Selling a House in Poor Condition In California

Your home may simply be outdated but it’s relatively undamaged. Sure, there are some minor repairs that are needed, but fortunately, these are things you can do yourself using only a few hundred dollars. What’s more, the rate of return for these upgrades and fixes can be high.

Since they still cost money, it is important to stick to a budget.

These cosmetic repairs include the following:

• Existing cabinets and doors that are in need of updating – for instance, yellowing shaker cabinet doors that can be replaced with a more modern design
• Stained granite countertop – can be replaced with quartz or sintered stone with new and interesting patterns and colors
• Peeling paint – a fresh coat of paint could spruce up both your home’s interior and exteriors
• Messy and overgrown yard – a bit of landscaping could spruce up your yard and boost your home’s curb appeal
• Outdated light fixtures – replace outdated incandescent and fluorescent light fixtures with LED downlights and panel lights (you can save on electricity costs too!)
• Stained flooring
• Worn-out carpet
• Cluttered interiors – a little cleanup goes a long way. It can also help your prospective buyer visualize the space better
• Missing fence boards – not only for security reasons, replacing missing fence boards and repainting your fence can make your property look more attractive

These are houses that teeter on the edge of uninhabitability. They are considered a house in poor condition due to the following issues:

• Functioning but damaged roof – can be a terribly leaky roof that you’re better off replacing it altogether
• Minor foundation issues – such as cracks reparable by sealant or mortar
• Inefficient but still functioning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
• Damaged and outdated kitchen and bathrooms
• Broken heaters and boilers
• Some plumbing problems and electrical issues – such as broken faucets, nonfunctioning light fixtures, or old pipes that can burst in winter

Houses that are considered uninhabitable have issues that threaten the safety of those who may live in them. Some of these issues can be considered code violations. Major repairs must be undertaken to bring them up to standard. These include:

• Serious electrical issues – this may entail rewiring as old wirings can become a fire hazard
• Serious plumbing problems such as a nonfunctioning septic system
• Nonfunctioning heating and cooling systems
• Severely damaged roof – either completely blown away during a natural disaster or eaten away by wood rot, on the verge of collapse
• Severe termite infestation – structural members such as beams and columns made of wood must be thoroughly inspected
• Extensive presence of mold and/or asbestos
• Badly damaged and unusable chimney
• Serious structural issues such as failing foundation, bowed basement walls, sagging floor and ceiling joists, and so on
• Hoarder house

It’s a glass half-full, half-empty kind of situation. As a seller, you can highlight the positives, such as the square footage of your property, the lot size, the location, proximity to amenities, architectural style, and features such as the number of rooms and bathrooms.

Honesty is the best policy. It’s best to reveal any known issues, especially in states where buyers beware. This builds trust and gives the buyer a clear idea of what they’re buying. Plus, it protects you from legal trouble later on.

Consider hiring a pro inspector to check your home. Their report lists all important flaws, maybe even ones you missed.

This is crucial because buyers usually inspect before finalizing the sale. If they find issues first, they’ll have more power in negotiations.

Doing your own check ensures you’re not caught off guard. Except when selling as-is, then you can skip the inspection altogether.

Doing minor cosmetic repairs that you can do yourself, such as replacing outdated light fixtures, doing some basic landscaping, or giving your home a fresh coat of paint could enhance curb appeal and attract more buyers.

Selling a troublesome property may seem easy for you, but it’s tough on the buyer. A rundown house requires significant fixes, so the buyer will anticipate compensation for this.

As the seller, you can scout for trustworthy contractors and gather quotes to hand over to the buyer if you’re selling as-is. These quotes also aid in determining a fair price for your property, speeding up the sale process.

You can expect your property’s market value to take a hit if it is in a really poor condition such as: having structural damage arising from a termite infestation; severe foundation issues; or having asbestos present.

It is better to psychologically prepare for the concessions that the buyer may ask from you such as repair credits at closing, or a significant discount from the market value of your property.