Repairs Before Selling: Should I Fix My House Before Selling?

If you’ve decided to sell your house, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed with all you have to…
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If you’ve decided to sell your house, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed with all you have to do. So if you’re thinking “I’ve decided to sell my house in Fresno County… now what?” Well, you need to start getting your home ready to show it to potential buyers. There are some reputable companies that buy homes at great prices but your house needs to be ready for selling. While many people don’t want to put any more money into their house to make repairs or changes if they’re selling it, there are a few minor repairs and changes you should consider making to help your home sell faster and at a better price.

Fix damaged flooring.

Flooring is one aspect of a home that always catches potential buyers’ eyes. So if your flooring isn’t in the best condition, it might be a good idea to make some minor repairs or upgrades. For carpet or linoleum that is worn and outdated, replacing it with new flooring is the best way to go. If it can fit in your budget, consider replacing flooring with hardwoods—while this can be pricey, it can increase the resale value. And for flooring that’s already hardwood, it can be refinished. While flooring isn’t always easy to keep in good condition, you want your flooring to look nice if you’re going to attract buyers. 

Add a fresh coat of paint.

Another repair to make before selling your house is paint—over the years, paint can become faded and even chipped. If this is the case, it’s important to add a fresh coat of new paint. And if you have a room that is brightly colored or even a dark color, you may want to consider painting over it with something lighter. Painting with light and neutral colors can be appealing to potential buyers as opposed to dark colors. Light colors can help brighten an area and can help potential buyers visualize how they would decorate a room more easily. While it’s not necessary to repaint every single room, focus on rooms with chipping paint and outdated or dark colors.

Decorate with today’s style.

Speaking of decorating, you may want to focus on how your home is decorated before putting it on the market. You should de-personalize your home but that doesn’t mean you should have blank walls and empty shelves. There are plenty of reasons to invest in wall art and other decor for your home. From fine art pieces to decorative shelves, art can create a positive atmosphere —when people are surrounded by beautiful works of art, they will feel happier, more energetic, and more motivated. So consider purchasing a few simple canvas prints of landscapes or even abstract art. Adding some modern artwork to your home can give it the edge it needs to stand out to buyers.

Focus on the exterior.

If you’re going to make any repairs or changes at all to your house, they should be on the outside. The exterior of a home is the first thing potential buyers see—and if the exterior isn’t in good condition or appealing, they’re not going to want to even look at the inside. So make sure the exterior of your home is in good condition. You should cut the grass, do some simple landscaping, and even power wash the siding. Also, make sure the roof is in ideal condition because not many buyers want to buy a house that has a poor roof. Overall, focus on the exterior and make sure your house looks welcoming to potential buyers.

Many sellers don’t want to put any more money into their home for repairs or changes than they have to, which is understandable. But without making any repairs, you might not get the best price possible for the house. So consider making these few simple changes and repairs to your home before selling to ensure you’re attracting the right buyers.