Keeping a home in good repair can pay significant dividends when it’s time to sell.

Buyers often look for homes that require few repairs, and no one wants a deal to fall apart because the home inspector found an issue the buyers can’t stomach. A little prevention can spare you from the pain of watching a buyer walk away.

Here are some of the most important things you should consider repairing before selling your home. Opendoor buys and sells thousands of homes per month, and we’ve also highlighted some of the most common repair items found by our estimators.

Kitchen and Bathrooms

The kitchen and bathrooms of a home have the most mechanical systems, such as plumbing and electrical. That means they also have the highest likelihood of damage. Here are the components you should double-check:

Kitchen appliances

 Make sure the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and microwave are in good working order. Fix any leaks, and replace the coolant or freon in your fridge or freezer if necessary.

Cabinets

In both the kitchen and bathrooms, everything should be in good condition, free of water damage or rot. Cabinet doors and drawers should open and close smoothly. Fix loose hinges, unclog or replace stuck drawer tracks, and replace broken knobs or handles. You can handle most of these tasks yourself, with a screwdriver and a trip to the hardware store.

If the cabinets are painted, make sure the paint isn’t chipped or peeling. If it is, sand them down and apply a fresh coat. Severely damaged cabinets may need to be replaced, a task that may require a contractor unless you’re skilled at home renovations.

Sinks and faucets

Water features should run leak-free, and all drains should operate free and clear. The overflow drain, which prevents overfilling a bathtub, should be in good working order. Hot and cold options should operate as marked on the faucets.

important things to repair when selling home

Bathtubs and showers.

Fixtures, such as the shower head, should be fully operational, and drains should be free of clogs. If acrylic on a bathtub is peeling, you may need to resurface the tub or replace it. The exhaust vent, which removes the steam from the shower, should be fully operational. Any broken shower tiles should be replaced.

Home Interior

Next, it’s time to take a look at other general interior surfaces.

Walls and ceilings

Repair nail holes and minor dings and dents in the drywall. If you see discoloration, such as water damage that’s been repaired, repaint the walls. Painting is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to refresh a room. Massachusetts-based real estate agent Bill Gassett recommends removing wallpaper since it’s unlikely buyers will share your style.

Flooring

From laminate to carpet, everything should be in good condition. Replace any chipped or cracked floor tiles, or refinish scratched or dented hardwood. Replace torn carpeting, or have it steam-cleaned, especially if you have pets.

HVAC

Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) should be in good working order, clean and free of leaks. Your thermostat should operate properly. If you have any doubts, hire an HVAC technician to perform a tune-up and give you an assessment of your system’s condition.

Water heater

Similarly, your water heater should be in good working order and not leak. All pipes should be insulated.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Your detectors should be in good working order, and less than ten years old. Test your detectors, and replace the batteries if needed.

Electrical panel and circuit breakers

Everything should meet current codes. Specifically, replace your panels if you have Zinsco/Sylvania GTE and Federal Pacific labels. Call an electrician if your home has one of these brands. If you have an older system, such as one that uses a fuse box, you may also want to get it checked or updated, since it may be hard for a new owner to find parts, or the system might be rigged for modern usage in a way that it wasn’t originally meant for, making it prone to problems.

Repairs vs. Upgrades

Let’s make a crucial distinction between repairs and upgrades or improvements.

Upgrades are optional, discretionary ways in which a homeowner tries to maximize the value of her home. Replacing new, good-condition carpeting with hardwood floors, for example, is an upgrade. Replacing old, poor-condition carpeting is a repair.

Think of it this way: upgrades can boost the value of your home. Repairs keep your current value from falling.

Home Exterior

According to a 2018 “Cost vs. Value” analysis from Remodeling Magazine, several exterior projects hold the highest payoff with regard to resale value.

Here are some projects with a high payoff ratio that you might want to consider to tackle...More