10 Feb From “For Sale” to “Sold”

From “For Sale” to “Sold”

How do you ensure your home goes from “For Sale” to “Sold”?

One of the most important things to do is to make some low cost improvements. We have included a few suggestions to prepare your home for sale. 

Advice

– Your home should be clean and tidy for showings. Make sure to clean up clutter, vacuum the carpets, clean the windows and make your kitchen and bathrooms shine. If you can, always try to go out during a showing.  A prospective buyer will tend to stay longer if the owners are not present. They will feel more comfortable to talk freely, ask their agent questions, and point out what they do and don’t like.

Curb appeal

Appearance is very important when trying to sell your home. Is your property attractive? Is it well maintained? This is the first thing a buyer will notice. If your house has more appeal from the outside, it will draw more people inside.

• Everything should be in good condition. If something is broken, fix it.
• Trim and tidy up your yard. Remove weeds from your lawn and flower beds.
• Repaint your front door or window trim if they need a fresh look. Buyers will notice sloppy painting. Hire a professional painter, or do a fantastic job yourself.

Put out a welcome mat

You want to make a great first impression. Try to make your front entrance look warm and inviting. Your foyer should be bright and open. To make sure the space is bright, open all the blinds and drapes. Clean out clutter from the front closet and oil all door hinges.

The basics

• If you have nice hardwood floors underneath your carpet, consider removing the carpet if it is stained or worn.
• Update the electrical wall plates, light switches, and door handles to a more modern style.
• Freshen up your walls and baseboards with a light neutral paint colour.  Repair and patch any holes in the walls.

Make your kitchen sparkle

• Give your cabinets a face lift if they are looking dull. New hardware can make a big difference.
• Clean your fridge and stove until they sparkle! To make storage space seem larger, organize and declutter your cabinets.

Bathroom

• A dirty bathroom will not go unnoticed. Clean all surfaces until they are squeeky clean. Remember to declutter and clean your bathroom cabinets.
• Check if the caulking is stained and needs to be re-done. If the job is too big to do yourself, hire a professional.
• Some buyer will flush the toilet and test the taps. Ensure that they are all in working order and you have no plumbing issues.
• Give your bathroom an updated look with new hardware on the cabinets, or a new bathroom mirror.

The basement

Nobody likes a dark and damp basement. If you have windows in your basement, open the blinds to make sure the space is as bright as possible. In the warmer months, use a dehumidifier to get rid of the dampness. Tidy up and neatly stack storage items on shelves.

Garage

The garage can be an important space to buyers, some will be looking for a spot for a hobby area, or an organized space for a workshop. Organize your garage by neatly storing your items on shelves and grease the tracks on the garage door.

If you are thinking about selling your house and need tips on how to prepare for the market, we would be happy to help you!