Repairs Before Selling a House | Austin Renovation Tips

Thinking about giving your home a refresh? As you consider a renovation project, you may wonder whether to tackle it yourself or let a professional handle the work. Here are a few home renovation tips and lessons from our own experience.

Terry and I are big DIYers. It’s fun and gives you a sense of pride in your home! I’ve included a brief guide below to help you decide when to DIY (do it yourself) and when it’s best to hire a professional.

Preparing to sell? Jump to what to fix before selling your house.

A few things that helped us: have a plan and a budget. It doesn’t have to be done all at once, and you don’t have to go broke. Take it one project at a time, and look for materials or appliances during holiday sales.

Paint can be a simple way to freshen up a wall, a room, or even your fireplace. Ours used to be pink. I’m not a pink girl! For our bigger project, we hired professionals to scrape the ceilings and paint the interior and exterior while we escaped to a VRBO with 3 cats and 2 dogs. We love the new look!

If you hire professionals, make sure they come with a trusted referral! I have an extensive network of contractors, landscapers, and the best painters I’ve ever worked with. We also rented a pod, which really helped us organize our stuff and keep it out of the way while the work was being done.

Whatever you do, have fun and tell me about it. Change is refreshing, and taking care of your home is important.

I’ve had so many clients make changes when they’re getting ready to sell and then say, “Wow, why didn’t I do this for me?”

What Should You Fix Before Selling Your House?

Making changes for yourself is one thing. Deciding what to do when you’re getting ready to sell is a little different. You may be wondering, do I need to redo the kitchen? Paint everything? Where do I even start?

My advice is still to have a plan and a budget. You don’t have to do everything! If you’re considering repairs before selling a house in the Austin area, let’s look at what your home needs before you start spending.

Start with what needs attention. An active leak, a safety concern, or something that isn’t working properly deserves a closer look. For bigger concerns, have a qualified professional help you understand the problem and your options. This is where those trusted referrals come in handy.

Then look at the simple things. A good cleaning, paint touch-ups, fixing minor visible damage, improving the lighting, or freshening up the front yard may be all that makes sense. Every home is different. The idea is to help buyers see a home that has been cared for without giving you an endless project list.

Talk through the big projects before you commit. A kitchen or bathroom remodel can take more time and money than you planned. Before you get started, let’s talk about your budget, when you want to sell, and what buyers are likely to expect from your home. Get estimates so you can weigh the cost and timing. Spending more doesn’t guarantee you’ll get that money back.

You can also consider selling without making improvements. Sometimes selling your home in its current condition makes sense. We can talk through how its condition may affect pricing and what buyers expect, then compare that option with doing the work.

Before you spend money getting ready to sell, give me a call! I’m happy to help you sort through what needs attention and what you may be able to leave alone. If you’re wondering about the steps beyond repairs, my selling your home page walks through the bigger picture.

I love providing tips! If you need staging tips as you get ready to sell or ideas for a calm and inviting home, I’ve got you covered. You can also visit my blog for more helpful tips!