GETTING YOUR HOUSE READY TO SELL
INTERIOR PAINT
Most buyers appreciate a fresh coat of paint, and this will help enhance your property's value. It will also help brighten your rooms and give them a clean, new appearance. Stay away from bold or bright colours, and focus more on lighter, softer earth-tone shades. These colours will help make the rooms feel larger and will appeal to a larger group of potential buyers.
CURB APPEAL
First impressions make a huge impact on potential buyers. If your property has unwanted clutter, your home will make a very poor first impression. A few hours of raking, cleaning, and picking up odds and ends could add a great deal to the value of your home.
Curb appeal is important, and there is nothing worse than a house that has peeling paint and is in desperate need of painting. Of course, whether you can paint the exterior depends on the weather and the time of year, but if at all possible, do it. Stick with soft, light neutral colours, and stay away from bright colours that others may not like.
DECLUTTER
Rooms with too much furniture or decoration can often detract from the showing of your home. Too much décor can make rooms look smaller and hurt your chances of selling. Store all unneeded furniture and knick-knacks while trying to sell your home. Your goal is to make the house appear spacious and comfortable.
LET LIGHT IN
When your property is in tip-top shape and ready to show, having as much natural light as possible will help brighten your home and give it a good feel. Open up all the blinds and curtains and let in the light. For nighttime showings, make sure you replace any burnt out light bulbs and for rooms that appear darker, increase the wattage or consider adding additional lighting sources.
SET THE MOOD
Although you may like having music play in the background during a showing, it can be a deterrent to the buyers. Keep music off while your home is being shown so potential buyers can consider your home without being distracted. The same goes for air fresheners and fragrances as well as cooking or pet smells. Having your home odor free is the goal.
THE RIGHT PRICE
Many buyers have the idea that they can always come down in price, but this can be a bad attitude to have. Most agents will tell you that most activity occurs during the first two to three weeks of the original listing date. After a few weeks, the activity will begin to taper off and showings will cease. If your home is priced incorrectly from the beginning, it will not get a lot of showings at the start. The longer your home is on the market the more buyers will feel that something’s wrong with it. Price your home right at the beginning to help get the most activity and a quicker sale.
CLEAN CARPETS
It’s a good idea to have your carpets cleaned, especially if you have pets, and your hardwood floors polished or waxed. This is normally not too expensive and can add a lot of appeal to potential buyers.
HIRE A CLEANER
Hiring a professional will ensure the job gets done right and often overlooked areas won't get missed. Having a spotless home is important for buyers to not only allow them to view themselves in the property but it also shows that your home has been well cared for.
CONSULT A STAGER
If possible, hire a staging company to maximize your home's appeal. I have contacts with a professional staging company that can help with packing and using your items to showcase your home in the best light. Feel free to ask me about how I can help with staging too.
FRESH LINENS
Adding fresh and neutral linens and towels to your bathrooms can instantly update the look of the bathroom area, and make the space feel clean and fresh. There's nothing worse than a dingy appearing bathroom to turn off potential buyers.
*Adapted from an article written by John D. Mayfield ABR, ABRM, GRI, e-PRO, CRB.
Are you interested in buying or selling a home in Saskatoon? I encourage you to contact me at 306-341-1021 today!
