What to Fix Before Listing Your Home in Colorado

By Greg Smith

ColoradoHomeSource represents the region’s finest properties with exceptional skill, using the most innovative technologies currently available. ColoradoHomeSource offers ultimate privacy, security, speed, and efficiency. The team’s years of full-time experience have given them a clear understanding of the mindset of home buyers and sellers and a thorough understanding of the regional marketplace.

One in four real estate deals in Colorado right now are terminating at inspection. That’s a number that should get the attention of anyone thinking about selling their home, because most of the time, those deals aren’t falling apart over major structural problems. They’re falling apart over maintenance items the seller already knew about but never got around to fixing.

Today’s buyers are focused on every detail of a transaction. They’re looking for the best value they can find, and in a lot of cases, they have the leverage to push for it. If a home feels like it hasn’t been well maintained, buyers will use that against you twice: first by offering less on the home, and then again during inspection by asking you to fix the same items you could have handled on your own terms.

Take care of what you already know about. This is the most important thing we tell our sellers. If something hasn’t been working right for months or even years, get it handled before you go on the market.

Paying for it once yourself with your own contractor is almost always cheaper than what it costs when a buyer’s inspector finds those same items and the buyer has leverage in the negotiation. And this isn’t just our experience, as inspection and repair issues are the number one reason deals fall through across the country right now.

Consider a pre-listing home inspection. If you’re not sure what a buyer’s inspector might find, hiring your own inspector before you list can give you a clear picture. They’ll walk through the home the same way a buyer’s inspector would, and you’ll have the chance to address anything that comes up on your own dime and timeline before you’re under contract and the pressure is on.

Bring in the right professionals early. There are a few key contractors we consistently recommend our sellers bring in before listing. An HVAC contractor should service and maintain your furnace and air conditioning unit, and if they recommend repairs, take care of them now. It’s going to cost less before you list than after.

A roofer or exterior professional can make minor repairs that go a long way during a buyer’s inspection. If the roof looks maintained, the buyer walks away with more confidence in the home. Small exterior items like caulking and paint touch-ups get called out on inspection reports constantly, and they’re easy to handle ahead of time.

Go the extra mile with radon and sewer. In Colorado, almost every buyer is going to ask for a radon test. Getting one done yourself before you list means you already know the situation and can address it if needed. A sewer line scope is another one that removes a major source of anxiety from the deal. Getting the line scoped and cleaned before you go on the market takes a potential red flag completely off the table.

Don’t overlook the plumbing details. Water pressure is a bigger deal than most sellers realize. A pressure-reducing valve costs a few hundred dollars and removes an item from the inspection list entirely. Inspectors fill every sink and tub to capacity and watch them drain, so if you have slow drains anywhere in the house, a plumber can find and fix them before the inspector does. Even small drips under vanities that you might not notice day to day will get called out.

Make your home look its best. Paint and flooring go a long way. If your hardwood floors need refinishing, the return on that investment is one of the highest you can get in pre-listing prep. And if it’s been a while since you painted the interior or you have any bold or unusual colors, a fresh coat of neutral paint changes how buyers feel the moment they walk in.

In a market where buyers have options, and they’re being selective about where they spend their money, you want to be the prettiest girl at the ball. The homes that show well are the ones that sell well.

Working with a team that invests time in the pre-listing process is what sets you up for success. That’s what we do at Colorado Home Source. We spend real time before your home ever hits the market making sure it presents as well as possible so you’re in the strongest position from day one.

If you’re thinking about selling your home in Colorado and want to know what it would take to get your home ready, give us a call at 303-543-5720 or email us at greg@boulderhomesource.com. You can also visit blogboulderhomesource.com for more. We’d love to hear from you.