home shoppers, a dilapidated roof can quickly squelch the deal, or at least cost the seller the amount of a new roof off the listing price and cost you the trust of a buyer who now suspects you won’t have maintained other parts of the home as well. You can’t fix it if you don’t know it’s broken, so hire an inspector to check out the areas of your home that you do not normally see. An inspection can alert you to unseen issues that could negatively impact the value of your home. Small problems (like minor water leaks) can become big, expensive problems quickly; the longer you delay repairs, the more expensive those repairs will be. • Paint, paint, and paint some more. Among the most visible, yet simplest and most cost-effective improvements in preparing a home for sale is fresh paint. A freshly painted room looks clean and updated — and that adds value. When selecting paint, use neutral colors to appeal to the greatest possible number of people, making your home more desirable to a wider audience. On average, a gallon of paint costs around $25, leaving you money to buy rollers, painter’s tape, dropcloths, and brushes. Get out the ladder and get busy! • Get inspired. Instead of spending $100 on a decorator’s opinion, do it yourself and search for remodeling and decorating
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