Q&A House Matters: Do I need to fix anything before selling my house or can I just leave it “as is”? – Sylvia (Red Beach, Whangaparaoa)

Most of the time, buyers are looking for a home that is ready to move into straight away, unless they are looking for a doer-upper.

When defects such as cracked windows, broken downpipes, leaking water tanks and so on occur, buyers add this to the “reason not to buy” list. Alternatively, they see this as a reason to negotiate the price downwards, taking into consideration the cost to fix the defects as well as a safety margin in case the repairs cost more than expected.

Unless you are selling a doer-upper, my recommendation would be to fix any defects and obvious problems that could get in the way of the negotiation process later down the track.

Unpermitted works and defective titles can be another stumbling block for sellers or buyers – you can read more about this on my website – www.anitadobson.co.nz/unpermitted-works-and-defective-titles

Got a question?  Contact Anita Dobson via email or Facebook! As seen in this week’s Real Estate Outlook.

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by Anita Dobson in this article are solely Dobson’s opinions and not necessarily the opinions of Harcourts Tandem Realty Ltd.  You should consider seeking advice from your own financial or investment advisor.