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There are a few things to consider doing before
you put your home on the market. A pre-sale inspection, for example,
is a great idea, as it will disclose any problems or hidden damage.
These problems will be revealed when the buyer comes by with their
own inspector, so it makes sense to repair any problems beforehand.
Also, if you are working with a Realtor®, have him or her walk
through your home and make suggestions as to what could be repaired
or improved upon.
Here are some suggestions:
Make repairs
If repairs are needed, absolutely attend to issues
like cracks in ceilings or walls, broken windows or loose bricks,
and make sure all doors and windows open and close properly. Your
home is more likely to sell in this “like new” condition
than a home that is dingy with eyesores like loose banisters and
cracked walls. Moreover, a few hundred dollars spent now to fix
small items may yield a return of several thousand dollars when
you sell your home.
Repairs to Consider Before Selling
- Replace broken doorknobs.
- Repair doors that don’t close easily.
- Repair broken stairs.
- Repair flooring, such as cracked tiles .
- Replace burned out light bulbs and electrical
sockets.
- Repair plumbing fixtures, such as drains, faucets,
showerheads, toilets etc.
- Paint the interior.
- Reseal the deck and repair broken boards.
- Replace broken gutters .
- Paint the exterior.
- Replace cracked windows and torn screens.
- Repair driveway cracks, entry walkway, and clean
up stains.
- Repair the roof.
Neutralize your furnishings
You may love your wall display
of Austrian coo-coo clocks, but when prospective buyers enter your
home, they must be able to envision themselves living there.
Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Take
a walk through your home and remove clutter from tabletops and furniture,
clean out closets and store some of your personal belongings for
the time being in organized boxes. This will help the prospective
buyers to envision each space as if it were their own.
Paint
Few repairs revive a house better than a new coat
of paint - especially if a room has been through some wear and tear
or has outdated coloring. If you choose to repaint, pick a neutral
color and carry it throughout the home. Neutral colors make a space
seem larger and allow the buyer to better envision what they would
do with the space.
While you are painting, check doors and trim, both
inside and out. If they are scuffed or chipped, you may want to
consider repainting those too.
Eliminate Clutter
A lived-in home is great, but buyers do not respond
well to clutter. Organize each room, closet, and cupboard, making
them as neat as possible, which will create the illusion of more
space. Most important, keep it this way! If it helps, pretend you
are a guest in someone else’s home, because you never know
when a prospective buyer will stop by to see the house.
Curb Appeal
A buyer’s first impression is made when
they pull up to your home. With this in mind, you’ll want
to keep your front yard as warm and inviting as possible. Put away
children’s toys and any other clutter. Consider planting a
bush or two and adding standing flowers and hanging baskets. Oranges
and yellows leading up to your front door, for example, create a
warm feeling. And, of course, keep grass and bushes well manicured.
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