Many homebuyers view their home as “a place to live.” More and more people though are looking to maximize the value of their purchase for resale value.
Many homebuyers view their home as “a place to live.” More and more people though are looking to maximize the value of their purchase for resale value. Over my years of buying and selling homes, and helping my clients analyze over 100 deals, I’ve discovered the five things that I think a person should do to maximize their resale value or simply get the most out of your home for your own enjoyment.
Pest-proof Your New Home
Nothing turns off buyers like a pest problem of any sort. Now, while the home is empty, is the time to get a full evaluation on any pest issues and deal with them now. Go ahead and get the ongoing service.
Seal Cement Cracks
One common factor in many of the deals I’ve been involved with has been (surprisingly) the effect of cracked cement anywhere in a home, but especially in the driveway. Cracked cement is a sign of poor maintenance and the deals I’ve encountered that had cracks sealed were put under less scrutiny during home inspections.
While the home is empty and you’re less distracted, get that ole’ caulk gun and go to town! The garage floor, driveway, sidewalks, porches, brick & foundation and pay special attention to the chimney. While you’re at it, go ahead and caulk windows and doors.
Update Fixtures
Now is the time to pop those new faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms. Let’s face it, when you get moved in and all of your stuff is put away, it’s difficult to get under those spaces to work. Now is the time to get that done and with a little pre-planning, switching out faucets for aesthetics can be an easy project prior to moving in.
Kitchen cabinets and countertops should get attention too. If the plan is to update cabinet facing and replace countertops, wouldn’t it be simpler to get it done without all of your stuff in the way?
Take a look at updating hardware and light fixtures as well. For maximum resale value, I prefer “timeless vs. stylistic” for maximum return, so if you have more eccentric tastes, keep the old fixtures to pop back in when you decide to sell.
Power Wash
Nothing compares to a clean…EVERYTHING. My practice is to pressure wash the garage floor, driveway, sidewalks, deck and at least the entryway of the home. I’ll wash the entire house if needed, however washing the rest of the entire home is something I generally put off until after the move.
Getting the garage, driveway, sidewalks and entryway will help keep the interior more clean not only during move-in, but for at least a year to come.
Start Fresh
Speaking of keeping the home clean… I like to give the home a real deep, sanitizing clean prior to move-in. Things might get a little dirty from the movers, and that’s okay. I’m talking about eliminating germs and getting areas that otherwise will not get attention when the furniture arrives. There won’t likely be this much-unhindered access in the future, so now is the time to exercise your inner OCD!
I like to shampoo and disinfect the carpets and floors. If hardwood and tile needs attention (waxing or sealing) it is much easier to accomplish while the home is empty. It’s also a good idea to go after the baseboards, ceilings (dust and paint if needed) corners and crown molding. Ceiling fans can easily be cleaned right now as well. These tasks won’t be this easy again once you’re moved in.
Giving the interior of windows a healthy scrub is a good idea too. I generally save washing the outside for when I clean the entire home. Also, don’t forget to run a cleansing cycle through the dishwasher.
Will Parrish, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ CDFA™ is a founding partner of Slate, Disharoon, Parrish and Associates, LLC, and is located in Knoxville, Tennessee specializing in services for medical professionals, business owners, and corporate executives, and divorce financial planning. Feel free to contact Will with questions via email will@sdp-planning.com or directly by phone at (865) 357-7373. Visit their website, www.sdp-planning.com.
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