In short
The repairs worth doing before a sale are the ones a buyer's surveyor will find anyway — roof, damp, electrics, boiler — plus cheap fixes that show the house has been cared for. Big upgrades like a new kitchen or bathroom rarely pay back. Some issues cannot be fixed quickly, such as knotweed or past subsidence; those must be disclosed honestly on the property information form.
Last updated . Reviewed by FindYourAgent editorial.
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Fix, skip or disclose
Work down the list. Anything marked "Fix" that applies to your home is worth doing before photos. Anything marked "Disclose" goes to your conveyancer at instruction.
Roof leaks, missing tiles, blocked gutters
FixA surveyor will flag them and the buyer will ask for a price cut bigger than the repair.
Damp patches and mould
FixFind the cause (gutter, ventilation, leak) before painting over it. Painting over damp is the kind of thing buyers later claim for.
Unsafe or very old electrics
FixAn electrician's EICR report gives the buyer something in writing and stops 'rewire needed' turning into a large renegotiation.
Boiler not serviced
FixA service is cheap and gives you a certificate for the paperwork pack.
Dripping taps, sticking doors, broken handles
FixCheap, quick, and they shape a buyer's sense of how the house has been looked after.
Tired paint in neutral rooms
FixA tin of paint and a weekend. Only worth it where walls are marked or very bold.
New kitchen
Usually skipBuyers have their own taste and rarely pay the full cost back. Clean it, replace a broken door or handle, and stop.
New bathroom
Usually skipSame as kitchens. Re-grout and re-seal instead.
Extension or loft conversion just to sell
Usually skipMonths of work, building regulations sign-off needed, and the sale price rarely covers it. Planning permission already granted can add appeal on its own.
Full redecoration in this year's colours
Usually skipBuyers repaint anyway. Fix marks and very strong colours only.
Japanese knotweed
DiscloseThe TA6 form asks about it directly. Get a specialist treatment plan with an insurance-backed guarantee; many lenders accept that.
Structural movement or past subsidence
DiscloseMust be answered honestly on the TA6. Have any engineer's reports and insurance claim records ready.
Work done without building regulations sign-off
DiscloseTell your conveyancer early. A regularisation certificate or an indemnity policy can usually solve it — but do not contact the council before discussing indemnity.
Neighbour disputes
DiscloseFormal complaints or disputes must go on the TA6. Hiding them can lead to a misrepresentation claim after completion.
A quick test for any job
Ask two questions. Would a surveyor write it down? Would a buyer notice it in the first five minutes? If the answer to both is no, leave it. If a surveyor would write it down, get a quote now — even if you decide not to do the work, you will know what the buyer's price-cut request should really be.
Ask your agent before spending more than a few hundred pounds. They see what buyers in your area complain about, and they can tell you whether a job changes the price or only the photos.
Our take
The most expensive mistake is not a repair you skipped. It is a problem you painted over. Buyers forgive a known, priced issue; they walk away from one they discover at survey, and they sue over one they discover after completion.
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