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Should I Update My Home Before Selling or Sell It As-Is?

Should you update your home before selling, or is it better to sell it as-is?

If you're getting ready to sell your Salt Lake City or Salt Lake County home, you've probably wondered whether you should paint, remodel the kitchen, replace the flooring, update the bathrooms, or simply put the house on the market and let the next owner handle it.

The answer isn't always “remodel everything.” In fact, spending more money on your home doesn't automatically mean you'll make more money when you sell it. The smartest approach is to figure out which improvements are likely to help your home sell, and which ones may not be worth the investment.

Sell As-Is or Make Updates? Start Here.

Before spending money on renovations, I recommend looking at three things:

1. What does your home need?
2. What are buyers expecting at your price point?
3. How much could the improvement realistically add to your home's value?

Sometimes the best decision is to make a few strategic improvements. Sometimes it's better to sell the house exactly as it is. And sometimes there is a middle ground.

That's where having a local Realtor, like myself, Nancy Bergman,  who understands your neighborhood and today's buyers can help. 

What Does “Selling a House As-Is” Mean?

Selling a home as-is generally means the seller isn't agreeing to make repairs or improvements simply to make the property more appealing to a buyer. It does not mean you can ignore required disclosures or hide known problems with the property. 

An as-is sale can make sense when:

  • The home needs significant repairs
  • You don't want to spend money before selling
  • You're selling an inherited property
  • You're dealing with an investment property
  • You need to sell quickly
  • The property is outdated
  • You don't want the stress of remodeling
  • The home's condition is already reflected in the price

An as-is home can still be marketed effectively. As-is doesn't have to mean “don't do anything.” You can still clean, declutter, improve curb appeal, make minor repairs and present the property well.

When Should You Update Your Home Before Selling?

Not every home needs a major renovation. However, certain improvements can make a home more attractive to buyers and potentially help it sell for more.

Consider Updating Your Home If:

🏡 The Home Looks Dated Compared With the Competition

If similar homes nearby have updated kitchens, bathrooms and flooring, buyers may compare your home directly with those properties. You don't necessarily need to completely remodel. Sometimes fresh paint, updated lighting, new hardware or improved flooring can make a noticeable difference.

🎨 The Paint Is Tired or Highly Personalized

Neutral, fresh paint can make rooms feel cleaner, brighter and more spacious. This can be especially helpful if your walls have strong colors, visible wear or lots of scuffs.

🧹 The Home Needs Decluttering

This is one of my favorite “updates” because it may cost you very little. Removing excess furniture and personal belongings can make rooms appear larger and allow buyers to picture themselves living there.

🌳 The Curb Appeal Needs Attention

First impressions matter. Simple improvements like:

  • Fresh mulch
  • Trimmed landscaping
  • Clean walkways
  • Freshened-up front door
  • Clean windows
  • Removing weeds
  • Seasonal flowers

can make a home feel more inviting.

🔧 There Are Obvious Maintenance Issues

A dripping faucet, broken light fixture, damaged flooring or obvious deferred maintenance can cause buyers to wonder:

“What else is wrong with this house?”

Taking care of small problems before listing can help prevent minor issues from becoming distractions.

What Should I NOT Renovate Before Selling?

This is where sellers can sometimes get themselves into trouble. You don't want to spend $50,000 remodeling a house simply because you think buyers will expect it. Large renovations can be expensive, disruptive and difficult to recoup dollar-for-dollar. 

Before replacing a kitchen, adding a bathroom or completely remodeling the house, ask:

Will this improvement actually increase the value enough to justify the cost?

The answer may be yes. But it may also be no.

That's why I recommend looking at the local competition and comparable sales before making major renovation decisions.

The Best Pre-Sale Improvements May Be the Boring Ones

You don't always need a Pinterest-worthy renovation to prepare your house for sale. Sometimes the best investment is simply making the home feel:

Clean.
Well-maintained.
Bright.
Inviting.
Move-in ready.

That might mean:

  • Deep cleaning
  • Decluttering
  • Touch-up painting
  • Professional cleaning
  • Carpet cleaning
  • Minor repairs
  • Yard cleanup
  • Replacing burned-out light bulbs
  • Cleaning windows
  • Improving the entryway
  • Removing excess furniture

These improvements can often make a bigger difference than sellers expect.

Should I Get a Pre-Listing Inspection?

A pre-listing inspection can be helpful, particularly if you're concerned that your home may have issues that could surprise you during the buyer's inspection. Finding problems before you list gives you options.

You may decide to:

Fix the problem.

Get a contractor estimate.

Disclose the issue and price accordingly.

Offer a credit or other solution.

Or simply sell the home as-is.

The important thing is that you aren't discovering a major problem for the first time after you've already accepted an offer.

What About Selling a House That Needs Repairs?

