10 THINGS TO DO BEFORE LISTING YOUR HOME
Sometimes it’s difficult to know exactly where to start. Here is our go to steps to get your home list ready.
1. Get rid of all that clutter. Less is definitely more when it comes to getting your house ready to show. You want buyers to look at a clean slate when viewing your home and with clutter throughout the home, they might worry that the home doesn’t have ample space for their own belongings. Also, some buyers have trouble looking past clutter. Go through, room by room and do a clean sweep of any visible areas then tackle those closets, drawers, cupboards etc. A good rule of thumb is to reduce by 50%. Toss, donate or pack up any excess clutter to be stored. Not only will it help your house look more appealing to buyers, it will also make the packing process easier once your home is sold. This is also something our in house stager, Fiona, can help out with.
2. Depersonalize your space. The goal here is to create a blank canvas so your potential buyers can visualize themselves living there. Store away any personal items, family photos, childrens artwork, bold decor etc. to create a neutral space.
3. Repaint walls to neutral colours. Bold colours are a bit difficult for some buyers to look past. However, light, neutral coloured walls allow for buyers to picture what the walls will look like with the color of their choice. Light colours also brighten up the space and make the room appear larger. Adding a fresh coat of paint will clean up the space while fixing up scuffs, filling holes and make the home even more move-in ready for your potential buyers.
4. Consider your curb appeal. House hunters do tend to judge a book by it’s cover so you want to make sure your homes first impression is a good one. Invest some effort in mowing the lawn, pruning the garden, adding a fresh coat of paint to the front door and making your outdoor space inviting.
5. Minor repairs. Replace any burned-out lightbulbs, tighten any loose handles, make sure your faucets aren’t leaking. Now is the time to go through the list of maintenance items with your realtor to know which are important to tackle. Some may be majoy repairs that you and your agent can evaluate but you can get a head start on the small repairs around the house to make sure everything is in good working order before buyers come through.
6. Updates. Updating lighting and kitchen or bathroom hardware can go a long way. If your space is looking a bit dated, chat with us about small updates to make to modernize your space and bring some life to an older home.
7. Clean, clean, clean. Cleanliness implies that your home has been well taken care of so you want your property to look spotless to potential buyers. Tidy each room, including the cabinets and closets, get your bathroom and kitchen sparkling (these are key areas that buyers scrutinize), recaulk any grime-prone areas, clean any rugs and carpets to get rid of stain and don’t forget about that garage. Don’t miss those other areas in the house haven’t been cleaned in a while. If this seems daunting, hiring a professional cleaner will make this step one less thing to worry about.
8. Add some life. Plants create a bright, welcoming environment. Adding some fresh flowers in vases, plants inside and outside or even a bowl of fruit in the kitchen, you’ll add colour and life to your space.
9. Consider staging. Whether it’s adding a few pieces to spruce up the space or wanting to do a full re-vamp of your home, our in house stager, Fiona, is here to help us help you! Staging not only helps make your home even more beautiful, it helps buyers envision what the space could look like and an elevated lifestyle.
10. Discuss strategy with your realtor. Now that your home is ready for it’s closeup, we will come in and discuss what your listing timeline will look like. We will coordinate photos and video, floor plan and measurements, our marketing team and the documents required for listing. We will also discuss our pricing strategies to get you the most money for your home.
All photos by Jesse Laver ©