Maintaining a home can be difficult. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right? Fortunately, there are preventive maintenance tips that can save you time and money. Your home is likely your biggest investment. When is the last time you thought about maintaining it so that you can get the best possible sales price? Checking your home’s vital systems is an important part of routine home maintenance. While these tasks should be done regularly and fixed as needed, it’s easy to let them fall through the cracks when you’re busy and not thinking about the sale of your home. If you’re a homeowner, you need to read this. It’s important that you prepare your home for sale before putting it on the market.
What do you need to do for home Maintenance before Selling a House??
You’re getting ready to put your house on the market. Before listing your house for sale, make sure you have fixed these common maintenance issues:
The Chimney Crown Cries Out for Help:
The chimney crown is the cap at the top of your chimney that is intended to seal off the top of the brickwork. It should be sloped and waterproof. If it isn’t, water can seep through to the bricks and cause damage. This is a fairly simple fix if you are familiar with masonry and mortar. We recommend getting a professional though because there are some important safety considerations.
Check the hidden filter of your washing machine:
There’s a Hidden Filter in Your Washing Machine. Do you know how you are supposed to clean out that filter in your dryer? There’s also one on your washing machine that should be cleaned regularly (about once per month). It’s easy to access — check your owner’s manual for directions.
Your Dishwasher Needs Some TLC:
Dishwashers need regular maintenance to keep them running well. Once a month, run vinegar through a hot-water cycle to clean out any residue or hard water deposits. You can also run a cup of bleach through an empty dishwasher once every three months or so for extra cleaning power! (Be careful not to leave the bleach in there too long though). Fix the roof
Roof repairing:
Roofs aren’t meant to last forever. Most roofing materials have a lifespan between 15 and 30 years depending on the type of material and how well it has been maintained over the years. If you know the roof has been replaced in the recent past, or if it looks to be in good shape, then do an inspection with a qualified roofer to confirm that your roof is solid. It’s generally easier to replace an entire roof than try to patch multiple problem areas.
Check the gutters
Buyers don’t like seeing gutters that are clogged with leaves or pulling away from the house for sale. While you’re up on the ladder cleaning out your gutters, take a look at their condition. Gutter systems typically last between 20 and 30 years depending on weather conditions and exposure to debris. If they are sagging or pulling away from the house, this is a sign that it’s time for new ones.
Wet Basement: It’s easy to ignore water in the basement, but buyers will not. They’ll view this as a major problem, either because they think it will be expensive to fix, or because they fear it will mean future problems with mold. If you have a wet basement, check gutters and downspouts for clogs and make sure they direct water away from the house for sale. If you can put a clamp over leaky pipes or seal cracks in the foundation yourself, do so
Dead Smoke Detectors: A home without smoke detectors is an accident waiting to happen. Buyers won’t like knowing that the previous owner was willing to live without them (and neither should you). Make sure every bedroom has a working smoke detector since dead detectors aren’t worth anything.
Power washers have been misrepresented to you:
Power washers don’t really “clean” anything — they simply remove the top layer of dirt and grime from your driveway, siding, and deck. When used improperly, power washers can actually cause damage by forcing water under a protective sealant, for example. If used properly, however, a power washer can make a great first impression on potential buyers by removing years of accumulated muck and mildew.
Your water softener and salt have a love-hate relationship:
The only time a water softener should be used is when you need to remove calcium carbonate or magnesium sulfate deposits from hard water. Magnesium sulfate can build up inside pipes which makes them less efficient than regular tap water – so if the water in your house for sale tastes bad it is probably because these minerals have built up over time. If this happens then try using an alternative softener like potassium chloride instead!
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