Is It Best To Do A House Up Before Selling?

If you’ve asked the question; is it best to do a house up before selling, I am going to assume that these follow up questions are also applicable too, which are; “how much work to do before selling a house“, “what not to fix when selling your house” and “which home improvements add the most value“. But before I go into these additional questions, let me begin by answering your question:

It is best to do a house up before selling as you will likely sell it for more money and your house will probably sell much faster done-up when priced right. There are more homebuyers looking for done-up homes than there are for rundown properties, which creates demand and a higher perceived value.

The reason I added the additional questions in my opening paragraph is because these seem obvious follow-up questions, but the focus of this article will be on whether it’s worth doing up a house before selling. However, if you’d like answers to the my suggested follow-up questions, please read these articles: How Much Does A Bathroom Add To Home Value; Does Upgrading Your Kitchen Add Value To Your Home; What Not To Fix When Selling A House. Each of this links open in a new window so you can read each one after reading this article.

How much should you spend on doing a house up?

The amount you spend on doing your house up before you sell should be in proportion to how much you can afford and how much value you will add to its end value. But always keep in mind; you shouldn’t spend more money on your house than what the upgrades will add to its value. Having said that, not all money spent on doing a house up will add value, but this will make it easier to sell. So it’s a balance.

To help you to focus on the right things to do to your house before selling, I recommend you take a look at my video course on How To Sell Your House In Under 2 Weeks For More Money. This course will answer the follow up question I added at the beginning of the article, which is “how much work to do before selling a house“.

This easy to watch video course includes all the things you should fix when selling a house. The course itself could be one of the best investments you make in trying to sell your house. The focus of this online course is to get the best price for your house in the quickest time.

Doing your house up is not only about the money

Doing your house up before you sell is not just about what it costs and how much value will be added, within reason of course. But it is also about selling your house quickly. Once you’ve made the decision to sell and move home, the last thing you want is that your house takes a long time to sell. This is especially true if you’ve found the perfect new home to move to, of if you need to move quickly to relocate for a new job.

Done-up houses sell for more money and sell faster

There’s no doubt that done-up houses sell faster than rundown houses, which is because there are far more buyers in the first category of buyers who will be looking to buy a done-up house. But in addition to selling quicker, done-up houses sell for more money than rundown properties.

There are more homebuyers who love the idea of moving into their new home without having to lift a finger. Not everyone is into DIY. Consequently, there will be more homebuyers looking for a done-up house than there will be for a run-down property.

Only recently, my wife and I have considered a move to Cornwall, and have been looking at a few newbuild homes. I really enjoy looking at show homes, as does my wife. But there is a certain appeal about moving into a brand new house where nothing needs doing, which is why new homes sell for more than second-hand homes.

But if you’re considering buying a new home, you may want to read this article: Do New Homes Lose Value? How to avoid losing too much value.

Curb appeal is key to doing a house up

One of the most important aspects of doing your house up is the front of the house and the front garden. First impressions are often overlooked by many homeowners. Some homebuyers will not even keep to their viewing appointment if they don’t like the look of the property when they arrive. This means that curb appeal should be your number one priority.

Having said that, don’t give your house great curb appeal only to let the house down when they walk through the front door. The inside of your house should match the outside in terms of its look and cleanliness.

Think about what you’ve felt like when you’ve look at houses for yourself. You may be used to looking at doer uppers, but even if you are, I suggest you visit a show home at a new development and take some notes of how they present their houses.

The done up house must be marketed for the right pricing

Not many properties sell if they are marketed at over what they are worth. You need to have a least two estate agents value your home, preferably three, as estate agent valuations will differ.

I suggest you have an estate agent visit your house before you do any work and get their advice on what you should do. But be cautious with estate agents, as not all estate agents will offer the best advice in this regard.

I suggest you ask them to value your house as it stands and ask them how long it will take to sell. See what they say. After they viewed your house and given you the value they will market it for, only then ask them for advice about what would add value. Do the work they suggest and get new valuations after the work has been done.

But also, consider taking a look at my online video course too, as this gives all the advice you need to sell a house for more money and fast.

Final thoughts on is it best to do a house up before selling

An important element to doing a house up before selling is making sure it is clean and tidy for each viewing. But as part of doing your house up, make sure you clear the clutter, and keep colours modern and neutral.

Don’t forget the garden, as this is a key part to selling a house and is often considered another room to your property. As already mentioned, the front garden should be made tidy too, as this is what buyers see first.

As a reminder, the link to my video course is here: How To Sell Your House In Under 2 Weeks For More Money.

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