Depending on your locality, houses are at times hard to come by. In a market such as that, you cannot afford to be too picky about the condition. In fact, if you seriously wish to close a deal in no time you may want to make a few compromises. With that said, here are some home features buyers should consider fixing themselves.
The fireplace
A fireplace may be quite the luxury to have. However, only a bunch of sellers may choose to solely update it before putting up the house for sale. If it has been updated, chances are that the whole house may have been renovated, which is sure to reflect in the asking price. If you wish to save yourself the extra cost, it is better to take on the cost of fixing a fireplace eyesore with a lick of paint and new tile.
The driveway
A cracked driveway can seriously mess up the curb appeal and drag the purchase price at the same time. While that sounds like a downside, it can be considered an opportunity at the same time. Rather than asking the seller to get repair work done, you may negotiate the purchase price and later have a professional haul away the old patch and pour a new driveway to save you time and some extra bucks.
Old appliances
If the house you are buying comes with a few old appliances, make sure you do not insist their repairs. Sellers would be spending extra cash for appliances that may not even be top of the line, nor would they be the sort that you would want for long. Needless to say, it is futile paying a premium for such upgrades. Be on the lookout for sellers who may be looking to sell new appliances along with the house.
Asking sellers to upgrade certain home features can significantly add to the purchase price, so consider fixing these yourself and closing a sale quickly.
You can get in touch with me for any assistance or advice about buying or selling a home in Greater Boston. Feel free to call me or send me an email or get in touch on Facebook.
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