10/28/2026
Why are buyers driving past homes that need work right now?
On top of a 6.6% mortgage, most buyers have little spare cash and even less appetite for a renovation. What they see in a fixer is a second loan, paid in cash, on a contractor's timeline, with a surprise cost at the end. A full renovation in the valley runs roughly $60,000 to $150,000 or more, and Houzz renovation surveys find about 40% of homeowners go over budget.
Buying the finished home is buying the cake. Buying the fixer is buying flour, eggs, and an oven that ships in 12 weeks.
This is about what buyers will take on right now, not the quality of your home. You are selling a different home to a different buyer, and priced correctly it sells. The highest-return moves are usually the inexpensive ones, paint, curb appeal, a minor refresh, not a six-figure renovation.
Not sure which updates are worth it before you list? Call or text me at (702) 460-9355.
