One thing we tell our sellers is to get their home ready for market by sprucing things up a bit. After all, some new flooring here and some new paint there can make a world of difference.
However, painting a wall is one thing; tearing down a wall to create an open floor plan is another thing entirely.
So, while it’s important to put your home’s best foot forward, it’s also important to know the limitations of your DIY skills.
That being the case, here’s a list of what not to do when selling your home.
HVAC Repairs
If your home has an old furnace or air conditioning unit, trying to replace it yourself is bad news.
In fact, you’ll often find experienced home builders and contractors not go anywhere near HVAC systems, so if they don’t do it, neither should you.
We have great HVAC service providers in our area, so take advantage of their expertise to get your old furnace and air conditioning systems up to par before you put your home on the market.
Door or Window Replacement
After watching a few YouTube videos, you might feel pretty confident in putting in a new front door or a new window or two.
But what many DIYers quickly discover is that it’s a lot more difficult to put a new door or window in than it is to take the old one out.
If you don’t install the door or window correctly, they might not open properly – if at all.
What’s more, if you don’t take care to reseal the door or window properly, you could find that water leakage becomes an issue.
It’s best to hire your favorite contractor or handyman to take care of these kinds of repairs.
Plumbing Issues
If you have a clogged toilet or a sink drain that’s running slow, those are certainly tasks that any DIYer can handle.
But if you’re looking at something like installing a new kitchen sink or trying to fix a hard-to-reach leaky pipe in the basement, you might want to think twice.
The plumbing in your house is incredibly complex and can be tricky to get back together once you’ve torn it all apart, especially if you’re working in a tight area.
So, again, though the lure of saving a few bucks and doing it yourself might be strong, when it comes to prepping your home for sale, it’s best to leave bigger tasks like plumbing, electrical, siding, windows, roofing, and so forth to the professionals.
Not only will a professional get things done right, but you’ll also have peace of mind that the work done will make your home better for the next buyer.
If you’re in need of a contractor, electrician, plumber, or other related service, check out our resources page for reliable local businesses.