Set Your Home to Sell (Canada)

The primary goal that home sellers are trying to achieve is to sell their home as fast as possible and to make the most money. This is not a lofty goal when it only takes a few simple steps and a few days work to set your home to sell for its maximum selling price. Follow these steps and be prepared to be wresting with multiple offers. Just remember... your home is someone's dream home!

LETS GET STARTED!

1. De-Personalize

Clear away all items of a personal nature. This includes all photos, cards, family heirlooms, and anything that says to a buyer that this is your home. You want your buyer to have as few distractions as possible as they picture this being their home. You want them to picture their pictures sitting on the tables, not yours.

2. Clear the Clutter

Clear out everything that is not a necessity. This includes all personal items. You do not need numerous hygiene products, pictures lining every wall or large unnecessary furniture. The kitchen should be largely cleared out. The refrigerator should be clean and organized.

3. Rearrange and Clear out

Clean out all closets and cupboards. People are nosey by nature and they will be snooping into your belongings. Keep the home largely colour coordinated including linens and towels. You want potential buyers to feel that you take pride in your home and treat it will, they will feel more secure buying your home knowing it was well taken care of.

4. Optimize Space

In our everyday lives it is not unnecessary to have large amounts of furniture in a room. Normally homes have large, comfortable couches with numerous coffee and end tables. Unfortunately, when selling a home too much furniture only makes the house look smaller. Rent a storage unit. This is your best asset when selling your home. Rearrange the furniture to optimize the space that you have.

5. Cover Up

Women use foundation to cover their imperfections and create a glowing appearance and that is just what you must do to give your home a face-lift. This can be done as simply as patching any imperfections in the walls and adding a coat of paint. Keep all colours neutral beiges. Paint store staff will be very helpful in selecting the perfect tones to neutralize your home. Simply add or take away from your home to maximize its potential. Think of it as going through an opulent show home and what you would want to see. Keep it to the basics!

6. Sparkle and Shine

Ok, so cleaning isn't the most fun activity to do, but I promise it will pay off in the end. A clean and neat home is what all buyers want. They want a well taken care of and loved home that they can love as well. Get the family together and make it an event. Go room to room and clean EVERYTHING! The things that you think they wont see, they will! Whether it is behind the stove, in the oven, on top of the light fixtures, every particle of dust leaves an impression. Don't forget also that the outside of your home leaves just as much of an impression. Mow the lawn, trim the hedges, prune the flowers, and remove garbage receptacles and any unnecessary items around the perimeter of the house.

7. Take the Tour

This is where you know if you have completed these tasks successfully. Stand out in the front of the house. Does the door look nice? Are the windows clean? Lawn cut and looking pristine? Walk into the house and take a look around. Does it sparkle? Does it look as though no one even lives here? I hope so because if so, you have just set your home to sell! Good Luck!