Three considerations
Before you fix anything, it is important to fix only the things that matter, safety issues, major eye sores and big repairs that may come up. That is why it is recommended to hire a home inspector and conduct a pre-sale home inspection it should cost $400-$700. Doing this will let you know if there are any thing major that needs fixing and you will not be caught by surprised when the buyer does their inspection.
Also consult a real estate agent, they will let you know what other homes in your area are like and they will let you know if there are any improvements you need to make. They will also point out the improvements that make the most sense.
Think as an investor. Think will this help my house sell? If I leave my house like this and only clean and declutter will it still sell? and what is the cost and will I recoup it?
What not to fix
When selling your house avoid fixing or undertaking the following:
Normal wear and tear
Normal wear and tears are expected on existing homes for sale. Buyers are not meticulously looking at your house and taking in any imperfections and letting that decide whether or not to buy the house.
There is no need to fix the normal wears that comes with living in a house if they are not excessive and a major eye sore.
Imperfections like: light floor imperfection or scratches, little dings here and there, and any minor cosmetic details will not be major considerations when buyers are deciding on your house.
Minor electrical issues
When you do your home inspection, the inspector will let you know whether there are any major electrical issues that need fixing such as wires dangling, worn out or exposed. But apart from that there is no need to fix a light switch that does not have a light to turn on or a socket that is loose or that does not work. These are minor issues and the buyer won’t go and negotiate a massive cut out of the sale price because of these.
Driveway or walkway cracks or imperfections
Do not spend time fixing cracks or imperfections in the walkways or driveway it is expected and it will only be of concern if it poses safety issues. The inspector will point out if the cracks are a major underlying issue like the foundation or structural integrity of the house.
Image from unsplash @brett_jordan
