Case Study, Cottonwood Heights 1972 Ranch, $1,880 Scope, Sold $27K Over Ask
Cottonwood Heights seller, well-maintained 1972 ranch. Owner had been there 31 years. Knew it inside-out. Wanted to list as-is but agreed to a walkthrough as a sanity check.
The home at intake
- ✓ Address area: Cottonwood Heights (Bel-Aire)
- ✓ Build year: 1972
- ✓ Size: 2,150 sq ft, 3 bed / 2 bath
- ✓ Estimated value range pre-prep: $545K-$580K
- ✓ Days to listing: 14
Walkthrough findings, minimal scope, high-impact items only
Home was genuinely well-maintained. We had to push to find items worth touching. The 14-day timeline limited what was possible anyway.
- ✓ Drywall touch-ups in 3 spots (small picture hanger holes)
- ✓ Spot paint touch-up where holes were patched (existing color matched)
- ✓ Kitchen cabinet hardware swap (32 original 1972 brass pulls → modern brushed nickel), single biggest visual change
- ✓ 3 GFCI outlet installs (kitchen, bath, garage, none present before)
- ✓ 2 smoke + 1 CO detector update to current code
- ✓ Master bath faucet replacement (failing handle, cosmetic + functional fix)
- ✓ Front porch light fixture swap
- ✓ Gutter clean + 1 downspout re-seat
- ✓ No whole-home paint, current paint was 3 years old and in great shape
- ✓ No carpet replacement, recently cleaned, fine
- ✓ No bathroom updates beyond the failing faucet
- ✓ No deck or fence work, both well-maintained
The numbers
- ✓ Drywall + spot paint: $295
- ✓ Cabinet hardware (32 pieces, materials + install): $385
- ✓ 3 GFCIs + 3 detectors: $585
- ✓ Master bath faucet + install: $245
- ✓ Front porch fixture + install: $185
- ✓ Gutter clean + downspout: $185
Total scope: $1,880
The result
- ✓ Listed at $565K
- ✓ 14 showings first weekend (Cottonwood Heights market was hot)
- ✓ 6 offers by Tuesday
- ✓ Accepted offer: $592,000 ($27K over ask)
- ✓ Inspection went clean, no credits requested
The key insight from this one
Sometimes the lowest-scope pre-listing prep delivers the best value for the money. This owner spent $1,880 and went to market with nothing for a buyer to pick at.
This homeowner’s instinct to “list as-is” was almost right, but a $385 cabinet hardware swap alone probably moved the kitchen photo enough to drive 3 extra showings. The GFCIs prevented an inspection-period credit ask of $600-$900. The math works.
Lesson: even well-maintained homes benefit from a 30-minute walkthrough with someone who knows what buyers’ agents look for.
A walkthrough gets you a written, prioritized estimate, even if your home is already in great shape. (801) 895-2084.
Related: Handyman in Cottonwood Heights · More case studies
Note: Customer details anonymized for privacy. Scope details, costs, and outcome data are representative of an actual Cottonwood Heights walkthrough completed in 2026.
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