As a seller, your No. 1 goal is to sell your
home as quickly as possible at or near the
listing price. In today’s market, where there is
much more competition for buyers, it is
important to put your best foot, or in this
case, home forward because first impressions are
vital.
Many of today’s prospective homebuyers have busy
lifestyles and are looking for properties that
don’t require a lot of work. Therefore a home in
move-in condition is much more attractive.
Before placing your home on the market, you may
want to invest in making needed repairs.
To get started, inspect both the inside and
outside of the home. Take inventory of practical
and aesthetic repairs. You may want to apply a
fresh coat of paint on the walls, doors, and
shutters. Clean the carpet and buff and polish
wooden floors. Tighten and polish hardware.
Repair cracks in sidewalks and driveways, and
clean any stains on them. Replace missing or
warped roofing. Clean or re-grout kitchen and
bathrooms. Repair dripping faucets and drains or
plumbing fixtures that aren’t operating.
Fix sticking doors and replace old locks and
doorknobs. Replace old bulbs and broken
electrical sockets. Replace cracked windows and
torn screens. Repair broken fencing and reseal
the deck. Clean up stains on the tiles and
countertops.
Some experts also recommend hiring a certified
home inspector to thoroughly and impartially
evaluate the property. (For a list of inspectors
in your area, visit the American Society of Home
Inspectors website, www.ashi.com, or ask your
real estate professional for recommendations.) A
standard report will review the condition of the
home’s heating system, central air conditioning,
plumbing and electrical systems, the roof,
attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and
doors, the foundation, basement and visible
structure.
If there are recommendations for improvement,
consult with your real estate professional in
prioritizing the list of repairs.
Depending on your goals and budget, you may want
to repair only items that could cause
significant deterioration to the home, such as a
leak. In addition, your local market conditions
may dictate how extensive your repairs need to
be. Let your budget and your real estate
professional guide you.
However, be careful about major repairs. Sellers
rarely recoup money on major remodeling
projects, and you may want to save funds for
your new home.
A home in good condition demonstrates pride of
ownership. Taking the time to make small repairs
to your home can go a long way in making sure
that your home is presented to potential buyers
in its best possible light. They also just might
make the sale |
