There are a few steps you can take
to help improve your odds of getting the money you want for your
home. Do not do cheap repairs to try and cover something up.
This could cause concern to a Certified Home Inspector and
prospective buyer.
1. Double check on
all the recommended "routine" maintenance for your home.
- Trim all trees and shrubs
that are touching the house or foundation
- Make sure there is at least
6" of clearance between the ground or mulch and siding
- Clean dirty gutters and roof
- Make sure the grade of the
property falls away from the house
- Make sure caulking is good
around windows and doors
- Check all windows and doors
for proper operation. Repair as needed
- Make sure no wood or
firewood is stacked next to the house
- Re-seal asphalt drive if it
has cracks in it
- Replace dirty filters in
homes HVAC system
- Make sure all smoke
detectors work
- Have the chimney
professionally cleaned, and give a copy of the report to the
buyer
- Clean or re-place bathroom
caulk or grout where needed
- Make sure you have adequate
ventilation in crawl space or basement to prevent moisture
- Make sure you have plastic
covering the ground in a crawl space
- Make sure no faucets are
dripping and all plumbing is working
- Make sure all door knobs are
tight
- Replace any damaged screens
- Make sure all light bulbs
are working and are bright enough
- Patch any holes in wall or
ceilings and repaint
2. Things to do
to appeal to the buyer's emotional attitude about your house.
- Keep the lawn mowed and
watered
- Plant some colorful plants
if appropriate to add "curb appeal"
- Clean the exterior of the
house and trim and repaint if needed
- Keep the bathrooms and
kitchen area clean, as this area is often a make or break
area for a sale
- Open the curtains and blinds
to allow sunlight in to create a bright, homey atmosphere
- Keep a pot of water with
some vanilla in it to boil on the stove for a homey air
freshener
3. Have a
pre-listing inspection done by a professional. This will give
you a list to work from and help in the presentation of your
home. It will also give you a report of these major components
and include recommended repairs if needed:
- Foundation, crawl space
and/or basement
- Roof System
- Central Heating and Cooling
Systems
- Electrical System
- Plumbing
- Exterior of house and
grounds
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