Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for March 19, 2025

Arlo, the baby’s now the one running out your clock. Better get help, and soon.

Sell as-Is, save the money for the new house

Don’t do the repairs!

Repairs are done. Now we can’t move because the house if finally the way I like it.

Janis really means a list of repairs for Arlo to do.

Why do home repairs if you want to sell the house and move? That’ll be just a waste of money.

This list of things to repair is the next guy’s problem!

They have, supposedly, decided to move but it will be in “the next few months.” I’ll be surprised if they move within a year. This story arc is too convenient for the author.

(1) Estimate the amount that making these repairs would increase the sale value of your house. (2) Estimate the amount that making these repairs would cost. (3) Subtract (2) from (1). Is this net increase in value worth the time, effort, and aggravation?

When you get done fixing up the house you’re going to sell, you can start fixing up the house you’re going to buy. But then again, after you’ve fixed up the house you want to sell, you’ll want to stay.

Around here, good chance they will tear it down and rebuild anyway so why bother

They are wearing Auburn’s colors! The Tigers play tomorrow.

Don’t do it! Every single time I’ve “fixed” and painted etc before selling, the buyers just go in and make it their own anyway, often undoing all I did (as they should). Waste of effort. Save that energy for the new place.

When we sold our mother’s house there was zero interest until we had carpeting installed over the old tiled floors. We had three bids the next weekend.

HEY! That’s my strategy.

As is the case when one employs a Prevent Defense, one typically loses, Arlo… Just work on the repairs that cost the less and take up less of your time.

I like that strategy!

What are the repairs, Janis?

There’s maintenance and then there’s remodeling. You want the maintenance done and up to date. Don’t remodel, though switching out some outdated light fixtures couldn’t hurt. A friend recently sold her house for top dollar and thanked me for some advice I’d given and forgotten. She’d asked if she should paint the inside of the closets and I said yes.

Have it staged. They can make any home look good. Costs a bit tho.

If you’re going to sell the house, don’t do any large repairs or that involves a persons taste or style.

I would have had an easy time selling if it weren’t for the HOAs. Change this petty thing! Fix this minor item! Paint this invisible piece!

I never thought I’d ever get out.