So you are thinking of or decided to sell your home and are in the process of hiring a realtor (hopefully me)………what’s next? Whether your a first time seller or veteran seller, these tips will help you through the process. Christina from The Staging Group and myself have collaborated to come up with this checklist of helpfully advice, as two heads are better than one, so here we go!

The Property:

• Complete any unfinished projects around the house, for example unfinished baseboards, trim, etc
• Do all minor repairs such as fix doors that don’t shut properly, replace burnt out light bulbs, tighten loose knobs, etc
• Consider a fresh coat of paint and flooring if needed. Keep it neutral as not everyone has the same taste and you want your home to appeal to the masses, you’d be surprised at the huge difference some fresh paint makes
• De-personalize, potential buyers want to envision themselves in your home, having pictures all over your home of your latest vacation or wedding will not help this cause
• De-clutter, get rid of any over sized furniture, knick knacks, etc that are cramping spaces and making them look small, you want your home to have a big, bright, airy feel for all potential buyers
• Don’t forget the curb appeal! Make sure your yard is free of clutter and garbage, that means you might have to pick up that wrapper that someone just threw on your front lawn, don’t you just love that?
• Ensure the gardens are in tip top shape and the house looks inviting, first impressions are everything, you want to make potential buyers super excited to see the rest of the property
• If you have carpet that is in rough shape or smells, consider ripping it out yourself if you have hardwood floors underneath, it will save the potential buyer the trouble and headache and make your property look more favourable to them
• Hire a cleaning service to do a once thorough cleaning of your property, that way all you have to do is just maintain the upkeep for showings…shameless self promotion, if you hire me, I will hire and pay for the cleaning
• Remember that your home will become a product and as such will be in competition with other properties, therefore make sure your property is showing at its absolute best the moment it hits the market, that means no unmade beds, dirty dishes in the sink or dirty laundry in sight
• Set the ambiance for a scheduled showing with either fresh flowers, Glade plug in, jazz music and turn on the fireplace, if you have one, unless it’s summer, appeal to all the potential buyer’s senses
• Be realistic-The way you sell a house and the way you live in a house are two very different things, compromises need to be made to ensure a quick sale

Final tip: If you are unsure where to start or not sure what improvements will provide the best return on investment, consider hiring a professionally trained stager. They can help with optimal furniture placement and usage of accessories, art and lighting to ensure the best features of your property are highlighted and that you get the best bang for your buck! Christina is so graciously offering a FREE consultation to all my clients, provided that you use her service, you can check out more information on The Staging Group and what they can do for you, by clicking here.

The Process:

• Decide if you want to sell first or buy first
• Hire me and sign all the necessary paperwork, ensure all parties that are on title of the property are present to sign and will be present again to sign when the offer comes in
• Check the outstanding balance of your mortgage and any penalties associated with the discharge so you know the upfront costs
• Choose a lawyer to close the deal
• Have any unpaid property taxes and water bills either paid off or sent to your lawyer so they can pay it off for you when the deal closes
• Find any surveys or sketches of surveys you may have for your property
• Be prepared to have a “For Sale” sign on your property and people gawking at your home every time they walk or drive by, I promise they are not stalking you
• If you live in a condo, condo townhouse or loft, order the status certificate ahead of time as it usually takes 10 days to arrive, you want to be prepared as soon as an offer comes in, as the majority of offers will be conditional upon the review of the status certificate
• Get a pre list home inspection done, especially in a hot market, something that I pay for too
• Be flexible for showings, try to confirm ALL appointments and leave the property during a showing, remember, more buyers coming through your house means better price, terms and conditions for you
• Direct any questions about the property to your realtor, that’s what your paying us to do, we are working in your best interest, always!
• Be realistic about the price of your home, we all think we live in castles, but unfortunately that’s not the case, market value dictates property value, and not your current outstanding debts and potential profit, allowing your property to sit on the market because you’re over priced will make buyers believe there is something wrong with your property
• Emotionally detach yourself, we know it’s easier said then done, but by not doing so, it may impede the sale process by preventing yourself from being realistic about the price and conditions of the offer
• Be prepared to have an open house, meaning the house has to sparkle and you need to find something to do for a couple of hours on the weekend
• On offer night, try to remain calm and let your Realtor do their job by negotiating the best offer for you, if you have something to say, pull your Realtor aside and say it, don’t do it in front of the Buyer’s agent, implement a speak only when your spoken to rule
• Have fun, although this is a stressful time, a drink or two usually helps
• Last but not least……TRUST YOUR REALTOR, you hired them to get the job done, so let them do their job!

Always keep this in the back of your mind……the faster the sale, the less it costs to sell!

Hope this has been helpful, Christina and I would love to hear your feedback!

If you have any further questions, make sure to contact myself or Christina