Selling an Inherited Home: Beating Analysis Paralysis

Suddenly you’re faced with selling an inherited home. The choices are overwhelming: update the whole house, update a few things, or save the money and sell as is? These are the most common questions we hear from sellers in this situation.

Every home is different, and we recommend meeting with an experienced Realtor® for advice tailored to your property. But as a rule of thumb, homes sell faster and for more when buyers can picture themselves living there.

See it the way a buyer does

Imagine you’re a buyer walking into a home with stained carpet, bright walls, and a grimy kitchen and bathrooms. You probably wouldn’t walk away thinking, “I’d love to live there and offer everything I have to get it.”

So without breaking the bank, focus on the things that would feel like big projects to a buyer. Buyers don’t want projects. They want to feel excited and imagine a life they never thought they could have.

Small, inexpensive changes go a long way

Paint, flooring, a deep clean, new knobs, and updated outlets and switches can all make a big difference. Take our sale at 2 Taft Ct in Novato: the seller was selling his 99-year-old mother’s house. We prepped and staged it, and by the time it hit the market it looked fresh and clean for the next owner.