If you are thinking: "How to Sell a Home in Bad Condition?" read on.
Selling a house in poor condition can be a big challenge. Often, these homes struggle to attract offers because they aren't up to the standard that most buyers expect.
The term "poor condition" can be used to describe homes in a variety of states, but they'll typically fit into one of three categories:
Outdated
In need of repairs
Almost uninhabitable
The key to making a good decision when selling a home in poor condition boils down to determining what shape your home is in and whether it's better to put time, money, and energy into making repairs or just sell it in its current condition as is.
Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. The best advice is to talk to a real estate agent that can help you understand your options and what’s best for your situation.
Before you decide to sell your home, you should determine what condition your home is actually in. This will help you get a bigger picture of whether:
You should make changes to your home before listing
You should sell without making any repairs
Almost uninhabitable
Homes that need major repairs due to deferred maintenance
Owners typically won’t get a return on investment (ROI) for repairs when they sell
The best option for the owner is to sell their home as is
Making major repairs to an almost uninhabitable home costs a lot of money upfront. You may be able to recoup some of your investment when the house sells but you'd be out thousands of dollars in the interim.
If you don’t have the money to put towards repairs, you should consider cutting your losses and selling as is. You may get a lower price for your home, but you won’t have to shell out any money to upgrade your house.
Even if you have the funds to commit to repairs, it’s best to speak to a local real estate professional about your situation before making a decision. They'll likely be able to help you identify which projects will net you more money for your home, and which aren't worth the cost.
Homes that are almost uninhabitable usually have issues including:
Damaged roof
Severe foundation issues
Major plumbing problems
Bad electrical wiring
Pest infestations
Hidden mold, lead, or asbestos
Repairs needed
Homes that only have minor defects
Sellers may get some return on investment (ROI) if they bring the house up to the standard buyers expect
Owners may be able to save money by making some of the repairs themselves
Making minor repairs to your home before you sell doesn't require a lot of upfront costs and may help your home stand out from the crowd. If you're really concerned about keeping costs low, you could even make the needed changes yourself.
Some common defects include:
Some electrical issues
Some plumbing problems
Functioning, but damaged roof
Minor foundation issues
Failing but functioning HVAC
Fixing these issues could bring your home up to the standard that most buyers and lenders expect. Mortgage lenders will only lend to buyers who plan on buying a home that meets their standards.
You stand a greater chance of meeting both of their requirements if you repair what you can before you list your home.
There are a number of things that could cause a house to be completely uninhabitable. These include:
Black mold
Extensive or severe roof damage
Serious electrical issues, such as frayed wiring or outdated knob and tube wiring
Serious plumbing issues, such as a nonfunctioning water heater, or corroded and leaky pipe
Termite infestation or damage from a termite infestation that has not been repaired
Asbestos or lead
Nonfunctioning HVAC system
Extensive or severe chimney damage
Extensive or severe foundation issues
All of these issues create a scenario where it is dangerous for someone to live in the home. Whether the uninhabitable conditions were caused by storm damage, careless renters, neglect, or something else, selling a house in poor condition can entail a different process than selling a home that is habitable.
Outdated
Homes that have a good structure but outdated features
Owners may get a high return on investment (ROI) for the upgrades they make
Refurbishing outdated homes may not be worth the money in hot real estate markets
Homes in good working condition that are outdated may be viewed poorly by potential buyers, meaning they’ll offer less money for your home. However, this depends heavily on the state of your local real estate market.
Updating an outdated home could give you a return on investment and help you rake in a higher sales price. However, if inventory is low and demand is high in your local real estate market, outdated homes may sell almost as well as homes with recent renovations.
Items that are typically in need of updating include:
Kitchens
Bathrooms
Flooring
Exterior and interior paint
Finishes and fixtures
Landscaping
To help save on costs, you may be able to make some of the easier changes yourself.
Decisions to make before selling
Before you sell a home in poor condition, you have an important decision to make: are you going to make repairs or sell as is? Committing the time and money to improving your home before you sell could net you a higher price and a quicker sale. However, there's also a chance that you won't recoup your investment.
The best decision for you depends on your specific circumstances. Below, we detail the advantages and disadvantages for each option.
Not making repairs
Sellers who do not want to make repairs to their home should sell it in its current condition as is. The buyer understands that you will make no repairs or changes to the house before it sells.
As is homes are often purchased by investors or cash buyers. They try to negotiate the price as low as they can go — sometimes offering as much as 50% below the fair market value of your home.
