Not every scratch or squeak needs fixing before you sell. Focus on major problems — buyers know old houses aren’t perfect and won’t expect everything to look brand new.
Are you looking to sell fast in Middle Tennessee? Enter My Tennessee Home Solution. We buy houses in Hermitage, TN, exactly as they stand. Our home selling tips come from years of local experience — we’ll give you the straight answer about home buyer preferences and what not to fix when selling a house.
Save your effort for what actually impacts your bottom line.
Deciding What Not To Fix
Do you want to sell your house and not waste money fixing it up? Here’s what really matters to buyers:
- Talk to a real estate agent. They see people waste money all the time on unnecessary repairs.
- Focus on repairs that keep your home eligible for FHA and VA loans to maintain a wide buyer pool.
- Don’t spend money fixing big problems like minimizing highway noise.
- Show buyers that you’ve taken care of the house. It doesn’t need to be perfect.
- If you’re in a time crunch, stick to a thorough cleaning and consider an as-is home sale.
Keep in mind that buyers often prefer an outdated kitchen they can customize over a basic renovation they’ll end up replacing anyway.
What Not To Fix When Selling a House
Real estate agents say you can skip fixing these things when selling your house:
Cosmetic Flaws
Buyers expect some regular wear and tear. Don’t bother fixing small scratches on floors or worn spots on the carpet. Staging your house (like rearranging furniture and decluttering) often works better than fixing these little things.
Electrical Quirks
Fix dangerous electrical problems, but don’t worry about loose outlets or switches that don’t do anything. Most buyers don’t really care about these minor issues.
Outdoor Elements
Fixing a house before selling it doesn’t require chasing down every small concrete crack. Just mow the lawn and trim the bushes because that’s what people notice first. Most buyers won’t blink at minor concrete imperfections.
Building Code Updates
Older homes typically get “grandfathered in” under previous building codes. Among costly repairs to avoid, updating everything to current code standards is unnecessary unless there’s a serious safety issue.
Partial Updates
Starting room renovations you can’t finish is worse than leaving things as-is. Buyers would rather see an entirely dated bathroom than one with mismatched new and old features. If you can’t do a complete update, skip it entirely.
Sell Your House for Cash
When the time comes to sell your Hermitage home, don’t feel like you have to fix everything. Knowing what not to fix when selling a house will save you time and money. Focus on cleaning and clearing out clutter instead of expensive updates that might not pay off.
Need to sell fast without fixing anything? Consider selling your house as-is to My Tennessee Home Solution. We’ll give you a cash offer on your house, no matter its condition. Call us at (615) 933-5431 — we buy houses all over Middle Tennessee.