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5 Quick Repairs to Make When Selling Your Old, Beat Up House As-Is

Beat up house repairs

It’s the ultimate home seller’s dilemma: Do all the repairs your beat up house needs or sell it as-is.

The decision can impact the selling price and the amount of time on the market.

The median time on the market is 65 days. Everything from the location and price to the condition of the home can impact how long it takes to sell.

A beat-up house sold as-is appeals to potential buyers who are looking for a bargain. As-is usually means that the seller doesn’t do any work to the home.

But you may sell faster if you do a few quick repairs before listing your house. Do you have a little money to put toward the house? Quick repairs or cosmetic changes may help you get a little more out of your house and make it sell faster.

Not sure where to focus your time or money? Keep reading to find out five quick repairs for your house.

1. Touch up the Paint

Cosmetic changes like painting the walls can spruce up your home quickly. They give a better first impression, which can encourage people to make an offer.

Paint is an inexpensive update to make before listing your house. If you do the work yourself, you’ll have minimal expenses for the paint and painting tools.

If you let someone else do the work, you’ll need to budget more. The national average for having an entire home’s interior painted by a pro is $1,750.

You don’t have to paint the entire home. Choose the rooms that need the most help because of dirty walls or damaged paint.

2. Fix the Floors

Squeaky floors reveal themselves as soon as potential buyers step foot into your home. Fixing a squeaky floor is often an easy fix you can do on your own.

Updating the look of floors can also help sell your beat up house. Refinishing hardwood floors makes them look fresh and new. You can also fix cracked tile to improve the look of the room.

3. Repair Damaged Windows

Another repair that can help sell your house is to fix house windows with damage. Old, outdated windows make a beat up home look even more run down.

Broken glass panes or other damage makes a bad first impression. If the window is in good condition overall, you may be able to only replace the glass.

You might also consider replacing windows that don’t open or that are drafty. It’s one less expense the buyers have.

If you use a we buy houses fast type company, you may not need to worry about things like replacing windows. These types of companies usually buy homes as-is with no inspections. That option can be much easier if you don’t want to make major repairs like new windows.

4. Improve Curb Appeal

Bad curb appeal may turn away potential buyers before they step foot inside your home. Get as much foot traffic as possible into your home by making the exterior look appealing.

Cleaning up your landscaping is an inexpensive way to make your house look better. Here are some quick clean-up activities you can do:

  • Trim shrubs
  • Weed landscaped areas
  • Power wash siding and decks
  • Clean up dead leaves, twigs and other debris
  • Put away toys and other clutter
  • Replace light bulbs in exterior fixtures

Repair any damaged exterior elements to improve the overall look. That might include chipped paint, cracked pavers, or broken light fixtures.

You can also add landscaping to improve your curb appeal. Plant annuals, which are cheaper than perennials.

5. Update the Kitchen

Kitchens make a big impression on buyers. If yours is outdated and dysfunctional, it could turn away a potential offer.

Completely remodeling a kitchen costs an average of $23,408. When you’re selling your home as-is, you aren’t going to spend that much money.

But you can do some quick cosmetic changes to make the kitchen look better. Consider some of these options:

  • Tile backsplash
  • New paint
  • Updated countertop
  • Painted cabinets
  • New light fixtures
  • Updated appliances

Refinishing the kitchen cabinets can go a long way into adding value to your older home.

Even one or two of these updates can refresh your kitchen and make it more appealing.

Sell Your Beat Up House

Are you ready to unload your beat up house quickly? Making a few quick updates may help you get an offer faster.