Preparing your home for sale is usually a straightforward matter for most homeowners.
You might need to fix a few problems, such as a leaking tap or peeling paint in the corner of a room, but for the most part the greatest challenge is keeping your home tidy when buyers conduct an inspection.
In these circumstances, it’s a great idea to focus efforts on making a good first impression with buyers, and that means paying attention to your front garden and entry.
The biggest task at the front of the house can be fixing cracks and crumbling concrete in your driveway.
If you’re not a DIY person, it’s wise to ask a professional to handle the problem. However, the work is not complicated and you can do it yourself if you don’t want to hire a tradie.
Just don’t ignore the problem.
Driveway issues will be cited in any buyer’s building inspection, and you may be asked to fix the issue or discount your price to pay for the remediation.
Check out these tips for fixing a driveway.
Safety kit
You’ll be working with chemicals, so always wear safety glasses, a mask and gloves.
Clean surface
Remove weeds, dirt and debris that will have gathered in the cracks. A water-pressure hose and stiff broom will do the job nicely.
Assess the problem
Once the driveway is clean, you’ll be better able to gauge the extent of the problem. Cracks of less than a couple of centimetres should be easy to fix. If the fissures are bigger, you may require professional help.
Major challenges
With larger cracks, the top layer of the driveway may need to be replaced – and that’s not a DIY job.
Colour choices
A qualified contractor can offer a selection of colours and stencils for your resurfaced driveway. They use a specialist paint product. Dulux is one of several paint companies with a range of driveway paints. Theirs is called Avista.
Quick fixes
With more minor cracks, a concrete crack-filler from your local hardware shop should get the job done. If you have asphalt, then purchase a special patching kit or epoxy. In both cases, use a trowel to apply the filler and smooth it over.
Seal the deal
Once the filler has dried, use a commercially available sealer and apply it over the entire driveway to give it a consistent finish.