If you’ve decided to sell your home, you know there is a ton of thing you need to do to get it “ready:”
- Clean it up – as in as cleaner than it’s been in years!
- Wash the carpets and possibly the drapes.
- Make sure all ceiling lights work.
- Dust and vacuum as if your life depends on it.
- Remove all knickknacks from tables, counters and shelves and the dozens of pictures on the walls.
- Wax the kitchen floor (as applicable).
- Clean all mirrors and windows until they sparkle.
- Weed and feed the lawn (as applicable).
- Possibly plant new flowers in the front of the house for that all-important curb appeal.
- Check that your plumbing is in tip-top shape.
Wait. Plumbing!? You’re kidding, right?
No. Remember, the fact that you have to hold the toilet’s handle down for a bit longer than normal in order for it to flush properly may not be an issue for you, but it could be for a buyer. Is the water pressure in the master bathroom’s shower a tad light? That could be fine for you, but not for a buyer.
In other words, you need to make sure your home’s “I can live with them” plumbing quirks are fixed before you start showing your home. Take a look below for a short checklist of what to do to make sure your plumbing system is ready for its close-up.
Check the hot water settings.
A buyer probably is going to turn on a faucet or even a shower head to see how long it takes for the water to warm. So before you put the house on the market, make sure your water heater’s temperature is set properly and works well.
Don’t forget your home’s water pressure.
As mentioned above, a too-weak or too-strong water pressure may be OK for you and your family, but a turnoff for potential buyers. Check to ensure that your home’s water lines are clean and that fixtures don’t impede the water’s flow.
Consider updating the fixtures in your bathrooms and kitchen. An update is a relatively inexpensive way to modernize the look of older kitchens and bathrooms.
It’s a rare potential buyer who doesn’t flush at least one toilet.
So clean the bowls as well as you can and make their porcelain sparkle. If your toilet seats are looking worse for wear, consider replacing them.
Make sure none of your toilets have a slow leak and that they flush as quickly as they are supposed to and that the water in the bowl empties and refills as it should.
Check for leaks throughout your home.
You’ll need to check in and outside your home. Outside, a tell-tale sign of a pipe leaks is if you notice puddles that never seem to go away.
In fact, it’s best to check for issues throughout your home by performing these top 10 plumbing maintenance tasks that you should check or perform routinely.
Clean faucets and drains thoroughly and consider repairing chipped and broken porcelain.
Looks matter when it comes to potential home buyers. Clean your sinks and tubs thoroughly and consider repairing chipped or broken porcelain fixtures such as toilets, sinks and possibly bathtubs.
If you’re thinking of selling your home soon and want to make sure your plumbing is in tip-top shape, call upon the Dallas plumbing experts at Plumbing Dynamics. Send us an e-mail message or give us a call at 214-929-3431.
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