7 Things To Do Before Selling Your Home This Spring

As we shake off the last of winter and welcome in spring, it is important to check up on our homes to see how they have fared in the snow and ice. With the housing market heating up this time of the year, you’ll want to start thinking about a home prep to-do list now. If you are thinking about listing your home this spring, here are several home maintenance tasks you need to accomplish before putting your house on the market!

1. Clean the Gutters 

Cleaning the gutters is a task that often gets overlooked. However, it is important to check them periodically to make sure that water can freely flow through. Your gutters and downspouts help carry runoff from your roof and deposit it away from the base of your house. If the gutters are clogged, pools of water can sit either on your roof or at the base of your home leading to even bigger problems such as causing leaks to form in the ceiling or damaging your foundation. 

2. Home Inspection 

When selling your home, it is likely that the buyers will want a home inspection to be done at some point before closing. Instead of waiting until potential buyers request a home inspection, you can always get ahead of the game and have your own inspection performed in advance. This way, you can be notified of any problems and either work to get them fixed before listing or at least learn about any potential problems in advance so you are not surprised later. 

3. Freshen Up with Paint

A fresh coat of paint can drastically change the look and feel of a room. Before listing your home, make sure you repaint and repair any scratches, dings, or holes in the walls. When repainting, make sure to choose colors that are more neutral. Neutral colors appeal to the widest range of potential buyers and will help your home look lighter and more open. Have questions about painting or deciding what color to choose? Check out  Our Services page or see Sherwin Williams to look through color options.  

4. Keep the Deck in Check 

With spring coming it will be nice to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. As the weather starts to take us more outdoors, it will be important to make sure the exterior of the home is looking good and this includes your deck. Decks are another part of our homes that are weathered by the elements. Taking the time to clean your deck and giving it a new coat of stain will have it looking good for when you list your home. In case you didn’t know, HOMEstretch will stain, paint, or power wash your deck!

5. Curb Appeal Matters 

It is just as important to make sure your home looks its best from the street as it does when potential buyers walk through the door! Making sure the outside of the house looks well kept will help tremendously when selling your home. Before taking your listing photos, consider mowing the lawn, weeding, adding mulch, picking up any yard debris, and removing or replacing any dead or dying plants. Find out about the landscaping services HOMEstretch provides by clicking here.  

6. Check the Roof

Our roofs help shelter us from the elements, so they really take a beating in the winter when they are covered with snow and ice. Before listing your home, it is a good idea to check for any loose or missing shingles, worn and rusted flashing, cracked boots around the vents, or any moss or algae growth. Having a leaky or plant covered roof will not look good to prospective buyers. Luckily, there are plenty of professionals you can hire to help you with repairs, and there are specific solutions you can buy at Home Depot or Lowes that can be applied to the roof to kill of any moss or lichen grow. 

7. Replace/Check the HVAC Filter 

HVAC filters help keep the air inside your home clean by filtering out the pollen, dust, pet dander, and other small particles from the air you and your family breathes. These filters typically must be changed every month to roughly two months depending on the type of filter. Neglecting to change you HVAC filter can cause your air conditioning unit freeze up leading to higher energy bills and it can negatively impact the air quality in your home. So make sure you read up on the maintenance of your HVAC! 

Source List:

https://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/spring-home-maintenance-tips-house/ 

https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/monthly-home-maintenance-checklist-march/ 

https://www.nestrealty.com/blog/8-tips-for-selling-your-home-during-spring-market/