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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 Plus, you may have an outdated color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old and worn, or it is definitely an outdated style or color, you probably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.
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.
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