Home buying season is in full swing, and in a market with more sellers than buyers (reports of 37% up to 50% in some regions), you’re going to want to remove barriers to purchase without increasing your mental or physical workload. How do you balance out of pocket spending before sale with getting top dollar and keeping that speed to sale? There is an easy solution and we are here to help.
- Get a pre-inspection
That’s right. Before you even list it, get a home inspection. You can cut the buying process time down by over half if you spend the few extra hundred dollars and get an inspection checklist. This removes the anxiety of waiting for a buyer’s inspection. It speeds up the process as the inspection has already been done, removing that sale-time delay. It benefits buyers to see the inspection has been done, essentially removing the inspection list as a price negotiation tool. Not only that, there are no gotcha-surprises later.
- Make the repairs
Once you have the checklist, you can dictate how the repairs are made. This is where we come in. Hand the list to Menlo Construction. We will manage the work, communicate costs and timelines with you, and give you that peace of mind. If you wait for a buyer to use the list as a negotiation tool, they may talk you down on price based on estimates they get quoted, eventhough they plan on doing the repairs. Getting these repairs done beforehand keeps the money in your pocket while handing the buyer a speedier, pain-free purchase. It’s a win-win.
- Boost in home value
Don’t forget that home appraisers will take these new improvements as additional value for the home. Not only will they be removed from the home inspection list, but the monetary value of “new improvements” increases due to them not being lived-in yet.
- Turn-key home
Every buyer really wants turn-key. Every repair, every improvement, every perceived barrier is a compromise to the buyer and they mentally take off value. Remove that barrier and get top dollar. Make them feel like they’re getting a home they can fully make theirs and make memories in, with their family.
- Risk free
But what if you get the inspection and there’s a major repair you just don’t want to do? That’s a real scenario. According to Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate agent George Rosko:
“In the current market, you don’t have to fix anything. Disclose it, state that seller will not address, and we have cash buyers that will still overpay. Your attorney must be on board and firm on as-is.”
You’re not bound to do all of the repairs plus the added bonus of no surprises for you or the buyer just adds value to your home.
- Don’t forget about ROI
We’ve done posts on home improvements and the return on investment before, but we can’t overstate the power of “new improvements” before a sale. Even on an older home, that perception of “not yet lived in” creates a perceived specialness that homebuyers love. Here’s a list of high value, new improvements that immediately make homebuyers see value:
- Interior & exterior paint
- Lighting fixture updates, especially ceiling fans and front porch
- Sink faucets – must not leak or wobble
- New caulk – very important in the PNW
- Fresh roof & gutters – buyers spot moss
- Fireplace hearths – clean hearth signals low maintenance
- Windows and window casings, including any sliding or French doors
- Grout – home buyers zero in on crumbling grout immediately
- Basement waterproofing – another PNW concern
- Toilets – home buyers want reliable toilets (read our popular toilet post here)
- Usable space improvements – making that attic and basement into extra living space is low spend/high return
At the end of the day, buyers are not looking for a project—they are looking for a yes. The fewer questions, repairs, and unknowns standing in the way, the faster your home sells and the stronger your final number becomes. A little upfront work removes a lot of downstream friction. If you want a clear plan, a tight timeline, and a team that handles the details without adding stress, Menlo Construction is ready to step in and get it done right.
Stunning photography by Chadney Photography
Listed by Lynn Cameron MLS#: 562196060
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