The Smell of Success

Written by Shelly Paul

The Goal: Selling your home as quickly as possible for the maximum price. The Challenge: Spending as little money and time as possible preparing your home. The main 2 reasons that distinguish houses that sell quickly from those that do not are: #1. The house is priced accurately. #2. The buyer can visualize themselves and their family living there. Pricing your home accurately is achieved by an Appraisal or requesting that your Realtor prepare an Opinion of Value regarding the maximum price your home will obtain in the current market. Essentially buying a lifestyle, buyers will picture living in a new house if it supports ‘their’ vision. Look at your home objectively as a product to market and make it stand out from your competition. Curb Appeal: First impressions are very important. The outside of your house is the first thing a buyer will see. Clean/tidy the front Landscape/maintain your yard Repair/touch up the exterior of house Replace rotten wood or torn screens Wash windows inside/out Power wash the exterior Clean light covers Inside Smell: Immediately upon entering, a Buyer will notice how your house smells. Don’t mask odours with Plug-ins or spray, remove the cause of the smell. Smoke outside Air out the house after cooking Give the dog a bath Clean the kitty litter daily Run a dehumidifier in the basement Purchase an air purifier ($40.00 at Zellers) which will neutralize stubborn smells Clean Interior Condition: Keep it simple, the less the buyer has to change/fix, the better. Painting will give you the largest return, stick to soft neutral colours Ensure that doors, windows, faucets, toilets and electrical items are operational, repair/ replace if broken Remove Clutter: The more items you remove, the larger your space will appear. Be honest: ask yourself if you absolutely need or enjoy the item, if not get rid of it Have a garage sale or donate the items to charity For the items that you are not ready to part with, pack them away in boxes and store in the garage or stack neatly in the basement. You will already be half packed for moving day Clear counter tops/cupboards show even more counter/storage space Keep only what you use daily, along with a few furnishings that compliment the functionality of each room Remove Personal Imprint: Help the buyer to visualize living in your house. Put away personal items such as photos, bills, notes, mail, calendars and fridge magnets Clean: A thorough cleaning is essential. Your home should sparkle. Pay extra attention to the kitchen, bathroom(s) and appliances Steam clean carpets Your Realtors’ goal is to get you the best price possible for your home so ask them if there is anything you have overlooked. They will provide an objective and knowledgeable opinion that will make a positive difference to your overall home selling experience.

 

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