How to Sell Your Home for More

 

In today's market, consumers are looking for homes that are in "move-in" condition, with are the latest upgrades and appeal. Even if your home is not in "model"  home appearance, there are things you can do to make it attractive for buyers.

 

Curb Appeal

Buyers immediately get an impression of a home and it's upkeep when arriving and seeing the front entry and sometimes make a decision before even entering the house, so making sure it's attractive and appealing has it's advantages. Some things to consider:

1. Clean-up yard - keep grass cut, keep it green, remove weeds, pick-up trash, rake leaves and keep it looking its best. Wash (pressure-wash) sidings, windows, cement, furniture and decks
2. Shovel if snowing - make sure people can get in
3. Repair - fix cracks in concrete & asphalt, repair any broken or rotting wood, broken fences, align downspouts with gutters, repair cracks in foundation
4. Update hardware - replacing a sticky door lock, updating door knobs, lighting & the mail box does help. 
5. Get plants in order - trim bushes or plant attractive flowers. Hiring a landscaper can be worth the cost depending on condition
6. Stage backyard / balcony - create a focal point, a conversation area to entertain or make an outdoor living room
7. Paint - remove chipped paint & refresh trim, door & shutters paint as necessary. Use neutral colours.

 

Staging

Keep in mind, you are selling the home to a new owner, so disassociate yourself from it being YOUR home. It is a product to be sold at the best price so make it have mass appeal. Staging can increase the sale price by 3-6% and sell 2-3 times faster.

1. Declutter - Pack, donate or throw away items not in use. Pack knickknacks, Clean off kitchen counters, hide essential items. Consider this is a head-start on packing.
2. Clean up - Remove mildew and cobwebs, clean refrigerator, vacuum daily, wax floors, bleach grout, replace worn carpet, make it smell great
3. Minor Repair -  Replace cracked ceramic tiles, patch holes in walls, fix leaky faucets, repair doors & drawers that don't close properly, replace burned-out light bulbs, re-caulk tub, sink & outside 
4. de-Personalize - Pack personal photographs and family heirlooms. Let buyers imagine their own photos on the walls and say "I can see myself living here."
5. Fresh Paint - Use neutral colours on walls and repaint baseboards/crown moulding/trim if worn
6. Rearrange / Remove Furniture - make the room look as big as possible by rearrange and decluttering, re-purpose the room
7. Make "Wow" Factor Transformations - Paint front door a contrasting color, use attractive artwork & decorations, make use of pillows & throw blankets, make bed & use neutral coverings. If possible, buy some attractive furniture (pick pieces that would also work in your new home)

Staging examples Before and After: How staging can make the home look more appealing

 

Make it Stand Out

According to a 2010 study, 90% of buyers are starting the process online and deciding which homes to see from the pictures/tours & description of the home. Make your home stand out by having the best possible photos.

Professional Photography - A pro camera can capture 2x more area, more detail, better colour and better lighting than a regular point & shoot

Virtual Tour - 360^o tours offer a better view of a room and give people a better impression of the home

 

Regular vs Pro Camera examples: Professional photography can create a mood & make the room look larger

More examples: Creating a mood to help sell the home

 

Mass Advertising

Websites - Publish to as many sites as possible that buyers use: realtor.ca, realtor websites, kijiji.ca, craigslist.ca, homefinder.ca, & zoocasa.com to name a few.

Web Search engines - Make your home at the top of search engine for buyer keywords (e.g. homes for sale) - involves MUCH more that just making a website

Newspaper - Some people are still search in newspapers but the amount is dwindling but could be effective in some instances

Signage - Make sure your home has a "For Sale" sign since neighbours may tell friends and family about the new listing next door

Blogging - Telling others by blogging on websites, Facebook, Twitter, etc. 

Advertise to Buyer - Having a buyer database or e-mail/phone number is effective as well.

 

Allow Buyer Viewings

Showings - makes sure buyers can view your home on their timing since they may not re-book an appointment that could have sold your home

Open Houses - some people shop for a new home through open houses, so make sure you know the risk/benefits of having a public open house 

 

Negotiating Offer

Comparable Home Sales - Knowing sold prices is key since MLS listing prices are only a suggestion. It's not uncommon for a home to be over-priced on MLS to "test the market"

Market conditions - understanding the market type (buyer or sellers market), pricing trends (pricing due to potential or current market)

Strategies - Whether to sell fast, promote multiple offers (and strategies to not have buyers walk away), wait for the best offer

Offer writting Protection - make sure you have conditions to protect you but not to scare away buyers 

 

 

Make it Easy

As a full time real estate professional, constantly studying the market and with years of experience, I know exactly what it takes to get your home sold for the most amount of money and the best terms. When I list your home for sale, I take all the above factors into consideration and arrange for them to occur as fast as possible. All this for a reasonable and competitive fees along with various options to help you save money. Check out my selling a home listing packages for more information.