Can You Sell a House in Poor Condition?

Let’s cut straight to it. Yes, it is totally possible to sell a home in poor condition. The trick is determining whether or not it’s your best option. 

Why would somebody sell a home in poor condition? Well, there are a variety of reasons. It could be that you simply don’t have the cash on-hand that would be needed to make repairs. It could just be that you’re ready to move on to a different home as quickly as possible and you don’t want to invest any more money into the house you’re selling. It could be a lot of things, really. 

The fact is that there are a lot of potential buyers for homes in poor condition. Often referred to as “fixer-uppers,” these homes are often bought for lower prices, fixed up, and resold for a profit. 

That right there should give you an idea of why it might not be the best idea to sell your home in poor condition, though. By nature, you’ll be getting less for it than you would if it was in great condition. 

There are a few options open to you when considering selling your fixer-upper. Let’s take a look at each, and maybe we can help you determine which path is best for you. 

Option #1 - Invest in Repairing Your Home

If you’re selling your home and looking to maximize your sale price, you definitely don’t want to be selling it in poor condition. That is, you want your house to be in the best shape possible for valuation. 

We understand that home repairs aren’t cheap. Not by a long shot. Maybe that means you don’t have the capital to invest in repairs at the moment. 

In that case, maybe it’s worthwhile to look at taking out a loan for repairs, assuming that the repairs will increase the value enough to pay them back. 

Repairing your home before selling doesn’t just increase the market value, it also will likely speed up the process of finding a buyer. After all, people are going to be more likely to purchase it if it's in good condition. 

Just keep in mind that not all repairs are going to give you a major return on investment. For example, fixing up your wooden deck is going to yield back less ROI than, say, fixing up the kitchen. 

When a curious buyer views the home, you want them to be able to envision themselves and their family living in that home. Something like a kitchen is going to be a major part of their everyday living in the home, while they might see a wooden deck as a future project to work on down the road. 

Option #2 - Fix the Easy Things

Maybe you’re not up to investing thousands and thousands of dollars into fixing up your home. That’s okay, there are still other cheaper things you can do that will cost less but still make an impact. 

If your house has a yard, do some landscaping. Plant some perennials and freshly seed the lawn. Power wash the brick and siding of your exterior, and repaint areas that need it. Maybe even consider putting in a new front door. 

In terms of interior looks, you can repaint your walls to a neutral color, refinish any cabinets, install new handles on the cabinets, new ceiling fans, and upgrade your window coverings. 

These are all relatively cheap, if maybe a bit time consuming, ways to easily boost your home’s selling power. 

Option #3 - Sell Your House As Is

Selling your poor condition home as is means that the buyer will be responsible for any repairs. Like we mentioned at the top, there are a lot of house flippers out there who are looking for these kind of homes in particular. 

Of course there are still some steps you can take to make your home easier to sell. Some simple landscaping, like mowing the lawn and pruning the trees, can add a lot to curb appeal. Also be sure to declutter the inside, and we strongly recommend hiring a professional cleaning crew to spruce things up as well. 

The small out of pocket expenses for these changes will add a lot to your home, even if you’re selling as is. 

Harvey Goodman Realtor® Will Help You Sell Your Poor Condition Home 

So, should you sell your poor condition home as is, or should you invest in repairs?

It’s not an easy question to answer. A lot of things need to be taken into consideration. What’s the local housing market like? What would repairs cost? What would the potential increase in sales price be after repairs?

Luckily, it’s not a decision you have to come to all on your own. 

At Harvey Goodman Realtor®, our experienced agents will work with you to determine the best course of action moving forward. We’ll help you decide how and when to sell, and then we’ll get you the best price for your home. 

Call us today and let’s get started on selling your home so you can move on to your next chapter in this grand adventure we call life.