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19 Apr Fix it or Leave it As Is?

Posted at 08:11h in Blog, Homeowner Tips, Press, Selling Tips by

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Fix it or Leave it As Is?

We are often asked should I fix it or leave it as is? When you’re preparing your home for sale, you obviously want your property to look its best for potential purchasers. That means fixing things that are broken, and, possibly, making a few improvements. But, how do you decide whether to fix or improve something versus just leaving it as is? 

Say, for example, the walls throughout your home are a bit faded. (They’ve gone through a lot of living!) You can get all the dents and holes filled and repaint the entire place. That would definitely make a huge difference in how your property looks to buyers. Or, you can choose NOT to do that project in the hopes your home will “show” well regardless.

There are a few things to consider before making that decision:

  • How much will the fix or improvement cost?
  • How much effort and time will the fix or improvement take?
  • How much better will your home look to purchasers?
  • Will the fix or improvement help sell your home faster?
  • Will the fix or improvement help sell your home for a higher price?

Once you have those answers, you’ll be in a much better position to make that decision. By the way, painting is almost always a smart move when preparing your property for sale. The impact can be dramatic, and the cost is relatively low.  Two other key improvements are decluttering and cleaning. They don’t sound as glamorous but often decluttering and cleaning are the first two tasks to take on before deciding on other improvements. Taking these steps will help you see how the walls look, what condition the carpet/flooring is in, if the bathroom tile needs updating or new caulking and regrouting? As we move along in the Spring and Summer, think about curb appeal, a mowed lawn and tidy gardens, freshly stained deck, hedges trimmed, sealed driveway, show off the home to potential buyers doing drive bys. Click here to learn more about the Market Value of Your Home & Preparing Your Home for Market

For larger improvements, ie. new hardwood flooring, it is better to do these at least a few years before you sell, so you can enjoy the improvement and also get the appreciation from the improvement. If you are moving within a year, new carpet, vinyl or laminate flooring can be more economical and look fresh to potential buyers.

As experienced Kanata Realtors®and Ottawa Realtors® we would be happy to prepare a home evaluation for you and make a plan to help you get ready for market, whether for next month or next year. Helping you prioritize the items that will have the biggest impact on potential buyers and dollars obtained is our specialty. We also have contacts of professionals, i.e. painters, handyman, flooring, to assist you. We have been successfully staging homes for years, whether a small condo, single family home or larger property. Many of our clients have asked us to stage their new home!

Feel free to Contact us