10 Things You Don’t Actually Have to Fix Before You Sell Your Home

As you prepare to list your home, chances are you’ve begun looking at every flaw as something you need to address before the property can sell. That might be true if your home has major problems such as mold or a broken refrigerator, but plenty of imperfections don’t need to be fixed to make a sale.

If major problems are related to health and safety, they should be fixed, advises Barry Zimmerman, real estate agent, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida. Minor problems are more cosmetic in nature.

Here are some of the problems you don’t have to fix before listing.

1. Creaky Floors

They might not sound pleasant, but creaky floors don’t necessarily indicate a huge problem.

“Creaky floors, stairs, and doors can be easily overlooked if the general bones of the home are solid and intact,” Kamm says. “If every pre-war building property listing was looked at carefully, most of them would have creaky floors—and those of us who live in pre-wars have learned to live with quirks like creaky floors.”

2. Small Holes or Imperfections in Walls

When you live in a home for a while, the walls get dinged up. The paint might be chipped or scratched, and there might be small holes where photos and art hung, plus larger holes where televisions were mounted.

“Most buyers are not aware of this minor issue because, at the time of the showing, the screws or hardware are hidden by the artwork or pictures,” Zimmerman says. For that reason, it’s not necessary to patch every single hole or repaint.

However, if your home is being shown without decorations, Zimmerman said it could be worth patching things up. Otherwise, “Even if the seller doesn’t do that, an experienced painter is going to include that work as part of his or her estimate,” says Zimmerman.

3. Stained Carpeting

“Most buyers today don’t want the old carpet,” Zimmerman says. “Most will want to replace with new carpeting, hardwood or tile.” For that reason, replacing the carpet isn’t necessary.

“I wouldn’t recommend to a seller to put new carpeting down, because if the buyer doesn’t want carpeting, then the seller has wasted their money,” Zimmerman adds.

You can still make sure your home looks presentable in photos and at a showing. “A quick solution to the seller is to have the carpets cleaned before they start showings,” Zimmerman says. “ This way, hopefully overall the carpet is presentable.”

4. Cracked Asphalt or Concrete

Cracks are a normal part of wear and tear when it comes to asphalt and concrete, which settles over time. Depending on where it’s located, you can overlook this unsightly feature.

“Garage spaces are typically the least beautiful part of the home as they are, so unless the garage is falling apart or in need of major repair, then some cracks and or dents in the concrete flooring that are not compromising the structural integrity are easy to overlook,” Kamm says.

Broker Ellen Sykes of Coldwell Banker Warburg agrees. “Small cracks in driveway asphalt are OK if there are not a lot of them,” she says.

If there’s a large crack you’re worried about, have someone take a look before listing. “A deep surface crack in the garage floor should be attended to—it could signal a water or settling problem,” Sykes adds.

5. Broken Screens

Zimmerman says screens are easy to replace, and because they come up on inspection reports, they could be something you fix to avoid any problems with potential buyers. Is it totally necessary? Probably not.

“A broken or cracked screen can be the easiest to forgo because unless someone pulls the screen, it may go unnoticed entirely,” Kamm says. “If the screen is propped up and is preventing bugs from coming and going, then fixing this is not going to take away from the beauty of the home.”

Even if they do notice it, broken screens are rarely a dealbreaker. “Simply replacing a screen is not a big deal, so a buyer may overlook it,” Kamm adds. “If the entire screen door is missing, and you need to construct an outdoor screen and mechanism from scratch, then this could be a big deal.”

6. Rusty Gutters

Gutters encounter water all the time, so rust can be inevitable, depending on the material. “Rusty gutters look horrible, but replacing them can be expensive,” Sykes says.

However, some materials, such as aluminum, don’t rust over time.

“I would be inclined to spend money here since they are all over the house and noticeable if there is a lot of rust,” Sykes adds. “If there’s only a little bit of rust, do not worry about it.”

7. Outdated Appliances

You might be tempted to upgrade your home’s appliances, but if they aren’t broken, there’s no need to “fix” them with a newer version.

“If the kitchen is already desperately in need of an overhaul, then there is no point in replacing all of the appliances because if the buyer is already going to change the kitchen, then you’ve invested in brand-new appliances, and there is a chance the buyer may not make use of them,” says Kamm.

Zimmerman agrees. “If the kitchen is dated but in good shape, and the appliances need replacing, not putting in new modern appliances is OK,” he says.

8. Broken Sockets or Outlets

You might notice that some outlets in your home no longer work. Don’t fret over this. However, if you have a major electrical problem, see to it things are fixed.

“One or two outlets that don’t work are OK, but no more than that,” Sykes says.

9. Fading Exterior Paint

Your home’s exterior paint job is a huge part of curb appeal, but don’t get hung up on a perfect coat.

“Fading exterior paint does not bother as much as peeling paint and the sight of wood or siding showing up underneath it,” Sykes says.

10. Sticky Interior Doors

Doors swell and contract with weather, and added layers of paint can make them stick year-round. However, unless your whole house has a problem, you can overlook this one, too.

“If it is one or two doors, then it is OK if they are sticky, but more than that is a problem,” Sykes says.

This article was written by Kristine Gill from Better Homes and Gardens and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected].