Prospective buyers won’t ignore even minor problems in a house, from broken light switches to leaky faucets, so you’ll want to have your home in tip-top shape before holding an open house. To get the best results, allocate about a month’s worth of time and enlist the aid of a REALTOR® to guide you through the process of maintenance and repairs.

Start With an Inspection

If it has been years since you’ve last had a professional home inspection, you should consider doing so.  This will provide you with a list of current issues you may want to address before having someone visit your home for the first time.  Remember you ONLY get 1 first impression.

Curb Appeal

You will want to make your home look appealing from the street. Fix peeling paint, mangled gutters, and roof and siding issues. Cob webs on the front porch or around windows need to be removed.

Paint, Refinish and Shine

Once inside, buyers will first notice the walls and flooring, so you’ll want to get them looking nice and neat. One simple trick you can do to freshen up your house is to apply a fresh coat of paint, A fresh coat of neutral color paint will do wonders to make the home look cozy and inviting. Just don’t go stark white stick with neutral warm colors

If you have hardwood flooring be sure they have that welcoming shine. Replace areas of tile or laminate flooring where it looks damaged, cracked or worn. If you have carpet you might want to have them cleaned and possibly stretched if they need it but most importantly try to make sure they are stain-free.  If the stains won’t come out, you might consider replacing it.

 

Update Your Interior

Walk through the house with a critical eye.  Consider replacing outdated light fixtures, noting it’s an inexpensive solution to give a home a modern look. Don’t forget the bathrooms, either—you might need to replace a rusted medicine cabinet or a cracked mirror.

Fix small things like burned out light bulbs, running toilets, broken light switches, leaky faucets, broken window blinds and loud exhaust fans. Not only will buyers remember these small things, but minor repairs can add up for a buyer, so getting those out of the way early can make your home more appealing. If your appliances are outdated but you don’t want to spend the time replacing them, consider offering a credit instead of buying new ones. Work with a REALTOR® to identify which repairs and replacements will net you the most return. A REALTOR® should also know proven maintenance professionals to aid you in the process.

Written by Darren Wilson, The Wilson Team

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