Getting Ready to Sell

Your home will be viewed by buyers amongst many other homes on the market and first impressions are lasting ones. This means you need to declutter and make your home less personal. During your personal consultation I will make some suggestions as to how to best present your home for selling but in the interim here are some general suggestions.

Less is more. For buyers to imagine themselves in your home they need to have a good feel for the space, don’t distract their eye with “stuff”. Each room should be well appointed with elements of décor but minimize the personal touches.

Kitchen – show off the counter space by putting away appliances. Keep the fridge clear of personal photo’s and art work. Make sure appliances are squeaky clean. People will look in your cabinets and pantry to so take the time to straighten up so that you don’t create an impression you don’t have adequate space.

Living room – keep the knick knacks to a minimum. Look at your furniture layout and ask yourself if taking a piece or two out will open the room and allow buyers to imagine more options. We want the room to be inviting and appear functional but also want to show off the floor space.

Bathroom – put away your personal products and toothbrushes. Declutter the bath tub. Put away extra bottles of products and children’s toys. You might want to freshen up the room with a new shower curtain and fresh towels. Above all clean and fresh is best!

Bedrooms– make sure your closet is tidy. If its over full it will appear as though there isn’t enough room. Thin out your wardrobe if needed and pack it away so buyers can appreciate the space you have. Ensure the room is inviting and if you have personal or intimate photos put them away.

Go through your home with a fine-tooth comb and bring in a carpenter or handyman if needed. You want to remove all objections for buyers: fix those leaky faucets, squeak doors, loose knobs, etc. This is a great time for paint touch ups around base boards and walls where there is high traffic. Change the any burnt out light bulbs and if a room is without a window or appears dark, consider white light bulbs to bring brightness to the area.

Cleanliness is next to godliness. This is a good time to do a deep clean and really polish up your home to ensure its show ready.

I love my pets, but it doesn’t mean others will. If you have pets, make sure you have cleaned up after them as well. If possible remove all evidence of pets and ensure that your home passes the sniff test.

Curb appeal is everything as the impression starts here. Make sure you home presents as well kept and inviting. Keep the lawn trimmed, display some color with flowers and if winter make sure your snow is shovelled and ice is taken care of.