Sell Your Home Quickly With This Handy Checklist

Putting your home up for sale is a huge milestone that requires extensive preparation and careful planning. Are you wondering why? For potential buyers, the first impression is the most important. To put your best foot forward in the market, ensure your home is in excellent condition.

If you’re serious about making a sale, you can’t afford to brush over even the tiniest details— It can affect the perception of your home and its value. The good news is that even small repairs and updates can also increase the value of your home and attract new buyers.

However, keeping track of all these repairs might be a little tasking, especially if you’re selling your first home.

To help, we’ve made an easy-to-follow checklist when selling your home. You can use it to quickly identify places that require improvements before your home hits the market. Take time to go through the list and see how small changes can make a big difference.

The Essential Checklist for Repairs and Updates

This professional selling-your-home checklist is designed to help you pay attention to important details you might have overlooked. To make things easy, we’ll start by examining the exterior and then move on to the interior of your home.

1. Exterior and Curb Appeal

A home’s exterior gives prospective buyers an idea of what they’ll meet when they walk into that home. It sets the tone and creates a long-lasting impression. Make the outside of your home tell a welcoming story by taking note of the following:

• Landscaping: To keep your lawn looking clean, trim overgrown bushes and remove all signs of weeds. You can also replace dead flowers and plants with affordable but vibrant ones.
• Front Door and Entryway: Check for signs of peeling paint, loose handles, and creaking hinges at your front door and fix them. Plan to make the door stand out by giving it a fresh coat of paint. 
• Driveway and Walkways: Patch any cracks and repair damaged sections of the driveway and walkways. You can also power-wash the surface to remove stains, dirt, and moss.
• Roof and Gutters: Inspect your roof to fix leaks and damaged shingles. Also, clean out clogged gutters to allow proper drainage and prevent stagnation.

2. Structural Integrity and Safety

Any sign of structural instability can raise an immediate red flag. To prevent this from happening, call a professional to address the following:

• Foundation Issues: Check the perimeter of your property for visible cracks, uneven surfaces, and signs of shifting. Then, inspect the home for foundational issues by looking for walls with diagonal cracks and doors that won’t close properly.
• Windows and Doors: Check that your window frames and panes are not cracked. If they are, replace the glass panes where necessary. Fix damaged seals and ensure that they open and close freely.  
• Handrails and Steps: Make sure they’re sturdy and secure. Tighten loose screws on the railings and fix uneven stairs to avoid the danger of tripping.

3. Interior Updates and Repairs 

A home with a beautiful interior sells fast. You can make your house appear clean and polished by taking note of these areas:

• Walls and Ceilings: Patch holes in the walls and ceilings, sand them to appear smooth, and repair them where applicable. If you notice water stains, you might have to address the underlying issue (probably a roof leak) before repainting. You can go for neutral colors like beige and gray to create a blank canvas for buyers to envision themselves in your home.
• Drywall: Mend and sand damaged areas of drywalls to ensure they are clean, smooth, and without cracks.
• Flooring: Repair scratches and refinish dull areas on hardwood floors. Scrub the tiles and replace the chipped ones. If carpets are stained, thoroughly clean them or hire a professional to do it.
• Lighting: Replace all burnt-out bulbs and clean dusty fixtures. Consider upgrading outdated fixture design to make your home more modern. 

4. Functional Systems

Buyers are often more enthusiastic to move into a home with a working system because it saves them from extra expenses. Cross-check that these systems are functional before opening up for inspection.

• Plumbing: A slow-draining sink or a dripping faucet can discourage potential buyers. Therefore, you should inspect and repair every plumbing fixture. You should also rectify running toilets and low water pressure, clear clogged drains, replace worn-out washers, and ensure all pipes are working well.
• Electrical: Test every outlet, switch, and fixture to verify they are in good condition. Repair flickering lights and install energy-efficient lighting.
• HVAC: Replace dirty filters, clean vents, and service your HVAC system to assure the new owners that it is well-maintained and that their comfort is assured.

5. Kitchen and Bathrooms: Key Selling Points

Kitchens and bathrooms are parts of the house that always have to be in the best condition because of their importance in our daily lives. Here is what you can do to make them stand out.

• Kitchen: Ensure all cabinets and drawers are functional. Replace outdated hardware with modern alternatives. Finally, confirm that every appliance is clean and working perfectly.
• Bathroom: To give the bathroom a fresh, clean look, remove or re-caulk around the sinks, tubs, and showers. Clean and repair discolored or damaged grout. Replace worn-out faucets, showerheads, and towel racks to preserve that modern ambiance.

6. General Cleanliness and Maintenance

Once you’ve implemented everything highlighted above, the final step is to deep clean the entire home. Focus on areas like windows, baseboards, and other hard-to-reach corners. Ensure all appliances are spotless inside and out.

When staging, declutter the living room and remove personal items like family pictures to help buyers envision themselves moving into your home. Also, simplify the furniture arrangements to show how one room flows into the next.

Setting Your Home Up for Success is So Easy!

Preparing your home for the market doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Simple upgrades, like fixing leaks, updating fixtures, and ensuring a spotless space, can make all the difference in attracting buyers. Use this checklist to stay on top of the details and ensure your home is market-ready. 

And if you need a hand with any repairs or updates, Mr. Handyman is here to help. If you need a handyman in Mooresville NC or the Lake Norman Area, our friendly and professional service makes the process seamless, because at Mr. Handyman, it’s simple: leave it to us!