“For me as a flipper, an ugly roof and a badly kept front yard and some dead trees—that looks like a dream to me, because those are all fairly simple fixes,” he says. “When you talk about a project that has upkeep issues or maintenance issues, that can be wildly intimidating to a homeowner—but that’s a real simple fix.”

Gaines says you should always do your homework to make sure the fixes are purely cosmetic. Siding that needs new paint is a quick fix, compared with a roof that needs structural repairs.

“If the roof looks like it’s in disarray, or if it leaks, that causes more complicated projects on the inside, so sure there are some things to consider,” he says.

Overall, he advises looking past a less-than-ideal exterior or a yard full of dead trees. He says these are weekend projects worth tackling later if you love the interior of a home.