Can You Sell a House That Needs Repairs?

Maybe the carpet has seen better days. The kitchen is dated. There’s a list of little projects you’ve been meaning to tackle for years, or perhaps there’s a bigger issue like an aging roof, an HVAC system on its last legs or damage you simply haven’t had the time or money to address.

If you’re thinking about selling your home, all of that can lead to one big question:

Can you sell a house that needs repairs?

The answer is yes.

Homes in every condition sell in the Bakersfield real estate market. The more important question is whether you should make repairs before selling, sell the home in its current condition, or take care of only the improvements that are most likely to make a meaningful difference.

You do not necessarily need to renovate your home before putting it on the market. But the condition of the property can affect your asking price, the number of buyers interested in it, the types of financing available and ultimately how much money you walk away with.

You Don't Have to Make Your House Perfect Before Selling

One of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have is that they need to fix everything before calling a Realtor.

They don’t.

There is an enormous difference between preparing a home for sale and trying to turn it into a brand-new house.

In fact, spending money on the wrong improvements shortly before selling can leave you with a beautiful project that buyers simply aren't willing to pay enough extra for.

Before replacing countertops, remodeling bathrooms or ordering new flooring throughout the house, it makes sense to first determine where your money is most likely to have an impact.

Sometimes a few strategic repairs and cosmetic improvements are enough. Other times, a home may make more sense to sell in its current condition.

What Does Selling a House “As-Is” Actually Mean?

When homeowners hear “as-is,” they sometimes picture a distressed property that needs extensive work.

That isn't necessarily the case.

A seller may choose to sell a home in its current condition simply because they don't want to complete repairs before moving. The property could need something as minor as cosmetic updating or have larger issues the seller would rather leave for the next owner.

Selling as-is can save time and eliminate the hassle of coordinating contractors and projects before listing.

But there can be a tradeoff.

Buyers usually factor anticipated repairs into what they are willing to pay. If a buyer believes they will need to spend $20,000 after closing, they aren't likely to ignore that expense simply because the work hasn't been completed yet.

And buyers often estimate repairs differently than sellers do.

A seller may look at worn flooring and think, “That's a few thousand dollars to replace.”

A buyer may see the same flooring and start mentally adding paint, baseboards, countertops, appliances and everything else they would want to change at the same time.

Suddenly, a relatively manageable project feels much larger.

Some Repairs Matter More Than Others

Not every repair deserves the same priority.

A scratched cabinet door and an active roof leak are obviously very different issues. When preparing a Bakersfield home for sale, it can help to think about repairs in a few categories.

Repairs That May Affect a Buyer's Confidence

A long list of small maintenance issues can create a surprisingly large problem.

Leaking faucets, damaged doors, missing trim, broken fixtures, peeling paint, stained flooring and neglected landscaping may individually seem minor. Together, they can make buyers wonder what larger maintenance issues they aren't seeing.

Sometimes taking care of relatively inexpensive items makes the entire home appear better maintained.

Major Systems and Property Condition

The roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems and other major components tend to carry more weight because buyers know they can be expensive to repair or replace.

In Bakersfield, an aging or poorly functioning air-conditioning system can be especially noticeable to buyers for obvious reasons.

Major defects may also become an issue during inspections, appraisal or financing. Depending on the property and loan program, certain health, safety or condition concerns may need to be addressed for a transaction to move forward.

That doesn't mean every older component needs to be replaced before listing. It does mean sellers should understand what they're dealing with before deciding on a strategy.

Cosmetic Updates

This is where homeowners can easily overspend.

New paint, flooring, updated lighting or refreshed landscaping can sometimes dramatically improve a home's presentation without requiring a major renovation.

A full kitchen remodel is a much bigger decision.

Just because a kitchen is dated doesn't automatically mean replacing it will produce a better financial result. A buyer may happily purchase the home at the right price and remodel it to their own taste.

The question should always be: Will making this improvement likely put the seller in a better position than selling without it?

Repairs Can Affect More Than Your Sale Price

Condition can influence how many people are willing or able to buy the house in the first place.

Imagine two similar Bakersfield homes listed in the same price range.

One is clean, well maintained and move-in ready.

The other needs flooring, paint, several repairs and work on a major system.

There absolutely may be buyers interested in the second home, particularly at the right price. But some buyers won't have the extra cash available after their down payment and closing costs to immediately complete significant repairs.

Others simply don't want a project.

The move-in-ready home may therefore appeal to a larger buyer pool.

That competition can matter.

When more buyers can see themselves purchasing a property, a seller is generally in a stronger position than when the home appeals only to people willing to take on substantial work.

