Selling a House that Needs Repairs: Major & Minor Work How to Guide

Whether you’re selling a house that needs repairs or requires major maintenance work, it’s important to understand that it’s all doable. You simply need to know your options and a “how to guide” so you can make the right decisions about what you take on. Keep in mind, there are buyers out there who are interested in purchasing your property just the way it is. 

Once you have an idea of your home’s market value – considering its Northern California location, selling points, and condition, you’re on your way to selling your house that needs major or minor work for a fair price.

Table of Contents:

  1. Have a home inspection
  2. Know your audience
  3.  Price your place realistically
  4. Highlight your homes selling points
  5. Focus on the repairs that give you more bang for your buck
  6. Set your sights on an as is sale
  7. Sell to the right buyer 
  1. “We buy houses” companies
  2. iBuyers
  3. Online companies that connect home sellers with local buyers
  4. House flippers
  5. Deal Hunters 
  6. Remodelers 
  7. Local real estate investors
  1. Diroddi Home Buyers: the best way to sell a house that needs work!

Can you sell a house that needs repairs?


Yes, it’s possible. When you think about selling a home, the first common thought of most individuals is to get the advice of a real estate agent, bring it in tiptop shape and then stage the property before scheduling open houses and viewings. 

If your home is in need of repairs, however, this approach can be off-putting, not to mention expensive; you may not have the time or the cash to invest in making all of the needed repairs. 

Fortunately, you don’t have to. There are multiple options other than the traditional route, such as working with a real estate investor, and one of them may be the right choice for you.

What is the fastest way to sell a house that needs work?

Despite the ups and downs in recent years Northern California is still a hot real estate market, and a wide range of houses are sold on a daily basis. 

The most desirable houses are the ones that require only minor repairs and are move-in ready. If your home needs a lot of work, however, your target audience will likely be much smaller. 

There are buyers, nevertheless, who are interested in buying your house as-is, like a cash buyer, which speeds up the process and can save you both time and money. 

Wondering who can buy your property?

Diroddi Home Buyers may well be the answer you’re looking for. We are real estate investors, a cash buyer, who pays cash for Northern California properties like yours that are in need of home repairs, and we’re ready to make you a cash offer. Essentially you can sell as-is with out real estate agents or all of the closing costs that can go with them.



Tips for selling a house that needs repairs

The process of selling a house that needs repair doesn’t have to be overwhelming. There are buyers out there who are interested in buying your home as-is, and there are several tips that can make selling a home that needs work more far less challenging. 

  1. Have a home inspection

By scheduling a home inspection, you ensure that you know your home’s worth as it stands – before any repairs are made. A thorough inspection provides you with valuable information about any issues your home has, which you’re required to reveal in the selling process. The inspection will provide you with important information when considering selling as is.

At Diroddi Home Buyers, we send out our own in-house inspector and make cash offers for fixer-uppers like yours on the spot – eliminating the need for you to locate a reputable inspector and schedule the work on your own. 

  1. Know your audience

If you’re selling a house in poor condition, it’s important to know who your potential buyers are and their motivations. This list generally includes the following:

  • House flippers buy low, put in the work to get the house on the market, and are invested in generating a tidy profit in the process. You can expect a lower selling price with house flippers.
  • Deal hunters are generally people who are interested in living in your area but can’t afford the prices. These buyers are willing to tackle home repair projects in order to afford a home in their preferred location.
  • Remodelers are buyers who are willing to make the renovations and repairs necessary to make a property their ideal home in their ideal location. If your home fits the bill, a remodeler can be a decent option.

Real estate investors like Diroddi Home Buyers pay cash for houses in every condition, including those that are in need of major repairs. When you work with us, you can expect a speedy process that requires minimal effort on your part and that leaves you with cash in hand.  

  1. Price your place realistically

When you know what other houses that are in need of repairs are selling for in your area, you’ll have a better idea of what your home is worth, which can help you demand a realistic price. 

