T
he fall season is a prime time to sell, but sellers must be realistic about their home's condition and value. The market is competitive, but not all homes are created equal. Condition, location, interest rates, and demand drive property values, and while sellers can't control interest rates or demand, they have significant influence over the condition of their property.

    Ignoring maintenance for years will undoubtedly come back to haunt sellers when it's time to sell. While some buyers may still be interested in these "diamonds-in-the-rough," they won't pay a premium price due to glaring issues that are increasingly expensive to fix. Buyers will factor these costs into their offer, and the lack of available materials is making repairs even more challenging.

    Even with updated kitchens and bathrooms, older homes often have outdated systems like knob & tube wiring, galvanized pipes, and old roofs that insurance companies demand be addressed. These issues can no longer be put off until a major remodel, as insurance companies offer limited grace periods for corrective measures.

    With an aging housing stock, many homes will struggle to meet modern standards. Unless you've gutted your home, its systems are likely outdated, making it harder to sell and insure. The latest concern is "fire-adjacent zones," which affects nearly every neighborhood in the Bay Area. As a result, homes in hilly areas will be more difficult to sell and insure.

    Turn-of-the-century homes were designed for different lifestyles, with smaller kitchens, fewer bathrooms, and no family rooms or home offices. While our team can help prepare properties for sale, we can't erase decades of deferred maintenance. It's essential for sellers to understand that the market will ultimately decide their property's value, not what they think it's worth.

    By properly maintaining your home over the years, you'll likely have a better result when selling and enjoy a higher quality of life while living there. We're here to educate, explore, examine, and refer – taking care of your home as if it were our own.