Home Improvement
Home sellers have one goal—to sell their home for the most amount of money they
can get. A home in move-in condition makes meeting this ideal easier.Many of today's prospective homebuyers have busy lifestyles and are looking for properties that don't require a lot of work. Homeowners should be proactive by making needed repairs before putting their homes on the market. Inspect both inside and outside the home. Make a checklist of practical and aesthetic repairs.
- You may want to apply a fresh coat of paint on the walls, doors, and shutters.
- Clean the carpet and buff and polish wooden floors.
- Tighten and polish hardware.
- Repair cracks in sidewalks and driveways, and clean any stains on them.
- Replace missing or warped roofing.
- Clean or re-grout kitchen and bathrooms.
- Repair dripping faucets and drains or plumbing fixtures that aren't operating.
- Fix sticking doors and replace old locks and doorknobs.
- Replace burned-out bulbs and broken electrical sockets.
- Replace cracked windows and torn screens.
- Repair broken fencing and reseal the deck.
- Clean up stains on the tiles and countertops.
We also recommend hiring a certified home inspector to thoroughly and impartially
evaluate the property. Your agent will be glad to supply you with a list of qualified
inspectors for your area. A standard report will review the condition of the home's
heating system, central air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems, the
roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement
and visible structure.
If the pre-inspection results in a checklist of things to be done, let your agent look over the report with you to help prioritize the list of repairs. Your goals and local market conditions may dictate how extensive your repairs need to be. Let your budget and a real estate professional guide you.
If the pre-inspection results in a checklist of things to be done, let your agent look over the report with you to help prioritize the list of repairs. Your goals and local market conditions may dictate how extensive your repairs need to be. Let your budget and a real estate professional guide you.
Be careful about fixing up too much. Sellers sometimes do not recoup their money
on major remodelling projects, and you may want to save funds for
your new home. Talk to your agent or mortgage broker for “fix it up” financing
options that will not harm your bottom line, or contact our in-house mortgage
managers Jim Rawson (downtown office), or Heather Paterson or Gary Curtis (east Toronto office)
your new home. Talk to your agent or mortgage broker for “fix it up” financing
options that will not harm your bottom line, or contact our in-house mortgage
managers Jim Rawson (downtown office), or Heather Paterson or Gary Curtis (east Toronto office)A home in good condition demonstrates pride of ownership. Taking the time to make small repairs to your home can go a long way in making sure that your home is presented to potential buyers in its best possible light. They also just might make the sale.
For inspiration, check out the home improvement shows on HGTV - everything from the wrecking-crew approach of Holmes on Homes and Debbie Travis' Facelift to interior design shows such as Room Service or Designer Guys.
above: Sarah Richardson, Room Service