Conventional buyers may also target homes in as is condition if the house isn’t too dilapidated to qualify for a mortgage.
Advantages of selling as is
No costly repairs
Home can be sold quickly (if you sell to a real estate investor)
Disadvantages of selling your home as is
Home can sell for less money
Home may receive fewer offers than traditional listings
Advantages of selling as-is
No costly repairs
Homeowners who sell their homes as is don’t have to worry about making any repairs to their homes.
And while cash buyers and investors won’t care about the condition of your home, traditional homebuyers will want to know exactly what they can expect. This means they may want home inspection and appraisal contingencies — which can significantly lengthen the transaction process.
Owners who are selling as-is are also less likely to grant the buyer repair credits towards closing costs. These credits aren’t an out-of-pocket expense but do reduce a seller’s net earnings from the sale.
Homes can be sold quickly
Homes that are sold in as is condition can close in as little as two weeks.
This makes it particularly enticing for cash buyers and investors who are looking to make a quick profit. Since there are no contingencies or financing involved, it’s just a matter of signing off on the paperwork and exchanging the deed for money.
Disadvantages of selling as-is
Homes sell for less money
Homeowners who list their homes in as is condition can expect to get lower offers than other homes listed on the open market.
The words “as is” typically signal to buyers that there's something wrong with the property. Cash buyers and investors tend to take advantage of this to get a lower bargaining price — they usually pay about 60 cents on the dollar for homes in disrepair.
Homes receive fewer offers
Homeowners selling as is may have a smaller pool of buyers willing to take on the challenges of updating a property in poor condition.
Most first-time buyers will steer clear of homes that are selling as is since most government-backed loans will not lend to homes in bad condition.
If a seller cannot find a buyer, their home could linger on the market longer than anticipated and sometimes have the opposite effect of what is intended with as is sales — saving time and money.
🔎What are disclosures?
Sellers are legally required to disclose any known problems of a home when selling as is. This includes telling the buyer any known issues or repairs that need to be made to the house.
Each state has specific requirements for what sellers are legally obligated to disclose. These typically include:
The presence of lead paint
Structural problems
Defects in the plumbing, HVAC, or roof
A history of flooding or infestation
If you misrepresent your house to the buyer, you could be held liable for recovery of damages based on fraud and deceit claims.
Making low-cost repairs and upgrades to your home 🧰
Low-cost repairs can be a great way for home sellers to boost the value of their home, without having to commit too much cash and time upfront.
However, if your local real estate market is currently favoring sellers you may find that even homes in poor condition may sell at asking price, even if no repairs are made.
Looking at market conditions and your competition can help you identify what repairs are worth making. This can be done by analyzing real estate trends across online property sites or consulting with a local realtor.
Advantages of making minor repairs
You can make the repairs yourself
They don't take a lot of time
Disadvantages of making minor repairs
Minor repairs may not lead to a return on investment (ROI)
Making repairs still costs some money
Advantages to making minor repairs
You can make the repairs yourself
You could save up to thousands of dollars by making any minor repairs yourself.
If you don’t want to make these repairs yourself, that’s okay too! It may only cost a few hundred dollars out of pocket if you choose to have someone do the work for you.
You can make the repairs fast
Minor repairs may take a few days to complete, whereas major repairs could take weeks or months. You could quickly make changes to your home before listing it without investing too much time or energy.
Disadvantages to making minor repairs
Repairs may not lead to a return on investment
While making minor repairs can help make your home more attractive to buyers, there’s no guarantee you will receive a higher return on investment (ROI).
Most buyers have certain expectations when it comes to purchasing a home. It’s possible that the changes you make may be considered more of a necessity in their eyes to bring their home up to a higher standard. In this case, potential buyers would not offer you a higher price for your home.
Repairs still cost money
While most minor repairs are substantially cheaper than major repairs, they still cost some money.
It’s important to consider what funds you have available to make repairs and stick to a budget. Otherwise, you could end up spending more than you initially expected.
Investing in major repairs 🛠
Homeowners who plan to make major repairs to their homes should consider:
Whether the money you pour into your home for repairs is worth the investment
How much the repairs could boost your property’s value
Home sellers that upgrade their homes don’t generally recoup the entire cost.
Advantages of making major repairs
Major repairs can boost your property value
Making major repairs can attract more buyers
Disadvantages of making minor repairs
Major repairs can cost more time and money than they are worth
Advantages of making major repairs
Boost your property value
Making major repairs to your home could increase your property’s overall value.
