BROOKLINE MOVING COMPANY BLOG

Should You Make Home Improvements Before You Move?

Posted by Patrick Lundgren on Fri, Jun 28, 2013 @ 03:17 PM

Making home improvements before you move is somewhat bittersweet. It’s bitter because a repaved walkway or a refinished deck would have been great while you occupied the residence. It’s sweet because even minor repairs can speed up your sale, as realtor.com notes. Now is the time to completely switch the way you think of your home.Think of it as just a house on a street —not the home you’ve come to know and love — and you'll be ready to fix up and sell!

Curb Appeal

It's easiest to take a look at the exterior first when deciding what you'd like to work on. Ask yourself: What are important structural qualities?

First, consider the actual structure:

  • How is the foundation holding up?
  • Is it well insulated?
  • Does the house have mold or asbestos?

Second, the appearance:

  • How does the roof look?
  • Are the gutters unclogged and secure?
  • Is the lawn maintained?

These should be at the forefront of your mind when selling your home, as you want to convey to buyers how well the house has been cared for. Pay attention to your entrance and create a great impression the moment a buyer arrives — aka amp up the curb appeal. If the walkway, front door and the front yard don’t look up to snuff, potential buyers may get a bad taste in their mouths before they even walk into the home.

For larger projects, such as removing old trees, repaving the front walk, putting new shingles on your roof, or attaching new siding, you may need some equipment to make the job more manageable. Sunbelt.com suggests renting scissor lifts, wood and brush chippers and other general construction tools instead of purchasing something you may not use again. However, if you have no experience with these types of jobs, it may be wise to leave it to the professionals. Using large equipment can get dangerous if the user lacks knowledge and experience, and the last thing you want to do is create a larger eyesore than what you previously had.

Hands Off Hazardous Materials

Other projects that you should leave to experts are those requiring handling moldy or rotted wood as well as any hazardous material. A lead hazard becomes far more severe when the stripping and removal is not handled correctly. If you discover that you have lead paint or asbestos in your home, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Call a professional.

No Brainers: What to Fix Yourself

Many aesthetic projects are relatively easy and can be accomplished with limited supplies and within the span of a few weekend afternoons. Try to recruit help from friends and family to lessen time expended and make it more fun. These projects include:

  • Filling nail holes
  • Sanding, priming and repainting walls
  • Clearing and caulking your gutters
  • Replacing scuffed baseboards
  • Fixing leaky faucets
  • Repairing sagging or broken screens

What to Leave to the New Owners

New owners will want to make the house their own. They will most likely repaint and renovate the home to better suit their lifestyle. Unless it's a neutral, universal and amazing kitchen backsplash, it may not be worth the time, effort and money to install. Realtor.com notes another risk: a home with too many improvements may result in the house being too expensive for potential buyers. Don't over improve your home before you sell it. Leave a blank canvas for someone else to work with, not a masterpiece that is not their own creation.

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