What agents tell sellers to do
In NAR's 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, the top projects agents recommend before selling were (NAR 2025):
| Project | Agents recommending |
|---|---|
| Paint the entire home | 50% |
| Paint one interior room | 41% |
| New roofing | 37% |
| Kitchen upgrade | 30% |
| Bathroom renovation | 24% |
NAR's 2025 staging report adds the basics: agents most often recommend decluttering (91%), cleaning the entire home (88%) and improving curb appeal (77%) (NAR). And buyers are pickier: 46% are less willing to compromise on a home's condition (NAR 2025).
Fix what the inspector will find
Under InterNACHI's standards, a home inspection is a visual exam of the roof, exterior, basement and foundation, heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, fireplace, attic insulation and ventilation, and doors, windows and interior (InterNACHI). Fixing the obvious items first means fewer surprises on the buyer's repair list:
- Roof and gutters: missing shingles, flashing, downspouts.
- Water: leaks under sinks, stained ceilings, caulk at tubs and showers, grading and downspouts pointed away from the foundation.
- Doors and windows: sticking doors, broken seals, torn screens, missing hardware.
- Electrical and plumbing basics: missing cover plates, dead outlets, running toilets, dripping faucets (licensed trades where required).
- Smoke and CO alarms: Minnesota requires a working CO alarm within 10 feet of each room used for sleeping (Minn. Stat. 299F.51) and smoke alarms in every dwelling unit (Minn. Stat. 299F.362).
What Minnesota sellers must disclose
- Material facts. Before signing a purchase agreement, sellers must disclose in writing all material facts they know of that could adversely and significantly affect an ordinary buyer's use and enjoyment of the property (Minn. Stat. 513.55). A qualified third party's written inspection report can stand in for information it covers (513.56), and sellers must update the buyer before closing if something they disclosed turns out to be inaccurate (513.58).
- Radon. Sellers must disclose any radon testing, results and mitigation, and give buyers the Minnesota Department of Health's “Radon in Real Estate Transactions” publication (Minn. Stat. 144.496). MDH says more than two in five Minnesota homes have radon levels that pose a significant health risk, and recommends mitigation at 4 pCi/L or higher (MDH).
- Wells and septic. Sellers must disclose known wells and their status, and how sewage is managed (103I.235, 115.55).
- Lead paint in pre-1978 homes. Sellers must disclose known lead-based paint, give buyers EPA's lead pamphlet, and generally give buyers a 10-day opportunity for a lead inspection (EPA).
This is general information, not legal advice. Your agent and the disclosure forms walk you through it.
Worth it, and not worth it
- Worth it: paint, repairs an inspector will flag, curb appeal (see which remodels pay back), a new roof if the old one is at the end of its life, and a kitchen or bath refresh rather than a gut.
- Usually not worth it right before selling: additions and upscale remodels. In the Twin Cities, upscale kitchen and bath remodels recouped under 40% in the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (Cost vs. Value).
Already under contract?
If the buyer's inspection turned up a repair list, send it to us with your closing date. We bid it and schedule the work to hit the deadline. Agents can send lists directly on our agent page, and homeowners can see our handyman services.