Top Maintenance Needs for Your Home Before Putting it on the Market
You’re thinking of putting your home on the market. Congratulations! Selling your home and moving on to greener pastures is always a fun and exciting adventure.
Before you put your home on the market though, you need to make sure you won’t be stuck in seller limbo for months and months on end. You were once a buyer, so you know how hectic and stressful the home buying process can be. Now that you’re on the other side of the transaction, it’s important to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes again and see things from their perspective.
What is the current market and home buying process like?
In Denver, the home market favors homes that are cleaned up and ready to live in. Many people won’t be willing to invest in fixer-uppers and homes that need lots of repairs.
The home buying process is a long and detailed one. Not only do you have to get your down payment in order, you have to check your credit score and set up a budget. These will all determine how much money you have to play with while home shopping. Though location, size and number of rooms are important, the financial side of buying a home is just as important.
What are some good ways to appease or attract buyers?
Make sure your home is in tip-top shape. It is greatly important to ensure that nothing is broken or in need of repairs or replacements. Get it inspected by a professional and have them check everything from the foundation to the roof.
Some common things that often need to be fixed or replaced are temperature-related appliances such as air conditioners in each room, the furnace and the water heater. It’s incredibly important that you check all of these and ensure that all are in working order. Ignoring your homes needs could drive away buyers or force you to take a lower offer than what you wanted.
In addition, plumbing hardware such as faucets, toilets and garbage disposals all need to be tested and checked. It’s very possibly that the sink in the guest bathroom hasn’t been working properly for months and you haven’t noticed.
The paint should also be checked. Has the paint faded and is more vibrant under the picture frames? Does the carpet have stains? Don’t leave any stone unturned!
What if I have to do some repairs?
Be sure you’re aware of each problem in your home. Test everything before you make a call; you wouldn’t want to have one problem solved, only to discover another that needs to be addressed.
Simple problems like a hole in the wall that can be covered in spackle, or a stain on the kitchen linoleum that can be scrubbed away can be taken care of by you. However, most problems will need to be taken care of by a professional.
Handyman or plumbing services such as Mr. Green Plumbing are great ways to handle hardware and appliance problems you’ve found in your home.
Other services you might need to take advantage of include painting services and carpet cleaners. Most paint shops can match the color of faded paint, allowing painters to paint over the vibrant spots instead of repainting entire rooms the original color.
Though it may seem costly now, fixing problems in your house will ensure that you won’t be waiting long and will let you ask for higher prices.
