Fixer Upper

A fixer upper is a house or property sold in poor condition, priced low because it needs substantial repairs or renovation: They bought a fixer upper and spent two years gutting it.

The term implies potential—the buyer gets a bargain in exchange for investing time, money, and labor.

Sometimes applied figuratively to relationships or people perceived as needing improvement, though this use can be condescending: She thought of him as a fixer upper.