Did you know that 74% of the younger millennial generation prefer to look at new homes for purchase because they wouldn’t have to worry about renovating or consider things like bad plumbing?
So unless you’re happy to market only to the older generation of home buyers, then you need to consider that pre-home-sale repairs are needed to make your home stand out.
In this article, we detail several important repairs to make before selling a house, ones that will make your house appeal to all homebuyers.
Important Repairs To Make Before Selling a House
Now that you know you need to go on a repair mission, where do you start?
The answer to this is simple!
You need to make a cup of coffee, bring out a notepad and a pen, and walk your house from wall to wall and door to door. Try to look at the house as if you were a potential buyer, be very critical of every crack, discoloration, and malfunction that you see.
Once you’ve got your full working list, it’s time to move onto the repairs that you need to prioritize in order to sell your house.
1. The Big Tickets
There are some things in your house that are just too large to ignore if they need repairs. Think structural or mechanical aspects that are not working, aged, or in desperate need of upgrading.
These big-ticket, non-negotiable items are your roof, the heating system, the plumbing, and your electrical panel. If none of these are working, it’s one of the biggest things that will have you waving goodbye to a potential buyer.
It may seem daunting, but not all of these things are going to need a full replacement, some may just need prettying up or even routine maintenance.
2. Fixing Flooring
Flooring is one of the first things that a potential buyer will look down at when they enter through your front door. If tiles are cracked, or grout is looking worn and black, then it’s certain you need to replace the flooring.
If you have wooden flooring, a simple sand-down and varnish will brighten up your home’s floors.
If you have carpeting, a deep-clean will go a long way, particularly if the carpet has been in the house since before you can remember.
3. Water Damaged Walls And Ceilings
There’s potentially nothing worse than walking into a home that looked good on paper and then spotting those horrid, brown watermarks on the walls and ceilings.
Your first step here is to make sure that the plumbing is working, there’s no sense in cleaning up the water stains if the underlying problem will remain. Once you’ve had a plumber do his job, then you can do your job by scrubbing down those walls and giving them a fresh coat of paint.
4. Doors And Window Frames
When we say doors and window frames, we mean both inside and out!
You’ll want your doors, door frames, and window frames to look good from far and up close. Go on a sanding mission, sand all those doors and frames down and then give them all a varnish or a paint job to brighten them up.
On this note, if you have a torn door screen or ripped window screens, it’s imperative you repair these as well with a new sheet of mesh.
5. The Gutter System
Yes, the dreaded gutters have made their appearance in our list of repairs.
Do a walk around the entire perimeter of your home, look for cracks, sagging or missing pipes and missing downpipes. You don’t necessarily have to replace the entire gutter system, but if you spot any of these you will have to perform repairs.
The gutters are on a house for a reason, they prevent rain damage and exterior wear-and-tear. A potential homebuyer is going to notice a gutter system that is in disrepair and mark it as a potentially big spend for them and may result in them walking away.
6. Sort Out The Landscaping
Overgrown bushes and long grass will do nothing for the appeal of your home. Dig out the lawnmower, the trowels and purchase some mulch.
This is particularly important if you can see your lawn from the curb, dead trees and shrubs should be totally removed, and new ones put in their place.
A little color goes a long way, so go out and get some floral groundcover plants or flowers and get to planting.
If your yard has any fruit trees, then ensure that you rake regularly and get rid of the fallen debris to give your lawn a clean look.
A side note: If your garden has an irrigation or sprinkler system this needs to be checked too because if it’s not working as it should, then it needs to be added to your must-do repair list.
7. Fix The Heart Of The Home: The Kitchen
Many potential buyers will be critical of any house’s kitchen.
Ensure that sinks and faucets are all in working order, then, move onto drawers and cabinets. If there are any missing handles or knobs, then you need to replace these.
Also, if your kitchen is very old-fashioned, perhaps now is the time to modernize with sleek tiles and countertops. Even putting in fancier faucets can make a good impression.
On Your Way To a Successful Sale
Not that you know the important repairs to make before selling a house, we’re confident that you’re well on your way to making a successful sale.
Be prepared for the hard work though, this list of repairs is not going to happen overnight unless you find you have the budget for hiring a whole gang of refurbishers. So, take your time and make sure that you perform the repairs properly and don’t cut any corners.
Now that your house is renovated, read this article to know how to stage your home perfectly for those incoming open days!
