Rossen Reports: How to get your house ready for resale
Updated: 2:07 PM EDT May 9, 2024
Planning a DIY project while you get your house ready for resale? Be sure to follow these important tips to save cash and stay safe.Call 811The 811 hotline is the national phone number to call before you start digging in your yard. This allows you to alert local utility companies, who will come out and mark underground lines, so you don’t hit a water, gas, or power line. You should call 811 at least three days before you plan to dig.Rent your toolsBefore you buy tools, see if you can rent them instead. Check your local home improvement store like Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Menards for tools to rent for hours, even weeks at a time.Check your local libraryYour library may also have tools available for you to rent, for free. You can also search websites like localtools.org to find a tool lending library near you.Have a question for Jeff Rossen? He’s answering your consumer questions every Friday in the new segment “Rossen Responds.” Email your questions to him at [email protected].
Planning a DIY project while you get your house ready for resale? Be sure to follow these important tips to save cash and stay safe.
Call 811
The 811 hotline is the national phone number to call before you start digging in your yard. This allows you to alert local utility companies, who will come out and mark underground lines, so you don’t hit a water, gas, or power line. You should call 811 at least three days before you plan to dig.
Rent your tools
Before you buy tools, see if you can rent them instead. Check your local home improvement store like Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Menards for tools to rent for hours, even weeks at a time.
Check your local library
Your library may also have tools available for you to rent, for free. You can also search websites like localtools.org to find a tool lending library near you.
Have a question for Jeff Rossen? He’s answering your consumer questions every Friday in the new segment “Rossen Responds.” Email your questions to him at [email protected].