Concrete Work to Do Before Selling Your Home

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If you’re a homeowner getting ready to put your property on the market, focus on making sure your concrete is structurally sound and looks presentable. Choose from a quick cleaning or repair or opt for bigger renovations, depending on your timeframe and budget.

CLEANING, SEALING & REPAIRING CONCRETE

If you’d like to get you home listed soon and don’t want to spend a fortune, here are some ways to get your concrete looking its best quickly:

• Remove Oil Stains from Your Driveway or Garage
  Expert advice for getting stubborn oil stains out of concrete
• Clean Mold From Concrete Surfaces
  Think you have a mold problem? Here's how to deal with mold on concrete
• Reseal Your Concrete
  Tips for applying concrete sealer properly, including when to seal, how many coats and dry time
• Repair Unsightly Cracks
  Learn how to fix minor cracks in concrete with a patch

Need professional help? Find a concrete contractor near me.

FIXING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE

If your concrete foundation, driveway or other surface has experienced structural problems, you should have it fixed before listing your home. Here are some resources:

• Foundation Repair
  If there are any concerns about your home’s foundation, this could make it tough to sell. It is wise to have your foundation assessed and repaired before selling your house.
• Fix Sunken Concrete with Slabjacking
  If portions of your driveway, sidewalk, patio or other outdoor surface have sunken, they can often be raised back up. A special mixture is pumped beneath the slab to float it back to its original position.
• Repairing Bowed Basement Walls
  A carbon-fiber-reinforced grid system permanently stabilizes bowed foundation walls with minimal disruption and no excavation.

RENOVATING WITH CONCRETE

As a seller you may be considering more involved renovations, but you want to make sure the money spent increases the value of your home. Typically the best returns come from work done in kitchens and bathrooms and on the home's exterior. Finishing a basement or updating flooring can also be good choices that will help your home sell.

Learn more:

• 6 Reasons to Remodel With Concrete
• 7 Ways to Add Value to Your Home with Decorative Concrete
• How to Improve Curb Appeal with Decorative Concrete

Absolute ConcreteWorks in Port Townsend, WA

Update kitchens and bathrooms

Having concrete countertops in the kitchen will make your home stand out from other properties that feature granite, marble or quartz. Concrete can also be used to update bathroom counters or vanities.

KB Concrete Staining in Norco, CA

Improve front yard curb appeal

In addition to getting your landscaping looking good, consider staining your driveway or adding a new walkway that leads to your front door.

Related:
Front Yard Curb Appeal Ideas for Selling Your Home
Front Yard Landscape Ideas

The Design Center in Franklin, TN

Finish the basement

A finished basement is a big plus to potential buyers since it provides extra living space. Concrete is a great flooring choice for basements since they can be prone to dampness.

Concrete Arts in Hudson, WI

Ditch dirty carpet or dated tile

Stained concrete floors are an affordable choice that are appealing to buyers since they are easy to clean and attractive. If your concrete subfloor is in good shape and you go with a single, standard color, this is cheaper than wood, which is another favorite among buyers.

How much will these improvements cost?

When getting a home ready to sell, stick with basic designs because they are universally appealing and provide the best return on your investment. Get an idea of what you’ll spend on these projects:

• Foundation Repair Cost
  The national average is about $5,857
• Cost of Concrete Countertops
  Starting a $65 per square foot
• Concrete Driveway Cost
  Starting at $8 per square foot
• Walkway Cost
  Starting at $6 per square foot
• Stained Concrete Cost
  Starting at $2 per square foot

Related: Buying a Home? Check the Concrete