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.
• 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.