When you’ve lived in the same place for more than two decades, it becomes increasingly more difficult to spot the wear and tear of your house. You tend to miss them because you’ve gotten so used to the way things are.
But if you’re planning on selling soon, you need to focus on the small things first and work your way up to the big ones. They say it’s about the details. A good starting point is to do a quick inventory of things that are not working as they should. Here are a few affordable repairs you can start on.
Doorknobs and Cabinets
Leaving unrepaired items for your potential buyer to fix is such a big no-no when you’re selling your home. If you’re looking at earning the most money, then take the time to go through each item in your house and find out which ones need fixing.
Start with doorknobs and cabinets. They are the usual suspects when it comes to repairs. What you don’t want to happen is have one of your potential buyers visit your home and end up getting locked inside. That’s the kind of the first impression that you want to avoid at all costs.
If your doorknobs are broken, there are times when even the keys won’t let you open them. It’s always good to have emergency lockpicking tools around the house just in case. You can also use them for stuck cabinets.
Having keys is reassuring, but there are times when they’re not enough. Salt or other types of minerals tend to accumulate on metal-based objects over time, especially if you are in an area where there’s an ocean nearby. Even when you do have the key, smut or rust can get in the way.
Best to apply lubricant or some kind of oil on the keys when you push them in stuck doorknobs or cabinets. If that doesn’t work, then you may have to replace them as soon as you can. You better do so before you start receiving potential buyers for your home.
Wooden Floorings or Walls
Wood is usually a popular selection for most floorings and walls. Aesthetically, hardwood floors are very pleasing and can give the house an entirely different ambiance. But when you’ve lived in the same house for years, you can easily detect an aging structure by looking at its wooden parts.
Because wood is vulnerable to moisture in general and other natural elements, it’s usually the first one that needs repairs. If you’ve been doing regular maintenance check since the time you moved in, then you’ll know which parts are in desperate need of replacements.
Depending on your budget, you can do temporary repairs on your floorings to make them look presentable for buyers. But you’ll have to be up-front and tell the buyer later on about the real situation.
One way is to work out the fee and offer to split the bill if they commit to buying the house. Another idea is to take the fee out of the selling price. It really depends on how serious the buyer is.
Pipes and Flushes
There’s nothing like having a home where the waterworks are running efficiently. Water is essential; it can make or break a home. When your pipes are not working, you need to get them fixed immediately. Never wait when it comes to water leaks because they have the tendency to worsen as time passes.
Leaking pipes should always be attended to as soon as possible. Don’t wait for water spots to be visible on your walls before you act. If you have a flush that’s not working, you may as well upgrade to macerating toilets to take advantage of their modern functionality and water-conservation features.
