This Memorial Day, Fix Those Gutters
The flurry of Memorial Day sales at home-improvement retailers offers the perfect occasion to remind sellers to pick up the materials they need to fix any issues, like gutter problems, which could deter buyers.

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.

For tips you can share with sellers on repairing common gutter problems, head to the REALTOR® Content Resource, the new tool powered by HouseLogic, where your NAR membership entitles you to download free homeownership content in your consumer Web site, blog, or e-newsletter. Here are just a few of the tips available now at REALTOR® Content Resource:

• 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.

Demonstrate your knowledge as an expert on home value by using these tips to educate sellers about these relatively easy — but visually critical — fixes to gutter glitches. If sellers have no gutter worries, they’re bound to be able to benefit from tips on saving energy on water heaters, inspecting and maintaining their garage, and improving curb appeal and safety with outdoor lighting, all of which are also available now at REALTOR® Content Resource.

The REALTOR® Content Resource, powered by HouseLogic, is an exclusive, free benefit for NAR members. HouseLogic is the National Association of REALTORS’® no-topic-left-uncovered consumer Web site geared to helping home owners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their home.