If you are considering listing your home for sale this Spring one of our Sage Executive Group Realtors will be happy to help you start the process. You might consider a home staging company to get your property looking its absolute best but there’s a lot of things you can do yourself. Here are some ideas to get you started.
De-Clutter
This is so important. Buyers want to see how spacious your place is. By starting now you will have time to go through those drawers and cupboards that you will need to empty when you move anyway. Why not save yourself moving stuff you don’t use? Clothes, shoes, books, toys, extra pots and pans can all go, or, at least be boxed up and stored until after the sale. You might not realize that buyers have a tendency to open closets and cupboards! If they look crowded buyers will assume storage will be tight for them as well.
Too much furniture can also make a space look cluttered. Your home will look bigger if it’s not jam-packed. Go through the house room by room and ask yourself what you can live without. Sell or store with friends with basements.
Bring in the Sun
Let the sun shine in! Open your window coverings for showings. Don’t just open the blinds, pull them up to see the view and let in light. Home buyers love light, bright rooms. If the view isn’t so nice angle the blinds or hang sheer panels.
Get started on cleaning windows and window sills inside so you are ahead of the game. Once it warms up tackle the outside.
If you have those heavy, expensive, custom drapes and valances that were popular years ago take them down, really! If you’ve had them 20 years they are out of date. We’re getting started early here so you have time to update!
Get Scrubbing
Inside and out - your house should be spotless. A nice clean scent helps too. A one-time cleaning won’t do the trick. You’ll need to keep at it until your house sells. Check for cobwebs, wipe counter tops, scrub grout, mop floors, wash light fixtures and repeat.
If cleaning bathtubs and wiping down baseboards is simply not your area of expertise, consider hiring a weekly cleaning service. Yes, it’s an investment, but if it shortens your selling time, it’s money well spent.
Set the Scene
Do you want buyers to fall in love with your house the moment they see it? Let’s get going on curb appeal because first impressions matter. If there is still snow be sure to shovel walkways. In spring and summer your lawn must be mowed and edged, bushes must be trimmed, and flower beds must be weeded and topped with fresh mulch or bark. Add colorful flowers near the front door, either in flowerbeds or pots. Red flowers make the biggest impact. Hide the mower, the kids toys and the garbage cans.
You’ll make your home even tougher to resist if you borrow or rent a power washer to clean grimy sidewalks, driveways, stairs and decks. Remember: You want everything to look fresh, fresh, fresh.
Take New Photos
Once you’ve de-cluttered, cleaned and planted flowers, take new photos of your home.
Buyers say their home search relies, at least in part, on online listings. It’s important that the photos used in those listings and printed flyers reflect the improvements you’ve made to your home. Photos that showcase your de-cluttered, squeaky clean, curb-appeal-laden abode will appeal to a broader range of home buyers. Watch out for rookie mistakes like camera flash, heavy shadows, low lighting or mirrors reflecting the photographers image.
Call a Sage Realtor
Naturally you’ll start by calling your knowledgeable Sage Realtor® to help you get started! Give us a call now, we are happy to help! Find out more about Kelowna Real Estate!
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