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.
Please join us in congratulating the Louisiana REALTORS® who have been appointed to NAR committees for 2027. A total of 26 Louisiana REALTORS® members and staff have been selected to serve on NAR committees for the upcoming year. Bill Boyd - Insurance Committee; Member: Regional Representative Luke Bullock - Broker Engagement Committee; Member: Government Affairs Director Donna Chandler - Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee; Member: At-Large Keary Coffin - Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committee; Member: At-Large Tony Cornner - Housing Opportunities Committee; Member: State Representative Beth Cristina - Commercial Federal Policy Committee; Member: At-Large Deneka Desroches - Commitment to Excellence Committee; Member: At-Large Cindy Dyer - RPAC Participation Council; Member: State Representative David Favret - Meeting and Conference Committee; Member: Immediate Past Chair Jennifer Hebert - Professional Standards Committee; Member: At-Large Carole Horn - RPAC Trustees Federal Disbursement Committee; Member: Regional Representative Misty Ingersoll - Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committee; Member: State Representative Angela Lavalais - AEC/Association IDEAS Advisory Board (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Support); Member: At-Large Trish Leleux - FPC Advisory Committee; Member: State Representative Marbury Little - Public Policy Coordinating Committee; Member: At-Large ; Consumer Advocacy Outreach Advisory Board; Member: Committee Representative Ginger Maulden - RPAC Major Investor Council; Member: State Representative Andrea McKey - Strategic Planning Committee; Member: At-Large David McKey - Insurance Committee; Member: At-Large Joe Mier - Real Property Valuation Committee; Member: At-Large Norman Morris - Meeting and Conference Committee; AEC Representative Danette O'Neal - Land Use Property Rights and Environment Committee; Member: Affiliate Representative Austin Polk - Business Issues Policy Committee; Member: At-Large Rhonda Reap-Curiel - Data Strategies Committee; Vice Chair Matt Ritchie - Finance Committee; Member: At-Large Erika Sluss - Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee; Member: State Representative Evelyn Wolford - Professional Standards Committee; Member: State Representative
From the Louisiana Department of Insurance: Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple joined Governor Jeff Landry and Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Kirk Talbot today to announce that Louisiana is investing an additional $20 million in Fortified homes, bringing the total amount invested in state Fortified projects this year to $100 million. Governor Landry announced that $20 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be transferred to the Louisiana Office of Community Development Restore Resilient Opportunities for Overhead Fortification (Restore ROOF) program to strengthen residential structures and reduce long-term disaster risk. Earlier this year, the Legislature passed a bill that allows $50 million in additional Katrina and Rita bond money from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to be added to the Department of Insurance’s Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP). Also beginning this year, LFHP is projected to receive approximately $30 million annually from taxes and fees the Louisiana Department of Insurance collects from the insurance industry. “Building stronger homes is a vital part of making homeowners insurance affordable in Louisiana,” said Commissioner Temple. “I appreciate Governor Landry’s leadership and support as we work with legislators like Chairman Talbot to make Louisiana a national leader in the adoption of Fortified roofs.” The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) has finalized its promulgation of Regulation 136—Fortify Homes Premium Discounts. The purpose of Regulation 136 is to implement the statutory provisions set forth in La. R.S. 22:1483, et seq. , which require that all Louisiana property and casualty insurers provide premium discounts or insurance rate reductions for homes constructed or upgraded in accordance with the fortified standards created by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. View Regulation 136 here .
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