  1. Highlight your homes selling points

Selling a house as-is in Northern California does not mean you have to accept less than it’s worth or that it does not have unique selling points that should be featured. 

Perhaps you just put in new carpet or recently invested in electrical work. Further, if your house needs significant work but is in a prime location, you may be surprised to learn just how important location can be.

  1. Focus on the repairs that give you more bang for your buck

If you have the time and resources to put into your home before moving forward with a traditional sale, focus on the repairs that matter most and can significantly boost your home’s value. 

This often involves cosmetic work, such as applying a fresh coat of paint, replacing hinges and other accessories, updating the flooring, applying fresh caulk in the bathroom, removing old appliances, and cleaning the yard – basically anything that improves your home’s curb appeal.

  1. Set your sights on an as-is sale

If you are facing an unexpected move and don’t have time to focus on repairsand upgrades in order to get your house ready for sale or if you simply can’t afford to invest in the necessary renovations right now, it’s important to know that you have other options. I

t’s possible to quickly sell a house that requires a lot of work when you sell to the right type of buyer.

  1. Sell to the right buyer 

You can sell your house without all the inconveniences and costs associated with real estate agents, and this is true even if your house needs a lot of work. 

But how?

Well, Diroddi Home Buyers is by your side…

We are cash buyers who employ our own home inspector and buy houses like yours outright – allowing you to save time and money in the process.

How to sell a house that needs major repairs

If you’re selling a home that needs repairs, listing the house and selling it on the market may not be the best approach. Buyers in Northern California have a vast array of homes to choose from, and traditional buyers want homes they can move into – or that don’t require major work prior to moving in. 

If your home needs major repairs, such as structural or safety repairs, you may want to consider selling to target buyers. This can save you time and expense in the long run, allowing you to move forward without the hassle that is typically associated with selling a home. 

So, wondering where you can sell your house if it needs repairs? You got plenty of options. Let’s explore each one of them…

  1. “We buy houses” companies

There are national companies that pay cash for houses as is through local franchises. While these companies are a reliable way to sell a home in virtually any condition, they employ a strict process that they won’t deviate from. 

Additionally, these buyers tend to take longer than other cash buyers and they tend to pay considerably less. If this is the route you choose, getting several offers in order to compare prices is in your best interest. 

  1.  iBuyers

iBuyers are online companies that buy houses virtually, which simplifies the process considerably. There are, however, pros and cons involved. While the process can be completed online and allows you to create a video that serves as a virtual walk-through of your home, the service fees and closing costs can be high. Plus, the process generally takes longer than working with a local real estate investor. 

  1. Online companies that connect home sellers with local buyers

There are also online companies that don’t actually buy homes but help sellers connect with local buyers. Finding the right buyer for a house that’s not in great repair, however, can be challenging, and the bidding process tends to be lengthy.

  1. House flippers

House flippers are in the business of buying houses that are in need of repair. They are interested in getting homes market-ready as quickly as possible and walking away with a considerable profit. 

House flippers put in the effort and shoulder the risk involved, including the possibility that the home will require more extensive repairs than originally thought, and they expect a hefty profit in return. As such, you can expect house flippers to offer less than many other cash buyers.

  1. Deal Hunters 

Northern California boasts many prime locations, but buyers can’t always afford their dream spots. Some buyers are willing to purchase a house that needs significant work in order to afford a home that’s located in a specific school district or that offers some other advantage.

 Deal hunters generally have tight budgets, which means they typically can only make offers that aren’t as high as you wanted it to be. Selling to a deal hunter can also be a lengthier process that is more prone to falling through than selling to a well-established cash buyer would be.

  1. Remodelers 

Remodelers have a can-do spirit when it comes to home renovations and fall somewhere in the middle of house flippers and deal hunters. They are generally willing to either have the work done or to do it themselves in order to transform a property into their dream home. 

Remodelers are often drawn to a home’s potential, a home’s location, or both, and they’re often willing to overlook issues that might be deal breakers for other buyers. Remodelers, however, are generally interested in driving a hard bargain and the sales process can be lengthy. 

