When your home is for sale, it’s often more than just the purchase price and location that will make or break a deal. Making your home look its very best and presenting it as a desirable place to live are also very important.
Work with your REALTOR®
Your REALTOR® can give you an objective opinion of what you need to do. REALTORS® have the experience and knowledge that can help identify problem areas or suggest improvements. In most cases, REALTORS® will not suggest major renovations. A few minor repairs here and there and a thorough cleaning are usually all that are required.
How to Prepare Your House For Sale
Selling quickly and for a good price is every home sellers wish. To make that wish come true there is more than luck involved. It takes careful planning and some work to make that happen.
If you follow the instructions below you will turn your house into a highly marketable home.
Here’s How:
1. Don’t look backwards – it is time to disassociate yourself from your home. Remember the goal is to sell the house. It is no longer your home it is a property to be sold.
2. De-Personalize – Pack up your personal photographs. Buyers want to think “I can see myself living here.”
3. De-Clutter! – Good rule of thumb is “if you haven’t used it in the last year either pack it up or give it away. You want to pack up knick knacks, clean off counters etc. The benefit of this exercise is that you are getting a head start on your packing for your move.
4. Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets – People will open closet and cabinet doors. Try to organize items with this in mind.
5. Rent a Storage Unit – Less is best. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room’s purpose and plenty of room to move around.
6. Remove/Replace Favourite Items – If you plan to take favourite items with you now is the time to put them away in case a buyer sees them and covets them. For example special light fixtures etc.
7. Make Minor Repairs – Replace any cracked tiles, patch any holes or dents in the wall, consider re-painting if your walls are not a popular colour, replace burnt out light bulbs etc.
8. Make the House Sparkle! – Clean windows, clear cobwebs, recaulk in the bathroom, polish mirrors and chrome, clean out fridge, dust and vacuum daily if needed, hang fresh towels and air out any odours etc.
9. Scrutinize – Pretend you are a prospective buyer and stand at the front door. Ask yourself if the house feels and looks warm and welcoming. Repeat this procedure at the doorway of each room. Rearrange furniture if need be.
For information on improving your homes curb appeal read: The importance of Curb Appeal when trying to sell your house.
Cleaning up the house and getting rid of clutter
Virtually all buyers are on the lookout for one thing — a clean home. Many will simply walk away if a home looks uncared for and, at the very least, an untidy home will fetch a lower selling price. Ensure your home is spotless and free of clutter. The two most important rooms in a buyer’s mind are the kitchen and the bathroom. Pay particular attention to these areas — they should sparkle and shine.
Making repairs
There are certain items that must be repaired if there are problems. A leaky roof, for example, must be fixed. Any electrical problems will have to be addressed. Furnaces, water heaters and plumbing also fall into this category.
Other areas may not need major repairs but will need attention. These can include leaky faucets, holes in window screens and any broken glass, etc. If some of your walls are too dirty to come clean, you may wish to consider a paint job. Carpets and rugs should also be clean and in good repair.
Outside and in
Take a close look at the state of your yard. If you are showing your home in the summer, trees and shrubs should be pruned and your lawn kept neat. In the fall, rake leaves regularly and in the winter ensure the walks and driveway are kept clear of any snow or ice.
To renovate or not to renovate
Usually, most renovations do not translate into an increase in selling price of more than the cost of the renovations themselves. Painting, wallpapering and modest landscape improvements usually recover their costs, but major projects such as new patios, decks or additions rarely do.
Moving up or down
If you are selling your home because you need more space with a growing family, or if you plan on downsizing now that the kids have left home or you want less work, your REALTOR® can help. With access to the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) your REALTOR® can provide you with list of homes for sale that meet your needs and your budget. If you have access to the Internet you can view all of the properties listed for sale on the Board’s MLS® system by visiting www.realtor.ca.