A Must Read For Sellers. Be Sure To Complete This “To-Do” Checklist Before Putting Your House On The Market!

Interview-Checklist-PinkMany homeowners who consider listing their house are don’t realize that their home probably needs a few touchups beforehand. See: Top Things To Do Before Listing Your Property For Sale. The truth is, most homeowners have trouble accepting this, because they are emotionally attached to their homes. However, it is important that you understand that no home is perfect, and that every home can use some TLC. Here are some things that you should consider working on before listing.
kitchen-flooring
If your home has hardwood floors, that’s what buyers want, and it would pay to have the carpeting removed and the floors refinished. If your sub-floor is plywood, then replace the carpeting with light tan. Neutral carpeting is your best bet for resale. Replace chipped or cracked tiles. Read: 10 Best-Kept Secrets for Selling Your Home. Clean or replace the grout. But don’t install ceramic (it’s too expensive) unless it’s for aesthetic reasons in an entry way.

Realize that buyers will be paying attention to the ceilings, and rightfully so. What they are looking for signs of a leaky roof, but what you don’t want them to see are stains from grease or smoke and ceiling cracks. Ditto for walls. Nothing says freshness like new paint, and it’s the most cost effective improvement. Use fiberglass tape on large cracks, cover with joint compound and sand. Paint a neutral color such as light tan; think of coffee with creamd7817f5204ad2273_1899-w500-h400-b0-p0--traditional-bathroom
They’ll also be checking out the wood. If your panelling is not real wood but composite, you can paint it. Dated paneling must go. Older wood paneling such as walnut, mahogany, cedar and pine, it’s all gone out of style. Paint it a neutral and soft color after priming it. Popcorn ceilings often are see in older homes, and may contain asbestos and cause health hazards. See: 10 Must-Do Tips to Sell Your Home Faster This Year. Time to remove it. It’s not expensive but it is time consuming to remove. Aside from being a safety concern, most buyers don’t want popcorn ceilings.

Appliances and cabinets are typically the most expensive items to replace in a kitchen. If you don’t have to replace them, you’ll save a ton of money. However, if your cabinets are dated and beat-up, your house might not sell if the cabinets aren’t replaced. Before going the extreme route of renovations, try to improve rather than replace. Most buyers aren’t going to pay top dollar because you just put in a chef’s stove, travertine floors and a brand new glass refrigeratortuscany
Resurfacing the cabinets is always the least expensive of all other options. Resurfacing includes adding a thin veneer to the surface of the cabinets. You will need to replace the hardware. However, if your cabinets are outdated, chances are the hardware was too. Granite counters are not always necessary, but they definitely are appreciated; so are new faucets and brand new sinks. More importantly, make sure that those sinks are working properly, including the water pressure.

2 thoughts on “A Must Read For Sellers. Be Sure To Complete This “To-Do” Checklist Before Putting Your House On The Market!

  1. Is it really that necessary to touch up cabinets? It seems like such a small project, that could even be DIY.

  2. Cabinets can make all the difference. They don’t necessarily need to be replaced (though, I have not seen your cabinets), but they are very important to buyers. Consider at least switching out the knobs and pulls. If they do need a fresh coat of paint, you should go for it; be sure to use neutral paint!

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