Thinking of Selling Your Home?

You may need some common sense maintenance to get it into market shape. Some things you can clean, repair, or replace that will really make a difference:

•    The first thing most people notice – the roof.
•    Broken or leaking gutters and downspouts or worn boards on decks or porches.
•    Obviously cracked windows and torn screens.
•    Damaged exterior lock sets and garage door openers.
•    Broken stairs or handrails.
•    Leaking plumbing fixtures or faucets.
•    Worn or damaged flooring.
•    Have heating and air conditioning units serviced and replace filters.

Yes, these cost money, but money spent on repairs can make a difference in the final sales price. A savvy buyer or lender will likely require safety and maintenance items to be repaired before closing. Buyers tend to think repairs will cost more than they actually will and reduce their offer accordingly. If you don't fix the house before you put it on the market you can, in effect, end up paying for repairs twice: first in a lower sales price and second in the out-of-pocket costs of the repairs themselves. By performing the repairs before putting your house on the market you'll eliminate reasons for a buyer to offer you a lower price and be able to get better repair prices by comparing estimates from several contractors.