Selling a home can be an emotional process. You might be looking to move to a new neighbourhood, downsize to a condo, or find a larger home to support a growing family. Whatever your reason for selling, you want to make sure that your home is attractive to buyers and can sell for the right price.
You don’t always need to spend a lot of money to get your home ready for showings. Your attitude can be the most important thing when you decide to sell your house. Remember that while you have emotions and memories associated with your home, new buyers will want to see a clean, fresh space that they can picture themselves building their own memories in. Keeping that in mind, here are five tips to help you as you prepare to sell your home.
Cleaning and Curb Appeal
The first step to attracting potential buyers is to make your home appealing to everyone, including people who might just be passing on the street. You might want to have driveways or walkways repaved or hire a professional landscaper to clean up your yard, but there are lots of simple projects you can do yourself that will instantly improve your home’s outward appearance. Try repainting the porch or even changing the street numbers or mailbox you have out front. Smaller touches such as these can make a large impact to potential buyers. This is also a great time to tackle outdoor projects you may have been putting off, like finishing a fence or replacing outdoor lighting.
Upgrades & Renovation
If you have half-completed renovation projects on the go, it’s important to finish them up before listing your home. But this can also be a good time to take on something new that might freshen up the look of your home. You might not want to remodel entire rooms, but consider replacing cabinet doors or countertops in the kitchens and bathrooms if you’re able to. Even simple hardware upgrades can make a space look renewed. These finishing touches will instantly help make your home feel “move-in ready” to buyers. You might also think about replacing the floors in some rooms of your home, such as adding hardwood to main living areas or putting new tile in a bathroom. This can be expensive, but there are less pricey ways to rejuvenate your floors. You can hire a professional carpet cleaning company, and any broken or cracked tiles should be replaced. Remember to touch up scuffed or scratched walls and replace any missing light switches or outlet plates that a buyer might notice.
Work with a Professional
Be sure to speak to a licensed real estate agent once you’re ready to sell your home. It’s great if you can find an agent you trust, either by working with someone you’ve worked with before or by asking friends for referrals. Otherwise, do a little bit of research to find a sales representative with experience in your neighbourhood. An experienced Realtor® will have extensive knowledge about recent sales in your area and will help you decide on a price that will bring you the most money for your home, while highlighting your property’s unique features at the same time. They will also develop an effective marketing plan to ensure your property is seen by as many potential buyers as possible. Most real estate agents have an extensive network of current and past clients in addition to hundreds of other Realtors® with potential buyers who may be interested in your property. Your agent will represent your interests throughout the listing period and during the transaction process, helping you understand the paperwork and the full details about the closing process – before you sign an offer.
Show Off Your Home
Once you have your home listed on the market, you should do everything you can to make your home more appealing for showings and photographs. Start by clearing out some of the clutter you have lying around. Have a friend walk through your home to point out bulky furniture and decorations that are too personal to appeal to a wide variety of buyers. This is a great time to begin packing up some items you don’t use every day and keep them in storage until your moving day. Once you’ve cleared some items out, rearrange your furniture to show off the amount of space each room has to offer. If you have rooms with dramatic wall colours, consider repainting to a more neutral colour. Buyers are often more attracted to a space that they can imagine turning into one that’s all their own, which can be difficult to do with bright or dark walls. Open blinds and windows to let lots of natural light into the rooms, which will make them appear larger and more inviting. Pay attention to your front porch and entrance as well, making sure they are swept and clear of shoes, purses, or other personal belongings. You want to be sure that the first thing buyers see when they walk through the front door is the house itself, and not your family’s personal items.
Maximize Your Open House
An open house is a great way to show off your home. Your real estate agent will help you set up a day and time that will bring the most potential buyers, and they will advertise the open house in local papers and online in addition to notifying their networks and other real estate offices in the area. Make the most of your open house by tidying up the yard, driveway, garage, and porch, as these are the first things people will see as they walk up. Rake up leaves, clear pathways, ensure any railings on stairs are secure, and lay down mats to make your home more welcoming. Inside your home, make sure you’ve cleaned and tidied every room including closets and cabinets. Some buyers might want to check out the storage space you have to offer, so make sure these areas are kept in order. Arrange furniture in a way that allows a clear walkway from room to room, so visitors can admire the features of the home without worrying about walking into an awkwardly placed sofa. For something extra, it’s a nice idea to bring in some fresh flowers or fruit to display, but stay away from strong scents or plants that might cause an allergic reaction. A relaxing fragrance can be nice as long as it’s subtle, as can some low music playing in the background. The more inviting your home, the better.
These tips should help give you an idea about what to expect when you first decide to sell your home. If you’re thinking of selling, or if you have questions about the home selling process, please feel free to contact us at any of our branch locations or browse our website for a sales representative who can help you. You can also use our website to request a free market evaluation of your home, with no obligation to you.
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Image from RoyalLePage.ca.
