| Plumbing and Fixtures
 All
your sink fixtures should look shiny and new. If this cannot
be accomplished by cleaning, buy new ones where needed. If
you don’t buy something fancy, this can be accomplished
inexpensively and they are fairly easy to install. Make sure
all the hot and cold water knobs are easy to turn and that
the faucets do not leak. If they do, replace the washers.
It is not difficult at all.
Check to make sure you have good water pressure and that
there are no stains on any of the porcelain. If you have a
difficult stain to remove, one trick is to hire a cleaning
crew to go through and clean your home on a one-time basis.
They seem to be wonderful at making stains go away.
Ceilings, Walls and Painting
Check all the ceilings for water stains. Sometimes old leaks
leave stains, even after you have repaired the leak. Of course,
if you do have a leak, you will have to get it repaired, whether
it is a plumbing problem or the roof leaks.
You should do the same for walls, looking for not only stains,
but also areas where dirt has accumulated and you just may
not have noticed. Plus, you may have an outdated color scheme.
Painting can be your best investment when selling your home.
It is not a very expensive operation and often you can do
it yourself. Do not choose colors based on your own preferences,
but based on what would appeal to the widest possible number
of buyers. You should almost always choose an off-white color
because white helps your rooms appear bright and spacious.
Carpet and Flooring
Unless your carpet appears old and worn, or it is definitely
an outdated style or color, you probably should do nothing
more than hire a good carpet cleaner. If you do choose to
replace it, do so with something inexpensive in a fairly neutral
color.
Repair or replace broken floor tiles, but do not spend a
lot of money on anything. Remember, you are not fixing up
the place for yourself. You want to move. Your goal is simply
to have as few negative impressions upon those who may want
to purchase your property.
Windows and Doors
Check all of your windows to make sure they open and close
easily. If not, a spray of WD40 often helps. Make sure there
are no cracked or broken windowpanes. If there are, replace
them before you begin showing your home.
Do the same things with the doors – make sure they open
and close properly, without creaking. If they do, a shot of
WD40 on the hinges usually makes the creak go away. Be sure
the doorknobs turn easily, and that they are cleaned and polished
to look sharp. As buyers go from room to room, someone opens
each door and you want to do everything necessary to create
a positive impression.
Odor Control
For those who smoke, you might want to minimize smoking indoors
while trying to sell your home. You could also purchase an
ozone spray that helps to remove odors without creating a
masking odor.
Pets of all kinds create odors that you may have become used
to, but are immediately noticeable to those with more finely
tuned olfactory senses. For those with cats, be sure to empty
kitty litter boxes daily. There are also products that you
can sprinkle in a layer below the kitty litter that helps
to control odor. For those with dogs, keep the dog outdoors
as much as possible. You might also try sprinkling carpet
freshener on the carpet on a periodic basis.
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Costs of Repairs
Do not do anything expensive, such as remodeling.
If possible, use savings to pay for any repairs and
improvements – do not go charging up credit cards
or obtaining new loans. Remember that part of selling
a house is also preparing to buy your next home. You
do not want to do anything that will affect your credit
scores or hurt your ability to qualify for your next
mortgage.
Find out how to fix
up the exterior of your home for a sale.
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