First Impressions 

Remember what first attracted you to your house when you bought it? What excited you about its most appealing features? Now that you're selling your home, you'll need to look at it as if you were buying it all over again. A spruced up house makes a great first impression on potential buyers. An attractive property grabs their attention and makes them excited about finding a house that looks and feels well-cared for. Because buyers know they'll encounter fewer problems if they buy it, your house becomes more appealing and stands out from the competition. 

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Things you should consider:

•    Keep lawns cut
•    Trim hedges and shrubs
•    Weed and edge gardens
•    Clear driveway and clean up oil spills
•    Touch up paint
•    Plant colourful, inexpensive flowers in pots if necessary​
•    Repair any broken screens
•    Fresh paint front door
•    Repair door locks and key access if it's difficult to open front door
 

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Curb Appeal

The "Wow" factor (that first visual, high-impact impression your home makes on potential buyers) can turn a looker into a buyer. To determine your property's curb appeal, drive through your neighborhood and note other properties; then approach your own house as if you were a potential buyer. How does it look? Does it "wow" you? Will its curb appeal attract buyers? Little things convey that you've cared for your home, and this is your opportunity to sell that important message to buyers who are shopping from the street, simply cruising neighbourhoods just looking for houses for sale. To get them through your door, do what you can to make your property look like someone's dream home.

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In the Yard 

Grab people's attention by enhancing your yard and landscaping. If your house looks inviting and well-maintained from the street, people will imagine that it's attractive on the inside, too.

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 Remember, LITTLE IMPROVEMENTS = BIG RETURNS! 

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Cut the Clutter and Start Packing 

People are turned off by rooms that look and feel cluttered. Remember, potential buyers are buying your house, not your furniture, so help them picture themselves and their possessions in your home by making your rooms feel large, light, and airy. Packing away your clutter also gets you started packing for your next move.  Here are a few tips:

•    Clear halls and stairs of clutter
•    Store surplus furniture
•    Clear kitchen counter and stove top - only 2 appliances (max) on countertops
•    Clear closets of unnecessary clothing and stuff
•    Remove empty boxes and containers
 

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Closets 

They're an important consideration to many buyers. By storing clothing you wont use soon, you'll make closets look spacious.

 

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Squeaky Clean

By far, our recommendation to make sure your home is clean before anybody walks through it, is probably the most important item in this list. It doesn't matter which part of the world you are from, a clean home will always be appreciated by your guests. Here are some things to focus on:

•    Clean and freshen bathrooms
•    Clean fridge and stove (in and out)
•    Clean around heating vents
•    Clean washer and dryer
•    Clean carpets, drapes and window blinds
•    Eliminate pet odours and stains
 

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Create a Buying Mood

You want people to feel as comfortable as possible especially as they roam from room to room. Minimize any negatives for them by considering the following tips:

•    Make sure your home smells fresh and clean
•    Turn on lights
•    Turn on air conditioner/heater
•    Open the drapes
 

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Paint 

A new coat of paint cleans up your living space and makes it look bright and new. To make rooms look larger, choose light, neutral colors that appeal to the most people, such as light grey, beige or white.

 

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Repairs and Renovations 

It's best to avoid making major renovations just to sell the house since you're unlikely to recover those costs from your selling price. Make minor repairs to items and make sure these repairs are well done; buyers won't take you seriously if your home-improvement efforts look messy, shoddy, or amateurish.

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Here is a list of some very cost effective suggestions that will go a long way with prospective buyers:

•    Repair leaking faucets and toilets
•    Clean furnace and filters
•    Tighten door knobs and latches
•    Repair any holes in walls and doors
•    Apply fresh coat of paint or touch up where necessary
•    Clean and repair windows
•    Repair seals around tubs and basins
•    Replace defective light bulbs
•    Oil squeaking doors
•    Repair squeaking floor boards
•    Fix or unclog slow drains
•    Fix or replace torn windows screeens
•    Replace broken windows
 

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Feel free to call us anytime to discuss your home specifically. We can share with you what rooms or areas of your home you should be focusing on based on what your competition looks like. In other words, if you were to list today and if an agent were to book 4 or 5 homes to show their buyer clients, how would your home stack up against the others they'll be seeing during their showings? 

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