how much do you lose selling a house as is?

Selling as is costs you less than people fear, as long as you separate the cheap fixes from the wood rot. In Goshen, Connecticut, buyers in most price tiers still want a home that photographs well and passes an appraisal, so the discount for as is is really a discount for the specific problems left visible, not a flat penalty. Carpet and paint are the easy call. After three years as a rental they almost always return more than they cost, because they drive first impressions and let the house show clean. I would do those regardless. The wood rot on the three seasons room is the one to look at closely, because rot means water got in, and buyers assume the worst about what is behind it. Left unaddressed, they will discount for the repair plus the unknown, which is usually more than the fix itself. You do not have to rebuild the room. Getting a licensed contractor to open it up, price the repair, and document that the cause is stopped often recovers most of that discount for a fraction of a full renovation. That is where a contractor's eye earns its keep, telling cosmetic rot from a framing problem. Do the paint and carpet, get a contractor's written estimate on the rot, then have a Connecticut agent price it both ways before you decide. Alla Novytska, Realtor®, JohnHart Real Estate, DRE #02254775 CSLB #1139710

I get this question all the time, and my answer is almost always the same: don’t spend a dollar until you’ve talked to a Realtor. I’ve seen sellers spend $20,000 on improvements that barely moved the needle, and I’ve seen others spend a few thousand dollars and dramatically increase their offers. Things like fresh paint, new carpet, a deep cleaning, and good landscaping often make a great first impression without breaking the bank. But when it comes to bigger projects, like repairing wood rot or remodeling a kitchen, every situation is different. Sometimes it makes sense. Sometimes it doesn’t. The only way to know is to compare your home to others that have recently sold in your area. That’s something I do for my clients every day. My goal is never to get you to spend more money. My goal is to help you net the most money when it’s all said and done. Sometimes that means making repairs before listing. Sometimes it means pricing the home correctly and selling it as-is. Every house is different, which is why I always recommend getting advice before writing checks. Tammi Montgomery Associate Broker | RE/MAX Real Estate Experts Licensed in Louisiana, Texas, Florida & Oklahoma Over $1 Billion in Career Sales 2024 Northwest Louisiana Realtor of the Year RealTrends America’s Best Real Estate Professionals #1 Large Team in Louisiana by Sales Volume

Hi there, Everyone above is right that there is no single number, but after years of doing this I can give you the framework I use with my own sellers, because "it depends" is not much help when you are staring at a budget. Rule of thumb one: buyers discount visible problems for more than the repair actually costs. When a buyer walks through and sees worn carpet, tired paint, and rot on the three-seasons room, they do not subtract the contractor's price. They subtract the contractor's price plus a cushion for hassle and for what else might be hiding. In my experience that mental discount often runs one and a half to two times the true repair cost. That gap is what you "lose" selling as is. Rule of thumb two: cheap cosmetic work usually pays for itself several times over. Paint and carpet are the two highest-leverage dollars in real estate. On a rental that has been lived in for three years, fresh neutral paint, new inexpensive carpet, and a deep clean can transform the photos, and the photos decide who shows up. Rule of thumb three: fix anything that scares lenders and inspectors. Wood rot is exactly that kind of item. It is a small repair now, or a renegotiation lever against you later, or worse, it narrows your buyer pool toward cash investors, who typically pay based on the fixed-up value minus repairs minus their profit margin. That is the most expensive way to sell. So my suggested play for your PA house: get one contractor bid for the rot, do paint and carpet, and skip anything bigger. Then have a local agent give you two numbers, as-is value and fixed-up value, and let the spread make the decision for you. I am a real estate professional in Los Angeles, working the South Bay and Palos Verdes Peninsula. If you would like a strong agent near your Pennsylvania property to run those two numbers, I am happy to connect you from my network. Zoltan

