MR HOME GUY USA · MASTER TECHS SINCE 2008

What Should I Fix Before Selling My House, and What Can I Skip?

Start with visible, straightforward repairs you can finish before listing photos. Tighten loose cabinet pulls, replace missing hardware, and patch old picture-hook holes where they stand out. Put unexplained damage on a separate list for the appropriate professional to assess. Review larger cosmetic updates with your listing agent before you spend money on them.

Walk through the house once and sort each item into three groups: fix now, get checked, or review with your agent.

What to fix, what to check, and what can wait

Fix now

Group small jobs that a handyman can quote from a clear list. Look for loose knobs, missing doorstops, obvious picture-hook holes, and damaged decorative trim. Note how many items there are and which rooms they’re in.

Get checked first

If you see a ceiling stain that has come back or notice damage with an unclear cause, document what changed and ask the appropriate professional to assess it before you patch or paint. Put that assessment on its own line so it doesn’t get buried in the cosmetic work.

Review with your agent

Get your agent’s input before replacing functional cabinets, changing flooring throughout the house, or remodeling a dated bathroom. Ask which rooms will lead the listing and what improvement they’d prioritize if you only had time for one.

Build a repair list someone can quote

  1. Take two photos per issue. One wide shot shows where it is in the room. One close-up shows the actual problem.
  2. Describe the work in plain language. Write “tighten three loose cabinet pulls in the kitchen” instead of “fix kitchen.”
  3. Mark the photo deadline. Separate jobs that need to be finished before photos from items you’ll discuss at the next agent walkthrough.
  4. Check what the quote includes. For wall repairs, ask whether it covers patching, sanding, primer, and the paint finish. That helps you compare quotes for the same work.

Example: Three jobs, one photo deadline

Say you have loose kitchen cabinet pulls, scuffs on the entry wall, and a ceiling stain that returned after painting. Put the pulls on the handyman list. Clean a small area of the entry wall first, then decide whether the remaining marks need paint. Give the ceiling stain its own assessment before putting any ceiling painting on the schedule.

If the kitchen cabinets also look dated but work well, ask your agent how they expect the kitchen to photograph before committing to a bigger update. For the order of work across the whole house, use the two-week home-sale prep plan.

Not sure which repairs to put on the list?

Bring a few photos, your listing date, and the jobs you’re considering. In a personal virtual consult, we’ll help you sort the list into work you can schedule now, items that need a closer look, and decisions to take back to your agent.

$39 · 20-minute virtual appointment · Book online 24/7 · Available nationwide — Mr. Home Guy USA

Consult

Related home-sale prep guides

Check out our Walk Through Your House Like a Buyer Before You Hire a Handyman blog

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