Avoid These Costly Mistakes When Selling Your “Good Enough” Home

No one plans to waste money, but sometimes it happens, especially when it comes to our homes.   When you’re considering moving up from your “good enough” home to your forever home, you may consider doing a little work on your current home to maximize the amount you’ll get when you sell.

Shows like Love It or List It show homeowners spending tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on renovations, and the resulting increase in value always being more than they spent. That’s not realistic, and it’s something to keep in mind when deciding what to do and how much to spend when you’re considering improvements before putting your home on the market.

Thinking HGTV equals reality. Do you love design and renovation shows and want your home to be like the “after” shots as soon as possible? Do you think that you’ll get all of the money you spend on that kind of renovation back when you sell? Stop and evaluate the cost of any renovations against how much you can realistically expect to get back when you sell. Some renovations may not net you any additional money at all, although they may make your home more appealing so it spends less time on the market. 

Before making any plans or spending any money, make a thoughtful list of what you’d like to change and how much it would (realistically) cost to do. Unless you’re in a rapidly appreciating market, things like full kitchen or bathroom renovations will probably net you less than you spend, but minor fixes like paint and a new vanity can make your home stand out without spending a ton.

Thinking you can DIY everything.  HGTV and YouTube have all of us thinking we’re renovation experts and can fix anything. The truth is that when you’re doing significant renovations before selling your home, it’s best to have them done by a professional. DIY attempts may cause issues when a buyer has an inspection, and that can derail your sale or cost you even more when you have to have a professional fix it anyway. Some things you can safely DIY include landscaping and painting.

Thinking about what YOU like, not what a buyer would like. The whole point of making some updates to your “good enough” home is to make it more appealing to a buyer. When a buyer walks into your home, it’s essential that they can visualize themselves living there. If you love bold colors, that’s fantastic, but most buyers will have trouble seeing that paint color with their own furniture. That’s why I recommend modern but neutral colors like gray and white. 

Holding off on maintenance of major systems or other repairs.  If your air conditioner is due for service, now is the time. Same with any other major systems like your water heater. Most buyers will opt to have an inspection done on your property, and it’s simpler to take care of things now, rather than when a buyer is involved. 

If your roof needs some repairs or there are minor cracks in your drywall, or any other deferred maintenance items, those things can cause issues during negotiations and cost you more money. Under the contract, any work that needs to be done has to be done by a licensed service provider, which can add up. 

Overspending on high-end finishes when your house isn’t high-end. There is such a thing as a house being TOO nice, especially if it’s in your typical suburban subdivision. It’s never a good idea to be the nicest home in the neighborhood. So when making any updates to improve the sellability of your home, opt for the middle ground.

I hope these tips help you save some money and help you feel more confident about selling your “good enough” home.

Selling a home can feel overwhelming at times.  There is so much to do, so much to think about and so much to take care of.  Just know that I’m here to help you make any decisions or answer questions, even if your homeselling timeline is months or years down the line. Call or email me with your questions. I’m happy to help!