  1.  Local real estate investors

If you’re looking to sell your house fast in Northern California or you need a budget-friendly option for selling your home without making a lot of repairs, a local real estate investor like Diroddi Home Buyers is the way to go. 

Once you contact us, we’ll schedule an inspection with our in-house professional, and when that’s completed, we’ll make you a cash offer then and there. If you have reached the point that you want to sell your home as-is, we buy Northern California homes that need repairs and are very interested in yours. 



How to sell a house that needs work on a smaller scale

The scenario of selling an old house that needs work on a less grand scale is similar to selling a house that needs major repairs, but you may have additional options. 

Sometimes, the issue of knowing what not to fix when selling a house is just as important as knowing what to fix.

Getting the best price for your house that needs a moderate amount of work can make putting in the effort to pretty the place worth the time and expense. 

If giving your house a facelift and making minor repairs is something you can manage, it can be worth the effort. It’s important to remember, however, that even if you’re prepared to do the work, you’ll still face all the following inconveniences and costs that come with putting a house on the market:

  • Staging your home for viewings and open houses
  • Scheduling open houses and viewings and getting out of your house while they’re happening
  • Keeping your property on the market until it sells
  • Negotiating a sale price that is as close as possible to your asking price, which can involve making additional repairs
  • Paying the fees, closing costs, and commission associated with selling through a realtor  

If it’s simply time to sell your home or you prefer to bypass the expense and hassle of making repairs, working with a local real estate investor who makes cash offers on the spot can be extremely beneficial.

How to price a house that needs work?

When it comes to putting a fair price on a house that needs work, it’s important to know what comparable homes are bringing in your area. From here, you should deduct the cost of all required repairs, and you’ll be left with an excellent starting point for pricing your home.

By factoring in the cost of needed repairs into your pricing, it puts you in a far better position to negotiate a price that reflects your home’s actual value. Without this information, you can lose sight of your bargaining power, which may cost you in the end. 

Our Key takeaways on how to sell a house that needs repairs

If you have a house that needs repairs, the traditional method of selling on the market may not be the best approach for you. In fact, you can sell your house as-is for cash in a streamlined process that allows you to smoothly move forward toward your next chapter in life. Some additional benefits of this route are as follows:

  • You can skip the cost, time-consuming process, and inconvenience associated with listing your home.
  • There is no need to make repairs or to spruce up your home for showings or open houses. 
  • You can sell directly to buyers who are interested in real estate investments and have the resources to pay cash upfront.

If you have the time and money to get your house ready for market, it can increase your return on your investment, but you can expect the process to require considerably more effort. Further, once you begin the repairs process, it can uncover new issues that will also need to be addressed. 

And having home repairs made is not only costly but is also time consuming and can only proceed in accordance with your contractor’s schedule. In other words, selling a house that needs repairs through traditional channels can be a far bigger challenge than you may have bargained for. 

Selling to a real estate investor – like Diroddi Home Buyers – eliminates these obstacles by employing a simplified and speedy process that ends with a cash offer.

Diroddi Home Buyers work solely in Northern California, and not only do we know your unique market well, but we also have the resources and expertise to offer a fair cash price that makes the sale worth your while. 

Selling a house that needs work doesn’t have to be a burden – Diroddi Home Buyers makes the process as painless as possible, and you’ll walk away with the cash you need to take your next steps forward. 

To make things that much easier, the following four simple steps are all that’s involved:

  1. Give us a call at 415-763-0083—or fill out the short form below—to request your fair cash offer.
  2. Await our prompt response to discuss your property in greater detail and schedule a one-time inspection that allows us to offer the highest amount possible.
  3. At the time of the inspection, our in-house inspector will quote you a fair cash offer, and if you’re on board, you can consider your home sold!
  4. Choose your closing date, and leave the rest to us. You can choose payment via check or wire transfer. It simply doesn’t get any easier.


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