Home Prep Budget Calculator: What to Fix Before Listing
Pick the work you're considering and it prices it up, so you can see what's worth doing before you list and what isn't.
Example
Paint, landscaping and a deep clean on an $850,000 home usually run a few thousand dollars and are the three that most reliably pay for themselves. A kitchen remodel rarely does.
An estimate, not an appraisal.
Step 1 of 3
How much work does it need?
Questions people ask
- What should I fix before listing?
- Paint, light fixtures, landscaping and a deep clean first. They are cheap, fast, and they change every photo. Big remodels rarely return what they cost.
- Should I renovate the kitchen?
- Usually not right before a sale. A full remodel seldom returns its cost, and buyers often want to choose their own finishes.
- Do I have to disclose work I did myself?
- Yes. Material work on the home is disclosable whether or not it was permitted, and unpermitted work needs to be disclosed as such.
Buying after you sell? Get up to $25,000 back.
The seller pays about $30,000 to the buyer's agent on a $1M home. We keep $4,999. You get about $25,000. You still get a real agent from start to finish, and it costs $0 up front.
Run your numbersBased on a $1M San Diego home where the seller offers 3% to the buyer's agent. Applied to closing costs first. How much can go to you beyond that depends on your loan. Estimate only, not a guarantee.