, if potential buyers don’t think your house looks good on the outside, they might not want to go inside and get a chance to see everything you have fixed.
