Should we update the house before selling, or sell it as-is?
Answered by Chris Deutsch, Founder & Editor
Licensed Minnesota Realtor #20382264 ·
The short answer
Mostly as-is — with a short list of exceptions. Big renovations on a long-held home rarely pay the family back. The buyer of a 1968 kitchen plans to choose their own 2026 kitchen; spending $40,000 to guess their taste usually returns less than it cost, and it adds months to a process that's already heavy.
On stage The 60-second answer
Captions on · Transcript below
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Chris's video answer is on its way. Until then, the short answer above says the same thing.
The transcript posts with the video.
The longer answer
Where money does work: the clear-out, a deep clean, fresh neutral paint, and small visible repairs — the leaky faucet, the dead outlet, the loose railing. Cheap fixes signal "cared for." Expensive ones just signal "expensive." Anything safety-related gets done regardless, because it'll surface at inspection anyway.
The right list is specific to the house. Walk it with me and I'll tell you which five things matter and which forty don't — that's a one-cup-of-coffee conversation.
The next department over
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From the editor's desk
“As Founder and Editor, I review, correct, and stand behind every answer.”
Is your situation more specific than the market? That's the one worth talking through.