Deferred maintenance
Repairs and upkeep that got put off. Common signs: worn roof, peeling paint, aging HVAC, dated appliances. Inspections usually surface these.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
Every put-off repair shows up in the inspection report at once, as a list, and a long list makes buyers assume the parts they cannot see are worse. Catching up on the cheap items before listing shortens the list.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
A dripping faucet, a cracked pane, peeling trim paint, a furnace never serviced. Together they cost a few hundred dollars and read as neglect.
| What you fix before listing | What it changes |
|---|---|
| The faucet, the pane, the paint | Four lines off the report for under $300 |
| A furnace service with a sticker | An old system that reads as maintained |
| Nothing | A report that says nobody has been looking after the house |
Deferred maintenance is priced by the buyer at a multiple of what it costs to fix.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That small things do not matter. Small things in quantity are what makes a buyer wonder about the big ones.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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In your room, this word explains itself where it appears.
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