If you’re considering selling your Philadelphia area home there are quite a few things that come to mind: curb appeal with landscaping, entry door, flooring, kitchen and bathroom presentation and more… however, a huge factor for many homebuyers in the Philadelphia area is the condition of the plumbing and fixtures. These little things can be the deciding factor for a homebuyer as they sometimes tell the tale on how well the home has been maintained.
iFixdit, LLC often gets calls from realtors wanting to address these items to offer the best chance of resale for their clients. We would like to list a few of the most popular things that we have found that potential home buyers and inspectors look for when dealing with the plumbing of your Philadelphia home.
Everything Including the Kitchen Sink
If you have an avocado green kitchen sink from 1970, replace that first; seriously. Nothing turns off a potential home buyer than seeing a 45-year-old fixture; after all they want to buy a house, not a museum. Home inspectors and potential buyers look at the overall appearance of the sink to see if there’s any signs of dis-repair that might need to be addressed such as:
- Hard water deposits on the faucet
- Functionality of the faucet
- Dated appearance of the faucet
- Make sure the soap dispenser or retractable spray hose are in good working order
- Slime or hard water build up around the pipes
- Cabinet or floor deterioration or discoloration due to leaks
- Kinks in copper lines
Make sure to look closely at the area around the sink as well. If there are any cracks or chips, discoloration or deterioration of the seal be sure to replace these items. Keep in mind that you’re not looking to renovate the home just make sure that everything is clean, functional and looks good for both the potential buyer and the inspector.
NOTE: Don’t forget the dishwasher, garbage disposal and refrigerator as these also are scrutinized by potential home buyers and inspectors.
The dishwasher: make sure all the parts including the basket and wheels are there, make sure the screen at the bottom is clean (it can get pretty nasty), make sure your dishwasher is equipped with an air gap (required for home inspectors)
The garbage disposal: make sure it’s clean and operating properly with no excessive noise. You might consider running a sanitizer through it to reduce any unwanted smells.
The refrigerator: make sure all the components are functional and clean, make sure that the icemaker (if equipped) is working properly and make sure there’s no leaks from the water supply (usually a thin plastic tube or copper line that can get kinked easily.
Call IFixdit, LLC Today – (267) 979-4517
When You Think Plumbing, Think Bathroom
When it comes to a potential home buyer the bathroom for your Philadelphia home might as well be next to the front door. It is literally the first place that they look to get an idea about how well the home is been maintained. Cleanliness can only go so far, if you have outdated fixtures such as the sink, toilet, shower, cabinets and faucets, it will immediately set the tone for the rest of the house.
Realtors will tell you it doesn’t matter if you have a three car garage with a movie theater and a bowling alley… If your bathroom isn’t up to scrutiny, it makes it extremely difficult to sell.
Like the kitchen -there are some basic things that you should look at:
- Hard water deposits on the faucet (sink, inside the toilet and shower)
- Functionality of the faucets (if you have a showerhead with multiple positions, make sure they all work)
- Dated appearance of the faucet (don’t go cheap with the plastic here, get good quality)
- Slime or hard water build up around the pipes
- Cabinet or floor deterioration or discoloration due to leaks
- Kinks in copper lines (make sure to check the lines leading to the toilet)
Caulking: One thing that is more common to be seen in the bathroom than the kitchen is caulking. If not done properly the caulking can be an eyesore, no matter how nice the bathroom fixtures are. Depending on the age and type caulking can retain black mold and dirt, not to mention that if it was not properly applied, be an eyesore as well. Because the bathroom is such an important part of sale perspective of your Philadelphia home you might consider having a professional plumber or contractor completely remove all of the visible caulking and replace it with either caulking or molding strips.
NOTE: Whether it is for the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room or yard plumbing be sure to have shut off valves for each independent line. This is a factor for many inspectors as well as a nice perk for a realtor to point out.
When Experience Matters
iFixdit, LLC Plumbing and Drain service is a master certified plumber providing plumbing services to the Philadelphia area. Our years of experience in the plumbing industry has taught us that having a business that is successful means more than just being a good plumber, but it takes being a good company as well. Customer service and integrity are the first standards to establish a quality craftsmanship and long-term relationship with the great residents of Philadelphia. When experience matters, be sure to contact iFixdit, LLC… your hometown professional plumbing service.
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