1. OUTDOOR PAINTING. If the sellers don’t have the time or the resources to do a full painting job, they should go around the outside of the house and touch up any areas that look rough. If they find peeling paint, the areas can be scraped and sanded, then primed and painted to maintain even texture.
2. OUTDOOR CAULKING AND SEALING. Windows should be checked inside and out for possible leaks or cracks. With cold weather just around the corner, leaks or cracks could mean higher heating bills. Have leaks and cracks sealed with caulk, then look at the trim around each window – if any pieces are pulling out, check for mold or rotting, then replace or reattach wood.
3. CONCRETE AND ASPHALT PATCHING. If the home features an asphalt driveway, it can be repaired with asphalt patching material. Asphalt should be sealed every other year. If the driveway or walkways are concrete, cracks or holes can be repaired with epoxy patching material.
4. PATIO AND DECK MAINTENANCE. On wood decks, rotted boards should be replaced, painted or stained as needed, and critter nests and debris cleared. On brick patios, owners should replace missing bricks, level off areas where tree roots have pushed up the bricks and re-grout any areas where weeds or weather have degraded the hold between bricks.
5. LANDSCAPING. Keep landscaping clean and attractive. Weeds should be pulled, dropped fruits and nuts removed from under trees to deter animals, and trees and bushes trimmed so they don’t scrape the side of the house. Many landscaping companies offer affordable fall clean-up packages for homeowners who don’t want to do the work themselves.
If the home is still on the market leading into the Holidays, owners can spend the colder months doing interior cosmetic upgrades, such as replacing floor coverings, upgrading cabinet hardward and interior paint.
Courtesy of Dan Stewart, President Pillar to Post Home Inspections.
It’s the end of another wonderful Summer season and that means it’s the last weekend to catch the Tri Cities 2012 Parade of Homes™!
