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 Plus, you may have an outdated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worn, or it is definitely an outdated style or color, you probably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