Get Top Dollar for Your Home: Here’s What Not To Fix Before Selling

By Joshua Holt

Meet Joshua, a licensed real estate professional and accomplished broker. As the forward-thinking leader of the Holt Real Estate Team, he has forged a strategic alliance with Keller Williams and PLACE to deliver on Our Promise.

When preparing to sell your house, you need to make sure it’s appealing to potential buyers. Many homeowners rush to fix every little flaw thinking it will boost their property’s value, but not every improvement will yield a significant return on investment. To help you avoid the ones that aren’t worthwhile, here are the top three things you should avoid fixing when getting your house ready to sell: 

1. Minor HVAC, electrical, and plumbing issues. While well-maintained and fully functional systems are crucial for any home, addressing minor issues in these areas may not be the best use of your resources. Major problems that could significantly impact the home’s livability and safety should be fixed, but minor issues are usually better left for the buyer to handle.

2. Old appliances and windows. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to believe that installing new appliances and windows will make their homes more appealing to buyers. However, this is not always the case. Homebuyers often have specific preferences, plus these pieces can be expensive. If your existing appliances and windows are still in decent condition, buyers may not see the value in replacing them with newer models, especially if they are already energy-efficient.

3. Partial room upgrades. Giving a room a partial upgrade can lead to an inconsistent look and feel throughout the house. Plus, it might make buyers question the overall quality of the home and create doubts about the other areas that weren’t improved. For example, replacing the kitchen countertops but not the cabinets can create an imbalanced appearance. Similarly, changing the faucet in a bathroom but not the worn-out tiles can make the space look disjointed. Those small changes will just be a waste of time and money. 

Remember that each home is unique, and your situation may differ from others. If you’re unsure about which fixes to make when preparing to sell your home, reach out to me or my team for a complimentary, no-obligation observation of your home. We’ll assess your property and provide advice on what changes will make the biggest difference when it comes time to sell.

Our service is complimentary and comes with no obligation. If you’re considering selling and need assistance starting the process, please call us at (608) 345-6594 or email me directly at JDHolt@KW.com. We look forward to the opportunity to meet you.