Preparing Your Home to Sell
Help buyers see the home at its best, without spending money they won't pay you back for.
Prep has two jobs: let buyers see the home clearly, and avoid surprises once you're under contract. What's worth doing depends on the home, its age, and its price range, so there's no universal list of projects that pay for themselves. Here's how to think it through, plus a checklist you can work from.
Start with what an inspection will find
Buyers usually have the home inspected, and on an older home their insurance company may ask for a four-point inspection of the roof, electrical, plumbing, and heating and air. Knowing what those reports are likely to say before you list lets you fix it, price for it, or disclose it on your own terms, instead of renegotiating against a deadline. Some sellers order a pre-listing inspection for exactly this reason.
Fix it, credit it, or leave it
- Fix it before listing when it's something a buyer's inspector or insurer will flag, or when it's cheap and makes the home show better.
- Offer a credit or price for it when the fix is big, the buyer may want to choose how it's done, or time matters more than the last dollar.
- Sell as-is and disclose it when the numbers don't support the work. The calculator below helps you compare.
Repair or sell as-is?
Compare fixing something before you list with selling the home as it is. The two prices are your estimates; for prices based on recent sales near you, ask us.
| Higher price after the work | $0 |
|---|---|
| Minus repair cost | $0 |
| Minus cushion for surprises | $0 |
| Minus carrying costs | $0 |
| Minus selling costs on the extra price | $0 |
| Estimated net effect of the repairs | $0 |
Estimate only. Based only on your numbers. Both sale prices are estimates, and actual buyer demand, the buyer's inspection and appraisal, repair bids, contractor timelines, and carrying costs can all differ. This isn't an appraisal, a repair quote, or a guarantee of any sale price.
For a property-specific estimate, have our team check these numbers, or ask the appropriate professional.
How we calculate this
The difference is the higher price you expect after the work, minus the repair cost, a cushion for surprises (a percentage of the repair cost), the carrying costs for the months the work adds (mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, HOA), and the extra selling costs on the higher price at the percentage you enter. A positive number means the repairs come out ahead with your estimates; a negative number means selling as-is does.
It doesn't account for how a buyer's inspection, appraisal, or financing might treat either version of the home, which can matter as much as the math.
A comparison using your own estimates, not a repair quote or an appraisal.
Have our team check these numbers
Tell us what you're considering fixing and we'll tell you what we'd expect it to do to the price, with the recent sales behind it.
Disclose what you know
Florida sellers of residential property must give buyers a flood disclosure at or before the contract, covering flood damage, flood insurance claims, and flood assistance during their ownership (s. 689.302, F.S.). More broadly, known problems that affect a home's value and that a buyer couldn't easily see should be disclosed. When in doubt, disclose, and ask a real estate attorney about anything specific.
Your prep checklist
Why clients trust Leslie Wells Realty
What clients say
“I was an out of state buyer and Agata Diggs represented me in the purchase of my second home. She was extremely responsive! Even if she couldn't talk at the moment, she would text me and tell me that she would call me in 15 minutes. She never left me wondering. I've recommended her to a few friends since then. She did a great job.”
“Amazing service from Melissa Moore who helped sell my aunt's home. Being from Scotland, I had lots of questions which Melissa promptly answered even when she was on vacation! We had one viewer and full offer!”
“Working with Alexis Christensen over the past 3 years has been nothing short of incredible. And yes, I really mean 3 years.”
“I am thrilled to have worked with Rachel. She has been professional, but most importantly she was kind, she listened, and was always available to answer any questions. She was a godsend from the very first day and soon felt like family. I would recommend her to anyone.”
“We are incredibly grateful to have been referred to Carly by a friend. When we called her at the last minute to assist with our home purchase, she stepped in and made the entire process seamless. Carly went above and beyond our expectations, and we highly recommend her. We look forward to working with her again in the future.”
Why Leslie Wells Realty
- Years of Leslie's real estate experienceSince 1976
- 50
- Communities covered
- 96
Not sure what's worth fixing?
We'll walk through the home with you and tell you what we'd do, including when the answer is "nothing."