Selling a House in
Need of Repairs

It’s often easy to spot dilapidated houses; they might have boarded-up windows or visible exterior damage. And it’s just as easy to think these properties would be impossible to sell. But the reality is far different, and if you own such a house it’s still possible to receive offers on it.

Because houses considered to be dilapidated are usually in need of extensive and expensive repair, homeowners might struggle to sell them through the regular estate agent process. That’s why so many people in this situation reach out to LDN Properties, a professional team of property buyers with years of experience making fast and fair offers for all types of homes.

What is a dilapidated house?

These are typically properties that are vacant for various reasons including the previous owners going bankrupt, legal battles over ownership, or something else. The fact that no-one is looking after the house means that it will start to suffer from weather and other damage that can have long-term negative impacts. For example, if a house has broken windows then rain could get inside and cause a host of problems including damp, rot and letting mice inside. Vandals or squatters could also gain entry inside such properties and cause further physical damage. The speed of dilapidation can be accelerated particularly if your house has subsidence problems since the structural integrity of the property may be at risk.

Physical damage to a dilapidated house can be visually off-putting to potential buyers, but a prospective purchaser will likely have even greater concerns about the structural integrity of the building and the costs to put things right. Many buyers are probably going to assess how much they would have to spend to restore the house and will ultimately discount this from whatever purchase price they offer. For the regular home buyer this might be far too much of an investment in repairs and work than they want.

Do owners need to repair dilapidated houses before sale?

It might be tempting for a homeowner to think that they can make a small investment in their dilapidated property to repair a few features and increase the selling price, but this isn’t always the ideal step. Fixing a leaky roof or other core structural problems could cost a significant amount of money and time, and if you’re looking to sell quickly this isn’t a great option.

There are still buyers for such houses even without repairs, and LDN Properties has for years made many quick and straightforward purchases of dilapidated houses. That means buyers can focus simply on agreeing to a fair sale price upfront for a fast sale without having to spend any extra cash on repairs or worrying about how long it will take to sell the property.

In addition, some buyers might be looking to make an offer on a dilapidated house so that they can completely gut the interior and effectively put their own stamp on the property. If that’s the case then making repairs before selling would simply be a waste of your time and money.

What’s the best way to sell a dilapdated house?

Many potential buyers will be discouraged from buying a dilapidated house because they will have to invest significant amounts of time and money in repairs before the property can be habitable. As a result, this narrows the options available to sellers. However, there are still ways to sell such a property either through a cash sale or through an auction.

At an auction the house will be listed with extensive details about its condition, and a starting bidding price set for selling the property “as is” to the highest bidder. If the property is in a popular location or has other attractive features, then there’s always the potential for competitive bidding that could see an attractive final sale price achieved. There is also the risk that an auction could attract few bids and sell at a low price.

The alternative option is to seek out a reputable property buyer with experience in offering competitive cash purchase prices for dilapidated houses. LDN Properties has been making such purchases for years, working with many highly satisfied homeowners in making quick purchases of their homes. This approach removes much of the stress associated with auctions and provides a streamlined and simple process for selling your home.

No matter the condition of your house, if you’re ready to sell and want to receive a hassle-free offer for your property you should get in touch with the experts at LDN Properties.

Sell your home to LDN Properties – even if it needs repairs

Ready to sell your home, even though it needs repairs? Then call the professionals at LDN Properties and we can guide you through our simple and quick cash offer process.

Use the Request Offer button below for a quote or call us at 020 7183 3022 to receive a no-cost, no-obligation estimate for buying your property.