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Maintenance is key to preserving your home's value
By Jo-Ann Lamon Reccoppa
Whether you are thinking of selling or are staying put, you still want your home to look its very best and retain its value.
Costly, showy fix-ups aren't always the best way to go.Aim for practical maintenance.
"Much of keeping your home up to market standards doesn't involve built-in pools, elaborate decks or the fanciest remodels," says Ellen Kale, president of the Monmouth County Association of Realtors and broker/ owner of Joosten Kale Realty, 151 East Newman Springs Road in Shrewsbury."Updates for kitchens and bathrooms are always good, but trimmed grass and shrubs are very important for curb appeal."
Newer windows are a big real estate payoff, and those shouldn't be masked with heavy drapes. Rooms should be open and airy.Walls need to be freshly painted a neutral color and the entire house needs to be decluttered. Carpets must be very clean and hardwood floors have to shine. If you are considering selling your home in the near future, keep in mind the buyer's point of view. People have to visualize themselves in your space.Would you want to purchase a messy, chaotic house with a garage crammed with junk? Sort out the mess and get rid of clutter a little at a time so you won't be overwhelmed.Keep your home pristine inside and out.When the time comes to sell, you'll be ready.
Common-sense upkeep makes life easier at home and also helps maintain your home's market value.
"Selling a home is a little like attending a wedding," says Marie Nagengast, of RE/MAX Hometown, Metuchen, and president of the Middlesex County Association of Realtors."You want to put your best foot forward - which involves heavy cleaning and some sprucing to show your home at its most appealing."
The heavy cleaning involves areas you might never have considered important when showing a home, such as windows (scrubbed inside and out) and dusty furnaces (which should be wiped down). Letting in the sun shows off a room, so the room should be attractive. This often requires a little redecorating - buy a new bedspread or get rid of excess furniture that can make a room look small and crowded.Thoroughly clean faucets, bowls and discolored sinks (and if clean ing doesn't help, replace them).Keep storage areas and closets tidy and organized. Outside the home should be clean and inviting too. Have the siding power washed and decks firm by nailing down loose boards.
Small repairs can reap big pay-offs. Cabinet and closet doors should never stick or come off the track - fix them so they open freely for inspection when showing your home.There's no need for an entire new roof if you're trying to sell, but you must replace missing shingles - a much less costly repair. In the bathroom, remove worn-out caulking and replace it with fresh, clean caulk.
Prepare for a walk-through when it's time to sell.
Remove slipping throw mats, turn on lights at night or during dark days so your home looks bright, and keep pets out from underfoot. Pleasant scents and soft music always say "welcome," but blaring TVs do not. You don't have to leave, but you should stay in one place and keep a low profile when your home is being shown to a prospective buyer.
With minor repairs and a little elbow grease, your home can sell in no time.
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