Deferred maintenance
Repairs and upkeep that got put off. Common signs: worn roof, peeling paint, aging HVAC, dated appliances. Inspections usually surface these.
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Where this comes up: getting ready
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
Every put-off repair shows up in the inspection report at once, as a list, and a long list makes buyers assume the parts they cannot see are worse. Catching up on the cheap items before listing shortens the list.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
A dripping faucet, a cracked pane, peeling trim paint, a furnace never serviced. Together they cost a few hundred dollars and read as neglect.
| What you fix before listing | What it changes |
|---|---|
| The faucet, the pane, the paint | Four lines off the report for under $300 |
| A furnace service with a sticker | An old system that reads as maintained |
| Nothing | A report that says nobody has been looking after the house |
Deferred maintenance is priced by the buyer at a multiple of what it costs to fix.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That small things do not matter. Small things in quantity are what makes a buyer wonder about the big ones.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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