Repairs · 4 min read · Free
Repair or Sell As-Is? Ask One Question First
Will the repair create enough additional value to justify the risk?
Do not repair because you can. Repair because the expected extra value is clearly larger than the cost, time, failure risk, and added return risk. If a $90 repair only adds $100 of resale value, the deal is too thin.
What it is
A decision rule: does repair create enough additional expected value to justify its full cost and risk?
Why it matters
A technically successful repair can still reduce profit.
When to use it
Use before approving any repair.
How to do it
Compare as-is sale value with repaired sale value. Subtract parts, labor, delay, failure probability, and added return risk. Repair only when the value lift is clearly larger.
Worked example
As-is $550. Repaired $700. Repair $110 plus $40 time/risk. The extra expected value is effectively zero, so selling as-is may be smarter.
Your action plan
- Estimate as-is value
- Get repair quote
- Estimate repaired value
- Add risk allowance
- Compare outcomes
Common mistakes
- Repairing for perfection
- Ignoring downtime
- Using best-case repaired value
Key takeaway
Repair is a financial decision, not a technical challenge.
Try this
For one damaged item, compare the expected sale price before and after repair, then subtract every repair cost.
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