There’s so much information about what TO fix when selling a house, but today I’ll be flipping the script just a bit and I’ll be addressing what NOT to fix when selling a house, especially for homes in “not so good” condition. I’m a local Realtor® just north of Orlando that’s helped sellers sell over $11M dollars of real estate this last year alone and I’ve seen home sellers make all sorts of mistakes.

These mistakes are often born out of a sense of being overwhelmed by the ramifications of making, or not making repairs. So today I’ll be addressing the top 6 things that sellers should NOT fix when selling a house, and then I’ll be addressing the single greatest mistake sellers make when selling a home.

1. First, don’t replace your old appliances if you’re thinking about selling your home. If you’ve got old appliances, your kitchen is probably also dated, and other major components of your home likely match the appliances. Hot water heaters are common insurance issues; however, sometimes the buyers won’t fuss about it. Yes, you may end up replacing it anyways, but holding off could save you $1500 to $2,000 bucks.
2. Next, don’t replace those windows. Yes, they may be ugly, and I’m sure they’re not efficient. Perhaps you can feel the heat coming in through them while your AC is blasting away. Windows are VERY expensive. You can easily drop $10,000 on a modestly priced home and it’s unlikely that you’ll recover that money when you sell your house.
3. Don’t replace your driveway or walkway to remove cosmetic cracks. It’s true that curb appeal is a big deal, and that curb appeal can add thousands of dollars to your home’s value, but I’ve never seen minor driveway or walkway cracks have an impact on the sale for one of my sellers’ homes. Here in Central Florida, our homes are built on sand, so these cracks are common and most buyers, or their Realtors® are aware of that fact.
4. Next, don’t stress building codes that you’ve been grandfathered into. It’s true that building codes are meant to provide a better, maybe safer, or more energy efficient home, but if a home was built in 1975, it isn’t REQUIRED or expected to have all the latest and greatest upgrades. Plus, homebuyers are aware of the age of the home BEFORE they come see your home, so don’t act like you can change what your home is. Home inspectors are well aware of building codes, and they inspect older homes every day, so it might not be necessary. Even if your home isn’t grandfathered in, you might not be required to fix it.
5. Don’t spend thousands of dollars to finish that room upgrade if it won’t match the rest of the home. I get it. Sometimes, life happens. We get ambitious about replacing that old shower, but then we end up just living with it, because we can use the other bath. Maybe there’s been the loss of a loved one, or your health has declined. Now it’s ten years later and it seems like the entire house needs upgrading. Of course, this one is hugely dependent upon your life situation, so ask your Realtor® about this one. Sometimes home sellers just don’t have this kind of dough. But sometimes dumping $50,000 into a home might not net them a gain of $50,000, so it’s sometimes just better to avoid it. Speaking of asking your Realtor®, if you’ve got real estate needs anywhere here in Florida, pick up the phone and give me a call.
6. If your home needs major upgrading, don’t go spending thousands on cosmetic flaws. Now, I’m not saying that a fresh coat of paint, some landscaping, or basic cleaning is not necessary. But sometimes painting the entire home because the ceiling near the AC vents is dirty, or you go replacing the drywall because of some denting is not going to return the investment you make. Sometimes, especially with dated homes, the home is what it is, dumping in cash won’t improve the sale price of your home.

So, we’ve addressed the top 6 things NOT to fix when selling a home based on mistakes I’ve seen so many home sellers make over the years. But the single greatest mistake sellers make is not speaking with a Realtor® EARLY on in this process, BEFORE making repairs or upgrades. I’m often getting calls AFTER a seller has spent thousands of dollars, often unnecessarily.

Of course, it usually makes the place LOOK better, but it sometimes doesn’t change the fact that they may have already wasted a ton of money. Speaking with a Realtor® usually won’t cost you anything at all, and if you don’t like their advice…simply don’t use it, but at least you’re armed with a professional’s opinion. For a video on What NOT to fix when selling your home, watch my YouTube video.

Published on April 22. 2024 / no comments.