Selling a longtime family home can feel overwhelming, especially when it has years of deferred maintenance and belongings to sort through.
For this property, I worked with a fiduciary responsible for selling the home of a deceased couple. There were 3 grown children who would inherit the proceeds of the sale, and the fiduciary hired me to manage everything from clean up to marketing. He needed someone who could look at the big picture, create a clear plan, and coordinate everything required to prepare the home for sale.
Deciding Whether the Work Was Worth It
In its original condition, we estimated that the property would likely have been listed for approximately $895,000 and sold for around $950,000.
The home had considerably more potential, but realizing that potential required careful preparation. My recommendation wasn’t to renovate everything. Instead, we focused on the improvements that would make the biggest difference in the home’s condition, presentation, and perceived value.
The seller invested approximately $70,000 in preparing the property. The work included:
- Removing accumulated belongings and debris
- Clearing and improving the yards
- Donating and removing a junked vehicle
- Safely relocating a very large fish!
- Addressing a rodent issue
- Painting the interior and exterior
- Updating fixtures and flooring
- Relocating the washer and dryer to free up space
- Completing inspections and seller disclosures
- And so much more...
I coordinated the vendors, prioritized the work, and kept the process moving so it remained manageable for the fiduciary.
The Results
After the work was completed, we listed the home at $1,150,000.
In just six days, we received three offers, and the property sold for $1,240,000—$90,000 over the list price.
Compared with the estimated as-is sale price of $950,000, the prepared home sold for approximately $290,000 more. After subtracting the $70,000 preparation investment, that represents an estimated $220,000 in additional value, or a potential return of approximately 314% on the seller’s investment, before additional selling and carrying costs.
The Takeaway
This result wasn’t about making every possible improvement. It came from knowing the local market, understanding what buyers would respond to, and making thoughtful decisions about where to spend, and where not to.
Preparing a home for sale is never one-size-fits-all. Some properties need only a few cosmetic updates. Others require a coordinated plan for repairs, cleanup, landscaping, inspections, and presentation.
My job is to help sellers determine what is worth doing, what isn’t, and how to bring all the pieces together. In this case, a thoughtful preparation and pricing strategy created an excellent result while making a difficult transition easier for the family.
Thinking About Selling?
If you’re considering selling and aren’t sure where to begin, I’d be happy to walk through your home, talk about your goals, and help you create a practical plan.
