Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Home Improvements For Selling Your House

By Greg Tilley


Some realtors will tell you not to spend any money on your home before you put it on the market especially on a down economy. By having a low asking price and showing a couple of minor yet fixable damages, you will surely attract bargain hunters.

Although, there are some easy do-it-yourself projects that can make your home more attractive without hiking the price up so much, that you could possibly end up losing money on the sale.

Appliances, plumbing, electrical, or heating and cooling, are things that buyers usually don't want to spend money on repairing. Make sure all systems are go on those items before your first open house.

Move to the floors next. You're at an advantage if you have real hardwood, buyers love those. If the floors are in really rough shape and need refinishing, hire a professional. But if you fancy yourself a handy man and the floors are not in a very rough condition, you may rent a sander and polisher and do the job yourself.

If your rugs don't appear move-in new, it's relatively inexpensive to replace them. To be certain that you can match the buyers' decors, use neutral tones such as light tan. Since many people don't favor carpeting because of kids, pets, or allergies, consider tearing it up in favor of a bright laminate wood floor. For common areas such as the family rooms, a step-by-step video guide to installing this cheaper substitute by yourself is usually offered by many companies.

Go through the bathroom and kitchen and replace chipped or cracked tiles. For a fresher look put in new grout.

It is very important to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls and especially the ceiling. Cracks on the ceiling often mean that there might be a leak or instability in the house, so buyer's often are wary of them. Cover up the crack by applying fiberglass tape, cover with joint compound, and finally sand it before painting.

A health hazard than can immediately stop a sale is asbestos, therefore make sure to check the ceilings of older homes. Lay down drop clothes and scrape the ceilings thoroughly before repainting.

If any of your rooms have wallpaper, it's a good idea to rent a steamer, strip it off, smooth any wall cracks, and paint. Buyers don't probably share your taste in wallpaper. Real wood paneling can sometimes attract buyers, it would be good if you had it. Just like drive-in-movies, composite paneling already went out of style years ago, though it can blend in well if you paint it after priming. Your money would be better spent if you allocate it for improvement projects in the kitchen, this is almost certain to provide 100% return. By all means go ahead and replace those old appliances but it's not necessary to replace them with those high-end variety. As long as it's clean and works for you as intended.

If the kitchen cabinets look worn and faded, there are a couple of ways to make them more attractive short of a total replacement. Install new doors and hardware and add a thin veneer covering to the cabinet's surfaces. If the cabinets are wood, a coat of paint or varnish and new hardware will do the trick.

For a sleek look, opt for a new laminate top over the more expensive granite. It would be ideal that there are no signs of leaks or stains on your faucet and sinks and they project sparkling clean aura. Special polishes are available to give them a showroom shine. The same goes for the bathroom, which also can be updated easily with new lighting and fixtures.

Although it's an easy job, you will need a steady hand and some patience in order to weatherize all windows and doors with an application of fresh caulking.

On the exterior of the house, the roof is the top priority. You'll have better chances of making the sale if you install a water shield under new shingles to eliminate any worries about leaks, especially if your roof is more than 10 years old. A weekend should be allocated to clean all the gutters and replace any missing or broken downspouts.

Leave no questions about maintenance by cementing cracks in sidewalks and driveways. Buyers eying your house are no longer willing to spend big for these small repairs, unless your house has been marketed as a fixer-upper. All they could think about at this point is to spend time, relax and enjoy their new home.




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1 comment:

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