You may look at the leaky faucet and think of a $10 item at Home Depot. The buyer thinks of a $100 plumbing bill.

Of course there are handy buyers out there who are not afraid of repairs, but they expect to be compensated for this in the price.

When a house needs obvious repairs, buyers always assume there are more problems here than meet the eye.

It is in your best interest to get minor repairs fixed.

Some clients choose to market their house as a "fixer upper." These houses sell too, but at a lower range.

Some clients have a professional inspection done. This is an idea that we completely endorse. The inspector will help find repairs that are not apparent to us. Later, when the buyer gets an inspection, there is much less chance for surprises.

Make a complete list of small repairs. We can supply a handyman, if you need one, to fix the items in a few days. It will be more efficient to have them all done at once.

Often clients ask us if they should remodel their house for sale. The answer is no - major improvements do not make sense when selling a home.

Studies show that remodeling projects do not return 100% of their cost in the sales price. For the average home, it does not pay to move walls, tear out cabinets, re-do bathrooms, etc.

This does not mean that carpet should not be replaced if it is dated and worn, or that walls should not be painted, or that repairs should not be made.

Repairs include plumbing leaks, missing switch plates, sheetrock holes, broken trim, torn vinyl, broken windows, rotten wood, etc.