Although getting a house ready for sale has always meant a bit of extra work, in today’s tough market, it usually requires a monumental effort. Besides being polished on the inside, all of its surroundings must be picture-perfect, including the grass, garden, garage, and gazebo.
Instead of just looking immaculate, everything also has to function properly. If you’ve neglected minor problems over the years, they may now add up to some major repair work because they must all be done at once. Luckily, a good number of the most common flaws can be taken care of without the help of a professional; but they must be fixed, because today’s knowledgeable buyers are always on the lookout for bargaining points.
For example, walls with nail holes, which are big turn-offs, can be repaired with lightweight putty from a hardware store. Fill in the holes, using a putty knife, and scrape off the excess. When it dries, sand the spots until they’re smooth, then paint over them with primer. Because it’s difficult to disguise a touch-up job, you will probably have to repaint the entire wall.
Dripping faucets must also be fixed, as they are real attention-getters. You can find faucet rebuilding kits for most brands of single-arm, rotating faucets at hardware stores. These have easy-to-follow instructions that enable you to stop most leaks. The kits contain several items, including the metal swivel ball, springs, gaskets, o-rings, and other parts that most frequently fail. Replace all of the parts, not only because one worn-out piece can cause others to go bad, but because you’re moving, and you won’t have to deal with that faucet again.
If your home is older and has separate faucets for the hot and cold water, disassemble the faucet, remove the washers, and take them to the hardware store to be matched with the correct replacements. Be sure to turn off the main water valves under the sink before you take apart either type of faucet; and while you’re down there, check to see that nothing else is leaking. If you find water on the floor or wall, around the valves, or under disposal or dishwasher lines, that’s another job entirely.
Once you have your house looking spectacular and working perfectly, you’ll be ready to show it off to prospective buyers. Then again, after putting so much work into it, you may decide not to sell it after all (hey, it’s happened!). Another thing that can increase the temptation to stay is having a gorgeous GazeboCreations.com gazebo in your yard (but you can take it with you).
On the other hand, maybe you’re moving to a house with a bigger yard so you can get a gazebo. In that case – smart move. At GazeboCreations.com, you can build the gazebo of your dreams. Using the Gazebo Wizard, you can choose the size, shape, style, and material you want for your gazebo, then select from options, such as insulation, windows, decorative railings and posts, wiring, benches, screens, ceiling fans, cupolas, skylights, and several colors of shingles, to customize your own stunning gazebo.
To see all of the exciting choices, visit GazeboCreations.com. If you wish to contact a design consultant or a customer service representative, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail mailto:cs@gazebocreations.com.