One of the hardest situations homeowners find themselves in is knowing exactly what’s wrong with the house—but not having the money to fix it.

It’s frustrating because the repairs don’t make the home unlivable, but they can make selling feel impossible. You know a buyer is going to notice the issues, you’ve probably already gotten estimates, and suddenly you’re wondering whether you have to come up with thousands of dollars before you can even think about moving.

If you’ve found yourself in that position, you’re not alone.

Just last month, I met with a homeowner here in North Alabama who wanted to relocate closer to the city. He had owned his home for years, had taken good care of it, and had built a substantial amount of equity. Overall, it was a nice, well-maintained property, but two major repairs had suddenly become impossible to ignore.

The first problem was the septic system. The field lines had failed, causing sewage to surface in parts of the yard. He had already received an estimate of about $10,000 to replace the system.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only issue.

The gutters had not been draining properly for years, and because the roof was missing drip edge in several places, water had worked its way back into the roof structure. Some of the rafters had suffered water damage and would need repairs, along with replacing the gutters. The estimate for that work was another $8,000 or so.

In a matter of weeks, he was looking at nearly $20,000 in unexpected repairs.

Like many homeowners, he didn’t have that kind of money available.

He wasn’t trying to avoid maintaining his property. Life had simply reached a point where spending another twenty thousand dollars on a house he planned to leave didn’t make financial sense. At the same time, he wanted to relocate and buy a home closer to the city. He felt stuck between two goals that didn’t seem compatible.

Fortunately, there was another option.

Because he still had equity in the home, I was able to make him an offer based on the property’s current condition. He didn’t have to replace the septic system or repair the roof framing before selling. Instead, we agreed on a price that paid off his existing mortgage and still left him with enough money for a down payment on his next home.

Just as importantly, we structured the timeline around his needs. Rather than requiring him to move immediately, we gave him the flexibility to find his next house first before closing. That made the transition much less stressful and allowed him to move on his own schedule.

His situation is more common than most people realize.

Sometimes it’s a failed septic system. Other times it’s foundation movement, an aging roof, mold, plumbing problems, or an HVAC system that finally quits after twenty years. Whatever the repair happens to be, the challenge is usually the same: the homeowner has equity, but they don’t have the cash to make expensive repairs before selling.

One mistake I see people make is assuming they need to borrow money or drain their savings just to get the house ready for the market.

Sometimes repairs absolutely make sense. If you’re planning to stay in the home for several more years, investing in major improvements may be the right decision. But if your goal is simply to sell and move on, it’s worth comparing the cost of repairs with what the property is worth today.

In many cases, homeowners discover they can sell the property as-is, avoid the financial risk of a major renovation, and still walk away with enough equity to accomplish their next goal.

Every situation is different, which is why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. The important thing is understanding all of your options before assuming expensive repairs are your only path forward.

If you’re trying to decide whether repairing your home makes financial sense, I also recommend reading my article about whether you should repair your house before selling, where I walk through some of the factors I encourage homeowners to consider before spending money on renovations.

If your house needs expensive repairs and you’re not sure what your next step should be, I’d be happy to take a look and give you an honest opinion. Even if selling to me isn’t the right fit, you’ll leave with a better understanding of what your property is worth today and which options make the most financial sense for your situation.