Maintaining a home’s decent condition can increase its resale value significantly. Buyers want a house that won’t require expensive repairs, and no one wants the sale to go through due to faults discovered by the home inspector. You may avoid the disappointment of a lost sale by making the appropriate preparations. Here are a few of the most crucial repairs to do before listing your house for sale.
Kitchen and Bathrooms
The majority of a house’s wiring and plumbing are located in the kitchen and bathrooms. This makes them particularly vulnerable. Here are the parts that need to be examined twice:
- Kitchen appliances. Check that the stove, oven, dishwasher, and microwave are all in good working condition. If the refrigerator or freezer is leaking, replace the coolant or freon and repair the leak.
- Cabinets. Every appliance, fixture, and cabinet in the kitchen and bathrooms must be in fine working order with no signs of water damage or decay. Every drawer and cabinet door needs to glide open and shut easily. Repair squeaky drawer slides, tighten drooping cabinet door hinges, and swap out worn-out doorknobs. DIYing these projects usually involves only a screwdriver and a trip to the hardware store. Inspect the painted surfaces of the cabinets for indications of peeling or flaking paint. Damage to your cabinets may necessitate purchasing new ones. Hiring a professional is a good idea if you have little experience with home renovations.
- Sinks and faucets. All plumbing and water features must be leak-free, and all drains must be unclogged. The bathtub’s overflow drain, which stops water from overflowing, has to be in good functioning condition. The temperature markings on the sink’s faucets should be respected.
- Bathtubs and showers. The shower head and other fixtures must work properly, and the drains must be clear. A bathtub that has acrylic that is flaking may require resurfacing or replacement. The steamy air from the shower may be safely released through a properly functioning vent. Substitute shattered shower tiles immediately.
Home Interior
The next step is to inspect the other common surfaces found inside.
- Walls and ceilings. Patch up the drywall and fix the nail holes and dents. Repaint the walls if you see discoloration, such as from repaired water damage. If you want to give a space a new look without breaking the bank, consider painting.
- Flooring. All flooring, from laminate to carpet, must be in excellent shape. Tiles that are broken or cracked should be replaced, and hardwood that has scratches or dents should be refinished. Carpets should be replaced or steam cleaned if they get too dirty from pet stains.
- HVAC. Maintain the HVAC system’s cleanliness, lack of leaks, and full functionality at all times. Check the temperature setting on the timer. A trained expert should look at the heating, ventilation, and air conditioner repair in Vaughan if you are worried about its health.
- Water heater. Your water heater, meanwhile, should be fully operational and leak-free. Insulation of pipelines is a must.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Your detectors should not be older than 10 years and should be in good operating order. Make sure your detectors are working and swap out the batteries if necessary.
- Electrical panel and circuit breakers. All standards need to be up to date. It’s a good idea to have any older systems examined or updated, especially if they use a fuse box, because it might be difficult for a new owner to locate replacement components or because the system may have been modified for current use in a way that it wasn’t designed for.
Home Exterior
Here are several initiatives that might potentially yield a good return on investment.
- Garage door. It must be functional. Furthermore, any remote control device will do. The door must also be secure and up to code in your area. If the coil spring is damaged or the door has significant dents or dings, you may need to have garage door repair in Red Deer.
- Exterior doors. Big dents or dings are not allowed. Most homeowners may easily address minor problems such as loose or broken hardware or damaged weatherstripping. It is important to ensure that sliding glass doors are level on their tracks. The garage entrance must meet fire safety standards and have a fire rating. If you need new doors installed or slide tracks installed, you might hire a professional.
- Drainage. The yard should have a drainage slope away from the house. Having the contractor re-grade the yard or break up concrete may be necessary if water pools next to the foundation during rainstorms. Similar problems might arise if rainwater is diverted away from the house’s foundation by downspouts but does not flow elsewhere. Check in with a trusted septic repair in Tottenham to help you.
- Foundation. There should be no structural weaknesses in the foundation, stem wall, or retaining wall. If you see drooping floors, horizontal cracks in the foundation, or horizontal or vertical cracks along any walls (interior or exterior), it’s best to call in a professional contractor to assess the situation and offer you an expert opinion.
If you’ve kept up with regular house maintenance, you could avoid these problems altogether. You may reduce the number of repairs you’ll need to make before you move by performing preventative maintenance like monthly smoke alarm checks, deck weatherproofing once a year, and repairing or replacing missing shingles.