If you are thinking of putting your home on the market, you must do everything you can to make it as attractive as possible to buyers. This will not only increase the perceived value of the property, but it will accelerate the sale too. Fixing issues will also reduce the chances of something popping up during inspection and souring the deal. In this article, we’re going to look at a few repairs you should consider performing before selling your home.
Major Electrical Issues
If you have major electrical problems, like lights dimming or flickering when certain appliances are running, hot and buzzing outlets or burning smells in certain areas, then you will have to have them fixed before you sell the property. These types of issues are sure to be discovered during the inspection and will send red flags. At this point, prospective buyers may decide to pull out of the deal because of how expensive and scary electrical issues can be, or they may ask for a discount for their troubles.
Another thing you may have to fix before you sell your home is old circuit boards. If your home still uses fuses or a board model that is viewed as unsafe, then you may have to replace them. If you have a Federal Pacific or GTE Sylvania Zinsco panel at home, for instance, then it’s usually a better idea to replace them since insurance companies will force homeowners to remove them. This is because they’ve been known to cause many issues in the past. You can expect inspectors to mention this to buyers too, so don’t assume that you’ll be able to pull a fast one on them because they aren’t aware of that particular detail.
If you suspect that something is wrong with your electrical system or know for a fact that there is, then you should contact a professional company like Beattie HS to come and check for themselves.
Anything Cosmetic That Can be Easily Fixed
Cosmetic issues should be fixed as long as they’re not too expensive. Having chipped paint or a cracked driveway will send red flags flying when people get to your property and will instantly drop its value. Do a visual inspection of your house and see if some things stick out.
Driveway and landscaping issues should come first since they’re the first thing people will see when they get to your property. Fencing and siding should be checked too. If the grass could be better than it is right now and you’ve been neglecting your flower beds, you will need to get to work. Replace the flower beds or remove them completely and consider adding sod to get a nice lawn fast.
Replace or clean your siding and gutters, and fix any cracked paint on your fence, doors, and porch. Any dings or dents on doors need to be fixed as well. And consider having your driveway repaired, replaced, or resurfaced if it could look better.
Roofing Issues
Roofing issues cannot be left as is. Not only do they make the property look neglected, but they put the inhabitants in danger. You should never try to conceal issues either as this is one of the areas inspectors spend the most time on when looking at a property.
The tough question for many people is whether they should repair or replace the roof, and all of this depends on the severity of the issue and the age of the roof. If the issue is major but you can repair it and the roof is still young, going with a fix can work. However, if the roof is old, it’s usually a better idea to have it replaced. Repairs on old roofs always look bad and having a brand-new roof will be a huge selling point while increasing the value of the property. So, if this is your case, replacing is usually the best idea.
Yard Drainage Issues
Savvy home buyers know to visit properties on rainy days so they can look for leakage or drainage issues. If you’ve had trouble with drainage in your backyard for years but you have never got round to addressing the issue, you will have to make fixes right now. This is another issue that you can expect inspectors to sniff out right away, so don’t think that you’ll be in the clear just because buyers came on a sunny day.
Puddles in the yard are a clear sign of drainage issues, so you will have to contact a contractor right away if you see any. Water pooling near the foundation also needs to be fixed either by re-grading the yard or better adjusting your downspouts.
If you want to get the most for your property and sell it as soon as you can, consider making those fixes right away. And, if you’re on a limited budget and can’t perform them all, speak with a qualified agent today and ask which ones should be fixed first.
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