For many homeowners preparing to sell, one of the biggest decisions is whether to invest in repairs and renovations before putting the house on the market. Some people assume that fixing up the home is always necessary to attract buyers and secure top dollar. However, that’s not always true—especially if your goal is speed, convenience, and financial certainty. When you choose selling a home as is, you’re offering the property in its current condition, with no repairs or upgrades required.
But what does that mean for your bottom line? Will you inevitably make less money by avoiding repairs, or are there circumstances where selling as-is is actually the smarter move? To answer that, let’s break down the factors that affect the value of an as-is sale compared to a fixed-up property.
When you sell as-is, you’re making it clear that the property will be sold in its current condition. This includes:
While some buyers may see this as a negative, professional cash buyers and investors view it as an opportunity. They have the resources to handle renovations themselves and typically factor the cost of repairs into their offer.
The assumption that selling a home as is brings less money comes from the traditional retail buyer mindset. In a traditional market:
Because of this, some sellers believe they must renovate to compete. However, that’s not always true when selling to cash buyers or those specializing in quick closings.
Renovating before selling doesn’t always mean you’ll make more money. Consider these common costs:
Even if renovations increase your home’s market price, the net profit after expenses (including realtor commissions and holding costs) may not be much higher than selling as-is. In some cases, it may even be lower.
There are many situations where selling as-is provides the better outcome:
Cash buyers typically calculate offers using:
They subtract these from the ARV to determine their offer. While the offer may be lower than a fixed-up retail price, it saves sellers thousands in repair costs, commissions, and months of holding expenses.
| Factor | Selling a Home As Is | Fixing It Up Before Selling |
| Time to Close | 7–21 days | 2–6+ months |
| Repair Costs to Seller | $0 | $5,000–$50,000+ |
| Realtor Commissions | Often none | 5–6% of sale price |
| Holding Costs (mortgage, etc.) | Minimal | Thousands in added expenses |
| Buyer Pool | Cash buyers, investors | Traditional retail buyers |
| Certainty of Closing | Very high | Lower—deals may fall through |
Selling a home as is isn’t just about finances. It also:
Not necessarily. Here’s why:
In many situations, the money you “lose” by selling as-is is offset by the money you save by avoiding repairs and delays.
In a hot seller’s market, even as-is homes can attract strong offers because buyers are competing for limited inventory. In slower markets, the difference between as-is and fixed-up prices may be greater—but the speed and certainty of a quick sale often still outweighs the higher potential listing price.
Ask yourself:
If time and peace of mind matter most, selling as-is is usually the smarter option.
By working with a service like Homeowner Relief.com, you:
If you’ve been asking yourself, “Will I get less money when selling a home as is compared to fixing it up?” the answer is: it depends on your priorities. While fixing up a property may bring a higher gross sale price, it also requires time, money, and effort that many sellers don’t have. Once you factor in renovation costs, realtor commissions, and holding expenses, the net proceeds from selling as-is are often very similar—and sometimes even better.
Most importantly, selling a home as is provides speed, convenience, and certainty. With Homeowner Relief.com, you can move forward without worrying about costly repairs, stressful updates, or long waiting periods. Instead, you sell your home in its current condition, close quickly, and gain the financial relief and peace of mind you deserve.
No. The whole point of an as-is sale is that the buyer accepts the home in its current condition. You don’t need to fix anything.
Not necessarily. While the sale price may be lower, the money you save on repairs, commissions, and holding costs often balances things out.
Most as-is cash sales close within 7–21 days, much faster than traditional sales that can take months.
Primarily cash buyers, investors, and companies specializing in quick sales. They’re experienced in handling repairs and renovations after purchase.
In most cases, no. Many quick-sale services cover closing costs, and there are no realtor commissions involved.