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Hi,
We are living in a 26-year-old home and are planning to put it on the market for sale. There is an old cubby house (photos attached) located in one corner of the backyard, and we are considering a few possible options:
- Leave it as is, with a note stating that the cubby house is not stable. However, in this scenario, an unprofessional-looking fence repair—using a black rod and timber pieces—remains clearly visible and may detract from the overall presentation.
- Repair the cubby house, although this could be quite costly given its age and condition.
- Demolish and remove it. If we choose this option, we would need to address the empty space, as it sits lower than the surrounding lawn. In addition, removing the cubby house would further expose a poorly repaired section of the fence, and relocating the yellow rose plant arranged in a half-circle may be difficult.
I would really appreciate your advice on a simple, economical DIY solution that could improve the appearance of this area and potentially add value to the property.
Thank you and regards
syed
Hi @smhasnain,
Based on the condition, the cubby house is well past the point where a simple cosmetic fix would make sense. The fact that it is structurally deteriorated and visibly slanting means that any buyer is going to immediately see it as a problem that needs to be dealt with, rather than a feature. Even with a disclaimer, something that looks unsafe or unstable can create a negative emotional response during inspections, especially for families with children.
In that context, I would strongly recommend pulling it down now rather than leaving the decision to a prospective buyer. The burden of having to demolish and dispose of a structure after purchase is far more off-putting than a slightly sunken section of lawn or a fence that clearly needs attention. Those smaller issues are very common in established homes and are generally seen as manageable and expected, whereas a large, deteriorated structure feels like an immediate job and an added cost.
Once the cubby house is removed, the lower area can be dealt with in a very simple and economical way. Bringing the level up with soil and topping it with turf or even mulch will immediately make the space feel cleaner and more intentional, even if the fence behind it is not perfect. Buyers are usually quite forgiving of fencing repairs, especially when the yard itself looks open, usable, and safe.
Overall, presenting a backyard that is free of obvious safety concerns will almost always outweigh the minor imperfections that remain. Removing the cubby house now reduces friction for buyers and helps them focus on the potential of the space rather than the work they feel forced to do straight away.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
