Maintain the walkways and the yard.
Maintain your landscaping neatly by removing dead tree limbs, raking leaves, and cleaning out flowerbeds whether you’re still residing in the house or not.
“If your home has a poorly maintained exterior, (potential buyers) will keep driving.” Additionally, this kind of carelessness can serve as a magnet for vandals looking to break into your property.
To avoid the house appearing to be always dark, think about installing timers for your lights. You should also make plans to have your driveway and walkways plowed once a week during the winter. And make sure the mailbox isn’t overflowing with mail.
Restroom and kitchen
The majority of a home’s mechanical systems, including electrical and plumbing, are found in the kitchen and bathrooms. They consequently have the greatest risk of suffering harm. The following are the elements you should check twice:
Kitchen utensils. Verify that the microwave, stove, dishwasher, and refrigerator are all in good working order. Fix any leaks and, if necessary, replace the coolant or freon in your refrigerator or freezer.
Cabinets. Everything should be in good condition, free of rot or water damage, in both the kitchen and bathrooms. Drawers and cabinet doors should operate smoothly. Replace broken knobs or handles, free up clogged or stuck drawer tracks, and tighten up loose hinges. With a screwdriver and a trip to the hardware store, you can complete the majority of these tasks on your own.
Faucets and sinks. All drains should function freely and without obstruction, and water features should be leak-free. The overflow drain, which stops a bathtub from being overfilled, ought to be in good working condition. The hot and cold options on the faucets should function as indicated.
Showers and bathtubs. Drains should be clear of obstructions, and fixtures like the shower head should be fully functional. You might need to resurface the tub or replace it if the acrylic on the bathtub is peeling. The shower’s exhaust vent, which removes the steam, ought to be fully functional. Shower tile repairs should be made if necessary.
Ceilings and walls. Fix any drywall dings, dents, and small nail holes. Repaint the walls if you notice any discoloration, such as water damage that has been repaired.
Flooring. Everything should be in good shape, including the carpet and laminate flooring. Replace any floor tiles that are cracked or chipped, and refinish any dented or scratched hardwood. If you have pets, replace torn carpeting or have it steam cleaned.
Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) needs to be clean, leak-free, and in good working order. Your thermostat should be in working order. If you’re unsure, hire an HVAC professional to tune up your system and give you a report on its health.
heater of water. Your water heater should also be functional and free of leaks. Insulation must be used on all pipes.
detectors for carbon monoxide and smoke. Your detectors ought to be up to date—less than ten years old—and in good working order. If necessary, check your detectors and change the batteries.
Wash your windows
Most people associate sparkling windows with spring-cleaning, Roberts says. But if your house is on the market, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is—you need to get those babies squeaky clean.
“If buyers walk through your home and all they see is dirty windows, that’ll really mar the showing process,”