Seller Checklist – 6 Important Repairs to Make Before Selling a House

Are you looking to put your home on the market soon? If so, then there are several things on your to-do list already.

One of those major “to-dos” should be making essential repairs to increase the profitability of your home. Otherwise, a home inspector will come in and expose the flaws of your home.

But what kind of repairs should you make? Knowing the repairs you need to make is vitally important. It helps you spend as little as possible when fixing up your property.

Here are several important repairs to make before selling a house. Be sure to consider all of them before you list your home.

1. Fresh Coat of Paint

No one expects a home to be 100% perfect. If it were, then you wouldn’t be placing it on the market. However, there are certain things that, if left untouched, will expose the state of your home.

Things such as the paint on your walls can reveal the age of your home. It’ll scare away interested buyers before you can say “Pantone.” Applying a fresh coat to all major rooms in your house can liven up your space and give it a new look.

However, you shouldn’t choose paint colors based on your preferences. This isn’t the time to unleash your HGTV side and aim for the trendiest colors of the year.

Instead, try using neutral paint colors. They’re a huge help to the staging process because they invite creativity and innovation. Using a color like gray can make the room feel more spacious and calming for those that walk through it.

2. Rid the Home of Any Leaks

Simply put, if you have any leaks in your home, you have to fix them before you put the home on the market. Even first-time homebuyers know to steer clear of a home with any signs of water leaks, so it will serve as a repellant for your selling efforts.

Even if you can’t see the leaks, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there. There are several ways to find water leaks in your home to patch them up before you list the property.

Start by looking around your toilets, swimming pool (if applicable), faucets, and showerheads. Then take a walk around your basement to see if there are any indicators of a nearby leak.

The worse thing you can do is try to cover it up. Even if the buyer doesn’t initially spot it during their walkthrough, they’ll be made aware of it if they schedule a home inspection.

3. Fix Damaged Floors

Yet another huge repellent for interested home buyers is damaged flooring. Not only is it off-putting to look at, but it’s also dangerous for themselves, their children, and pets to walk around.

Depending on the type of flooring and the current condition of it, it might actually be best to pay for new flooring. There are several inexpensive flooring options, such as vinyl and laminate, that can provide a beautiful new look to your home.

The installation won’t cost much to be done by a professional or can be turned into a DIY project if you’re looking to save money.

4. Inspect Your Roof

Depending on the condition of your roof, this might not necessarily be a repair that you’ll have to make before you sell the home. However, it’s important to know the current condition before you list the property.

You can have it inspected by a trusted source to ensure it doesn’t have any structural flaws that need to be immediately addressed. This is another place you’ll want to look for signs of water leaks.

Doing the roof inspection before you list the property puts you in control of the situation. Buyers will be relieved to hear that you’ve scheduled and arranged for a roof inspection so that it’s one less thing they’ll have to do.

5. Switch Out the Bulbs

Incandescent light bulbs are a thing of the past. They cost too much and give off a yellowish glow that seems unnatural and outdated.

These days, home buyers search and search for homes that have integrated LED lighting into the property. It’s cost-efficient, environmentally-friendly, and looks amazing inside of any room.

This is one of the easiest “repairs” you’ll make because it merely requires replacing each incandescent bulb with an LED bulb. It’s perfect for staging and will give your home a comfier vibe that interested buyers will dig.

6. Switch Out Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Hardware

Last, but certainly not least, there’s the need for repairing your kitchen, one of the most essential rooms in the entire home. Whether right or wrong, your interested buyers will envision themselves spending the majority of their time in the kitchen.

For that reason, you should provide the kitchen with a “facelift” of sorts. You can liven up the room by repainting or replacing the doors of every cabinet that it has. While you’re there, you can switch out the hardware for a fresher look.

This investment will pay off in a big way. It’s inexpensive but gives your kitchen a crisp new look that interested buyers will die for.