How Much Is My Parents’ Home Worth, and Should We Fix It Up Before Selling?

My advice is to find out what the home is worth in its current condition before spending a dime on improvements.

And there's an equally good chance the house needs some updating.

Maybe the kitchen still has the original cabinets. The carpet has seen better days. The bathrooms haven't been remodeled since the children were growing up.

So, before putting the house on the market, should you spend money fixing everything?

Continuing Our Downsizing Series

If you're helping your parents downsize, you've probably already started thinking about what happens to everything they won't be taking with them. In our previous blog, What Do We Do With Everything My Parents Don't Take?, we discussed how to sort through belongings, organize donations, and prepare the home. Now let's talk about the next big question: What is the home worth, and should you make improvements before selling?

Your Parents May Be Surprised by What Their Home Is Worth

If your parents purchased their Littleton, Highlands Ranch or South Metro Denver home decades ago, they may have paid a fraction of what it's worth today.

But there's something important to understand.

What a home is worth and what a seller hopes to receive aren't always the same thing.

The market determines value based on what buyers are willing to pay for comparable homes in similar locations and conditions.

When Amber and I evaluate a home, we don't simply look at what the house down the street sold for.

We look at the condition, location, floor plan, recent sales, competition, and what buyers are currently responding to.

A beautifully remodeled home and one that hasn't been updated in 35 years may have very different values, even if they're next door to each other.

Should We Remodel the Kitchen or Bathrooms?

This is where I see families make expensive mistakes.

They assume that because a kitchen is outdated, they need to spend $30,000 or $40,000 remodeling it before selling.

Not necessarily.

Think about it this way. If you spend $35,000 remodeling a kitchen, will the home sell for at least $35,000 more?

Maybe. Maybe not.

And there's another consideration.

What if the buyer doesn't like the cabinets, countertops, or flooring you've selected?

Now you've spent money on something the buyer may want to change anyway.

That's why I encourage families to have us evaluate the house before hiring contractors.

Sometimes a little paint, professional cleaning, and a few minor repairs make a significant difference.

Other times, the smartest decision is to sell the property in its current condition.

What About All Those Little Repairs?

After decades in a home, there are bound to be things that need attention.

A dripping faucet. A door that doesn't close properly. A broken window seal. Maybe a deck that needs work.

Not every repair is equally important.

I would start by identifying anything involving safety, water intrusion, structural concerns, or major systems.

Then we can evaluate the smaller cosmetic issues.

A buyer may overlook an older bathroom but become concerned about evidence of a roof leak.

Those are two very different things.

Can We Sell the House As-Is?

Absolutely, selling as-is can be an option.

But I want to explain something about that phrase.

Selling a home as-is doesn't automatically mean the seller has no responsibilities or that the buyer cannot request repairs.

The contract terms and Colorado disclosure requirements still matter.

It generally means you're offering the property in its present condition rather than planning to make improvements before marketing it.

Some buyers are perfectly comfortable purchasing a home that needs updating.

Others want something move-in ready.

The question is how the condition affects the price, the number of interested buyers, and the likelihood of a successful sale.

Don't Spend Your Parents' Money Until You Have a Plan

If your parents are moving into a smaller home, retirement community, or assisted-living residence, preserving their money may be more important than making their old house look perfect.

Before spending thousands of dollars, let's determine:

• What the home could sell for today.

• Which improvements might increase its value.

• Which repairs are necessary or advisable.

• What selling expenses to expect.

• Whether selling as-is is the better financial decision.

The goal isn't to make the house perfect. It's to make informed decisions about where your parents' money will do the most good.

Amber and I have helped families throughout Littleton, Highlands Ranch, South Metro Denver, and the surrounding Denver metro area evaluate longtime family homes.

Sometimes our recommendation is to make improvements.

Sometimes it's to leave things exactly as they are.

And sometimes the best first step is simply having a conversation.

If you're wondering what your parents' home is worth and whether it needs work before selling, we're happy to walk through the property with you and help you understand your options.