Most of us will never notice the everyday wear and tear on our homes. Some dirt and dust here, a few dings and scratches there. These things are front and center for potential buyers and agents with a good eye for details. It is almost always worth the minimal time and effort needed to fix these issues. I have put together a short list of minor to moderate repairs that can not only make your home show better, but will help it sell faster.
1. Holey walls - Make sure any nail/screw holes get patched up. It's quick and easy and can make a world of difference. Spackle and sand properly and then touch up the paint. Sometimes it even makes sense to just add a fresh coat of pain to the walls anyway.
2. Look down - Have you ever really looked at your baseboards? Most of the time, they are going to be scuffed, scratched, and just plain dirty. Kids, pets and everyday dirt and wear can really leave baseboards needing some attention. Wipe them down, use wood putty to fill any deep gouges and add a fresh coat of paint. You will be amazed at how fresh looking baseboards can make a room look more appealing.
3. Check your screens - Overtime window and door screens can wear out. Kids and pets can accelerate the process. Replacing screens is fairly easy to do with the right tools and less expensive than purchasing new screens altogether. You find a great tutorial right here.
4. Check your faucets - Leaky faucets not only look bad, but they can actually increase your water bill, depending on how fast the drips are. This is another fix that most homeowners can handle themselves.
5. Cabinet dings - Most kitchen cabinets will have a few scratches or dings. You can buy a few products to help remove or lessen the appearance of scratches. Old English Scratch Cover and the Tibet Almond Stick are two great products that serve this purpose. This is also good for wood floors as well.
When you decide to list your home for sale, try to look at your entire house with a fresh set of eyes, bring a neighbor or a relative over to help spot the things that you may not notice on a daily basis. Your Realtor should also be able to give you some great pre-listing advice.
1. Holey walls - Make sure any nail/screw holes get patched up. It's quick and easy and can make a world of difference. Spackle and sand properly and then touch up the paint. Sometimes it even makes sense to just add a fresh coat of pain to the walls anyway.
2. Look down - Have you ever really looked at your baseboards? Most of the time, they are going to be scuffed, scratched, and just plain dirty. Kids, pets and everyday dirt and wear can really leave baseboards needing some attention. Wipe them down, use wood putty to fill any deep gouges and add a fresh coat of paint. You will be amazed at how fresh looking baseboards can make a room look more appealing.
3. Check your screens - Overtime window and door screens can wear out. Kids and pets can accelerate the process. Replacing screens is fairly easy to do with the right tools and less expensive than purchasing new screens altogether. You find a great tutorial right here.
4. Check your faucets - Leaky faucets not only look bad, but they can actually increase your water bill, depending on how fast the drips are. This is another fix that most homeowners can handle themselves.
5. Cabinet dings - Most kitchen cabinets will have a few scratches or dings. You can buy a few products to help remove or lessen the appearance of scratches. Old English Scratch Cover and the Tibet Almond Stick are two great products that serve this purpose. This is also good for wood floors as well.
When you decide to list your home for sale, try to look at your entire house with a fresh set of eyes, bring a neighbor or a relative over to help spot the things that you may not notice on a daily basis. Your Realtor should also be able to give you some great pre-listing advice.
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