Posted by As someone who wants to sell their home, you’ll want your house in pristine condition without having to spend too much money on upgrades. Before listing a home, it’s crucial to concentrate on the essential repairs you’ll need to make to ensure that every dollar you spend supports a greater asking price.
A lot of the damage your home bears over time is easy to overlook while you live there. However, when you begin to consider selling, the condition of your house becomes much more apparent.
While the repairs might be many, your funds are limited. So, what fixes deserve your time, attention, and money? In this article, we’ll go over the repairs that you should prioritize when selling the house.
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Roof repairs
Smart sellers know that if they don’t fix their roofs, buyers will probably offer less for their homes. During an inspection, lenders and assessors will note if your property has a damaged roof, which means it might leak or have other noticeable flaws. In order to cover the expense of replacing or repairing the roof, you might need to renegotiate the sale price of your house with the buyer.
Depending on where you live, the extent of the roof damage may be more than you initially perceived. For instance, if you reside in Lakewood, Colorado, your home is susceptible to hail damage which may lead to dents in your roof and even leakage. If you own a home in Lakewood that has suffered any roof damage, you can contact a Lakewood roofing contractor to sort the issues out before they get worse, adding to the overall cost of repairs.
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Electrical Repair
According to research by the National Association of Realtors, nearly half of all homebuyers are wary of properties with electrical issues. Sorting out any electrical repair work that your home might be due for can help you ensure that you don’t miss out on good offers for the house.
Therefore, be sure to undertake electrical repairs as soon as possible, and unless you are certain that you have what it takes to manage them yourself, hire an experienced electrician for the job.
You might want to consider updating your home’s outdated electrical system if you’ve had it for a long time. If not, at least have an electrician inspect it for any issues that require fixing to prevent future issues.
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Foundation repairs
Do you see any cracks in your home’s foundation? You must take action and fix the issue.
Your home’s foundation should be one of the top things you fix if you have any reason to believe there may be an issue. Why? Consider the fact that this is where your home actually stands. The structural stability of your entire house may be in danger if something goes wrong at the base.
If you have a crawlspace, inspect it often to ensure there is no standing water that could damage your home’s foundation. Additionally, if you detect any cracks, you should patch them immediately to prevent the topsoil from settling on your foundation walls.
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Plumbing issues
Before contacting potential buyers, ensure your home’s plumbing is in working order. If the plumbing system requires a lot of repairs, many potential buyers won’t be interested.
Plumbing problems like leaky pipes and clogged drains often indicate that more serious concerns are hidden elsewhere. This suspicion may lead to more inspections, a longer sales process, or less money in your pocket if the purchasers want hefty repair credits.
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Repair Torn Window Screens
These are less expensive than the repairs mentioned above, and you can even opt for DIY when repairing torn window screens. A window screen frame repair kit costs between $10 and $15 at a home improvement store.
Working on this repair is always worthwhile, considering how simple it is and how little it costs. Eliminate any minor issues, hiccups, or unsightly areas when considering how to raise the value of your home.
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HVAC system repair
Most people looking to buy a house want the heating and cooling system to be functional, so they don’t have to worry about updating it.
Hence, you should ensure that your home’s HVAC system stays in excellent condition throughout the year, regardless of how busy you are or how limited your budget is. It must therefore be spick-and-span, leak-free, and effective. You frequently have a choice between replacing the filters and giving them a good cleaning when performing repairs on this system.
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Home exterior upkeep
You want the exterior of your house to look appealing because that’s what potential buyers will notice initially. Clean up any debris that may have amassed in the yard or on the exterior of any storage sheds, replace any missing fence planks, and add sod if the yard looks worn out.
Before someone visits the house, ensure the grass is mowed, and the weeds are taken care of.
Buyers will notice missing shingles, moss growth on the roof, and siding issues. Make an effort to patch up everything now to avoid being asked about it later.
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Door repairs
Major dents or dings are unacceptable. The majority of homeowners can take care of concerns with weatherstripping, and other hardware like door handles on their own. Glass sliding doors need to be mounted on rails with precise alignment. The garage door needs to be code-compliant and fire-rated. You might need to contact a professional to replace doors or slide tracks.
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Kitchen upkeep
Over the years, home kitchens may go through a lot of wear and tear, which needs to be fixed when you are trying to sell your house. Your prospective buyer will envision themselves preparing meals in their new kitchen so make sure it is in good condition.
If your kitchen is quite old, it may need a “facelift.” Painting or changing the doors of the cabinets will bring life to the space. Replace the hardware for a more modern appearance while you’re there. The return on this investment will be substantial.
Conclusion:
A house is an investment, so regular maintenance with a little DIY upkeep work and occasional professional help keeps your investment robust.
If you want to sell your house for a high price, you shouldn’t leave repairs up to the buyer. Even if you don’t have an unlimited budget, fix the problems that would prevent a sale from happening initially. You can pay attention to other concerns regarding the house once you check off the repair work mentioned in this article.