I'm a property expert that still remembers the days when having broadband was a selling point! My articles cover issues that homesellers face in the UK and answer the questions we're all asking. I've bought and sold properties and helped others do the same, so my writing comes from years of experience.
Read Full Bio >Homeowners often make a few slight changes to their property before putting it on the market. The intention when doing this is to raise the house’s value and make it more appealing to potential buyers.
However, overspending is always a risk. Ideally, a seller will want to make a good profit – and pumping too much money into the wrong things can significantly reduce the amount they’re likely to take away from a sale.
In this guide, we’ll answer questions about the elements you should and should not fix when selling property.
Do I Need to Fix Up My House Before Selling?
There is no rule that says you have to do anything to your property when preparing to sell. If you don’t have the time or the cash available to make improvements, you are well within your rights to simply leave it as it is.
Should I Repair my House Before Selling?
Properties don’t have to be totally modernised and in a perfect state of repair in order to sell. However, you may find that certain simple improvements will help you to:
- Find a buyer more quickly
- Make the sale go more smoothly
- Enable you to push up the asking price
- Improve the perceived value of your property
- Attract better offers
If you do decide to make any changes before listing your home for sale, it’s important to pick your battles. Below, we’ll discuss a few elements that are best left alone:
Appliances and removable fixtures
Dodgy dishwashers and faulty fridges can certainly be irritating to a homeowner. This suggests that one should arrange for these items to be repaired – along with any other white goods and appliances – prior to a sale.
However, the costs involved can quickly mount up, particularly if any warranties have lapsed. What’s more, your buyer may decide to replace these appliances with their own, or buy new ones, so you’ll have spent all of that money for nothing.
It is a good idea to replace your old boiler, though. You may even be eligible for a government grant to help you do so! Working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are also vital.
Significant decorative issues
If your property is in need of major modernisation throughout, it’s important to tread carefully. It’s easy to go overboard and spend a large amount on repainting or papering each room, replacing carpet and – in some cases – even hiring new furniture to “stage” your home.
There is a very real risk of overestimating the potential return on an investment of this kind, which means you may end up out of pocket.
Small electrical faults
A broken outdoor light, doorbell or switch won’t make much difference to the value of your property, but the cost to resolve these issues can quickly add up.
As a seller, you will be faced with plenty of expenses already – including agency fees and legal costs – so if there’s a way of preventing numerous minor outgoings, it’s definitely worth doing.
Of course, if your property has a dangerous flaw in its electrical systems, you will need to get this resolved as a matter of urgency.
After all, it may constitute a major risk not only to yourself, your family and any visitors, but also to estate agents leading viewings and the eventual buyers of the home.
Minor flaws in a property needing major refurbishment
If your home has a number of large-scale issues, spending money on little improvements will rarely be worth your while.
For example, if the paint and plaster on your walls is bubbling excessively due to damp, adding a coat of paint without fixing the underlying issue will have little to no effect on the final value of the house.
In circumstances of this kind, you will need to undertake your own calculations in order to decide whether investing in certain improvements will result in enough of a return to make them beneficial.
It’s also best not to try and hide significant flaws with temporary fixes. An experienced real estate agent or a valuer registered with RICS (the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) will be able to see the issue regardless.
Things to Fix When Selling a House
When selling your house, you should first undertake a local area review, looking at “comparable” properties – that is, homes of a similar age, layout and style to your own – that have sold for a good price.
From there, you should work out what you need to do to get yours to a similar standard, and how much it is likely to cost.
Pick the approaches that will make the most impressive difference for the least amount of money – but don’t scrimp, as cheap fixes can end up looking worse than the initial problem.
Remember, if the property market is booming, your home is likely to sell fast and for a decent price whether you make any changes or not. However, if your home is in a state of disrepair, it will never do as well as it would following refurbishment or redecoration.
In order to improve your property’s chances, you may decide to:
- Declutter and deep clean every room
- Fix squeaking hinges and polish fittings
- Give each room a lick of paint
- Improve your outdoor spaces and repaint your fence and front door to improve kerb appeal
- Put excess items into storage
- Replace hardware such as door handles
For other handy advice, take a look at this guide on 101 Ways to Increase Your House Value.
For further information about selling your home fast, get in touch with our knowledgeable team today. We’ll provide you with a free instant valuation and a no-obligation cash offer.
If you accept, we can buy your home in as few as 7 – 21 days – and we’ll cover all solicitor and estate agency fees.
