Who else feels like they have to fix things to sell them?

[kendallf]

I struggle with selling things.  If they're broken or their function is impaired I want to fix them first.  It's ridiculous, but I do.

I've had project cars sit around for years because "it'll be worth so much more once I've had time to finish it" <-- real meaning roughly "a full time year's labor and $100k".  I'm renovating a house so I can sell it; this actually makes fiscal sense so far, as I'm doing everything myself and I should recoup my money, if not my labor.

My old faithful Lexus is about to go up for sale.  Of course, it starts intermittently missing on one cylinder a week or so after I decide this.  To top it off, the motorcycle I just did a bunch of service work on quits yesterday, at 70 mph on the freeway.  Totally dead and I had to go and get my intermittently misfiring Lexus (the only thing with a trailer hitch) to pick it up and trailer it home.  Die, mechanical things, die!

I felt ridiculous.. please tell me your stories of broken things to let me know I'm not alone.  Or, you can just make fun, I probably need that too.  I guess the real meaning of all this is my life needs more simplification.  Onward!

[dios.del.sol]

Good, I'm not the only one!

I have a VW bug restoration that was supposed to take just a few months in between jobs, but a bit of project creep... well, you know the story. I've moved it up and down the west coast over who knows how many years. This summer I've resolved* to at least get it drivable by finishing the exterior restoration (at least windows, lights, and bumpers to make it street legal). I'll either use the car as my regular driver or start looking for a buyer. I did check on some VW forums and they advised that my best option would probably be to get it drivable but to avoid any other restoration because whoever buys it will want to do their own thing.

* Full disclosure. I've resolved the same thing in the past, but [excuses!].

[Gone Fishing]

Just depends on what it is.  If you are going to sell a car that is running poorly due to bad plugs, change the plugs.  If you are going to have to put several thousands into a rebuild that will only add a similar amount to the value, sell it as is.  You are making investment decisions here.  If you can invest your time and money and get a good return, go for it.  If you can't, let it go.  Don't let the top line number make the decision for you.  Unless there is some strange market destortion, the larger stuff usually doesn't make sense.

It kills me when people tell me they put a lot of money into a house right before they sell it to get "top dollar" but when you do the math, they probably lost money on their improvements that went beyond fresh paint and minor repairs.

[TheFixer]

Kendall, we are birds of a feather.  I have 3 project vehicles pending that need repairs.  One has been around for years, but every time I get the project spot cleared out in the workshop, another car/lawnmower/camper cuts in line ahead of it somehow.  I know that it's a bad investment of time (and possibly money), but since my skill is fixing things, I feel like I have to fix the stuff before I pass it on to the next person.

[kendallf]

dios.del.sol,

I think a derelict VW Bug sitting around the house just adds beauty.  :-)
 
TheFixer, with a name like that, you sound pretty invested in it also.  I say get rid of the lawnmowers, let a forest grow, and fix the cars!

Just depends on what it is.  If you are going to sell a car that is running poorly due to bad plugs, change the plugs.  If you are going to have to put several thousands into a rebuild that will only add a similar amount to the value, sell it as is.  You are making investment decisions here.  If you can invest your time and money and get a good return, go for it.  If you can't, let it go.  Don't let the top line number make the decision for you.  Unless there is some strange market destortion, the larger stuff usually doesn't make sense.

It kills me when people tell me they put a lot of money into a house right before they sell it to get "top dollar" but when you do the math, they probably lost money on their improvements that went beyond fresh paint and minor repairs.

I know this.  I actually follow it pretty well in areas that I don't have emotional stake in (i.e., non-old car projects).  The Lexus will go on Craigslist as-is, especially considering I'm time crunched currently as I work my regular job and work on the house. 

I have two project cars where the hands down smart financial decision would be to off them on Craigslist and move on.  I like them though and I'm keeping them anyway. 

Cause 'Murica!