TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME

For the majority of us, selling a home is the biggest financial transaction we will undertake in our lives.  This information will act as a guide to assist you in the process of selling of your home. 

PRICE

• Before you set the price, ask your Real Estate Agent to supply you with prices for comparable homes that have sold in your neighbourhood within the last six months.
• Don't overvalue your home, it will take longer to sell, and people will assume that something is wrong.  Price reductions and the length of time that it has been on the market may prolong the sale of your home.

CREATE A POSITIVE FIRST IMPRESSION

• Your home should be clean and appealing to the eye.  Consider hiring a professional cleaning service to clean your home from top to bottom.

REPAIRS

• A simple guideline is to fix nothing unless you're sure it will pay $2 for every $1 you're going to spend.  However, small minor repairs, if not fixed, will give an impression of neglect.
• One inexpensive fix-up that really pays big dividends is giving your home a fresh coat of paint.  If you can't do that, at least do the high traffic areas; such as the bathroom and the kitchen.

THE KITCHEN

• When it comes to buying, more than 68.5% of Canadians surveyed said that the kitchen is the most significant room in the house.  Ensure that there are no dishes in the sink and also clean out the cupboards and counters so they look organized, spacious and not cluttered.
• Bake bread, muffins or place a cinnamon stick in boiling water. According to a just released survey on real estate habits, the smell of fresh baked bread is a positive inducement to about 35% of Canadians who are thinking of buying a home.

CLUTTER CREATES AN IMMEDIATE NEGATIVE IMPRESSION

• Pack away as much as you can.  Consider storing those extra big pieces of furniture to give the impression of more space.

DRAMATIZE YOUR HOME'S BEST FEATURES

• If you have a fireplace, having a roaring fire going.  It it's too hot for a fire, place birch logs beside the fireplace and clean the brass fireplace utensils.
• The curtains on a picture window should be open to draw attention to the view.
• Place a vase with fresh cut flowers in the dining, living and family rooms.  Place potted blooming flowers in the kitchen and the bathroom.
• Replace your shower curtains.
• Turn on the stereo for soft background music to create a pleasant atmosphere.
• If your furniture has seen better days or is in need of repair consider staging some parts of your home.

TAKE YOURSELF OUT OF THE HOME

• While your house is being shown, take the kids and the dog for a walk, or to a friend's house.  Studies show that potential buyers walk through a home three times faster if the seller is home.  You want potential buyers to feel comfortable and not rushed.
• Always ensure that valuable items are stored safely during showings.  Consider a safety deposit box or a locked drawer.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A REAL ESTATE AGENT

• Ask friends, family and co-workers for referrals.
• If possible, always choose a realtor from within the community you're purchasing.
• Contact different real estate offices and set up an interview with their top sales agents.
• Set working guidelines (regular time to view or show your home).
• The agent should make you feel comfortable and confident; not anxious or pressured.

• Don't let a realtor 'buy you' by over-pricing your house just to get the listing.
• Keep the reason for selling to yourself.
• If asked, don't reveal the balance of your mortgage.
• Negotiate all real estate fees.