While you may not get an exact return on investment for any repairs you make, you should be able to get a higher price for your home since you are bringing it up to a standard that traditional buyers expect.
Attract more buyers
Investing in major repairs could potentially attract more buyers for your home.
Since you would be making significant upgrades and repairs, first-time buyers would be able to make offers on your home. They would be able to secure financing from a mortgage lender because your home would meet the standard criteria for borrowing.
Disadvantages of making major repairs
Time and money
Making minor repairs can take months to complete and cost tens of thousands of dollars. There’s no set number of how much you could pay for major repairs and no guarantee for a full return on investment.
Before you start making any changes to your home, it’s important to identify which repairs will bring you the greatest return on investment.
How can you sell a house in bad condition?
Homeowners who are looking to sell their home in poor condition can narrow down their options by deciding:
If you want to sell quickly
If you want to sell for more money
If you need to sell your home quickly...
Cash buyers offer homeowners the opportunity to get all cash for their home and close the transaction in as little as two weeks.
Cash buyers include companies or investors looking to purchase property as an investment to flip for a higher profit. Since they pay all cash and target distressed homes, they typically offer to buy the house quickly and without any contingencies.
Owners who sell to cash buyers won’t have to make any repairs to their home since they buy it as is.
If you want to sell for more money...
Listing with a realtor is the best way to attract offers from traditional buyers, who typically pay full market value for your home.
One caveat is that they'll typically only purchase homes in decent to good condition. This is because most government-backed mortgages will only lend to borrowers who buy a home in stable condition with no significant need for repairs.
Traditional buyers are best for sellers who want a higher offer on their home and aren’t in a hurry to sell.
Tips For Selling a House in Bad Condition Each property is different and what makes sense for your home before you sell it is going to depend on a number of different factors. That being said, here are some general tips to help sell a house in any condition. Highlight Good Things About the Property
Have you ever looked at a real estate listing only to find that the property was way nicer in person than they made it sound on paper? Understanding what buyers are looking for can help you to write an ad that drives the most prospective buyers to your property. Maybe you chose to replace the HVAC system and upgrade to energy-efficient appliances. You'll want to make these aspects of your house front and center in the listing description. Depending on the condition of your house and your sales price, it can be more or less reasonable to hire a real estate photographer. However, more often than not, having professional real estate photos taken of your property can help to ensure that your house is presented in the best possible light and garners as much interest as possible. Be Honest About Its Shortcomings
While it's good to highlight all of the positives, it's also important to not downplay or even lie about the negative aspects of your home. Even if you were to lie about the condition of your home, it will all come out in the wash during the home inspection. Take Care of Easy Repairs
If your home has been severely damaged in a storm, by water, or by fire, then there's not much point in repainting what's left of the interior walls. However, if your home is structurally sound but a little dingy or behind the times, knocking out some easy upgrades can help your home sell faster and for more money. Small upgrades like fresh window screens, new landscaping, fresh interior paint, or re-finished cabinetry can make your home much more appealing and help you justify a higher asking price. Price Your Property Right
One of the many reasons that it is almost always worth it to hire a real estate agent is that they can help you find the right price for your property. If you price your property too low, you'll be leaving money on the table. On the other hand, if you price your property too high, it can mean that it stands weeks or even months longer on the market. Real estate agents have experienced without a price home so that you make as much money as possible without scaring away a bunch of initially interested buyers. Decide What Concessions You're Open to Ahead of Time
It is common practice for buyers to try and negotiate on the sales price, and after the inspection report comes back, they might ask you to make repairs or lower the price even more. Having a firm sense of how low you want to go on the price and which repairs you're willing to make ahead of time can help you make sure you end up with a deal that works for you. Be Patient
Lastly, if you're selling a house in bad condition or even fair condition, sometimes you just have to be patient. If your home isn't exactly move-in ready then it simply might take a little longer to find an interested buyer. Your real estate agent will probably discuss with you coming up with a timeline for reducing the price if you haven't gotten any bites after a certain period of time. Selling a Home in Bad Condition in Harford County, MD and surrounding areas
Selling a home in bad condition is totally possible, but it means making some decisions about whether you want to improve the condition of the house before selling it or let a buyer or investor take care of the necessary repairs. In order to help determine your course of action, you'll want to take the real estate market, your location, and your own personal circumstances and desires in mind. Is it time for you to sell your home in Harford County, MD and surrounding areas? If you'd like any help getting your home sold let us know and we can give you a full market analysis or a no-obligation cash offer!
