If your house is packed with belongings, needs a major cleanout, or simply hasn’t been cleaned up in a long time, you may be wondering:
Do I have to clean everything out before I can sell my house?
If you’re selling your house as-is to Legacy Home Solutions, the answer is no.
We buy houses throughout Stow and Northeast Ohio in their current condition. That means you don’t need to spend weeks cleaning, hauling away unwanted belongings, making repairs, or trying to get the house ready for listing photos and showings.
Sometimes the easiest thing to do is simply let us see the house exactly as it is.
Take a Look Inside This Real House in Stow, Ohio
The video above is from a real house we recently purchased in Stow, Ohio.
As you can see when we walk through the garage and into the house, there’s quite a bit that would need to be cleaned out before this property would be ready for a traditional real estate listing.
But that’s exactly the point.
A house doesn’t need to be cleaned out or renovated before you talk to us.
For some homeowners, cleaning out a property can turn into a huge project. You start looking around and suddenly you’re thinking about dumpsters, junk removal companies, storage units, repairs, painting, flooring, cleaning crews, and weeks of work.
Before you do all of that, give us a chance to look at the property.
Do I Have to Empty My House Before Selling It?
Not when you’re selling your house as-is to Legacy Home Solutions.
If there are belongings you want to keep, take them with you.
If there are things you don’t want or don’t know what to do with, talk to us about leaving them behind.
We’ve seen houses in all kinds of conditions. A garage full of belongings, old furniture, boxes, household items, outdated rooms, or a property that needs a complete cleanout doesn’t automatically prevent us from buying it.
That’s one of the biggest differences between preparing a house for the traditional real estate market and selling a house directly as-is.
Selling Traditionally Can Mean a Lot of Preparation
If you’re putting a property on the market with a real estate agent, you may want to make the house look as attractive as possible to potential buyers.
That can mean:
- Removing unwanted belongings and clutter
- Deep cleaning the house
- Making repairs
- Painting walls
- Fixing damaged drywall
- Replacing old flooring
- Cleaning up the yard
- Preparing the house for photographs
- Keeping the property clean for showings
For the right house and homeowner, going through that process can make sense.
But not everyone wants to—or can—put that much time and money into a property before selling it.
That’s where an as-is sale can be useful.
What Does Selling a House “As-Is” Actually Mean?
Selling a house as-is generally means you’re offering the property in its current condition rather than making repairs and improvements specifically for the sale.
When Legacy Home Solutions looks at an as-is property, we understand that there may be work involved.
The house might have an outdated kitchen.
The carpet might need to be replaced.
There could be damaged drywall, old bathrooms, deferred maintenance, unwanted belongings, or rooms that need to be completely cleaned out.
Those aren’t necessarily deal breakers for us.
What If the House Needs Repairs Too?
That’s okay.
Cleaning is only one part of preparing many houses for sale. Once everything is removed, homeowners sometimes discover that they’re facing thousands of dollars in repairs and updates as well.
The Stow property shown in this video is a good example of the type of house we’re comfortable taking on. Properties don’t need to be renovated before we look at them.
Depending on the house, that might include:
- Old or damaged flooring
- Drywall repairs
- Outdated kitchens and bathrooms
- Interior or exterior cleanup
- Deferred maintenance
- Yard cleanup
- Cosmetic updates
- Larger renovation projects
You don’t need to start calling contractors before calling us.
Let us see what you’re dealing with first.
Inherited a House Full of Belongings?
This situation is especially common with inherited properties and probate houses.
A family member may have lived in the home for decades. Suddenly you’re responsible for not only selling the property but also figuring out what to do with years—or even decades—of belongings.
That can be overwhelming, particularly when family members live out of town or when you’re already dealing with the responsibilities of settling an estate.
You don’t necessarily have to completely empty the house before exploring your options.
Keep the family photographs, documents, valuables, keepsakes, and anything else you want.
Then talk to us about the rest.
Legacy Home Solutions has experience working with properties that need significant cleanouts and repairs, including inherited and probate properties throughout Northeast Ohio.
Don’t Be Embarrassed About the Condition of the House
This is important.
Some homeowners put off contacting us because they’re embarrassed about what the house looks like.
Please don’t be.
We’re not coming into your house to judge how you live or how the property got into its current condition.
We’re looking at the property to determine whether we can make an offer that makes sense for everyone involved.
Kelly and Brandon at Legacy Home Solutions have walked through houses requiring everything from relatively minor updates to extensive cleanouts and renovations.
A messy garage isn’t going to scare us away.
Neither is an outdated kitchen, old carpet, damaged walls, or a house full of belongings.
Should I Clean Anything Before You Come?
You don’t need to clean the house specifically for us.
Seriously.
You don’t need to spend the weekend cleaning because we’re coming over.
You don’t need to hide the clutter.
And you definitely don’t need to start making expensive repairs just to show us the property.
Show us the house as it sits today.
We’ll evaluate its current condition and talk with you about your options.
If selling directly to us isn’t the right solution for your situation, that’s okay too. The goal is to understand what you’re dealing with and determine what makes the most sense.
Have a Messy House to Sell in Stow, Ohio?
If you have a house in Stow, Ohio that’s full of belongings, needs repairs, hasn’t been updated in years, or simply feels overwhelming to deal with, don’t assume you have to fix everything before you can sell it.
Legacy Home Solutions buys houses as-is throughout Stow, Summit County, and Northeast Ohio.
You may be able to skip the major cleanout, repairs, and preparation that normally come with putting a property on the traditional market.
Have a house like the one in our video?
Let us take a look before you spend your time and money cleaning it up.
Sell Your Stow House As-Is
Contact Legacy Home Solutions today to tell us about your property.
No major cleanup. No expensive repairs. No need to make the house perfect for us.
Visit LegacyHomeSol.com or contact us today to get started.