Touch up your exterior paint
Touch up bare spots or worn areas and scrape off any peeling paint outside. If you keep up with touch-ups every year, there is no need to shell out $1,000-$4000 to have your house painted every few years. Buyers will notice scuffed trim and peeling paint, and it’s a big turn-off.
Chipped paint can also leave your home’s siding exposed to the elements, putting it at risk for water damage. Plus, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Veterans Benefits Administration (VA) lenders require a home’s exterior paint to be in top condition.
Check your foundation for damage
Homeowners could avoid at least 50% of all foundation problems with yearly maintenance and a quick inspection. According to Hupke, who routinely sells homes 68% faster than her peers in the area, a quick inspection now can save you $15,000-$30,000 later.
Look for mold, discoloration, or cracks and contact a professional for an estimate for repair. If you list it with foundation issues, the buyer has negotiating power. Take back control by fixing any problems before buyers notice them.
Gather your maintenance and appliance records
No one likes paperwork but when you upgrade an appliance or install a new water heater, keep the receipt and user’s manual.
Buyers will want to see the value you have added to the property. Once a year, ensure all your receipts and manuals are in order so you don’t have to go hunting for them when listing your property.
Clean out the garage or basement — wherever you keep your junk
Basements and garages are usually where your junk goes to die. It lives there with the spiders until it comes time to sell; now the spiders are in control. Don’t let them win!
Take a regular inventory and get rid of any unwanted or unused items. You can hold a garage sale to make a little cash from your castoffs or call a junk removal company like 1-800-Got-Junk to haul it away.
Before listing your house, take a second to sweep and mop the basement, cleaning up any cobwebs, while also dusting the shelves.
Make those windows sparkle
Cleaning windows is boring, but if you keep up with it once a year, not only will you let in more light and make your house more appealing but it will make a good impression on buyers.
It also allows you to inspect the window sills for any water damage or stains, getting ahead of any problems before they spiral out of control.
Inspect your chimney
If your home has a fireplace, have the chimney and brickwork inspected yearly. The National Association of Home Builders recommends hiring a CSIA-certified chimney sweep to clean out soot and debris and inspect your fireplace for imperfections.
Evaluate the roof for algae, mold, and damage
Your roof is another oversized ticket item that you don’t want to replace to sell your home. Keep tabs on it year-round. Look for moss and remove it with a quick power washing.
You can generally rent a cheap power washer for the day and the result can be transformative. Replace loose or broken shingles and save yourself thousands of dollars by not having to re-roof your entire property.
If you keep up with these maintenance tasks every year, you won’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get your house in sellable condition.
Header Image Source: (Alturas Homes/ Pexels)
