Replacing Your Gutters is Worth the Extra Effort

Putting your house on the market can be stressful even for folks who have done it many times before.  Between the endless calls with your real estate agent, the inspections, trips to the bank, and the occasionally byzantine paperwork, you’ve got a lot on your plate. 

When you’re compiling your to-do list for selling your home, one thing that you should be sure makes the cut is to replace your gutters before you show it to anyone.  You’ll find that the effort is well worth your time and you’ll be thankful you had it done.

Let’s take a look at the top three reasons why you should replace your gutters before putting your house on the market.

1. Easier negotiations with buyers

Gutters are your home’s first line of defense against foundation and roof damage, and they will always be expected to be in good working condition when your house is on the market.  If you were buying a bicycle you would assume that it comes with handlebars included and gutters are much the same:  They are an essential part of the architecture of a house and are expected to be present and functional.

A home inspector will check your gutters and downspouts for several things, including clogs, leaks, pitch, and their overall condition.  If they find anything wrong, the buyer and their lender will likely add replacement to their demands, so it’s best to get in front of these repairs before they even come up.

So vital are gutters that most lenders will not even approve a loan for a home that doesn’t have functioning gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems.  Replacing your gutters lubricates the entire process; it’s one less thing for your buyer and their bank to worry about, and will help you close the deal faster.

2. Increase Curb Appeal

When we talk about curb appeal in terms of real estate, we are referring to the first impression that a prospective buyer will have when they see your house.  Factors that influence curb appeal include landscaping, exterior paint, driveway maintenance, and yes, gutters. 

Due to modern innovations in the materials and techniques in manufacturing gutters, they no longer have to be something that just disappears into a house’s facade.  Seamless gutters, gutter guards, and even colored gutters only serve to the benefit of a home’s aesthetic appeal and are increasingly an expectation of home buyers.

Before you put your home up for sale, it’s important to consider the effect that your gutters have on curb appeal and have them replaced so that you can be sure that when buyers view your home, it’s love at first sight.

3. Sell your home more quickly

When you put your home on the market, the goal is to sell it as quickly as possible.  The longer a house sits on the market, the less likely it is to sell for your asking price and increasingly becomes a money pit.

One of the best practices to adhere to when selling your home is to anticipate the demands and expectations of buyers, and few things will serve to assuage their concerns as much as a new gutter system.  It shows buyers that you have performed your due diligence in preparing the home for sale and will make everyone’s lives easier once the banks get involved.

Remember that every month your home sits on the market is another month of mortgage payments, utility bills, and headache around a property that you’re ready to move on from.  Having those old gutters replaced will check a major box off your list and help the whole process move more smoothly.

If you’re ready to sell your home, make sure you’re actually ready by replacing your old gutters.  Call DanDan the Gutter Man today and let’s make sure you’ve got all your ducks in a row for the market.