Sell Your Home Faster By Making These Simple Repairs
LOUISIANA REALTORS • October 18, 2017
Selling your home
is very similar to a job interview. The more successful your first impression is, the more beneficial the outcome can be in the end. And just like you wouldn’t show up late in a wrinkled suit to a job interview, and you wouldn’t want potential buyers to see your house in any state of disrepair. The good news is that there are several simple repairs and preparations
that you can make before your home hits the market. Here are 5 great tips that can help your home sell faster.
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1.) Tighten up: The little things can mean big dollars. Make sure that all of the hardware on your cabinets is tightened. Use a little WD-40 on your door hinges to prevent squeaking. Door knobs and handles should also be tightened, making them easy to open. Also replace older or burnt out light bulbs. This can add some fresh light and prevent the unfortunate event of light switch not responding.
2.) Add a coat: Freshening up the interior and exterior of your home can easily be done with a fresh coat of paint. Walls, trim, and ceilings should be painted with soft, neutral colors. Gray, beige, and other soft colors won’t offend the eye, and make it easier for potential buyers to imagine their own style.
3.) Look up: While replacing a roof can be an expensive endeavor, making small repairs can pay huge dividends. Replace missing shingles, clean out the gutters, and clear out any debris that has accumulated. It will present a well maintained roof and add to the curb appeal of your home.
4.) Wood you rather?: A quick pressure washing session can take years of wear and tear off of your fence, gates, and deck. Louisiana’s wet summers and hot sun can take a toll on these elements of your home, but pressure washing and treating the wood can make them look like new.
5.) Keep your plumbing humming: Toilets, faucets, and plumbing hardware need to be both operating properly and current. Replacing hardware and knobs in the kitchen and bathrooms can be an inexpensive and effective way to update your fixtures. It’s also important to make sure that faucets don’t drip and toilets don’t run. Doing a little routine maintenance can go a long way when showing your home.
Depending on the age and condition of your home, these are only a few tips that can enhance your selling potential. Entrusting the sale of your home to a REALTOR®
is another important step. With resources and experience you can leverage the direct insight of your REALTOR to know exactly where to focus your effort.
Louisiana’s 2026 Regular Session opened this week with several developments that matter directly to REALTORS ®, property managers and housing providers, alongside some broader political shifts worth watching. HB 292: Security Deposit Return Timelines Rep. Delisha Boyd’s HB 292, which addresses procedures for returning residential security deposits, was deferred to next week. This provides additional time for stakeholders to engage with members on practical impacts for lease administration, move out inspections and documentation standards. We’ll continue working to ensure any changes to deposit law are clear, workable and do not expose housing providers to unreasonable liability. Land Use and Development: St. James Parish Decision The Louisiana Supreme Court’s recent St. James Parish decision significantly tightens the standards for overturning local land use decisions, reinforcing that zoning and permitting authority rests with parish and municipal governments as long as their decisions are not arbitrary or capricious. For real estate and development, that means more predictability if projects are aligned with adopted plans and ordinances, but also higher stakes in local elections, planning processes and parish-level negotiations. Governor’s State of the State In his State of the State address, Governor Jeff Landry reiterated his push to phase out the state income tax, expand the LA GATOR and MJ Foster scholarship and workforce programs, and replace vehicle inspection stickers with a QR code system. These programs frame a debate around long-term competitiveness, workforce readiness and household cost of living which are all key drivers of housing demand and migration patterns. Business & Market Trends The business community is focusing the session on insurance, workforce and energy. Commercial and property insurance costs remain a top concern for employers and property owners, and we are monitoring civil justice and insurance reform proposals that could affect market stability and availability. At the same time, Louisiana is seeing more than $100 billion in announced industrial and data center projects, which could reshape local markets, labor conditions and housing needs in multiple regions of the state. Please view the weekly bill tracking report at the link below provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Stay ahead of the Louisiana housing market by understanding how legislation impacts listings, inventory, buyer qualification, and long-term real estate growth.
Learn how Louisiana real estate regulations, disclosure laws, and licensing standards help protect homebuyers and create safer, more transparent transactions.
