The Seven-Point Checklist for Selling Your Home

People everywhere have their own reasons for wanting to sell their home. Whether your job has relocated, you need to grow or downsize, or you’re simply looking for a change of scenery, you’ll need to prepare your current property to go on the market. A home that shows well sells for more money, and that means you get a better deal as the property owner. However, getting your home to show well is often a matter of great stress and anxiety.

As the seller, you want to minimize the flaws in your property that might convince buyers to consider other options or offer less money. While superficially this means getting rid of things like messy stains or visible faults, it means a completely different set of things for your home’s most important systems. While people may not be able to see much of your plumbing and HVAC systems themselves, there are a few things you can do to make them look good and appeal to buyers when selling your home.

Here is a seven-point checklist to follow in order to prepare your heating, cooling, and plumbing equipment for listing your home on the market.

Tune Up Your HVAC System

An HVAC system is one of the biggest and most important components for a potential homebuyer—they want to be certain that the HVAC system they’re going to be purchasing with your home works well. That’s why many realtors often recommend running your air conditioner down to a low temperature (like 72 degrees) during summer, and a higher temperature (like 75 degrees) during winter. That means anyone who comes in from the hot or the cold will almost immediately feel the effects of your HVAC system, and know for a fact it works well. This inspires confidence, and leads to a faster and smoother sale, even with older HVAC equipment.

For this reason, we recommend getting a tune-up service from an HVAC professional. This will ensure your HVAC system will not only be able to perform at its best, but will do so in a way that’s both reliable and energy efficient. This keeps your energy costs low, and leads to better comfort while the system is running.

Ensure All Drains Are Clear

It stands to reason that when people come through to inspect your home, they will want to test your sinks to see if they show any signs of problems. Perhaps one of the most obvious problems is a sink that drains slowly. Typically, this is a sign of a clog, and a clog can be a real nuisance to get rid of. If you have any drains in your home that are slow or stopped completely, it’s in your best interest to clear them before welcoming in potential buyers. We recommend a professional drain cleaning service from one of our team members, as this will get rid of the issue and keep it at bay for quite some time in the future.

Clean All Plumbing Fixtures Thoroughly

Dirty fixtures can make an otherwise sparkling and modern kitchen or bathroom space feel grimy and run-down. Unfortunately, hard water and other inclusions can make our fixtures appear dirty in a very short amount of time, and some of the grime they leave behind can be particularly hard to remove. For example, limescale, a chalky white substance, is extremely difficult to remove, and is typically found on just about every faucet or fixture in your home. However, removing the limescale using a specialized limescale cleaning chemical can inject new life into your space, helping it look better, show better, and appeal to more potential buyers.

Change the Batteries in Your Thermostat

Did you know that virtually every thermostat runs on a battery power source? When this battery runs out, your thermostat’s screen will likely go blank, giving it the look as though it’s broken or non-responsive. To make matters worse, this will often result in your HVAC system shutting off, making it appear as though it’s broken or not working properly. Simply taking the couple of minutes necessary to swap out the battery will ensure your thermostat continues to work properly and provides you with the control you need over your HVAC system during this crucial time.

Consider Installing a Modern Smart Thermostat

Modern smart thermostats offer a superior level of control and freedom when it comes to your HVAC system. This adds a lot of value to your buyers, and makes your home more appealing. However, they are also a tremendous investment in your home in terms of initial upfront cost compared to the amount of money saved. In fact, these upgrades often pay for themselves in energy savings in just a few short months. If you want an affordable extra feature that will add a lot of extra appeal to buyers, look into purchasing one of these smart thermostat systems.

Seal Air Leaks Around Doors & Windows

Finally, an HVAC system will only work well if the air it produces is able to stay inside where you want it. A home that is full of air leaks is going to allow this treated air to leak out, thus leaving your home feeling uncomfortable, even while the HVAC system does its job. That’s why it’s a good idea to do a cursory inspection for air leaks in your home, particularly around the most obvious points like around doors and windows. If the rubber or plastic weather stripping around the door or window has corroded or fallen apart, take the few minutes necessary to replace it. This will significantly improve your HVAC system’s performance, and reduce your energy costs at the same time!

Need your HVAC system tuned up for the season? Call the pros at Winters® Home Services at 617-221-5899 to schedule an appointment!