You absolutely can sell a house that needs work. There are buyers for homes that need updating, including:

  • Investors
  • Flippers
  • Contractors
  • First-time buyers looking for a project
  • Buyers willing to trade cosmetic updates for a lower price

The key is pricing the property based on its actual condition. An outdated home priced like a fully remodeled home is likely to sit. An outdated home that is priced appropriately can attract the buyers who are looking for exactly that type of property.

Update or Sell As-Is? Here's How I Look at It.

Before recommending that a seller spend money on their home, I look at:

The Neighborhood

What are buyers currently choosing in your area?

The Competition

What does your home look like compared with the other homes buyers can purchase right now?

The Price Point

Expectations can be very different for a $400,000 home compared with a $900,000 home.

The Condition

Are we talking about cosmetic updates, or major repairs?

Your Timeline

Do you have three months to prepare, or do you need to sell quickly?

Your Budget

How much are you comfortable investing before selling?

Potential Return

Most importantly:

Does the improvement make financial sense?

Sometimes the Best Answer Is “Do a Little, Not a Lot.”

This is often where I land with sellers. You don't necessarily have to choose between:

“Completely remodel the house” and  “Sell it exactly as it is.”

There is a third option:

Make strategic improvements that give you the most impact for the money.

Maybe that's paint.

Maybe it's landscaping.

Maybe it's replacing worn carpet.

Maybe it's fixing the things buyers will immediately notice.

Or maybe the house truly makes more sense as an as-is sale.

Every home is different.

How I Help Sellers Decide What to Do Before Listing

Before putting your home on the market, I'll walk through the property with you and help identify the things that could affect how buyers see it.

We'll talk about:

  • What I would fix
  • What I would leave alone
  • What I would update
  • What I would clean or declutter
  • What improvements may be worth the money
  • What improvements probably aren't
  • How your home compares with the competition
  • How we should position the home in the market

I'm not interested in having you spend money just so your house looks prettier.

I want to know whether the investment makes sense.

Thinking About Selling Your Salt Lake City Home?

If you're wondering “Should I remodel my house before selling?” or “Should I sell my house as-is?”, let's talk before you start writing checks to contractors.

I'll give you my honest opinion about what I'd do, and sometimes that means doing less, not more.

You don't have to be ready to list. You don't have to commit to anything. 

Let's look at your home, your neighborhood and your goals and figure out what makes the most sense financially.

Nancy Bergman

Your Salt Lake Area Neighbfgorhood Realtor

Salt Lake Home Pros | Homes International

📞 858-617-9449
📧 nancybergmanrealtor@gmail.com
🌐 www.saltlakehomepros.com

Serving Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, West Jordan, South Jordan, Sandy, Draper, Herriman, Murray, Riverton, Taylorsville, Millcreek and surrounding Utah communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to renovate a house before selling?

Not necessarily. Some renovations can improve a home's appeal and value, while others may not provide enough return to justify the cost. The best decision depends on your home's condition, neighborhood, price range and competition.

Should I sell my house as-is?

Selling a house as-is can make sense if the property needs significant repairs, you don't want to invest money before selling, you're selling an inherited property, or you prefer a simpler sale. However, selling as-is doesn't eliminate disclosure requirements.

What should I fix before selling my house?

Focus first on obvious maintenance problems, cleanliness, curb appeal and issues that could negatively affect a buyer's first impression. A local market analysis can help determine which improvements are most worthwhile.

Should I remodel my kitchen before selling?

A full kitchen remodel isn't always necessary. Depending on the home, relatively inexpensive improvements such as paint, hardware, lighting and deep cleaning may provide enough improvement without the cost of a complete renovation.

Should I paint my house before selling?

Fresh, neutral paint can make a home look cleaner and more appealing, particularly if the existing paint is worn, damaged or highly personalized. Whether it's worth doing depends on the home's current condition.

Should I get a home inspection before selling?

A pre-listing inspection can help identify potential issues before a buyer discovers them. It gives sellers an opportunity to make repairs, obtain estimates, disclose known issues and price the property appropriately. I strongly recommend this... 

Can I sell a house that needs repairs in Utah?

Yes. Homes that need repairs can be sold to traditional buyers, investors and other buyers looking for properties with renovation potential. The property's condition should be accurately represented and reflected in the pricing strategy.

How much should I spend fixing my house before selling?

There is no universal dollar amount. The goal should be to make improvements that have a reasonable chance of helping the home sell or protecting its value. Before spending significant money, compare the expected benefit with the cost.

How do I know whether to update my home or sell it as-is?

Start by comparing your home's condition with similar properties currently for sale and recently sold in your neighborhood. Then consider your budget, timeline and potential return on investment.

Not sure what makes sense for your home? That's exactly what I'm here for.