We’ve talked a lot about preparing your house for a sale, covering everything from how to Increase Your Home’s Value to the Top 10 Home Staging Tips. But what if your house needs a lot of work? How do you decide whether it’s worth it to fix it up or if you should just put your property on the market as is?

• First of all, you should have a thorough inspection of your home to find out what really needs to be fixed. Figure out how much you could get for your home as is, and then figure out how much you could get after fixing it up. Comparing the before and after price will help you decide if it’s worth it to make the repairs.
• When pricing your property, compare with people who have recently sold a house in the same area. Remember that competition can also influence cost, so it’s important to have realistic expectations about how much your house will sell for.
• It’s all about presentation. First impressions are key, so make sure your house is as immaculate and inviting as possible. If a buyer sees the value and potential in a home, they won’t be turned off by a few necessary repairs.
• Highlight the home’s strengths and not its weaknesses. What does your home have that others in the area do not? Anything that sets your property apart from the rest will be beneficial in making a sale.
• Incentives are a great way to get interest from potential buyers. You can even include any necessary repair costs in the asking price by offering the buyer a credit.

It’s possible that you’ll lose some money when selling a fixer-upper. However, if you don’t have the time or money to fix the house yourself, it may be worth it to you to sell your home as is and get whatever money you can.