Tip of the Week Listing
This Week's Tip!
This time of year it's often difficult for a prospective buyer to determine what type of landscaping (i.e., perennials, beds, grassy areas) exists on a property. Even with the snow melting, it's tough to imagine what they might look like at their mid-summer best. As a seller, perhaps you've taken photos of your gardens, etc. Consider having them on display, tastefully, alongside the other documents that your realtor has made available for prospective buyers to review. And, of course, always check with your realtor to determine if, given the photos and the property, s/he thinks this is a good idea!
Past Tips
Thorough Cleaning A deep cleaning to make every surface, nook and cranny sparkle and shine is required. A fresh coat of paint throughout the home is a very good investment. Fresh flowers, green plants and pretty accessories all pack a punch without breaking the bank account.
Make Your Home Inviting to Buyers
• Make sure furniture doesn't impede movement - it should be a clear walkway through your home.
• Remove excess photos, knickknacks, and other items that create clutter.
• If you intend to use a scent (such as backing cookies) be sure to provide some for those visiting.
• Don't use excess scented products - some people are very sensitive and it could deter potential buyers.
• If you have pets, be sure to clear any related items from view, remove any lingering odors, and take them with you for showings so that visitors aren't disturbed by barking or meowing.
• Open curtains and ensure adequate light in dark rooms.
• Be sure your yard and walk are clear of children's and pet's toys, debris, and tools.
Preparing Your Home For Spring
• Clean your yard of debris from winter - leaves, tree branches, etc.
• Clean and sweep walkways, driveway, and patio.
• Rake and weed garden beds, and trim bushes.
• Clean out gutters.
• Inspect your deck and driveway, and consider sealing if they are in bad shape.
• Consider planting brightly coloured spring annuals, or put out a few bright potted plants.
• Hose down siding, clean doors and windows, and consider repainting the door and trim if needed.
Selling Your Home in Winter
• Keep walkways and driveways clear of ice and snow
• Turn up the heat
• Open curtains and try to do showings during the day
• Get the windows washed
• Make it cozy - put out seasonal decor like throws, rugs, and holiday decor
• Emphasis positives of you area to buyers - good snowplowing, local winter activities, etc.
• Put excess outerwear out of sight; keep hallways clear of outdoor items such as shovels, skates, etc
Set The Mood For Buying
• Open all drapes/blinds during daytime
• Turn on all lights for evening showings
• Place potpourri or fresh flowers around the house
• Clear halls and stairs of clutter
• Arrange furniture to create a spacious look
• Ensure carpets and floors are always clean
• Turn up the air conditioner during summer
• Turn up the furnace and light the fireplace in winter
• Clean and organize closets, garage and basement
Disassociate Yourself With Your Home
• Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a house -- a product to be sold much like a box of cereal on the grocery store shelf.
• Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.
• Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners!
• Say goodbye to every room.
• Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.
Tend the backyard. Simple fix-its will make the most of your existing yard layout. Replace any damaged boards on your deck or fence, and apply a fresh coat of paint, or stain and sealant if the finish needs it. Weed and groom your garden and add some perennials for colour when in-season. If kids’ toys are taking over the space, put some in storage. Think “tidy,” “update” and “refresh”: never do anything costly or major like adding a swimming pool or pond, which may put off potential buyers.
Put up mirrors. Make small rooms appear bigger and dark rooms seem brighter by adding an attractive wall mirror. A boxlike dining room will benefit from a leaning floor mirror and an entranceway more welcoming with a console mirror.
Take down curtains. Dated window treatments need to come down, pronto (if it’s over 10 years old, get rid of it). If privacy isn’t an issue, just leave the windows bare to maximize natural light and make the room’s dimensions seem more generous. Otherwise, buy basic-issue cotton or linen drapes from a well-priced retailer. Always tie drapes back during viewings and open houses.
Professional Inspection: Yes or No? A serious buyer may want to have a professional home inspector check your house from top to bottom before making an offer. Even though this guide will help you identify problems on your own, the option of hiring a professional home inspector is open to you as well. If you can afford it, an inspection in advance of putting your home on the market is a good idea. It is your best way of finding and taking care of serious deficiencies before an inspector hired by a potential buyer discovers them.
Stage rooms to show off their true potential is essential when selling your home. Clear out clutter or other personal items that will distract buyers. Paint the walls a neutral tone, and furnish the space to show off how functional it is. When buyers come through and imagine themselves there, you can bet an offer isn't far behind.
Don't forget the garage and basement. It's tempting to stash stuff away in these areas of the home, but when you're selling, they have to be neat and clean too!
Turn an unattractive fireplace into a selling feature. Need to turn an unattractive fireplace into a selling feature? First, that dated brass screen has got to go. Next, give the fireplace a good cleaning, scrubbing it with soap and water. Then, using a stone color-enhancer, polish the bricks to make them shine. In no time you will have a fireplace that will turn your house into the hottest property on the block.
Grimy bathroom walls are a major red flag to buyers. Here is an easy way to get rid of surface mold: Mix a spray bottle with one part water and one part bleach. Just spray it on the wall, and watch the mold disappear. Give it a fresh coat of paint, and your grimy bathroom will go from red-flag to red-hot.
Clean the carpeting. Unless it's extremely worn, you may be able to avoid replacing carpet. Buyers often prefer to choose their own new carpet or opt for hardwood floors.
Perform all minor repairs, if necessary. Take a hard look around your home and see it from a buyer's perspective: oil door and window hinges, fix loose handrails, etc
Clear away clutter, personal photos, knickknacks, boxes — anything that will distract the buyer from concentrating on the house.
Doors add so much to a house without great expense. Paint one in a bold color, strip a door to uncover beautiful wood, add a humorous, elegant or antique knocker or change the hinges and doorknob to make something very elegant without a big investment.
Grimy bathroom walls are a major red flag to buyers. Here is an easy way to get rid of surface mold: Mix a spray bottle with one part water and one part bleach. Just spray it on the wall, and watch the mold disappear. Give it a fresh coat of paint, and your grimy bathroom will go from red-flag to red-hot.
Doors add so much to a house without great expense. Paint one in a bold color, strip a door to uncover beautiful wood, add a humorous, elegant or antique knocker or change the hinges and doorknob to make something very elegant without a big investment
Details matter. Trim shrubs and trees on your landscape. Make sure things look sharp and neat.
Add color. Plant mums or other colorful plants that will thrive in the fall. This will give your landscape color and vibrancy when everything starts to fade from the summer.
Go green. Lawns tend to get greener after August when the nights get cooler. It's also a great time to seed your lawn if there are any bare spots or the grass is thin.
Take advantage of natural light. If you must show in the evening, make the most of the light you do have. Have the curtains and blinds cleaned and open them as wide as possible during daytime showings. Clean all the lamps and built-in fixtures, and replace the bulbs with the highest wattage that they will safely accommodate. Before you show the house, turn on all the lights.
Windows. are one thing that many sellers don't even consider. In winter that strong southern light can reveal grime and make it look like the home hasn't been well-maintained.
Emphasize winter positives. Is your home on a bus route or some other vital service that means it's ploughed or de-iced regularly in bad weather? Be sure to mention that to the buyers.
Curb Appeal.. A prospective buyer's first look at a house is from the street, so make that first impression a good one. Clean up the yard, clean the windows and any dirt that is visible on the house. Add some potted flowers and a welcome mat. These are very simple items to add which gives the buyer the best first impression.