What is the best way to sell a house that needs repairs?
If your place needs work, selling can feel overwhelming. You might be juggling quotes, old reports, or an insurance claim. This guide walks through your main paths to sell, what buyers look for, how offers are worked out, and how an as-is sale with My New Start can give you a simple, certain way forward. We focus on Christchurch and wider Canterbury.
If you prefer to skip ahead, see how our process works or get in touch.
Your three main paths (pros and trade-offs)
There isn’t one “right” way for everyone. The best path depends on your time, cashflow, stress levels, and the level of damage.
- Repair, then sell: Often the highest potential sale price. You’ll manage builders, consents, delays, and cost over-runs. Cash is tied up until the job is done.
- List as-is with an agent: Reaches a wide buyer pool, but expect open homes, lots of conditions, and a longer tail while buyers complete due diligence.
- Sell as-is, direct to a specialist buyer: Fast and simple. With My New Start there are no repairs, no staging, no open homes, and we set a fixed settlement date together. See how it works step-by-step
What buyers actually weigh up
Most buyers price beyond the surface damage. They look at land value and zoning, the structure (foundations, framing, water ingress, unconsented work), and the cost and time to repair or remove. The more unknowns, the bigger the “risk margin” they build into their offer. To see outcomes for homes like yours, browse reviews from local sellers.
Helpful to have (if available): LIM and council records, EQC or insurer scopes, engineer or builder reports, and clear photos of key areas.
How offers are built
Buyers in Christchurch usually work backwards from the finished value — what the property could sell for once repaired or rebuilt. From that number, they subtract real costs and a fair margin for risk and profit. What is left becomes the offer. For a full walkthrough, see our process.
Examples of deductable costs:
- Estimated repair, remediation, or removal costs
- Holding costs (rates, insurance, finance, time)
- Sale and compliance costs (on-sale, marketing, professional reports)
- A margin for risk and profit
How to help your number: share what you have up front, make access easy for one short visit, and be clear on timing and any tenancies. If you are unsure whether your suburb is covered, check areas we buy.
How to choose the best path for you
A fast way to decide is to rate each option against three things:
- Time: how quickly do you need to move?
- Cash: do you want to invest in repairs, or avoid that stress?
- Certainty: do you want a clean, predictable process?
If you value certainty and a straightforward, no-repair sale, an as-is path can be a good fit. You can always compare outcomes by reading more seller stories and reviews.
How a simple as-is sale works with My New Start
We believe in fair treatment, a personalised, straightforward service, and transparent, no hidden-cost offers. You deal directly with Kane, not a call centre. Our 3-step process
is below, and if you are ready to chat, contact us here.
Our 3-step process
- Quick kōrero: call or email with the basics and your goals. You have a direct line to Kane for fast answers.
- Short visit: one viewing to understand the property. No open homes.
- Clear written offer: a fair cash offer, often within 24 hours, and a fixed settlement date as agreed with you.
Why people choose us
- 400+ new starts across Christchurch and Canterbury
- Local Christchurch leadership
- Direct line to Kane, fast responses
- No repairs, no staging, no open homes
- Fixed settlement date, no surprises
See more on why people choose us and which areas we buy.
Real words from local sellers
“It’s been great dealing with you for the sale of my property. You’ve been sensitive to my needs and you’ve been available to answer my questions. Thank you for making it happen easily and painlessly.”
— Robyn, Parklands
“Kane recently purchased our home in Cashmere. We found him to be completely reliable, flexible and genuine. He evened helped us with advice on properties we looked at purchasing! An all round nice guy who we have no problem recommending to anyone.”
— Nicky, Cashmere
Read more testimonials or go straight to contact.
Next steps
If you’re comparing paths, sketch a quick timeline and cost list for each option. If you prefer a simple, as-is sale with clear dates, book a free assessment and we’ll talk it through.
