Selling

I learned long ago that less is definitely more when it comes to getting your house ready to show. Be sure to do a clean sweep of all counters, windowsills, tables, and all other visible areas, and then tackle behind doors: closets, drawers, and cupboards – because NOTHING is off-limits for interested buyers.

If the house is overflowing with stuff, the buyers might worry that the house won’t have ample space for all their belongings.

Take your excess stuff and donate it, or pack it up to be stored off-site. Not only will cleaning clutter help your house look more appealing to buyers, it will also help you once you’ve accepted an offer and get ready to move into your new home. It will make moving a lot easier for you if your stuff is already packed.

The next step in your declutter list should be to remove any distractions so potential buyers can visualize themselves and their family living in the property. I also encourage my sellers to remove personal items and family photos, as well as any bold artwork and furniture that might make the home less appealing to buyers. The goal is to create a blank canvass on which buyers can project their own visions of living there…and loving it.

You might like that orange accent wall, but if it’s your potential buyers least favourite colour, that could be a turnoff.

You’re pretty safe with a neutral colour because it’s very rare that someone will hate it, and the other benefit is that a lighter colour allows buyers to envision what the walls would look like with the colour of their choice.

It’s in your best interest to help buyers picture themselves in your house and if they don’t feel at home they will be off to look at other homes.

Even if you’re not doing a full-on repainting project, pay special attention to scrubbing and then touching up baseboards to make your house sparkle and cared for.

When you have your home fixed and up and move-in ready you’ll create more interest and maybe even multiple offers.

It’s a small thing, sure, but you’d be surprised by the negative effect a loose handle or missing lightbulb can have on buyers. It can make them stop and think what else is broken in this house. When selling your home you want to give buyers confidence that your house will make a great home for them and their family.

When selling your house, remember that green is good. Adding plants will create a brighter and more welcoming environment. You may even want to consider placing a bouquet of flowers or a bowl of fruit on the kitchen or dining room table. Adding plants and natural elements will impress buyers by bringing some extra colour and life to your decor.

Foul odors, even slight ones, can be a real deal breaker, and the problem is that you might not even notice them.

If the smells are pervasive, prepare to do some deep cleaning as many buyers are fully aware of sellers “masking techniques” such as candles or plug-in room deodorizers. And be sure to keep in mind that trying to cover up odors with a stronger scent might even backfire if the buyer doesn’t like the smell or lavender or artificial citrus.

Once you’re done cleaning your house, clean some more. Even if you’re not worried about what buyers will think of your home’s scent, you’ll want your house to look spotless.

Think of it this way: You’ll probably want photos taken of your house when it looks its best because buyers will expect your house to look like it does in those pictures.