Preparing for Sale
A home should say "Welcome”, not necessarily be a "show place" but appear a comfortable home. Less is more! Fresh flowers or indoor plants always brighten up a home. Think about each room and what furniture really needs to be in it. Rooms look smaller when they are crowded. Clear out anything that is not needed to create a feeling of spaciousness.
Make sure that all minor repairs are completed. Sticking doors and windows, loose door knobs, faulty plumbing, or peeling paint may affect your sale. Let plenty of light into your home. Nothing improves atmosphere more than brightness
A warm comfortable heated home on cold days adds a feeling of cosiness; on a hot day don't forget to turn on air conditioning or fans (or simply let the breeze flow through).
Before you List
- Choose your agent carefully. Find an agent who is a neighbourhood specialist, has successfully sold in your area and with whom you will work well.
- Before you list your property, your agent will educate you about the recent sales of comparable properties so you understand the current state of the market and the value of your home.
- Timing is important, so discuss with your agent the optimal timing for you personally as well as that of the buyer’s.
- Consult with your accountant and lawyer before listing your home to understand the financial and legal implications of the sale.
- Prepare your home for selling. Fresh paint, clean surfaces and minor renovations can make a huge difference. Ask your agent for help staging or information on how to hire a professional stager.
Simple tips to add value to your home
This information has been compiled to help get your home ready for the sale. Yes, it’s hard work but worth every bit of effort. It adds up to a faster sale and a better sale price!
Make minor repairs
- Paint the walls and ceiling a neutral colour, preferably a shade of white. Stay away from very bright or vibrant colours
- Re-grout tiles on floors and walls if necessary.
- Fix leaky faucets
- Fix doors, cabinets and kitchen drawers that do not close properly.
- Replace burnt out light bulbs with higher wattage bulbs.
- Repair or remove any signs of water damage.
Thoroughly clean
- Clean all windows to allow as much light as possible into your home.
- De-clutter by packing up the majority of your knick-knacks and objects from surface areas. With less clutter, people will get a better sense of the size of your home.
- Clean and polish all floors, lighting fixtures, and faucets.
- Dust and vacuum regularly.
- Eliminate any odours. Remove kitty litter, laundry and trash.
Stage your home
- Remove bulky furniture to give potential buyers a better sense of the space.
- Rearrange existing furniture to allow for open space.
- Consider storing unusual or highly personal photos and artwork so that potential buyers are not distracted away from the features and benefits of your home.
Simple tips to add value
- Improve lighting. Add dimmers to lights to set the mood, replace light bulbs with higher wattage bulbs, keep shades and curtains open and fix any broken panes.
- Organize your closets. De-clutter and rearrange your closets to make them feel more spacious.
- Consider purchasing new kitchen appliances if existing ones are out of date and/or unsightly.
- Consider refinishing floors to minimize wear and tear or scratches.
- If necessary, replace windows with energy efficient windows.
Timing
Buyers for a property can be found all year round, however it's not often that a purchaser for your home is waiting for you to place your home on the market. Timing, presentation and advertising are all required to bring buyers and sellers together to reach an optimum result. Allow an additional time to prepare your property for marketing and sale.