But Don't Automatically Fix Everything

This is where having a strategy before spending money becomes important.

Suppose you're preparing to sell and believe the home needs $40,000 worth of improvements.

Before spending $40,000, you need to know whether those improvements are likely to increase the home's marketability or sale price enough to justify the expense.

Some improvements may.

Some won't.

And some repairs may be important while the expensive cosmetic renovation you had planned adds very little.

An experienced Bakersfield Realtor should be able to look at the property alongside recent comparable sales and current competition and help determine which issues buyers are likely to care about most.

That conversation should happen before the renovation starts, not after you've already written the checks.

What If the Repairs Make Sense, but You Don't Want to Pay for Everything Upfront?

This is where many homeowners get stuck.

You may know your home would benefit from fresh paint, new flooring, landscaping, repairs or other improvements before going on the market, but paying for all of that upfront may not be realistic. Even when a homeowner has significant equity, that equity is still tied up in the property until the sale closes.

That is exactly why The McCarty Group created our MLOC Program.

Through MLOC, qualifying sellers can have repairs and improvements completed before listing their home with no upfront cost or fees. Instead of asking you to coordinate contractors, schedule projects and figure out where your money will have the biggest impact, The McCarty Group manages the entire process from start to finish.

We also help determine which repairs and improvements are actually worth making.

The goal is not to spend money simply for the sake of updating a home. We look at your property, the surrounding Bakersfield real estate market, recent comparable sales and the homes you will be competing against, then make recommendations based on where improvements may provide the strongest return on investment.

That could mean addressing deferred maintenance, replacing worn flooring, refreshing paint, improving curb appeal or making other strategic changes that help position the property more competitively.

And because The McCarty Group oversees the process, you do not have to spend your time finding contractors, coordinating schedules or managing the work yourself. It is designed to be a white-glove service from beginning to end.

The McCarty Group is then reimbursed for the approved repair and improvement costs at the close of escrow.

For sellers who want to maximize their home’s potential without taking on the upfront expense and headache of preparing it for market themselves, MLOC can provide a much easier path forward.

Which Repairs Should You Make Before Selling?

There isn't one checklist that applies to every Bakersfield home.

A house built five years ago in Northwest Bakersfield will have very different needs than a 50-year-old home that hasn't been updated recently. Price range matters. Neighborhood matters. Buyer expectations matter.

Before recommending repairs, we look at questions such as:

• What condition are competing homes in?
• What have similar homes recently sold for?
• Is the issue cosmetic, functional or potentially a larger concern?
• Will buyers immediately notice it?
• Could it limit the pool of buyers or financing options?
• What will the repair cost?
• Is there a reasonable opportunity to recover that investment through a stronger sale?
• Would professional cleaning, staging or a smaller improvement solve the problem without a major renovation?

The goal isn't to spend the most money.

It's to spend money where it makes sense.

What If Your Home Needs a Lot of Work?

You still have options.

There are buyers specifically interested in homes they can renovate. Depending on the property, an investor may also be an option. Or you may decide that completing some repairs before going on the market gives you access to a much larger pool of traditional buyers.

What you shouldn't do is assume that because the house needs work, you have to accept the first low offer that comes along.

The condition of a property is only one part of its value. Location, lot size, square footage, floor plan, neighborhood, amenities, current inventory and buyer demand all matter as well.

A home needing repairs should still be evaluated against the Bakersfield real estate market before deciding what it's worth.

Sell As-Is or Make Repairs? Start With the Numbers

If you're wondering whether to repair your house before selling, don't begin at the home improvement store.

Begin with the numbers.

Find out what the property may be worth in its current condition. Then determine what it might reasonably sell for with specific repairs or improvements completed.

From there, you can compare the potential difference against the cost, time and inconvenience involved.

Sometimes selling as-is is clearly the better choice.

Sometimes a relatively small investment can make a noticeable difference.

And sometimes there are repairs worth addressing, but the homeowner needs another way to get them completed before the sale.

That's exactly why this decision should be based on your particular home rather than a generic list of “10 things you must fix before selling.”

Thinking About Selling a House That Needs Repairs in Bakersfield?

Don't assume you need to remodel before you can put your home on the market, and don't assume you have to sell it as-is either.

The first step is simply finding out where you stand.

The McCarty Group can evaluate your home’s current condition, compare it with recent Bakersfield home sales and current competition, and help determine which repairs or improvements may actually make a difference. And through our MLOC Program, qualifying sellers may be able to complete those improvements with no upfront cost or fees while our team manages the entire process from start to finish.

The objective isn't to make your house perfect.

It's to make the decisions that put you in the strongest possible position when it's time to sell.