Residential Homes
Whether you are a homeowner or an investor, most structures will need some form of prep work cleaning, painting, or repairs. As a homeowner who is getting ready to sell, you must bear two things in mind, 1) When you live in a home day in day out, a lot of everyday wear & tear may not appear so apparent to you.2) When you empty the home, a lot more imperfections will become evident.
Walk-Through
Once the house is empty, a walk-through review should be executed in the home. The walk-through focus will be on the floors and the walls. After the walk-through, the determination should be made to repair and prep the walls for painting or replace Sheetrock.
Research Before Action
Most serious investors will invest in a gut out of walls that are not sheetrock, or the damage is not worth repairing. As a homeowner, talking to real estate agents in the area and researching online will help you determine how much of an investment will yield the price you are hoping to get for your home. Ceilings that are not sheetrock, in my opinion, should be replaced.
Original Origin
Many homes in the area were once summer homes or one season homes. The houses were built to prevent damage, not to provide comfort. Many of these homes have drop ceilings and or tiles for the ceiling. Once a home is gutted and sheetrocked, I consider this an upgraded home. Additionally, once the walls are down, the opportunity is there to upgrade the plumbing or electric.
Floors
Freshly painted walls and ceilings are vital to any property your showing. Always bear in mind if the floors are going to be refinished or replaced, the floors should be completed last.
Cleaning and odor
Cleaning and odor are essential if pets were residents of the home. Remember this, no matter how clean your pet was, someone who doesn't have a pet could detect pet presence and be turned off. As a businessman, I completely understand this but will confess some of my favorite pets were stink bombs. In difficult situations, I would suggest looking for my blog on pet odor removal or contact me directly. During your walk through remember and pay close attention to pet areas. Wall surfaces will collect odors, so a proper washing before painting is necessary. Additionally, this method will also help in severe cooking or pet /smoke odors. Remember, your nose is accustom to familiar scents, so a new nose may detect something you don't, so play it safe. My Dad always said, "you only have one shot at a first impression." If you are cleaning a hoarder's home or a very disorganized home, empty the house first. In a situation of living while prepping the house at the same time, the best method would be floor by floor and room by room.
Wet Basement Solutions
Many homes in the area have sump pumps, as mountain water is everywhere. We accept this and make every attempt to divert water out of the house. Sump pumps and dehumidifiers are a part of everyone's home. Whether you are selling or not, everyone should look at the current drainage system, gutters, and sump pumps to determine if improvements can be made. In almost every case I have dealt with concerning water in a basement or crawlspace, an improvement was made. Pitch grades and gutters all play a role.
Final Words
I would like to say that a lot of homeowners with a little or no experience can accomplish a lot of these tasks, however, having the right equipment and knowing what you're taking on should be considered carefully. Until next time.
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