Thursday, August 2, 2012

Improve Your Brantford/Brant County Home This Month!

If there’s one piece of advice that I would give to those who are looking to sell their home in the Brantford/Brant County real estate market, it’s this: improve your home BEFORE listing it. The last thing that you want is for a buyer to give you a list of demands during the negotiation process. There are certain things that you can do throughout the year to keep your Brantford/Brant County home in tip-top shape. If you make an effort to do a few minor home improvement projects each month, then when it comes time to sell, you will see higher offers and a lower amount of contingencies.

Since August has just begun, I thought that I’d outline a few simple tasks that are ideal for this time of year:

Remove any and all pest magnets. There’s nothing like a pest problem to turn a buyer off from making an offer on your home. Summer means heat, and heat means that our favorite unwanted visitors are out to play. Keep the outside entryway clear of debris. Stacks of tools, lawn toys, lumber and yard waste are prime attractions for summertime pests. You can also avoid pests by storing firewood in a dry place that’s at least two feet from the house and 18 inches off the ground. This will eliminate a known hiding place for spiders and other insects. Other solutions include sealing garbage cans tightly, washing and rinsing items you intend to recycle thoroughly and keeping your gutters clear.

Give your lawn a little TLC. Very few people have the money or maintenance tools to achieve a pristine, golf course-style lawn, but you can still keep yours pretty and polished by mowing frequently. If you mow your lawn on the highest frequency that your machine can go, then you will discourage weeds and stimulate a thicker growth, which is appealing to passerby on the street. Using this tactic during lawn maintenance will also cause the roots to retain more water, meaning less watering work for you. If you’re going to fertilize, I’d wait until the end of the month. Doing so during hot weather can actually stimulate weed growth.

Give your water heater a little inspection. Once a year, you should pay attention to your water heater and ensure that everything is running smoothly. Neglecting to care for this particular appliance could cause your flooring to rot and will most likely hike up your energy bills. In order to get the most out of your water heating expenses, insulate yours with a thick blanket. This will keep all the heat in and will stop it from leaking in to the surrounding atmosphere. Next, check all lines and connections to the heat to make sure that they’re running smoothly. You should also keep an eye out for any leaks, as even the smallest amount of moisture can rot your flooring. Make sure to check the valve as well. Any time it gets stuck in an on or off position, it can result in an explosion.

These are just a few of the many things that you can do to keep your Brantford/Brant County home in peak condition. If you have any questions about how to prep your home for sale in the Brantford/Brant County real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask. I’d love to help. I hope to hear from you soon!


Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
Over 525 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8
Direct:  (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Website at:
www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!
 


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