Many soon-to-be-sellers ask us how much time, effort and money they should put into fix-ups. In general, there is no hard and fast rule. It can depend on what type of buyer you are trying to appeal to. If your target buyer is a "fixer-upper" buyer, then obviously your cash outlay may be considerably lower than for a "move-in condition" buyer.

The Three Phases Of Fix-ups

Fixing-up falls into three categories:

The basics.
Requires a minimum cash outlay, typically requiring more elbow grease than money. Includes: Mow the lawn. Trim the bushes. Edge. Clean closets, storage areas, garage. Wash windows. Scour the kitchen and bath.


Middle of the road.
The basics plus cosmetic repainting of dingy rooms, repairing broken fixtures, replacing worn carpet, etc.


Big guns.
At this level, major refurbishments come into play, like installing a new roof, updating kitchen cabinets, replacing old systems and appliances.