New poster with question (cosmetic) about selling my home! (for sale, houses)

[kellyanna]

Hi everyone. Long time lurker around City-Data forums, first time poster.

We are getting ready to list our house and I need feedback for a quick question.

When the house sells, are we (as the sellers) responsible for filling the nail holes left by the framed pictures we remove from the wall? Because I am thinking if we ARE, then we would have to go to great lengths to patch and paint. Is this customary?

Background if it matters... house is in a nice subdivision, $300,000 range, less than 10 years old.

Many thanks!

Kelly

[LCTMadison]

Contractually, no unless buyer specifically addresses it in the additional provisions. Is it nice to do this....yes. Some do, some don't. I've written it in to a contract to have seller fill nail holes before closing (when they had LOTS of photos and it concerned the buyer).

Anything bigger than a nail hole....like a mounted TV...I specifically put that in that the seller will do wall repair because those leave big holes.

[kellyanna]

Thank you for the speedy reply! I guess the thing is, even if the nail holes are filled, they will still show, so then we get into repainting. So where do you draw the line? What do most people do? Our last house we sold, we left "broom clean" and in tip top shape. The nail holes were never questioned, so maybe I am over-thinking this?

Kelly

[LCTMadison]

I think you are overthinking. Again, its not a contractual item, so unless a buyer brings it up at contract and you agree to it I wouldn't worry with it. "Broom swept" clean is what the contract requires. Like I said, I have had a couple of buyers concerned about this at the time of contract (mainly due to LOTS of wall hangings, photos, etc) so we addressed it in the contract and the seller agreed.

[CoreLysium]

Do it before you put it on the market.

Also, pressure wash, repaint the porch, etc, etc. Plus, remove all family photos. It'll sell quicker.

[unlblkrubi]

I've always gotten close to top dollar for my houses when we sell. I repaint everything, and clean, then clean again. I want to get what my home is worth, don't have time to be nit picked about nail holes and dirty stuff. Just do it right the first time.

[CP79]

I agree with the others. Take the pictures down, patch and paint as necessary, pressure wash exterior and driveway etc. Just do it right. I have looked at houses for sale before and been appalled at what people thought was acceptable. yeah I really want to buy your house that was clearly neglected. And for God's sake make sure to get the cobwebs down from the corners of the ceiling.