Minor Maintenance

When you went through your home looking at it as a potential buyer, you made notes of the things that needed attention. Your notes should include all the minor maintenance items that, although they will take a little more time and effort than housekeeping, will be relatively simple and inexpensive. These are often the best investment you can make in the value of your home.

Things like simple repairs, fresh paint, patched cracks and mended screens take little time, are not very costly, but add hugely to that first impression.

Let's go back through that same tour now looking for the minor repairs.

Housekeeping in the Basement and Attic

These two areas also make a strong impression on potential buyers so it is important not to neglect them. You will soon be moving, so now is a good time to get rid of anything you won't be taking with you. And it is a good time to pack anything you won't need before you move. Giving your storage areas an organized appearance will make them seem roomy and easy to work in. They will also be easier to clean. Make sure there is good lighting on the stairway to the basement and in the entrance to the attic, if applicable.

Housekeeping the living areas

Again, clean and tidy are the two key words. Clean all floors and vacuum all carpets. Wash walls, woodwork or trim.

Ensure all windows and window coverings are clean and in good working order. When you show your home, open drapes and curtains to brighten rooms. Well-lit rooms appear larger so make sure all light fixtures are clean and all lights are on. If necessary, put in brighter light bulbs.

Use an air freshener to eliminate any musty or offensive odors and lubricate any sticky or squeaky doors and windows.

Remember the closets. Like the kitchen cupboards, you don't want to create the impression the closets are small and cramped. Installing closet organizers and arranging articles in the closets will give the appearance of roominess and adequate storage.

Arrange each room for the appearance of maximum spaciousness. It might mean storing a chair or table out of sight or rearranging furniture so the rooms show to their best advantage.

Generally, tidy up newspapers and magazines and remove any excess knickknacks and memorabilia that you have collected over the years.

Personal or family photos should also be packed away at this time. You want potential buyers to envision their own belongings in this house – not constant reminders that this house belongs to you.

Yard and outside work

Keep the lawn mowed. An application of fertilizer and regular watering will create a lush-looking lawn.

Trim or prune any unruly shrubs, especially those that block light into the house or that hang over the driveway or porch.

Weed and cultivate the flower beds and use an edging tool to make a nice, neat border. A few minutes with a hoe or rake on a regular basis can keep the flower gardens looking their best.

If you don't have flower beds, consider creating some. Or, consider putting planters near the front door. Flowering plants are relatively inexpensive, are generally available throughout the growing season, and add significant appeal to any property.

Keep the walks, porches, steps and driveway swept clean of dust and debris. Edging the grass along the walks and driveway and getting rid of any grass growing up through minor cracks will also dramatically improve the appearance.

During the winter, make sure walks, driveway, steps and porches are always kept clear of ice and snow.

Look at the yard for clutter. Pick up bikes, toys, sports equipment and the like and store them neatly. Storing them in the garage or shed is preferable, but if that isn't possible, gather them together and make them look organized rather than having them scattered across the property.

Get rid of broken or abandoned toys and generally police the yard for trash and debris.

If you have a garage or a shed, clean them up. Sweep out the garage or shed and store things neatly to create the appearance of as much roominess as possible.

If there are oil or gas stains in the garage or driveway, clean them up.

The Kitchen

This may be the single most important room in the buyer's mind. Make the kitchen look roomy by clearing the countertops of all unnecessary items.

You may be comfortable working in your kitchen - you've gotten used to working around the coffee maker, microwave and blender; however, if a potential buyer "feels" that the kitchen is cramped or short of working space, it may leave a negative impression. Even if the kitchen is small and counter space is limited, you can make it "feel" comfortable to work in by opening up as much space as possible.

Look at the whole room for a feeling of roominess and comfort. If you have extra chairs around the table, do they make the room feel crowded? If so, remove a couple of them.

Look in the cupboards, too. Like most people, you have probably accumulated lots of dishes and utensils over the years and your cupboards are full. However, a potential buyer opening cupboards and seeing them crammed full might get the impression that cupboard space is limited. Go through the cupboards and remove many of the things you don't use very often. You can pack these things away now - after all, you are moving soon. Make your cupboards look neat and roomy and your kitchen will make a good impression.

The importance of cleanliness in the kitchen can't be overstressed. The condition of your kitchen will create an impression that will carry throughout the house.

Wash the walls and ceiling to remove accumulated cooking vapors. Clean the hood over the range. Make sure curtains are clean and fresh and the counters and sinks are spotless. Clean the stove, oven and fridge even if they aren't going to be included in the sale. They are part of the overall impression.

A small rug or carpet in front of the sink is a nice addition. It should be clean and not worn.

A bright plant or some fresh flowers will be a nice finishing touch.

Inside the Entrance

Look carefully at your foyer or entrance hallway. Do everything you can to make the entranceway feel roomy and welcoming.

Store boots and shoes out of site, or if you must have them by the door, store them neatly. A mat, boot tray or shoe rack will work nicely here. The same applies to coats and jackets. Store them in the closet if possible. If not, hang them neatly.

If your entrance space feels confined, consider removing any unnecessary furniture you might have that is just taking up space. Hang a mirror, an attractive picture, or other creative decorations that give a homey touch. If you have a mat on the floor, make sure it is clean and in good condition.

Housekeeping

Let's talk about housekeeping first. Ask yourself if your housekeeping inside and out is doing everything that can be done to help you make your sale. Neat and tidy sells. Potential buyers look at housekeeping as an indication of how well other, less visible maintenance is looked after, so a neat, clean property makes a very strong first impression.

Selling Tips

You only get one chance to make a first impression. So does your house. And for most potential home buyers, that first impression often determines whether they will seriously consider a property.