There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer because the amount you may lose by selling a home as-is depends on the property's condition, location, and the current market. In many cases, buyers will factor the cost of repairs into their offers, and they may also discount the price further to account for the time, effort, and uncertainty involved in completing the work. Before investing in major repairs, it's worth determining which improvements are likely to provide a good return. Fresh paint, professional cleaning, landscaping, and replacing worn carpet are often relatively inexpensive updates that can make a strong first impression. More significant repairs, such as fixing wood rot, should be evaluated based on their cost and impact on the home's value and marketability. A local real estate professional can help you compare your home to similar properties that have sold both renovated and as-is. This analysis can help you decide whether making repairs will increase your net proceeds or whether pricing the home appropriately and selling it as-is is the better financial decision. The goal isn't necessarily to spend the most money before listing—it's to maximize what you walk away with after the sale. Juan Picos, Realtor

There is no blanket figure to this question, it depends on market conditions, home conditions, and the type of sale. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Real Estate Operations in ALL 50 States

Typical Loss Selling “As-Is” Most homes sold as-is trade for 10%–25% below market value compared to a properly prepared, move-in-ready home. * Minor cosmetic issues → ~5–10% loss * Dated but functional home → ~10–20% loss * Major repairs needed (roof, foundation, systems) → ~20–30%+ loss ⸻ 📉 Why Sellers Lose Money When you sell as-is, buyers automatically: * Build in repair costs + risk buffer * Expect a discount for inconvenience * Often include investors looking for deals (not retail buyers) So instead of competing for top-dollar buyers, you’re attracting bargain hunters. ⸻ ⚖️ The Trade-Off (Speed vs. Profit) Selling as-is can make sense if: * You need a fast sale * You don’t have cash for repairs * The property is inherited or distressed But if you have even some ability to prep the home, you can dramatically increase your net.

Selling a house "as is" does not necessarily lower the price. There are a lot of contractors and investors and buyers looking to fix up a home themselves or flip. It's imperative that the home is priced to fair market value. In our area, where inventory is low and buyer demand is high, even a home in rough shape can sell and with multiple offers. Price the home at fair market value and more then one buyer will see value and if you are able to get multiple offers, then the price will organically go up to a price higher than had you listed there in the first place.

Do you lose money when selling a home in Fairfield County? In Fairfield County, most homeowners don't lose money when selling—it really depends on how long you've owned the property and how much appreciation you've experienced during that time. As a general rule of thumb, plan to deduct about 6% from your sale price to cover your selling costs. This typically includes: Real estate commission Conveyance taxes Attorney fees Other closing costs and fees So if you've owned your home long enough to build equity through appreciation and mortgage paydown, you'll likely walk away with a profit even after accounting for these costs. The key is understanding that the 6% in selling expenses comes off the top, and anything beyond your original purchase price (plus improvements) and these costs is your gain. The longer you've held the property in Fairfield County's strong real estate market, the more likely you are to see a healthy return on your investment.

Typically 5–20% below market value, depending on condition and buyer demand.

Hi Alpa, it depends as always. First thoughts, if you take care of the obvious defects, it will enhance your value a lot. As interest rates have increased, people have gotten picker on what they buy, places that a few months ago were selling very easily as-is now are having a hard time so there may be a difference in pricing that may not be acceptable to you. Once you discuss with your agent, you can make a game plan knowing the numbers as-is and knowing the numbers when rehabbed or cleaned up. Its not always clear cut, sometimes there is strong enough demand that going on the market sooner may help more than waiting. You need all of the data to make a good decision.

Hi Alpa. I always ask my clients what their priority is. If it is timing, perhaps an “as-is” sale is appropriate. If it is maximizing your profit, then doing a few repairs/upgrades may be in order. An experienced local Realtor will be able to advise you best on the current market and what to do. Best of luck!

It’s always hard to gauge without seeing the property but for example if it cost you $2500-$5000 to bring the house up to pristine shape and it would allow you to make 2x-3x on your money would it make sense. Have you gotten a realtor to come out and take a look? This might help make all the difference. -Briahna Savage Licensed Realtor NY, & PA [email protected]