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Top 10 Inexpensive Home Repairs That Maximize Resale Value
Top Ten Ways to Refresh Your Home and Improve its Value This Spring.
Spring home refreshers that add value to your home.
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- Trim bushes, plant flowers in eye catching colors, recut the mulch beds, and re-mulch
- Scrape and paint any exteior trim that needs a refresh. Replace any warped or rotting boards before you paint. Don’t forget to repaint the shutters while you’re at it.
- Powerwash the exterior siding, sidewalks, driveway, deck. Go crazy!
- Reseal your driveway. It’s inexpensive, easy to do, and provides maximum appeal impact.
- Recaulk all your tubs and showers. Take time to do it right. Scrape away all old caulk so new caulk goes on even and clean.
- Consider painting old kitchen cabinets and updating the the door knobs with a satin nickel finish. It’s a modern refresh without the cost of a new kitchen.
- Remove all clutter and depersonalize. People want to see the space, not your stuff.
- If you have paneling anywhere in the home, paint it. It will go a long way to removing the seventies stigma.
- Neutralize your paint colors. Clean and or replace light switches. Don’t forget to paint doors and ceilings if they show wear and tear.
- Clean like your life depends on it! The home should have that builder model home feeling. Fresh, inviting, and exciting.
If you need assistance or recommendations for the above items fill out the form below to contact me. I have many excellent recommendations for handypeople services.
Amanda M. Socci, Freelance Writer
10:19 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Fantastic and to the point. I may add that your advice, unfortunately, does not apply to those of us who have mobile homes. The cost of repairs to mobile homes (with hopes of reselling) often outweighs the value of the house itself!
Susan Scheiffley, Associate Broker, Keller Williams Realty
11:09 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Amanda,
True. Mobile homes are not typically appreciating assets as your standard bricks and sticks homes are. However,making simple inexpensive repairs can still improve your peace of mind, they enjoyment of the home, and stave off more expensive repairs from failure to properly maintain your home. IE small leaks are simple and inexpensive to resolve. Let the leak go and you will have a much larger repair on your hands!
Best Regards,
Susan
Gail G
10:56 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Who do you recommend for gutter replacement?
Susan Scheiffley, Associate Broker, Keller Williams Realty
11:05 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Gail, I recomend Shiner Roofing. Their contact number and website are below. Best of luck! Let me know if you need other recommendations.
(703) 560-7663
http://www.shinerroofing.com
Bob
1:47 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Susan: Great points! Who do you recommend locally for landscaping work, ie., soggy ground/french drains?
Best, Bob
Susan Scheiffley, Associate Broker, Keller Williams Realty
2:57 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Hi Bob,
I recommend Silverbrook Nursery and Landscaping without reservation. Jerry Haley the owner is fantastic. They will give you a fair price and the quality of the work is unquestionable. Their contact information follows.
Silverbrook Nursery and Landscaping
www.silverbrooknursery.com/
8408 Monacan Rd Lorton, VA 22079
(703) 690-1231
Best of luck!
Susan
Sandra
3:31 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Hi! I was wondering if you recommend anybody that can do roof repairs? I just have a small job, don't need to replace our roof.
Dean
7:54 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sandra the repairs of your roof are to easy to hire someone.All you need is roofing nails,the needed amount of shingles,a hammer,ladder and chaulk.When just replacing a small amount of shingles you need to chaulk the lower edge(of the new shingle) to adhere to the old shingle.Do this after nailing in place.Take a small pry bar up with you to remove any old nails.If you wanna tackle it, while your husband or whoever is up there,that person can call me with any questions and I'll walk them through it.540-720-8675.Dean.
Susan Scheiffley, Associate Broker, Keller Williams Realty
9:18 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sandra,
For small roofing repairs I recommend JCG. They are a licensed general contractor.
Their information is below.
JCG Building Company LLC
571-572-3624
www.jcgbuildingcompany.com
Best of Luck,
Susan
Tom Kellner
3:46 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Susan,
Just to let you know, repainting cabinets is not necessarily an easy do-it-yourself project. When manufactured, wood cabinets are impregnated with wax to resist all of the hostile elements that are present in a kitchen such as grease. If you do not remove every molecule of this, you may end up with paint that pops off. Better to reface or if you are going to go ahead and paint, do a great deal of research. If the paint were to in fact fleck off, there is no repairing the paint job.
Susan Scheiffley, Associate Broker, Keller Williams Realty
3:56 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Thanks Tom,
I appreciate your input and share your concerns. While many of the suggestions I have made are inexpensive and do-it yourself; others may require the assistance of a contractor. If it is within the budget, I do recommend a contractor complete cabinetry painting. Yes, it is more expensive than doing it yourself but it is less expensive than refacing, or replacing, and will avoid the costly mistakes you mention.
Thanks
Susan
Jim
4:09 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Susan,
I'm thinking of converting a portion of my deck to a screened in porch- any contractor recommendations? I have tried a couple so far and they are not responsive. Thanks!
Susan Scheiffley, Associate Broker, Keller Williams Realty
11:13 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Jim,
I recommend Richards Construction. Their info follows. They do great work and remodeled my master bedroom and bath. They did an awesome job.
Larry Richards
Richards Construction Inc.
www.richardsconstruction.biz
10595 Furnace Rd Lorton, VA 22079
(703) 941-3900
Best of luck,
Susan
Bill R.
6:29 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Who do you recommend for fencing in the yard and what style adds the most value? Also who do you recommend for exterior painting?
Susan Scheiffley, Associate Broker, Keller Williams Realty
10:58 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Hi Bill,
I recommend Aspen Fence and Deck for fencing. Clyde Wray 703-470-1391. In general, people who value a fence want a privacy fence because they have a dog or a pool. So I recommend a six foot privacy fence if your HOA permits it. For exterior painting I would give Potts Brothers.
Mr. Jesse Potts
(703) 866-5400
www.pottsbros.com
Good Luck!
Susan