Perhaps it’s not the best time to sell your home. But if you will be moving sometime in the future and need to put your house on the market, anything you can do to make it more attractive to home buyers could mean the difference between getting a good offer and not getting one at all. It’s all about first impressions; curb appeal should be at the top of your to-do list. While gutters may seem like a low priority, they do play a big role in protecting a home from water damage. When a gutter system looks shabby or old, a potential buyer might wonder what else they’ll need to fix. Here are some tips for replacing the gutters when selling your home.
Eco-Friendly Appeal
The more eco-friendly materials used on your home exterior, including the gutters, will appeal to many home buyers in today’s eco-conscious world. Advantages of eco-friendly gutters include a low carbon footprint, longevity, and low maintenance.
Standard Gutter Materials
When choosing a gutter material for your new gutters, keep the potential home buyer in mind. Standard gutter systems such as aluminum gutters, copper gutters, and vinyl gutters, typically have a higher resale value than gutters manufactured from a material that can’t be easily repaired or replaced or one that is high-maintenance.
If the gutter material you choose is aluminum or copper, opt for seamless versus sectional. Seamless gutters have more curb appeal because they look sleeker and tidier.
While the least expensive gutter material option, vinyl gutters are not eco-friendly and can become quickly discolored, depending on how much exposure to the sun they receive.
Match Gutters to Your Home
When replacing gutters before selling your home take some time to match the new gutters to your home’s exterior.
Color: Choose a color that complements the window trim, entry door, or the roof. It doesn’t have to be “boring,” but select a gutter color that is classic as opposed to trending.
Style: The right gutter profile or shape of the gutter face adds character and definition to a home’s exterior.
Size: Especially if the gutters you are replacing didn’t handle the annual volume of rainfall very well, upgrading from 5-inch gutters to 6-inch or more could be a good decision. But larger gutter systems really stand out, so if your home is small to medium in square footage, stick with the standard 5-inch gutters.
Hire a Reputable Gutter Contractor
Hire a gutter contractor that will install the new gutter system properly. A reputable contractor will also ensure the quality of materials and labor. Any warranties that you can pass along to the potential homeowner are sure to give buyers peace of mind.
