Should I renovate before selling?

It depends on your budget and timeline—but for major structural issues (like foundation), fixing them usually brings a better return. As far as Cosmetic usually some paint and flooring help. Usually with cosmetics you do not get dollar for dollar return with the current price of materials.

In my experience, this really comes down to who you want your buyer to be and how much risk you want to take on upfront. I’ve dealt with a number of properties over the years—some with structural issues, others just needing heavy renovation—and the biggest mistake I see sellers make is assuming every dollar spent on repairs will come back at closing. That’s not always the case. If you sell “as-is,” you’re primarily going to attract: Investors Cash buyers Buyers looking for a project That usually means a lower price, but a cleaner, faster transaction with fewer surprises. On the flip side, if you handle major structural issues like foundation work, you can: Open the door to traditional buyers Avoid financing issues (a lot of lenders won’t touch structural problems) Potentially push the price higher But here’s the part most people overlook… Even with foundation repairs, buyers often still expect a discount, especially on older or historically significant homes, because they assume there could be other unknown issues. What I typically recommend to clients is: Get a real contractor bid (not a rough guess) Have a local agent run both scenarios: as-is vs. repaired Factor in holding costs, time, and stress In a lot of cases, the best strategy ends up being a middle ground—address anything that would prevent financing or scare off most buyers, but don’t over-renovate. Every property is a little different, especially with historical homes, but running the numbers before making a decision will usually make the right path pretty clear.