If you’re ready to put your home on the market, you’ll likely want to sell it quickly and secure the best price. Most homes have general wear and tear and potential home buyers will take notice. At the same time, you likely won’t have a large budget to spend on your current home, especially if you’re trying to buy a new home. To help you focus on the areas of your home that will attract buyers, consider the following simple home repairs.
Refresh Your Home Exterior
Evaluating your home’s curb appeal is the best place to start. Once you put your home on the market, you want your home to stand out and make a good first impression. An exterior refresh doesn’t need to involve a complete landscape redesign. A quick clean-up to remove dead or dying plants can give your home an instant inviting look. Any bare solid ground can be covered with pine straw or mulch from a local hardware store. Once your front yard is tidy, consider adding a fresh coat of paint to the outside of your home. Cracked or chipped siding will deter buyers and should be repaired.
Inspect Your HVAC unit
Home buyers don’t want to be faced with a repair bill immediately after purchasing a home. If you have a central air conditioning unit in your home, make sure it’s working optimally. If cool air isn’t filling the entire home when the unit is turned on or if your unit makes loud noises, it’s a sign your unit needs to be repaired. It is best practice to have the HVAC unit inspected before your home is put on the market. Future buyers can rest assured their new cooling system will work properly.
Ensure Your Flooring is Acceptable
Snagged carpet, broken tiles and stains on flooring detract home buyers. The floors in your home should be in good condition. Dirty carpet should be cleaned or replaced. Make sure any new flooring is consistent with the style and color of existing flooring to avoid a patchwork design. Buyers want to be able to visualize the space they will live in, so a neutral/tan colored carpet works best. If you find wood flooring in good condition under the carpet you are replacing, you might want to consider keeping it in place. Wood flooring is attractive for many home buyers.
Spruce Up Your Bathrooms
You’ll be surprised by how much a small repair, such as caulking around the sink or tub, can provide big results. Taking time to remove the dirt and grime from the bathroom in your home can make a positive impression on buyers. The flooring condition is as important as it is in the other areas of your home. Fix any broken or chipped tile and steam clean the floors.
Investing in these small home repairs before selling your home can potentially increase your sell price and help ensure your listing doesn’t last long.
