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7 property defects to fix before you sell
Rid your home of critical defects and hazards to attract better buyers. Make your home more desirable by either paying to cure property flaws or factoring the costs into your pricing:
- Outdated roof. Replacing an old roof or certifying your roof is in good condition helps to quickly sell your home.
- Cluttered gutters. Proper rain runoff prevents water damage to the foundation. Buyers also appreciate the appearance of clean gutters.
- Old windows and doors. Creaky doors and sticking windows need oiling or waxing. They could even require pricey updates in older homes.
- Broken appliances. While buyers expect to replace a few appliances, multiple old or broken appliances which need replacement put buyers off.
- Termites. Pest infestations literally chase buyers away. Market your home as infestation-free through a certificate of clearance.
- Faulty air conditioning. A broken HVAC system needs a contractor’s estimate of the cost to repair for either you or the buyer to foot the bill.
- Cracked foundation. Faults in your foundation often signal more serious defects. When structural damage exists, repair it before your home is marketed for sale to avoid after-closing complications with your buyer.
Give me a call today. We’ll review what to do and find the best time to sell your home.










Fixing these major issues beforehand definitely saves deals from falling through during inspections. In our last sale, taking care of the HVAC upfront made negotiations so much smoother.
This is a really solid checklist for sellers. Addressing foundation issues and getting termite clearance upfront can definitely save a deal from falling apart during inspection.
Great checklist for anyone preparing to list their home. Addressing big issues like the roof and foundation early definitely saves a lot of headaches during the inspection period!
Taking care of these issues upfront makes a huge difference during negotiations. Buyers always get nervous over roof or foundation problems, so addressing them early definitely saves a lot of headaches later.
Addressing major items like the roof and foundation before listing makes a huge difference during home inspections. Buyers get scared off easily by structural issues, so handling them early definitely keeps deals from falling through.
Addressing foundation and roof issues before listing really is crucial. Most buyers will walk away immediately or demand huge concessions if those show up unexpectedly on an inspection report.
The distinction between replacing an outdated roof and simply certifying it is useful, but it raises a question: do most buyers in a seller’s market still demand replacement credits, or is a clean certification usually enough? Sellers might save thousands by knowing when certification satisfies lender and inspection requirements, so clarifying that threshold would make this advice even more actionable.