Your home’s wood floors have experienced heavy foot traffic over the years. As a result, they are scratched and battered and must be improved before you can add your home to the real estate market.
Unfortunately, it may prove to be costly to have a professional floor refinisher remove wood floor scratches. And as a home seller who has already invested in a number of home repairs, the last thing you need is another hefty home repair bill.
So what does it take for home sellers to remove wood floor scratches on a budget? There are many fast, cost-effective ways to eliminate scratches on your wood floors, including:
1. Disguise the Scratches.
You may be able to use a crayon or marker to camouflage your wood floors’ scratches. Wax sticks also are available at just about any home improvement store and contain stain and urethane that can help you cover up scratches and safeguard your floors’ finish.
In addition, you may want to try mixing colors to find the right combination to match the color of your hardwood floors.
But remember, hardwood floors boast a combination of hues and tones. Therefore, even if you’re unable to find the right blend of colors, you should be able to cover up white scratches instantly if you apply similar colors from crayons, markers or wax sticks.
2. Leverage a Combination of Vinegar and Olive Oil.
Using a mixture of vinegar and olive oil may help you minimize scratches on your wood floors as well as transform your ordinary floors into dazzling ones.
Typically, you’ll want to pour a mixture that is equal parts vinegar and olive oil onto the affected area of your wood floors. After 24 hours, wipe off the mixture, and you should notice a significant improvement.
It is important to note that this mixture won’t deliver instant results every time. However, applying a new coat of vinegar and olive oil onto an affected area of your wood floors over the course of several days may help you eliminate scratches altogether.
3. Use Sandpaper to Your Advantage.
Lightweight sandpaper may prove to be an ideal option to fix wood floor scratches.
For instance, you can sand the affected area of your wood floors, use wood filler on this area and seal the area accordingly. This may allow you to enhance the appearance of your wood floors and ensure they look brand new.
Keep in mind that you may need to sand, fill and seal an affected area of your wood floors a few times to eliminate scratches. But home sellers who remain persistent can use sandpaper to their advantage and minimize scratches on their wood floors without delay.
Getting your home ready to list on the real estate market sometimes can be tricky, but your real estate agent can help you find ways to help your residence stand out in a competitive real estate market. In fact, this real estate professional can offer expert insights and ensure you can find ways to maximize the value of your house.
Work toward improving the wood floors in your home, and you may be able to speed up the process of selling your residence.