If you’re selling your home this Fall in Ottawa, how do you get started? Here are some things to do as the weather starts to get cooler and we still have some time to check the outside of our homes before winter. This is also a great time to complete smaller projects inside the home. Even if you are not planning on selling your home until the Spring, it is still a good idea to start now, to be ahead of the game come Spring.

Curb Appeal

The first thing prospective buyers notice is appearance. How attractive is the property? Is it well maintained? The more appeal your house has from the outside, the more it will draw people inside. Follow some of these tips to boost your home’s curb appeal!

• Repaint or clean your front door. Make sure the the front door handle is working well.
• Hang a set of new house numbers
• Keep the front walkway and porch tidy, remove weeds in interlock and wash off porch, wash windows. Put out a fresh welcome mat
• Decorate your exterior with potted plants, keep decor neutral. Mums, small cedars are a good choice for the Fall, just make sure to keep them watered. There are also some good artificial options at your local hardware or home decor store.
• Clean and reseal the driveway
• Add lighting for the walkway leading up to your front door, to gardens, and ensure that the light by your front door functions properly
• Rake leaves as often as possible, remove weeds from flower beds, trim shrubbery, edge the lawn and tidy the yard. Don’t forget to trim trees, especially if close to the house or if some branches cover windows.
• Check window wells, clean out, add crushed stone if low.

Basic repairs

Everything should be in good condition and working.

• If the eavestroughs are falling off or the porch stairs are broken, fix them. Extend downspouts away from the house, this often comes up in home inspections
• Clean and repair cracked or broken windows
• Repaint high traffic areas and rooms with dated colors, including baseboards and trim. Prepartion is key, patch and repaint any holes in the walls. Stick with neutral tones.
• Buyers open cupboards and doors so test hardware, and make sure latches and doors work properly. Fix shaky railings on stairs.
• Replace old electrical wall plates and switch covers
• Clean carpets, clean hardwood floors or condiser refinishing if needed. Consider removing any worn and stained carpets if there’s attractive hardwood flooring underneath.

Clean out the garage

Note only will it be helpful to you in winter months but also if your prospective buyer is looking for the ideal spot for a hobby area, don’t be caught off guard with a messy garage. A garage with space can also be used as a sorting area as you get ready for market. Here are some pointers.

• Add shelves to help organize the garage.
• Grease the tracks on the garage door and fix all broken doors
• Check that auto garge door openers are working propely
• Remove oil stains on the garage floor with an oil-absorbent product

As experienced realtors^®  in Ottawa, we are here to answer all your questions! We will inform you about the present market, the value of your property and help you prepare your home to get top dollar! We have the expertise and contacts to make it easy for you to get ready for market.