Just because you want to sell your house quickly doesn’t mean you should put it up for sale without preparing first. There are some things sellers might want to consider and do prior to selling the home. One of these is to personally inspect the property for any issues, and deal with them if found. These issues might seem small and unimportant to some, but they will greatly affect how home inspectors evaluate the property. Home inspectors will check every single area of the house, and make detailed reports about what they see and discover. If sellers don’t want a long list of things that can lower the selling price or turn potential buyers off, then there’s only one way to prevent this.
Dealing with problems before selling
Sellers should generally do their best to inspect the property for damages that should be repaired, and actually deal with them, before actually putting the house for sale. Hiring a home inspector will help determine major issues that need to be dealt with. These issues include structural problems, plumbing and electrical wiring issues, interior and exterior problems, roofing issues, as well as kitchen and bathroom problems.
When the inspector produces a long list of issues that need attention, sellers will do well to look into these issues and deal with them accordingly; either repair, refresh, or ultimately replace.
If the list of problems is short, then congratulations! The house could very well be sold in short time after minor repairs and retouches. But if the list is long and the issues are pressing, sellers will do well to address these problems if they want to get top dollar for their property.
Here are a few things sellers may want to look into and deal with should any problems exist.
Exterior problems
The exterior is the first thing buyers see when they come to view the house, so sellers should work on making repairs and preparing it for the sale. Clean the yard, replace any missing fence boards, repaint the exterior walls if the existing paint has blisters and is flaking, and fix existing cracks and rotten areas. Replace any missing shingles, eliminate any signs of moss growing on the roof, and make sure the house siding has no issues.
Kitchen
The kitchen is one of those areas that sell a home. If it has problems, chances are it will be the area that will prevent sellers from making a sale. Yes, kitchens are that important. Make sure the kitchen is properly ventilated, its cabinet doors and drawers are working perfectly, the appliances are in good working condition, and the sink doesn’t have any leaks.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are very important to any home, and buyers will definitely want to buy a home with perfectly functioning, good-looking bathrooms. Paint the bathroom using a bright colored paint. Replace any missing tile on the floor (and the walls if needed). Make sure the toilet is functioning and clean. Replace leaky faucets and showers with new, elegant-looking ones. Replace the toilet seat so that it looks clean. Scrub the grout or simply replace it with new grout.
Electrical connections
Make sure to check electrical connections to determine if panels and switches are actually working.
Doors, windows, and trim
Fix rotting door and window frames and replace broken window glass. Repaint the door with trendy colors and replace old hardware such as doorknobs and locks with new ones.
Floors
If the house has hardwood floors installed, refinish them to add more value to your sale. If the house has carpeted floors, check for possible problems such as odors and smells, and if possible, replace with new carpet.
Some more things to inspect:
If the house has a chimney, check it for efflorescence. This is a white-colored material that occurs in chimneys whenever moisture is present. While a small amount of efflorescence is common, a large amount should be cause for concern and must be dealt with as soon as possible so that there won’t be any additional problems.
A water meter that doesn’t stop, even when all faucets are turned off, means there could be a leak somewhere on the property. Find it and fix it so that both you and the future buyer won’t be wasting water and money over time. Sellers should also check for plumbing issues. Inspect bathroom and kitchen plumbing for leaks or clogs, and have them fixed accordingly.
Published on 2018-03-08 18:24:42
