Do I need to make repairs before selling my home?

Not necessarily. Some repairs help a sale: fixing obvious deferred maintenance such as leaks, broken fixtures or safety issues can reassure buyers and reduce what an inspection turns up. Larger projects are a different question. Not every upgrade returns its cost at sale, and the answer depends on the property, the neighborhood and how buyers in that price range weigh condition.

You can also choose not to repair. A home can be marketed in its current condition and priced accordingly, or sold directly without preparation. What you cannot skip in California is disclosure: for most residential sales the seller must still deliver the required written disclosures about the property’s condition, whether or not repairs were made.

A practical first step is to list what you know needs attention, get rough costs for the items that matter most, and compare the likely effect on price and timing before spending anything. Ask about selling if you would like a second pair of eyes on that list.