Selling a house that needs repairs in Kansas City can feel overwhelming, especially when the repair list keeps getting longer.

Maybe the roof is old. The foundation needs work. The kitchen hasn’t been updated in 30 years.

Maybe tenants damaged the property, you inherited a house that hasn’t been maintained, or you’re an out-of-state owner dealing with a property that’s become more trouble than it’s worth.

Whatever the situation, here’s the good news:

You don’t necessarily have to fix everything before you sell.

At Liberty Road Homes, we buy houses throughout the Kansas City metro area, and we’ve walked through plenty of properties that need everything from cosmetic updates to major repairs.

Depending on your situation, you may be better off fixing the house and listing it traditionally, or you may decide you’d rather sell the house as-is and let someone else deal with the repairs.

Take a look at our 5 star reviews from the sellers we’ve worked with in the past.

1. Sell Your Kansas City House As-Is

If you don’t have the time, money, or desire to renovate the property, one of the simplest options is selling the house as-is.

Learn how our home-buying process works and what to expect when selling directly to Liberty Road Homes.

We buy houses in Kansas City and surrounding communities in their current condition. That means you don’t have to make the house pretty for us.

Old roof? That’s okay.

Outdated kitchen? No problem.

Foundation issues? We’ll take a look.

House full of unwanted belongings? In many situations, you can take what you want and leave the rest behind.

We evaluate the property based on its current condition, the repairs it needs, and what we believe the home will be worth after those repairs are completed.

If the numbers make sense for both sides, we’ll make you an offer.

There are no repairs or renovations required before selling to us, and you can choose a closing timeline that works for your situation.

For homeowners who simply want the problem off their plate, this can be the closest thing to pushing the easy button on a house that needs work.

2. Figure Out Which Repairs Actually Matter

If you’re considering listing the house with a real estate agent, don’t automatically assume you need to renovate everything.

Start with the major issues that could affect a buyer’s ability or willingness to purchase the property.

Those might include:

• Roof problems
• Foundation or structural issues
• Electrical problems
• Plumbing or sewer issues
• Water damage
• Mold
• HVAC problems
• Broken or outdated mechanical systems
• Significant termite or pest damage

Before spending money, get estimates.

A $5,000 repair may make sense if it substantially improves your selling options. A $40,000 renovation may be a completely different story.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners can make is starting a renovation without understanding what the entire project is going to cost.

Once walls start opening up, repair budgets have a funny way of growing.

3. Don’t Over-Renovate the House

If the major systems are in decent shape, smaller improvements can sometimes make a big difference when selling a fixer-upper in Kansas City.

Fresh paint, landscaping, deep cleaning, replacing broken fixtures, improving lighting, and removing clutter can all help make a property more appealing.

But be careful.

You don’t necessarily need new cabinets, quartz countertops, luxury flooring, and a completely remodeled bathroom just because you’re selling the house.

The question should always be:

Will I actually get this money back when I sell?

Before renovating, compare the expected net proceeds from selling the house after repairs with what you could receive by selling it as-is.

4. Price a Fixer-Upper Correctly

Buyers will usually pay less for a house that needs significant repairs.

That’s not necessarily because they’re trying to get a bargain.

They’re accounting for the money, time, uncertainty, and risk involved in fixing the property.

For example, a house worth $300,000 after being completely renovated isn’t necessarily worth $250,000 today just because it needs approximately $50,000 in work.

The buyer also has to account for unexpected repairs, financing costs, holding costs, and the time involved in completing the project.

If you’re listing a house that needs substantial repairs on the Kansas City MLS, pricing it correctly from the beginning can make a major difference.

An experienced local real estate agent can help you compare your property with other homes that sold in similar condition, not just fully remodeled houses nearby.

5. Improve Curb Appeal Without Spending a Fortune

If you’re listing the house traditionally, inexpensive improvements can include:

• Mowing and trimming the yard
• Removing overgrown vegetation
• Cleaning up trash or debris
• Power washing
• Touching up peeling paint, and/or repairing wood rot
• Cleaning windows
• Replacing broken exterior lights
• Making the entrance look clean and inviting

Buyers begin forming an opinion about a property before they ever walk through the front door.

A little cleanup can go a long way.

However, if the property needs extensive work and you’re planning to sell it as-is, you may decide it’s simply not worth putting additional money into it.

6. Compare What You’d Actually Walk Away With

This is probably the most important step.

Don’t compare an as-is offer with the potential retail selling price of a completely renovated house.

Compare what you’d actually walk away with under each option.

If you renovate and list the property, consider:

Expected selling price, minus:
– repairs and renovations
– agent commissions
– seller closing costs
– utilities, insurance and taxes while you own it
– cleaning and preparation expenses
– buyer-requested repairs or concessions
equals estimated net proceeds

Then compare that number with what you could receive by selling the property as-is.

You may discover that fixing the house gives you a significantly better return.

If so, that may be the right decision.

But you may also discover that after spending months managing contractors and putting tens of thousands of dollars into the house, the difference isn’t worth the additional time, money, and stress.

That’s when selling as-is can start making a lot more sense.

Can You Sell a House That Needs Major Repairs in Kansas City?

Absolutely.

A house doesn’t have to be renovated, cleaned up, or move-in ready to be sold.

At Liberty Road Homes, we purchase properties throughout the Kansas City metro area in all kinds of condition, including houses with:

• Foundation problems
• Old roofs
• Fire or water damage
• Outdated kitchens and bathrooms
• Problem tenants
• Years of deferred maintenance
• Unwanted belongings
• Major cosmetic damage
• Plumbing or sewer problems
• We also help homeowners who need to sell an inherited house in Kansas City without making repairs first
• Houses that simply haven’t been updated in decades

We’re not expecting your house to look like something on HGTV.

We buy properties knowing they need work.

Should You Fix Your House or Sell It As-Is?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

If your house needs relatively minor repairs and you have the money, time, and patience to make those improvements, listing the property traditionally could put more money in your pocket.

But if the house needs significant work, or you simply don’t want to spend the next several months dealing with contractors, repairs, inspections, cleaning, showings, and uncertainty, selling as-is may be worth considering.

At Liberty Road Homes, we’re happy to look at the property and give you another option.

We’ll look at the house, talk through the situation with you, and determine whether we’re a good fit.

If you’d like to know what we’d pay for your property in its current condition, you can request a no-obligation offer from Liberty Road Homes.

Sell Your House As-Is in the Kansas City Metro Area

Liberty Road Homes is a local Kansas City real estate investment company that buys houses directly from homeowners.

We work with property owners throughout Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Blue Springs, Grandview, Overland Park, Shawnee, Lenexa, Olathe, and surrounding communities in Missouri and Kansas.

If you’re thinking:

“I just want to sell this house without fixing everything first.”

That’s exactly the type of situation we can help with.

You don’t need to renovate it.

You don’t need to clean everything out.

And you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars getting the house ready for us.

Take what you want, leave what you don’t, and let us worry about the repairs.

Call or text Liberty Road Homes at 816-290-7004 or visit LibertyRoadHomes.com to tell us about the property.

Sometimes fixing the house is the right answer.

Sometimes selling it and moving on is.

We’ll help you figure out which option makes the most sense for you.

Liberty Road Homes is now BBB Accredited