If you are considering putting your house on the market, then tending to any repairs and maintenance issues beforehand is essential. This will attract healthy interest from prospective buyers as well as ensure you receive the best asking price for your property.

Presenting it in a well-maintained state without any issues for the new purchaser will increase your chance of securing a sale. Buying a new house is a substantial investment and, in most cases, buyers are looking to purchase a property that does not require costly expenses on repairs and structural issues.

The good news is, even if your home needs repairs that you can’t afford, you can still sell your property to Gem State Cash Offer.

In this article, we outline some essential repair skills to help you prepare your home before selling it and to ensure the sale process goes as swiftly as possible.

Walls

Inspect your walls for any signs of damage such as damp patches, nail holes, cracks around doors and window frames, scuff marks from furniture and loose plaster. Once any damaged areas have been fixed, apply a coat of primer and then paint with a neutral color such as beige or off-white, to enliven your walls.

If your property predates 1978, your walls could contain lead-based paint. Before putting it up for sale, you will need to assure prospective buyers there is no risk of lead poisoning through the release of harmful particles into the air. There are many areas where you can save money around your home, but in this case it pays to hire a qualified lead abatement professional to safely remove the lead paint through a number of techniques such as enclosure or encapsulation which creates a barrier between the paint and your indoor environment.

Roofing

Providing warmth, shelter and protection from the elements, your roof is one of the most important aspects of your home, so maintaining its structural integrity is vital. A well-maintained roof generally has a life span of 30 years and will also ensure fewer repairs and worrisome replacement costs for future residents.

This can be highly advantageous when marketing your property to potential buyers. Appraisers will also look at your roof when it comes to valuing your home so the better its condition the higher the value you can expect to receive for your home. Make sure to check your roof for any of the following signs of damage:

• Leaks: Any sign of leaking water through your ceilings will usually indicate that your roof needs to be repaired. Water marks on your walls, damp, musty odors and the growth of mold or fungus can also indicate there is a leak allowing moisture to form inside your home. If you see any sunlight appearing in your attic this could mean there is a crack or hole in your roof which can allow water to enter.

• Damaged Shingles: Severe weather conditions can often damage the shingles on your roof. Inspect your roof for any missing, broken, curled or buckled shingles or hire a professional to do this for you. This can cause the underlay to become exposed to moisture reducing its leak protection ability and increasing the chances of wood rot.

• Algae or Moss: Besides affecting the appearance of your home, algae can also compromise its structural integrity by slowly eating the limestone filler used in shingles. Moss can cause significant damage to your roof and shorten its lifespan. Left untreated, moss can lead to rot and disintegration of your roof’s framing, which may require several thousands of dollars to repair and should be immediately addressed.

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Electricals

Check that all of your light fittings and electrical sockets function as they should and there is no loose wiring around your home. A property with old wiring can easily become overloaded resulting in electrocutions and fires, making it unsafe to inhabit.

If your home has an older electrical system, consider installing a new breaker panel that will safely distribute the electrical supply throughout your house. Reassemble any broken light switches and reset any tripped circuit breakers in your fuse box. A broken doorbell can often be easily fixed by detaching it, cleaning any debris from inside and tightening the screws.

A faulty electric stove burner may just need a new socket. Unplug the stove and inspect the old socket for any charring or corrosion and if so, replace it with a new one by connecting the wires and screwing it into your stove.

For all other electrical issues, it is advisable to hire a skilled electrician, especially if you detect a burning electrical smell in your house or have any charred outlets or switches as this can indicate your home may need a full rewire.

Plumbing

You may need to do some DIY plumbing before your house is ready to be viewed by the public. There are several easy plumbing jobs you can tend to by yourself around the house such as checking for leaky toilets and dripping faucets. Also, check that your hot and cold faucets are clearly marked and work correctly.

A leaky toilet is often the result of a damaged rubber flapper which will need replacing. This component acts as a tight seal that closes off the flush valve, emptying water from the tank. A faulty rubber flapper can result in water constantly filling the toilet bowl from the tank, wasting hundreds, if not thousands, of gallons of water a day.

Your showers, sinks and bathtubs should allow water to flow and drain freely without obstruction. If there are any problems, try using a simple mixture of baking soda and vinegar to unblock them. If you detect any leaks under your sink, try tightening the compression nut with a wrench. Talking about wrenches, here are some of the best wrenches you can go for while working in such tight spaces.

Check that your radiators are warming up properly by ensuring they heat up fully from top to bottom. If they do not or if you hear banging or gurgling sounds this means there might be air trapped inside them. In this case, they need to be bled to let any trapped air out, allowing the hot water to fully circulate from within, heating them up properly.

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By putting your repair skills to work before selling your home you can greatly increase your chances of attracting buyers and securing a sale at the right price.

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