5 Home Repairs to Tackle Before Selling Your House
Before you sell your home in the Boston area, it's important to make a few cosmetic fixes. These five inexpensive home repairs will get your home in tip-top condition before you put it on the market.
1. Wall Imperfections
One of the first things you should do when preparing your house for the market is to repair wall imperfections. Cracks, chips, and nail holes are easy fixes. A touch of spackling and some sandpaper can restore a wall to its former smoothness. You can follow up on these repairs with a fresh coat of paint. More serious wall issues, like buckling or serious water damage, should be handled by a professional. The walls in your home are like a blank canvas. If they are marred by damage, a potential buyer may interpret this as signs of overall disrepair or neglect.
2. Water Stains
Water stains, those unsightly brown circles on the ceiling or the trickling brown lines on your walls, are a huge red flag to interested home buyers. Even if the leak in your roof has been fixed for years, water stains can make a buyer feel panicky and uncertain. A coat of primer and a coat of paint are usually all that are required to remove these unsightly blemishes.
3. Carpet Cleaning
If your home is covered in wall to wall carpet, you will want to invest in a high quality carpet cleaner or the services of a professional before putting your home on the market. Carpet is tricky for home buyers because there are so many problems that are associated with carpet. Pet stains and odors, discoloration, or even differences in personal taste can cause issues. Choose a neutral carpet for your home, and be sure that it is spotlessly clean before showing your house.
4. Leaky Faucets
A leaky faucet is one of the simplest home maintenance tasks to perform. As such, you might not expect that a leaky faucet would cause such a bad impression on an interested home buyer. The issue, however, is not with the leaky faucet itself but with the image a leaky faucet creates in the mind of the consumer. If your faucets are leaking, a buyer may wonder what other maintenance tasks have been neglected.
5. Creaky Floors
If your house is old, you may have a creaky floor problem. Some home buyers may think creaky floors are charming character aspects, but others associate floor creakiness with structural issues. Identify problem areas in your floor, and invest in the repair services of a professional.
The real estate market is a competitive environment and tackling these repairs prior to putting your home on the market is important. Massachusetts buyers will see that you cared for the home and see more value.
Dwell360 is a residential real estate firm based in Newton Massachusetts that services the cities and suburbs of metro Boston. We are focused on our customers and our experience in the residential real estate market is extensive. Search for homes in Massachusetts and then give us a call.
