Thinking of selling your home but don’t know if you should make repairs first? Of course so! Any repairs you make will only impress the buyer and will help you get most, if not all, of your asking price no matter what the market is doing. Here are a list of ten items every homeowner should repair.
1. Paint – Painting the interior and exterior of the home. If there is any damages like cracks or holes in the interior, rotted wood on the exterior, etc do not try to just paint over it. Repair the damage first. You want to show the buyer that you repaired the problems not masked them. Masking problems just brings up more questions about the care of the home.
2. Floors – Have the carpet shampooed and be sure that any stains and odors are eliminated. Get any broken tiles or damaged floor boards repaired before the showing. Clean the grout lines in the tile to remove any mildew stains.
3. Windows – Replace any broken windows and make sure all the windows have screens. Make sure all the windows are operable as this is a potential fire hazard and will be written up by the home inspector if inoperable. Clean the blinds and curtains for an added plus.
4. Make certain the dryer vents to the outside of the home. Clean all the appliances and be make sure they are working properly. Replace the eye pans on the stove if needed.
5. Remove any clutter from the garage and basement. Rent a storage building or a use a shed to store seasonal decorations. Throw away old newspapers and magazines.
6. Check the attic to make sure the vent stacks, roof vents, chimneys and flashing are not leaking. These areas are the most likely places that roof leaks happen. Repair the areas if any leaks are present.
7. Check to be sure all the exhaust fans for the bathrooms and kitchen vent to the exterior. Generally these items will be vented to through the roof or in some cases the they are vented through an exterior wall.
8. Make certain the sinks, plumbing, and faucets are not leaking. Check the caulking for gaps where the counter top and the wall meet.
9. Replace all the light bulbs and make sure the rooms are as bright as possible. Open the curtains to let as muck light in as possible.
10. Be sure the fireplace is clean and the flue works properly. If you have a gas fireplace, have it on when the buyers are there to show them it is in working order.
Hubert Miles is the founder of Waterfront Houses USA, an online marketing service that provides Beach Houses in the US and Canada. Find South Carolina Beach Houses.
