Selling Your Home: Pre-Listing Repairs: what a handyman does
Before you list, fix the small, visible things: sticking doors, loose handrails, failed caulk, nail holes, dead bulbs, peeling paint and sagging gutters. Handle safety and water problems first with licensed trades. Skip big remodels. Your agent or attorney should guide you on disclosure of anything you know about.
Jobs we take on
Tap one to add it to your list.
- Adjust sticking doors and replace loose or broken knobs and latches
- Re-caulk tubs, showers, sinks and windows and repair cracked grout lines
- Patch nail holes and dings and touch up interior paint
- Tighten or re-secure loose handrails and stair railings
- Replace broken cabinet pulls and re-hang crooked cabinet doors
- Swap burned-out bulbs and cracked switch and outlet cover plates
- Fix torn screens and windows that stick
- Repair loose trim, peeling exterior paint spots, hanging gutters and sagging gates
- Make one combined list so the work fits in as few visits as possible
Signs it is time to call
- Buyers walking through will see a door that sticks or a rail that moves
- Caulk is black, cracked or missing around the tub
- Peeling paint, which can also stall some FHA and VA loans according to Opendoor
- Gutters pulling away or a gate that drags
- Your agent has flagged items from a pre-listing walk or inspection
What is not a handyman job
Roof leaks, plumbing leaks, electrical hazards and mold go to licensed independent contractors or specialists. Kitchen and bath remodels, additions and structural repairs are outside handyman work. We cannot tell you what to disclose. Ask your agent or attorney how repairs should appear on your report.
Plumbing, electrical and roofing go to licensed independent contractors.
What a visit looks like
- Send your list and photos ahead. We confirm what we can do and what needs a licensed trade.
- We work room by room so the house stays showable between visits.
- We will not paint over moisture or mold. Water problems get fixed first.
- Receipts and a short list of what was done are yours to give to your agent.
Common questions
Which repairs matter most before listing?
Opendoor's guide puts safety and structural problems first, since lenders may refuse to finance a home with unresolved ones. After that come inexpensive visible fixes such as leaky faucets, running toilets, loose handrails, cracked tile and broken fixtures. These can look like red flags during an inspection.
Should I remodel the kitchen before I sell?
Usually not. Opendoor says major kitchen and bath remodels rarely pay back at sale, and suggests focusing on paint, hardware and lighting. That is also work a handyman can do. Check with your agent about what buyers in your town expect.
If I fix something, do I still have to disclose it?
Ask your agent or attorney. Illinois requires sellers of homes with one to four units to deliver a written disclosure report, and a seller who knowingly gives false information can be liable. A repair does not erase what you know about the home.
How long will repairs take?
It depends on the list. Opendoor says repairs negotiated after a buyer's inspection commonly add one to three weeks to closing. Doing small repairs before you list keeps them off the buyer's clock. Start early, and send plumbing, electrical and roofing items to licensed contractors in parallel.