Your home may have all sorts of wonderful features — after all, you bought it for a reason. But if your home doesn't make a good first impression, potential buyers may never see the most appealing aspects.

You have decided to sell your house. The first thing to do is to try to look at your house through new eyes. Remember, you live there, you are comfortable. You don't notice the stained siding anymore or the chips in the paint. You have learned to step over the crack in the sidewalk; you know just how to jiggle the latch so the gate opens.

Your first challenge is to step back and look at your house the way a potential buyer would look at it, seeing it for the first time. (Read our Tips For Buying A Home on this website to get an idea what potential buyers are looking for.)

Start right out at the street. What impression does your home make as you approach it? Is it neat and tidy with a well-kept lawn and gardens? Is the paint fresh? Is the siding clean? Does it look inviting or, does it look a little tired? Are the eaves sagging? Does the front porch need touching up? Do the shrubs and bushes need trimming? Are the flower beds sparse and weedy?

Using those same "first impression" eyes, take a tour of your home as though you were seeing it for the first time as a potential buyer. Go slowly, take notes as you go.

Look at your home at three levels: housekeeping, minor maintenance, and major maintenance.

Housekeeping issues are the easiest to fix. Minor maintenance — like painting, repairing marks on walls or replacing damage baseboard take a little more effort, but are relatively low-cost and can add significant first-impression value to your home. Major maintenance can take a lot more effort, and in some cases can be a lot more costly. You need to consider carefully whether the improvements will add enough value to your home to be a good investment. A basic rule is to do the cosmetic things which will improve your chances of selling, but avoid the major projects unless they add more value to the home than they cost.

Some things may be unavoidable such as repairs for structural soundness. Others, such as new flooring or a major bathroom renovation, might better be left to the new owner so they can do the work to their own taste.

Marketing, Open Houses and Viewing

Propertyshop.ca will be your most effective marketing tool, but you will also want to consider other options including print advertising and open houses.

Classified word ads directing potential buyers to your detailed listing on Propertyshop.ca are worth considering, particularly if you choose to hold one or more open houses.

Open houses and viewings of your house are effective marketing opportunities you should consider, but be sure to ask people for their names, addresses and get identification from them when you let them into your home. (You wouldn’t let strangers into your house at any other time without knowing a little bit about them.) Serious potential buyers should not be put off by this request.

When showing your house make sure you have put away all valuables and any objects that could easily be taken. When potential buyers are viewing your home make sure you or some other responsible person escorts them through your house.  You do not know these people . You do not want them in your house without someone you know with them. Prior to having a viewing or open house it is important to prepare your house so you make a good impression and also ask some questions of the potential buyers to qualify them that they can indeed afford to purchase your house (see Selling tools below for detail lists on qualifying potential buyers and preparing your home for viewing or open house).

Have copies of a fact sheet to hand out at your open house (you can simply print whatever pages you choose from your listing on Propertyshop.ca)

With the business arangement propertyshop.ca has with Best Value Real Estate you can also get your property on the mls.ca and realtor.ca websites.

Lawn signs for selling your property

Never underestimate the power of a lawn sign. The majority of houses are sold because a potential buyer saw the lawn sign and found the property attractive enough to call about it. A Propertyshop.ca lawn sign will stand out. It will have instant attraction because it will tell interested prospects how to get information about your house immediately, by phone. They can even call from their car while they are right out front looking at your property that has caught their attention.

And if they want more information, they can leave a message for you - all in the same call.

Setting the right Price when selling your home

You have decided to sell your home. The very first thing you think about is "How much is my home worth?"

In one sense, the answer to that question is: "My home is worth whatever a buyer is willing to pay." The problem is, you really only find that out at the end of the process what that price is. Meanwhile, you have to set a target, a listing price to give potential buyers an idea of what you think your home is worth.

It is essential that the listing price you set be realistic. If it is too high, you may discourage potential buyers. If it is too low, you may find it sells very quickly, but you will not have realized the maximum value.

Many factors influence the value of your home: location, age, condition, size and style are among the most common factors. The biggest influence, however, is market conditions. When demand is high, prices generally tend to be higher; when demand is low, prices are lower, too.

How do you know what is a reasonable price for your home? You can check other listings on Propertyshop.ca. You can look at other websites, newspaper advertising, and real estate publications to see at what price similar homes have listed. You can talk to friends and acquaintances that have bought or sold recently.

These are indications only. They will put you in the ball park perhaps, but they won't factor in things that may be unique to your home.

The best, surest way to make sure your home is priced appropriately taking into account all the factors we have mentioned, including market demand, is to have a professional appraisal.

This is well worth the price. You will be assured that, based on the appraisal, you are setting the right price for your home. The appraisal is confidential between you and the appraiser. You don't have to show it to anyone. But it is a valuable document to have if you want to show it to a potential buyer during negotiations. That is your choice alone.

The appraisal will take into consideration the specific condition of your home. (See our Selling Tips for a number of ideas to enhance the value or the "sellability" of your home.)

You may choose to combine the appraisal with any improvements you make in order to find a fair asking price. Remember, selling a house is a negotiation. Your asking price should be higher than the price you are willing to accept, but not too much higher.

There is a danger in overpricing your house. It can end up sitting on the market for an unreasonable length of time, and people can start to wonder if there is something wrong with the house if it hasn’t sold.

In a competitive market where real estate agents are competing for listings, you can end up with someone “buying” a listing by promising an inflated price. This almost always ends up in creating false expectations on the part of the owner and, ultimately, disappointment.

With Propertyshop.ca you aren’t influenced by competition for listings. You set your own price based on a realistic assessment of all the factors that determine the value of your home.

Nobody will try to “sell” you on an unrealistic price.