BY: MAURAICE ANDERSON
The first thirty days’ activity of your home being on the market is always the best activity you’re going to see. If the house is priced fairly, you’ll get a lot of prospective buyers through the door and potentially attract multiple offers. But if the asking price is too high, many buyers and their agents will stay away. In a neighbourhood of similar homes with frequent sales, it’s easy to estimate the correct sales price of your home or condo by looking at the recently sold homes and making adjustments for yours based on condition and features. The peak home buying season has not started yet, but you still want to get your home ready to sell before your house hits the market. First, you want to make sure your home looks its best. Curb appeal is very important because some buyers will not even walk into your home even if the showing is booked because it does not portray good curb appeal. Remove any clutter or personal effects, fix what’s broken, and stage your rooms.
If you really want to make your home attention grabbing you need to acknowledge that you must first disassociate, de-personalize and de-clutter your home as hard as that may be. Make the mental decision to let go of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house or condo will no longer be yours. Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelope containing appliance warranties to the new homeowners. Next, pack up your personal photographs and family heirlooms. You do not want a potential buyer to be distracted from picturing themselves living in their new home. You want the buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls and there is a higher chance they will not if yours are still located in every room in your property.
Keep in mind, if you have not used it in a long time you probably do not need it. Clean out all of your bedroom and kitchen closets. You will have a lot of activity in and out of your home and buyers look everywhere. Put yourself in the buyers’ shoes. What would you think about the seller of your potential new home, is it well organized? It says that the seller(s) most likely take care of their home very well. Put your daily essential items in containers to be easily accessible when you need them. Think of this process as a head start on packing once your home is actually sold.
Now that you have disassociated, de-personalized and de-cluttered your property it is time to start working on the outside of your home. Wash your windows. Have your windows professionally washed or devote an afternoon to washing them yourself both inside and out. Even on a cloudy day, clean windows will let in more light and make your room seem brighter and sparkle with shine. Small details can make your home look dumpy without you even realizing it. Freshen up rooms with new switch plates and outlet covers if yours are older from wear and tear or yellowed from aging. Polish handles and hardware and you can even use household products to remove minor sports and scuffs on walls.
If it is feasible, get your home inspected prior to listing your home for sale. It’s better to be proactive in this market if the repair is not very expensive to fix. It is best for you to know what the inspector is going to find and be able to fix. The more you know about your own home, the more power you have as a seller and negotiating price. Interview a reputable agent and ask what they would highlight about your home if they were to sell it and what they would change, if anything, before it goes on the market.
