Hey, so we’re thinking about selling our home that was a real fixer-upper when we bought it for $150k. We still owe $120k on it, but the estimated value now is around $220k. We were planning to do a few updates before selling, like replacing our ancient metal-framed windows that are falling apart and super inefficient. The front and back doors are also in rough shape, with wonky frames and gaps, so they needed replacing too.
One thing on our list was adding a backsplash in the kitchen to give it a more finished look. And then there’s the entryway accent wall we wanted to put up to cover the burnt siding from when the previous owners used to grill on the porch. We figured it would be a simpler fix than redoing the whole house’s siding.
We got some advice from a realtor who basically said, “Don’t bother with those updates, let the next owner deal with it.” They thought the return on investment wouldn’t be worth the money we put into those fixes. But we felt like these updates were pretty important to make the house look its best before selling.
We asked for opinions from others, and it seems like people are divided on what we should do. Some say go for it and others agree with the realtor’s advice. Our house has come a long way since we first bought it, and most things are looking good and functioning well now. We only have one bathroom left to renovate for cosmetic purposes, but overall, the house is safe and livable.
I plan to tackle most of the repairs myself, but for the accent wall and window replacements, we’ll hire someone else. Despite the differing opinions, we’re still not sure what to do. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, we’d love to hear them!