How to Sell a House With Plumbing Problems

Plumbing problems can be a nightmare for homeowners, especially when trying to sell a home. A runny faucet, slow drain, or bad water pressure may seem like a simple annoyance. But these issues can dissuade potential buyers, or indicate larger problems lurking just underneath the surface. 

In this article we will explore common plumbing issues, and how to sell your house without having to fix them beforehand. 

Common Plumbing Issues

The first step to selling a house with plumbing issues is understanding which plumbing problems you have. Here are a few of the most common issues that are typically easy to remedy:

• Clogged drains
• Low water pressure
• Water temperature problems
• Running toilets
• Leaking faucets

A home inspection can help identify problems in your plumbing system. Issues like those above can typically be remedied for less than $1000 by a local, licensed plumber. If there’s a greater issue such as with the water heater or main water lines, the inspector will be sure to point them out. 

Expensive Plumbing Problems

While many plumbing repairs are simple and cheap, there are some issues that a home inspector could identify which can be extremely costly and if left unfixed, could lead to additional damages. 

• Broken water heater
• Broken main line
• Broken sewer line

The repair cost for these issues can be in the tens of thousands, and may require the re-plumbing of your entire home, depending on the extent of the damage. Failure to remedy these problems can also allow the homeowner to be held liable for any damage to adjacent structures if their problem is severe enough. 

Bad Plumbing Materials

Additionally, there are some older plumbing materials which can present an issue just by existing in the home. In most cases insurers and lenders will be hesitant to offer policies on properties with these types of materials. 

• Lead pipes
• Galvanized steel pipes
• Polybutylene pipes

If a home inspector indicates that your home plumbing uses any of the above, you may have difficulty selling your home, even if there are no active leaks or issues. Fully replumbing the affected area is often the best remedy. 

 

Can I sell my home without fixing my bad plumbing?

Luckily, the answer is yes, in every one of the situations described above, albeit with some limitations. 

Because lenders and insurers may require plumbing problems or bad materials to be fixed or replaced prior to the sale, it can be difficult to sell your home the traditional way with a real estate agent. 

However, you can sell your home directly to a cash home buyer without completing any of the plumbing repairs. A good cash buyer will make a cash offer for your home, minus the cost of the repairs. That way, you can sell without having to come out of pocket beforehand. 

It’s a great way to save you money, while making the process of selling much easier than a traditional sale. 

And if you have a home in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Orange Park, or Middleburg with plumbing issues, give us a call to see how we might be able to help!