Last week I wrote about 5 things you can do to get your home ready to sell, and included in that list was “finish the small fixes.”
But, once you go through the house and identify the things that should be spruced up and fixed, what then?
I found this article from House Logic that listed out seven common repairs that homeowners often need to pay attention to before they list their home for sale, in order to get the highest available price according to their local market.
For each of those repairs, I found a video that talks about some steps you can take yourself, a much more budget-friendly option than hiring everything out.
Do you see anything on this list that you need to do before listing your home? Check out the corresponding video for tips:
Project #1: Fix damaged flooring
I have videos included both for refreshing carpet and for refinishing hardwood. One important note: as stated in the hardwood video, these tips apply to solid wood flooring. Engineered wood (they will give visuals on how to tell the difference) must be done by a professional.
When it comes to carpet, a judgment call is completely necessary. If your flooring is beyond repair, it may be time to spend the money and get it redone. If, however, it can be refreshed, a carpet rake (available for under $20) may be an appropriate solution.
Project #2: Address water stains on the ceiling
As this video notes, water stains are quite common and can come from a variety of sources. And unfortunately, while the underlying issue may have been addressed years ago, a stain may still give some buyers pause before submitting an offer on your home.
Project #3: Fix or replace torn screens
It may seem a bit small, but taking care of the small details shows overall attention to the home, and can make a buyer more keen on purchasing it.
When it comes to small tears in screens, a screen patch may suffice. But if there are large tears, the entire screen may likely need to be replaced. This video goes through the process of removing the old screen and replacing it (while keeping the original frame).
Project #4: Refresh your grout
Scraping away old, stained grout and refreshing it with a new coat (and perhaps a sealant on top of it) can brighten and breathe new life into your bathroom. It doesn’t require digging out the old grout complete, just taking off the top layer and topping it off with a new coat.
Project #5: Revive your lawn
Want to upgrade your curb appeal? A lot of the videos I watched on reviving lawns took several years, but this one appeared to show a difference even in jut a matter of weeks. You want to showcase your home at its best, and the landscaping and lawncare is just as important as deep cleaning and repainting.
Project #6: Fix pet damage
We love our pets, but sometimes their damage can really impact a home’s ability to sell. Pet odor can be addressed with products such as OdoBan and Consume, in some cases the damage may be more extensive.
This video creator used a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in order to lighten damaged caused by cat urine in a place where he had kept a litter box. After watching the video, I would recommend testing this method in a small corner, before applying it to a more conspicuous location in your home.
Project #7: Update the kitchen
Kitchens do sell houses, as this video creator echoes, but full kitchen renovations can cost thousands of dollars and may be out of range for most sellers. Here, she details some smaller upgrades that can be done to refresh a kitchen without a full overhaul.
Of course, every house is different, and every market is different. But even if you can sell your house as-is, your estimated proceeds might be higher by utilizing one or more of these projects as you get your house ready for the market.
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Kate Padilla 
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