Accepted wisdom has it that when selling your house, it has to be in great condition, at least in better condition than similar houses in the immediate area. This can be true, but sellers often don’t have to make all the repairs and improvements they do and so could avoid some or much of the costs. Knowing what to fix and especially what not fix can help you avoid repair costs. At Coldwell Banker Holman Premier Realty, we have options for sellers to finance their up front repairs and pay when the property is closed. Our Beyond the Sale Guarantee can also help reduce the cost to the seller and update the home and increase its strength in the market, on us!
Consult a Top Local Agent Before Doing Anything
Before you do anything toward selling your house, you should consult a top, local agent. An experienced agent can help you avoid costs and make more money by guiding you in what repairs and upgrades are necessary and which ones you can skip to save money.
An experienced Real Estate Broker can guide a seller through the process of identifying what repairs would benefit the seller and make their property more marketable. That way you don’t spend a bunch of money on repairs that you didn’t have to do because they won’t help you sell or add much value to the home. The advantage of working with a local agent is that they can provide valuable insight on what will work, in the local market, to bring a good return on your investment so that you don’t lose money on unnecessary repairs.
A good agent may not be able to help you avoid all repair costs, but they can help you save time and money on determining if repairs are needed and which ones would assist in selling the home. To consult a Klamath Falls Real Estate Broker or to learn more, just call 541.884.1343
Know What You Should Not Fix
Similarly, knowing what you should not fix before selling your house can help you avoid a good many repair costs. The main ones are . . .
Cosmetic Flaws and Issues
Yes, you should take care of cosmetic issues that are easy and cost little to nothing, things like sprucing up the lawn and painting a few interior walls. Such things are easy and inexpensive and can have a big impact.
But some cosmetic flaws should be left alone because they just cost too much. These include replacing countertops or replacing hardwood floors with scratches. Buyers expect lived-in homes to have some wear and tear and many times will update these items on their own, to their liking after moving in.
Just be aware, though, that a lot of it depends on the local market – what buyers in that market expect. So, again, be sure to consult a local agent at 541.884.1343 to discuss the best option for selling your home.
Minor Electrical Issues
When selling your house, for financing and buyer home confidence, take care of major electrical problems such as old wiring and an outdated service panel. The home inspection will find these problems, and they will be negotiating leverage for the buyer.
Our Beyond the Sale Guarantee can repair minor electrical issues like dead outlets or cranky light switches. Again, reducing buyer leverage for a price reduction or repair credit etc..
Sell As-Is
There is an option for selling your house whereby you can avoid all repair costs. And that is to sell it as-is.
When listing and selling your house as-is, you are telling buyers that you are selling the house in its current condition without any repairs or improvements being made. A buyer who agrees to the as-is sale is willingly purchasing the house in its current state with full knowledge of its condition.
That “full knowledge of its condition” part is important. Even when selling your house as-is, you still have to disclose any and all problems and issues. It’s not a way to avoid sharing what you know, nor is it a way to get out of all negotiations. You just get to avoid the repair costs. The buyer is still able to do inspections in the transaction and determine if they are willing to move forward or not.
Still, selling as-is can be a viable way to sell your house when you don’t want to spend the money or don’t have the money or time for making repairs. You just have to go about it in the right way – which typically means working with a local agent to avoid legal issues.
Selling Your House and Avoiding High Repair Costs
So there are ways to cut down on repair costs when selling your house, and there is a way to avoid all repair costs. Just be sure you have an experienced agent in your corner either route you take. If you want to avoid high repair costs when selling your house in Klamath Falls, Oregon, contact us today at 541.884.1343