Tips for Getting Your Home Ready for Sale

Whether you're thinking about selling your home now - or in the near future, you'll want to get the best price in the shortest period of time. Here are some tips that will ensure that your home shows to its best advantage.

• Declutter!  - This can't be stressed enough. Every room, hallway, closet and cabinet in your home should be neat, tidy, and clutter free.  Now would be a great time to pack up excess stuff - even furniture - and store it, neatly, in the garage, attic, or better yet, offsite.
  

• The White Glove Test -  Every nook and cranny in your home should be sparkling clean! Your home needs a deep, thorough clean...carpets, drapes, upholstery, and walls included.  Attend to areas that are often ignored - the top of the fridge, cobwebby corners, cabinet interiors and the oven.  Kitchens and bathrooms should be squeaky clean.  Don't have time?  Hiring a cleaning service is a worthwhile investment if you're interested in getting the best offer.

• Get a Check-Up - Consider having a home inspection done now.  Make any necessary repairs.  Potential purchasers can examine it, noting the repairs you've made.  It will go a long way in assuring potential buyers that your home has been cared for by a responsible homeowner.

• Light it Up! -  You want each room to be as bright as possible.  Clean every light fixture and ensure the bulbs are the maximum safety wattage as suggested for each fixture.  Clean all the windows, you'll want to open drapery and blinds so that natural light streams into each room.

• Refresh and Repair -  A fresh coat of paint, in a light, neutral colour, is a good idea.  No detail is too small.  Take care of scuffed woodwork and trim, loose door-knobs, squeaky floorboards, sticking patio doors, leaky taps, torn wallpaper, etc.  Unfinished home improvement projects are a deterrent to prospective buyers so complete any projects you currently have underway.

• Enhance Curb Appeal -  Most potential buyers will form conclusions about a property from the curb.  Walk out to the curb and cast a critical eye on your home's exterior.  Are gutters overflowing with debris?  Does the front law look like a missile site?  Is the front door in need of a fresh coat of paint?  Ensure lawns are kept mowed, prune shrubbery, turn over the soil in the perennial flower beds.  Garbage cans, bikes, hoses, garden tools, etc., belong in the garage. (or stored neatly in the backyard.)  Add a homey, welcoming touch with a wreath on the front door, a nice doormat or some potted flowers.

• Sniff Out Odours! -  Give your home the sniff test.  Have a trusted friend/neighbour help you identify any bad smells. Common culprits: smoking, laundry & bathroom mold or mildew, garbage cans, litter boxes, pet beds, musty basements, and strong cooking aromas.  Don't mask bad smells with air fresheners or deodorizers.  Rid your home of the source of the odour.

• Get Advice! -  Getting your home ready to sell is about deciding 'which details' to focus on to ensure your home attracts and appeals to buyers.  Talk with your Realtor who can provide you with expert advice about getting your home ready to sell.  As well as understanding current market conditions, your Realtor knows which features will be of most interest to potential purchasers.