Tips to Help Sell Your Home Fast!
When it comes time to sell your home you need to start thinking about it, and looking at it, in an entirely new way. It’s no longer the cozy place where you hang your hat and throw your belongings on the floor at the end of a long day. It’s now a product ready to be sold, and you must make sure that you’re presenting that product in the best possible way to potential homebuyers. This involves much more than simply cleaning up the clutter and making sure pet odours don’t linger in your home.
Today’s homebuyers are busy, and generally not looking to tackle homes that need major improvements or repairs on their own. It’s for this reason that before you put your home on the market, you should always hire a home inspector. Home inspection fees can range anywhere from $175 – $400 in major cities but the cost will be well worth it. After all, any homebuyer is most likely going to get their own inspection before they buy, and this is a great way to make sure that you’re not caught with any surprises.
In addition to hiring a home inspector, who will point out major concerns and issues with your home, here are some other tips for selling your home that you can use.
The Exterior
• Remove from clutter from all front, back, and side yards.
• Repair cracked driveway or walkway surfaces.
• Re-seed any bald patches in your lawn. Prune trees and shrubs, clean up compost area, weed flower beds, and if it’s the right time of year, plant flowers that will add colour and aesthetic appeal.
• Mow your lawn regularly.
• Clean exterior windows and walls.
• Paint the front door, if needed, and polish or replace the doorknob.
• Clear eaves and downspouts of leaves and debris.
• Power wash, stain, or clean the deck and walkways.
• Check that all exterior lights are in good, working condition and that their fixtures are also working and in good condition.
• Check your roof; this can be done with a good pair of binoculars rather than climbing up there yourself. Make sure tiles are not sagging or torn, shingles are not curled, there is no pooling of water, and that your roof is in generally good condition.
Kitchen and Bathrooms
• In the kitchen, clean all appliances so they look like new, especially if they’re included with the sale of the home. Clean or replace hood filters on the stove, which can become incredibly greasy and dirty. Clean cabinets inside and out.
• Keep your fridge clean – inside and out. If it’s included in the sale, people may want to look inside so don’t keep a bunch of old food in there, or have large spills and stains on the shelves. Remove anything from the top of the fridge and take away all magnets, artwork, important phone numbers, etc.
• If there are items on the counter that are simply being stored there, remove them.
• In the bathroom check for mildew and take care of it.
• Make sure if a toilet is running you have it fixed; and consider replacing your old toilets with 6-litre toilets that are much more energy and water efficient.
Basements
• Basements often become damp and musty. If this is the case with yours, invest in a dehumidifier to take care of the problem.
• Make sure the basement is very, very clean – buyers will spend a lot of time down there looking at the structure and foundation of the home.
• Replace the filter in your furnace.
Garages and Sheds
• These are great places for homeowners to store all their “projects in the making” that never make it out the door. Get rid of all old and broken tools, bike parts, car parts, empty paint cans, and anything else that is not an essential item. These areas too need to be kept spotless and clutter-free, even if they’re not actually inside the home!
During Showings
• Open all window coverings to let as much natural light in as possible. Turn lights on in rooms that are naturally dark.
• Open windows before any potential buyers arrive. This will get rid of cooking and pet odours lingering around inside your home, and it will give it a “fresh” feeling.
• Put fresh flowers out on display.
• Clear all clutter out and make sure all garbage cans are empty.
• Ensure that your home is spotless.
• Make sure the temperature inside your home is comfortable.
• Keep pets out of the house, either outside or at a friend or family member’s house.
• Make a place for boots, shoes, umbrellas, etc. It will make buyers feel more welcome, and will save you from more cleaning once they have left.
• Do leave a copy of your heating and hydro bills. Buyers will want to know what the average utility costs are.
• Leave! There’s nothing more uncomfortable for buyers than to be followed around the house by a seller. Let your real estate agent handle the showing, and go get a cup of coffee or do some grocery shopping while you wait.
There are many tips for selling your home fast. These, combined with a home inspection that will make you aware of major problems, should be enough for selling your home, and getting the deal done quickly!