Property decisions
What to fix before selling an older East Bay home
Separate work that needs doing from changes the next owner may want to make themselves.
The bathroom is old. That does not automatically mean it needs to go. When I walk an older home before a sale, I look at the condition and the character separately. A worn surface, a working original fixture and an active leak call for different decisions.
Begin with what needs attention.
Tell me about the issues you already know: the leak you have been watching, the window that sticks, the repair you never finished. We will identify which questions need an inspector or contractor and what work should happen before presentation. Fresh paint should follow an understanding of the surface underneath it.
Keep the details that still work.
At 718 34th Street in Richmond, I recommended keeping the original tile bathrooms. We refinished the hardwoods, cleaned the bedroom carpets, deep-cleaned the house and improved the landscaping. The home could show well without replacing every older finish.
At 783 Balra Drive in El Cerrito, the preparation took a different shape. White Dove paint, new carpet and selected lighting refreshed the rooms around their wood paneling and brick fireplaces. Roof and gutter work and selected pest repairs were part of the preparation, too.
Know where to stop.
Every added task asks something of your budget and schedule. Before expanding the scope, I want to understand what that work will change for the sale. Is it solving a problem, helping the house show better, or becoming a renovation the next owner might prefer to design?
We can put the tasks in order and decide where your time and money are best spent. You should have a plan you can follow, including a clear list of what we are leaving alone.
See the original baths and refinished floors at 718 34th.