If you’re about to sell your home, you’ll need to know what to tackle to make your home more appealing to prospective buyers - so you get your asking price.
US homes are spending an average of 25 days on the market in 2022, and you need to take the necessary steps to get a quick sale. There are around 500 homes available for sale in Milwaukee right now, so in order to make sure your home stands out, you need to present it in the best possible condition.
Keep reading to learn about the six maintenance tasks you should tackle before selling your Milwaukee home.
If your home needs a clear walkway to get to your front door, this can put potential buyers off and be detrimental to your curb appeal. To make your home more marketable, you should consider repaving or repairing your pavement.
It could be that your home does have a path, and it isn’t damaged, just simply covered with grass and overgrown foliage. It’s important to tidy up your home’s foliage before putting it on the market, as this could enhance your curb appeal.
Making a clear pathway to your home from the street or ensuring the driveway is fit for use is essential in getting your home ready for sale. If you want to go the extra mile, consider investing in lighting for your pathways to ensure everything is visible in the dark.
If your gutters are full of leaves, this could cause leakage that leads to water damage in your home. So, before putting your property on the market, you should consider cleaning your gutters. You can do this yourself if you have a ladder or hire someone to clean your gutters for you.
In addition to checking your gutters, check the condition of your roof and see if there are any missing shingles or leaks. A damaged roof needing replacement can be a severe turn-off to prospective buyers, as they will likely need to fork out the cash to rectify the issue. Fixing it yourself will ensure your buyers are interested and make you more likely to get your total asking price.
If you have an HVAC system, fireplace, or water heater, it would be an excellent time to have an inspection performed. Soot in a chimney can cause a fire if left unswept for too long, as soot is highly flammable - so hiring a chimney sweep would be in your best interest.
Additionally, many people must realize that you must clean their HVAC system vents regularly. Having your system inspected and cleaned will go a long way toward improving the air quality in your home - ensuring prospective buyers don’t get put off by any musky air.
Ensuring everything is in working order will help you to market your property, as you can include your inspection results in your listing information.
If you want to perform maintenance on your home before selling, it’s a good idea to have an exterminator check it for any unwanted critters hanging around.
Rats, mice, fleas, termites, and fruit flies could be occupying your home without your knowledge, and it’s best to have an exterminator check your home before you go into your attic to pack - finding a critter up there could be a massive shock!
Having your windows cleaned is essential when selling your home. Dirt builds up on our windows, and we may not notice it, but it blocks a significant amount of light from entering our home. When your windows are clean, they will brighten up your space and give your home a fresher and more illuminated feel, making it more attractive to potential buyers.
The way your home looks goes a long way toward convincing buyers to show interest. If your home is painted in bright colors or the paintwork is faded and chipped, it will be difficult for buyers to envision a life there.
Bright colors don’t suit everyone, so it’s best to stick to neutral colors like white, gray, or neutral brown tones. This way, the home will look less personalized, and your buyers will be able to envision a life in the house.
For any decaying or faded paintwork, you should also check your exterior doors, railings, and decking. You can repaint yourself to save money or hire a professional to save time.
Is your oven covered in a layer of grease that has built up over the years and is impossible to get off? Your prospective buyers will notice any shoddy appliances in your home, so it’s best to check the following appliances to see if replacement is needed:
Most of these appliances and fixtures will need replacement if they have been in service for many years. However, to save money and effort, it’s best to prioritize replacing the fixtures that are damaged or unsightly.
Selling your home is much easier when you have made an effort to make your home sellable and more appealing to buyers. Improving your curb appeal, cleaning your windows, replacing fixtures, inspecting your roof and heating, and exterminating any pests will go a long way toward making your home more marketable. Consider which maintenance steps are necessary for your home, and create a plan to make your home sellable.
