When you put your home on the market, you want it to sell fast and at the highest value possible. To get top dollar when you sell, you must think like a buyer and take the time to do these simple repairs and renovations BEFORE you list for sale.

Remember First Impressions Are Important!

When selling your home, the first impression is the most important. Buyers are tech savvy and informed and often search for homes online or drive by the home before they make an appointment to view it with their real estate agent. If a potential buyers first impression of the home is that of disrepair or neglect, it’s unlikely that you will get them in the door.

Start with the curb appeal; paint or replace the front door. It doesn’t have to be the same colour as your exterior, make it look fresh and eye catching by painting or thoroughly cleaning it and ensure that it works properly and locks easily.

Freshen up your landscaping by removing unhealthy and overgrown trees or plants and replacing them with healthy ones, remove any weeds or debris, sweep and shovel your walkways and driveway, clean siding and windows if needed and ensure all outside lighting is in proper working order (potential buyers are just as likely to see your home in the dark as they are during the light of day)

 

Paint It!

When planning sell a home painting before you go on the market is always a good idea. A new coat of paint will make your home feel fresh, clean and updated. Painting is a relatively quick and inexpensive way to improve your homes appearance and gives it an overall impression of being well cared for.

Before you paint remember light NEUTRAL colours are the key to success and dark colours can make a room feel smaller than it is! White, beige and grey are your best options and are most likely to help potential buyers envision

themselves and their belongings in the home.

Clean and De-clutter

Clean, clean, clean, and de-clutter! A thorough deep clean before you list your home for sale can make a significant difference. Have carpets cleaned before you hit the market especially if there have ever been pets in the home, make sure that all light fixtures, mouldings, doors, floors, cabinets, and light switches are squeaky clean. A well cleaned home tells the buyer that you care for the home and are more likely to ensure maintenance and repairs have been done throughout the years.

De-cluttering creates more storage space and helps rooms appear more spacious. Pack, donate and throw away. If you have items that you don’t use daily or won’t need for the next few months pack them. Items you no longer need or use should be donated or sold for extra cash. Throw away all items that aren’t in good condition and can’t be sold or donated. You are planning to move anyways so why not start the process of packing and decluttering BEFORE you list for sale?

Bathrooms and Kitchens Are the Most Important Rooms of The Home

Buyers always pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. Dated cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliances, fixtures, and knobs can give the entire home the impression of being dated and in need of costly renovations.  Although it can be difficult with your own home, take an impartial look at your kitchen and bathrooms. Are they functional? Do the cabinets open and close properly? Do the faucets leak? Spending the time and money to make the necessary repairs before you list will increase your chances of selling your home. Updating paint (walls and cabinets), countertops, knobs and flooring are relatively inexpensive repairs to make and can have a large impact when you are trying to sell. Need advice on updates and don’t know where to start? Talk to your real estate agent, we are here to help you

Fix It If Its Broken

Buyers offer to pay less for a home that has the appearance of needing costly repairs and nearly every buyer has a home inspection done before they buy so why not make the repairs BEFORE you go on the market? Leaky faucets, outdated electrical wiring and plumbing, windows and doors that don’t open and close properly, cracked tiles, shingles that need to be replaced and hot water tanks and furnaces that are beyond their life expectancy are all repair costs the buyer will deduct from the offer amount or even worse, are reasons why they choose to not buy your home.

Pay Attention to the Flooring

Outdated, stained, cracked or damaged flooring reduces the overall value of your home to the buyer. Most likely replacing all the flooring is not in your budget so put the cleaning fairy to work for you. A professional deep clean of the carpets can remove stains and odors, repair of cracked grout and tiles can have a large impact at an affordable price, and a deep clean of older wood floors can bring them whole new life.

IF you do choose to replace flooring there are many options available. Although hardwood and tile floors have long been a favourite, laminate, vinyl plank and linoleum now come in a variety of colours, styles and price options and can be a great affordable alternative.

Lighting and Odors

During showings and while having pictures taken open your curtains and let the sun shine in! This will help your home to feel more spacious and welcoming. If buyers are viewing the home in the evening, make sure to have your lights on and ready for them before they arrive. Dark rooms can give the appearance of a small or unwelcoming home.

If you followed my advice had did a deep clean of your home before going on the market you will have gotten rid of any lingering odors that were present. Pay special attention to pet odors that can be caused by pet hair, litter boxes or “accidents” on the floor and strong cooking odors that may linger in the home.

Open the windows, vacuum, wash and remove any causes of these odors before buyers arrive.

Although taking the time to clean, organize, refresh, and repair your home may seem like a daunting task, completing these items BEFORE you list will save you time on the market and will help your home to sell for top dollar