Preparing Your Home for Sale

There are many simple and quite inexpensive things you can do in improve on the first impressions a potential buyer has when touring your home. 

Top 10 Findings:

1. Remove debris and leaves from roof and gutters, as this prohibits viewing of roof and can lead to leaks.

   • Fix = Leaf blower, gardening trowel, or hire a handyman.

2. Make sure all downspouts are draining away from the house.

   • Fix = Splash blocks, downspout extensions $5 - $20

3. Secure any loose trim, siding, deck boards, railings, stair treads.

   • Fix = A few nails or screws.

4. Dragging doors, sticking windows.

   • Fix = If you can't adjust them, call a door supplier and hire a finish carpenter $100+/-

5. Dripping faucets and minor plumbing leaks, i.e. under sinks and behind toilets.

   • Fix = 1/4 turn of a crescent wrench and/or replace the washer.

6. Deteriorated calking around tub/shower.

   • Fix = Calking $2

7. Remove dilapidated add-on structures such as sheds, fencing, anything attached to the house that has exceeded its useful life.

   • Fix = Demolish and haul to the dump.

8. Clear all wood debris out from under the house, the pest inspector will love it too.

   • Fix = Buy a dust mask and hire a teenager to clear it out.

9. Cover plates missing.

   • Fix = Cover plates 20 cents each.

10. Wire splices not in a junction box.

    • Fix = Junction box $1.50