Don’t think you have to take weeks and months to make repairs, common repairs are easy to solve, inexpensive and can be done in a weekend. Little repairs are probably already on your list of projects, and if they bother you, small imperfections will also bother a buyer. Things like leaking faucets, cracks in the plaster and ceiling, or ripped window screens may seem like trivial irritants, but if you have an entire house full of little problems you may drive buyers away. Every house has a few defects, and some are hidden. Visible and not so visible problems in a house will affect the price a buyer is willing to pay. Serious buyers often invest in home inspectors in Indiana to make sure everything is above board. Sellers who are trying to get the most money for their home often try quick fixes that make a home look good, but don’t fool buyers. There are repairs you can make that won’t break your budget but will get buyers enthusiastic about your home.
Few home repairs return 100% of your value, and most of these are expensive. You can, however, do these following repairs before getting a home inspection. Repairs are worth making to get your home in peak shape.
The Kitchen
Kitchens are the “heart of the home,” and kitchens sell homes. Buyers want large and spacious kitchens with new appliances, but when looking at occupied homes, this is not always possible. Don’t do a complete kitchen remodel unless it is absolutely necessary.
Declutter cabinets and countertops. Buyers will always open the cabinets and look inside. Don’t put off a buyer by having unorganized and dirty cabinet interiors. Minor repairs will make your kitchen more inviting. Changing the lighting, paint, and countertops will bring your kitchen more up to date. Granite or quartz counters are not necessary, but new laminates, facets and sparkling sinks will sell.
One tip: the price of countertop surfaces went down recently so you might want to get an estimate for installing granite countertops. A granite or quartz countertop will give your kitchen appeal especially when your kitchen counter space seems limited. Look in the cabinet under the sink. If you see evidence of leaks get them fixed right away. You don’t need to replace the plumbing, but shining pipes and cleaning under the sink goes a long way to improve the look of your kitchen. Check out your appliances and make sure they are in working order. You may need to replace your dishwasher or range if they look ugly and are not in working condition.
Bathrooms
Update your bathroom. Make repairs on a leaky faucet or running toilet. Replace the toilet seat, spruce up around the toilet and clean up or replace grout. If you have missing tiles, get them repaired and if your bathroom is dingy or wallpapered, new paint will bring your bathroom back to life. Change the lighting fixtures and the mirrors above vanities.
These are inexpensive fixes but will make your bathroom look inviting. Before you show your home, hang new towels in the bathroom and purchase new throw rugs. Make sure the shower curtain is clean and fresh. If you have glass shower doors, take the time to remove water spots. A sparkling bathroom will impress buyers. The most critical areas in a home are the kitchen and the bathrooms.
Buyers will walk through living rooms and bedrooms, but they will scrutinize the kitchen and bathroom. Kitchens and bathroom are the most expensive areas to upgrade, but you do need to make sure there are no issues in these rooms before you put your home up for sale.
Outside the house
The first thing buyers see is the outside of your house. Curb appeal is everything to get a potential buyer inside the house. If your home looks worn out and unkempt, a potential buyer will drive on by without stopping. Add sod if your lawn is spotty and looks tired. Fix or paint fences and remove junk that has accumulated in your yard. Get a crew together and pull weeds. Plant flowers in flower beds. Flowers give a home an inviting look. Mow the lawn and do general exterior maintenance. Contact a lawn maintenance company and have them to a “once-over” on your yard.
Inspect your garage door.
Make sure it is well oiled and running smoothly. A squeaky garage door might be off-putting to a potential buyer.
Check your appliances to ensure they are in working order. A potential buyer may not turn your range on and off, but they will protest if appliances aren’t in working order. You don’t need to replace appliances and the garage door, everything doesn’t have to be new, but everything should work in your house. A broken lock or a sticky door could turn away buyers and drive your selling price down. Flooring Damaged flooring can cause a buyer to walk away from buying your house. Damaged flooring includes scratched hardwoods, rippled carpeting, and missing tiles. Invest in flooring repair before you list your home on the market. If you have hardwood floors, refinish them. Carpet is expensive to replace, but you do need to make sure carpets are clean and tight. Repair your tiles where they are cracked. Realtors report that any investment you make in flooring can be recouped with the sale price of your home. Paint Nothing says “freshness” and care like new paint. Paint is the greatest cost-effective improvement you can make. Use lighter and more neutral colors when selling. These colors appeal to most buyers, and simple is always better. Paint those rooms with dark paint, dirty or chipped paint and walls and take down wallpaper. Wallpaper tends to date a home, and clean walls make good first impressions. You don’t need to hire a professional painter. You can do it yourself and save tons of money, and the result will still be fantastic. If you have rooms that look good, you don’t need to paint them, wash the walls. Contact Aardvark Home Inspectors Inc. and we will send you a checklist of what needs to be repaired before you put your home on the market. An idea of what changes need to be made can go a long way in getting the price you want in Indiana.
Joe Mishak - Aardvark Home Inspectors Inc.
