We know getting a house on the market takes a lot of work! Before you put up that “For Sale” sign, it’s worth taking a walk through your home and identifying which repairs could make a difference to potential buyers.
You don’t necessarily need to completely renovate your home before selling. In fact, spending thousands of dollars on a brand-new kitchen or bathroom right before selling isn’t always the best investment. Instead, keep your focus on home repairs that improve safety, functionality, appearance, and buyer confidence.
This is especially important for homeowners in the St. Louis, St. Peters, and St. Charles areas, where older homes, basements, brick exteriors, seasonal storms, and significant temperature swings can create some unique maintenance challenges. (Here at Mister Fix-It, we know a little something about these problems our neighbors experience!)
Here are some of the repairs you should consider tackling before selling your St. Louis home.
1. Repair Leaks and Water Damage
Water problems are one of the first things you should address before putting your home on the market. A dripping faucet may seem minor, but water stains on ceilings, damaged drywall, soft flooring, or evidence of a previous leak can make buyers wonder whether there is a larger problem hiding behind the walls. Pay particular attention to leaky faucets, water stains, damaged drywall, basement moisture, and signs of water intrusion after a heavy rainfall.
If you’ve already repaired a leak, don’t forget to repair the resulting cosmetic damage, too. Replacing damaged drywall and repainting a stained wall can make a repaired problem much less distracting to potential buyers.
2. Pay Attention to Your Basement
If you live in St. Louis, there’s a good chance your home has a basement, and your basement can be a major selling point… or a major concern. Check for musty odors, cracks in walls or floors, poorly sealed windows, and signs of previous flooding or water intrusion.
But don’t panic! You don’t necessarily need to undertake an expensive basement renovation. Sometimes smaller repairs, cleaning, painting, and addressing obvious maintenance problems can make the space feel dramatically more inviting.
3. Fix Obvious Electrical Problems
Electrical issues can be particularly concerning to homebuyers because they involve both safety and functionality. Our older St. Louis homes can have older electrical systems and components that may raise questions during an inspection. Current St. Louis-area inspection guidance commonly highlights issues such as open junction boxes, missing outlet covers, and outdated wiring as items worth addressing.
Before selling, look for obvious problems like broken outlet or switch covers, loose outlets, exposed wiring, missing light bulbs, and any electrical components that aren’t properly secured. But for anything beyond a simple repair, work with a qualified electrician. Electrical work isn’t a good place to cut corners when you’re preparing a home for sale, and it can be extremely dangerous.
4. Repair Doors and Windows That Don’t Work Properly
Buyers notice little things! You want to present a home that feels cared for. Walk around your home and make sure doors and windows have functioning hardware, lock securely, don’t have obvious damage, don’t have damaged screens, and don’t have gaps or drafts.
5. Take Care of Drywall and Wall Damage
You may have stopped noticing the small dents and holes in your walls years ago, but those things will stand out to potential buyers! We recommend walking through each room and looking for nail holes, dents, cracks, peeling paint, damaged corners, scuffs and scrapes, and any areas where previous repairs are still visible. A little drywall repair and fresh paint can go a long way toward making a home feel clean, bright, and move-in ready.
6. Don’t Forget Your Deck, Porch, or Stairs
Outdoor spaces are another area well worth inspecting before you sell. We St. Louis homeowners deal with plenty of rain, humidity, heat, freezing temperatures, and severe weather throughout the year. All of that takes a toll on exterior wood. Keep an eye out for loose or damaged deck boards, rotting wood, loose railings, damaged stairs, peeling paint or stain, damaged fences, and loose porch components.
Definitely repair railings and stairs. They aren’t just cosmetic issues, they might give you trouble during home inspections.
7. Give Your Home’s Exterior Some Attention
You don’t necessarily need to completely redo your landscaping or invest in an expensive exterior makeover, just focus on the obvious repairs. Replace damaged exterior trim, repair loose shutters, fix damaged screens, touch up peeling paint, and address small areas of exterior deterioration.
Don’t forget the front door! A clean, attractive, properly functioning entryway can make a strong first impression before a buyer even steps inside.
8. Make Small Plumbing Repairs
You don’t want a buyer’s inspection to uncover a collection of small plumbing problems that could have been fixed ahead of time. Check for running toilets, slow drains, loose fixtures, and damaged caulk. Older homes can have additional plumbing considerations, so if you have concerns about the age or condition of your home’s plumbing, it’s worth having a professional take a look.
9. Fix the Little Things You’ve Been Ignoring
All of us have a list of little repairs we’ve been meaning to get around to: loose cabinet handles, a section of trim that came off the wall, squeaky doors, broken light fixtures, holes in drywall, etc. Before listing your home, do a walk through with fresh eyes and make a list of everything you’ve learned to ignore.
10. Bonus: Sweeten a Deal with a Home Warranty
Consider including a home warranty as part of the deal. A home warranty provides peace of mind by covering home systems and appliances, giving buyers added protection against unexpected repair costs. Our local St. Peters partners at UPKEEP take that protection a step further by combining home warranty coverage with a proactive home maintenance plan, helping St. Louis homeowners stay on top of routine maintenance while protecting against eligible unexpected breakdowns. Include a year of service with the sale of your home!
Need Help Getting Your St. Louis Home Ready to Sell?
Getting a house ready for the market can leave you with a long list of repairs, and not everyone has the time, tools, or experience to tackle them. Mister Fix-It can help! We can take care of your to-do list so your home looks its best before the first buyer walks through the door.
If you’re preparing to sell your St. Louis, St. Peters, or St. Charles-area home, contact Mister Fix-It for a free quote and let us help you turn that growing repair list into a finished one.
NEXT UP: What Summer Heat Did to Your Home (And What to Check Now)