Wednesday, May 5, 2010

This Memorial Day, Fix those Gutters!

The flurry of Memorial Day sales at home-improvement retailers offers the perfect occasion to remind sellers to pick up the materials they need to fix any issues, like gutter problems, which could deter buyers.

Buyers are drawn like magnets to well-maintained homes. A sagging gutter here, a gutter with plants sprouting out of it there, and the sellers’ first impression is nothing but a missed opportunity.

Here are some Tips:

• Clear clogged gutters: Sellers can tackle the most common problem of all if they’re comfortable on a ladder, don’t mind getting wet and dirty, and don’t have an extremely tall house. It’s a matter of clearing the muck from gutters and then flushing them with a garden hose to make sure the water drains properly. To really impress potential buyers, sellers can even have gutter covers installed.

• Straighten sagging gutters: Replacing faulty or missing hangers, which secure gutters to a home, is an inexpensive fix. Hangers can deteriorate over time or they can be spaced too far apart to support the gutters’ weight. Sellers can pick up hangers for $10 or less and fasteners for about $1 each.

• Plug leaks: Sealing leaky gutter joints requires only caulking with a $5 tube of gutter sealant.




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