Should You Renovate Your House Before Selling

Published 07/27/2022 | Posted by Sophia Morales

Should you renovate your house before selling? Well, unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all answer to this question! And, why? Because it depends on many factors. For instance, it depends mostly on your home's and the market's conditions. Then, it also depends on whether you want to sell it fast or whether you want to sell it for the highest price possible.

If you do decide to relocate your home before selling, you will have to be ready to invest a lot of time, energy, money, and nerves into it! And, you will have to be prepared to do a lot of research to see what renovations will bring the most bang for your buck.

Finding out the answer to this question is difficult, but it is far from impossible! Especially as you have us to help you out. So, keep reading to help yourself find answers to some of your 'selling' questions.

What Renovations Are Worth Doing?

Without a doubt, if you want to sell your house fast and for the best price possible, you should make it look its best. Sometimes, that means renovating. But, what renovations are worth doing? That is, what renovations will get your money's worth?

According to the real estate specialists or the real estate agent you hired to help you sell your home, the only renovations worth doing are the small ones! For instance, you should fix the following:

Leaking faucets, showers, toilets
Repainting the interior
Fix cracks and scratches on the walls and floors
Fix loose tiles and floorboards
Reapply tile grout

It is all about the details! Be sure that making these small and inexpensive changes will make a lot of difference when the time comes to welcome potential buyers.

What Renovations Are an Absolute Must?

The previously mentioned small renovations are something you should do to show that you care about the house you are selling. They are something every buyer will appreciate. But, at the end of the day, they are not a must - they are just your goodwill.

However, some renovations are an absolute must. If you don't do them, well, the chances of you selling your house are relatively low. Those are things such as:

Leaking roof
Bowing walls
Pest infestations

Structural cracks

Homes with these problems are not safe to live in. And because of that, buyers will not even consider them. Thus, do your best to fix all the severe issues your house has before putting it on the market. But, don't do this by yourself - it can be pretty dangerous! Instead, hire a home inspector and then a contractor!

Moreover, it is also worth mentioning that, when selling your house, you need to look at your neighbors and their homes. When buying a house, buyers will look for homes that fit the neighborhood's description. For instance, if the whole area is into sustainable living, your home must also be a part of that. Thus, find some eco-friendly ideas to follow if you want to consider sustainable home improvement ideas when renovating.

What Doesn't Need to Be Renovated?

Now that you know what needs to be renovated let us tell you what doesn't. This list is a lot longer. And, it is longer for a good reason - most house renovations will not bring back your money or help you sell your house faster. So, avoid doing the following:

Renovating the entire kitchen
Renovating all the bathrooms

Adding an extra bathroom
Custom-made furniture
Making the master bedroom deluxe

Some areas of the house are better left unfinished! Just think about it - you can spend $10,000 on renovating your kitchen, just for the future buyer to tell you that it doesn't suit their style. Buyers will most likely redecorate everything once they move in, so there is no point in you making expensive upgrades. So, if you were wondering what to do with your unfinished basement - the answer is NOTHING. Leave it undone. Leave it to buyers to do whatever they want, and leave it to them to add their own personal touches.

Details Count!?

As previously mentioned - it is all about the small details. But, this time, we are not talking about making minor and essential upgrades. This time, we are talking about details that will show all the potential buyers how loved your house is.

Whether you should renovate your house before selling is debatable, as you have seen by now. But, doing things such as thoroughly cleaning each and every corner of your home, decluttering and organizing everything, staging, etc., is never debatable. Believe it or not - making your house presentable with cleaning, decluttering, and staging can increase its overall value by up to 9%. So, don't make the dumbest real estate move and not do this before listing your home.

Can You Sell a House As-Is?

As you have seen, in some cases, it is better to renovate your house before selling, and in some, it's not. Ultimately, it all comes down to what is truly important when selling your home and why you're doing it. At the end of the day, know that if you don't have enough time, energy, and money to devote to renovations, it is okay not to do them.

If you are in a hurry, that is, if you want to sell your house fast, you can always sell it as-is. But, don't expect to get the highest price possible for it. Investors or potential buyers will want to negotiate the price, so be prepared for that.

If you are still unsure whether you should renovate your house before selling, consider talking to a home inspector or, even better, a local real estate agent. This kind of agent knows your market well and will be able to advise you on what is worth changing and what is not.

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