Save Your Money: 13 Repairs You Don’t Need To Make Before Selling Your Home
Written by
Cynthia Measom
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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If you’re thinking about selling your home but wondering about making some repairs before putting it on the market, you might want to save your money. According to experts, certain repairs are better left alone.
“Some of these may include small cosmetic imperfections, like chipped paint or a slightly loose doorknob,” said Mike Qiu, owner of Good As Sold Home Buyers and a licensed real estate agent in the state of Washington. “While these issues may not significantly impact the overall functionality or aesthetics of your home, there are practical reasons why you might choose not to prioritize them. One consideration is the cost-benefit analysis. Spending money on fixing every minor flaw may not yield a proportional increase in the sale price.”
Save your money. Here are 13 repairs you don’t need to make before selling your home.
Items That Don’t Need To Be Repaired Before Selling Your Home
Michael Hanna, The Cooler Real Estate Agent with Howard Hanna Real Estate, said that the following items are some that he thinks can be included in the “don’t fix” list for sellers — especially if they have limited income or limited abilities to accomplish these tasks pre-listing.
- Broken window screens or missing window screens
- Cracked or broken floor tile
- Cracked or broken wall tiles or bath tiles
- Cracked or loose asphalt in a driveway — although resealing can be a good, quick short- term repair.
- Garage door openers that are not functioning.
- Garage doors that are not operating up and down
- Dishwashers that are not functioning
- Non-dented range hoods that are not functioning or microwave range hoods that are not functioning
- Humidifiers on furnaces that are not functioning
- Carpeting that is dirty, torn or in poor shape
Charlotte Granville, a home remodeling specialist at Fixr, said that, in general, you don’t need to make the following repairs before putting your home on the market.
- Minor damage to decks or fencing
- Small wear-and-tear on walls or door frames
- An outlet socket that’s non-functional
Why Is It Unnecessary To Repair These Items?
Granville said, for example, that while minor cracks in the pavement may affect a home’s curb appeal slightly, they are not likely to be a dealbreaker for an interested buyer. As far as repairs to the deck and fencing, she said that it can cost around $50 to $250 per linear foot to repair deck railings, which is an investment you won’t necessarily see a return on upon selling your home.
“These technical details often don’t tend to be important when buyers are interested in a home, so you can get away with skipping these repairs,” Granville said.
“Some of these are relatively inexpensive, fixes or repairs,” said Hanna. “The fact that they are inexpensive doesn’t hurt a seller as much, although it does imply that there might be other latent defects that would follow the trend of these types of items.”
So What’s the Downside To Neglecting Minor Repairs?
“While some imperfections may be overlooked, a home with numerous visible issues may create a negative impression,” shared Qui. “Buyers may wonder if there are underlying maintenance issues or if the property hasn’t been well cared for. This can potentially lead to lower offers or longer time on the market.
“Moreover, in a competitive real estate market, where buyers have multiple options, a well-maintained and move-in-ready home can stand out. Neglecting minor repairs may make your property less appealing compared to others in a similar price range.”
Get a Second Opinion From Your Realtor
If you’re still unsure of whether you should pay to have certain things in your home repaired, get a professional, in-person opinion.
“Too often we think something needs to be replaced or repaired,” said Robert Taylor, The Real Estate Solutions Guy. “However, it’s helpful to get a second opinion from your real estate agent. Many times we walk through a home with a seller and they’re pointing out all of the wrong things they want to fix. So much depends upon the condition of the rest of the home and where a specific repair should fall in the list of priorities. Getting a second opinion can help you see what buyers will see and prioritize your repairs.”
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