6 Essential Pre-Listing Steps.

One of the hardest things I have to do for my clients (some I've just met), is to tell them to put away or get rid of the comforting, familiar things that surround them everyday. Personal items, family pictures (especially difficult when family lives far away or has passed on), outdated furniture, stacks of important papers, etc., are better packed away before putting your home on the market. Buyer's subtract value based on each negative aspect of the properties they view, no matter  how trivial. You deserve to get the very best price for your home in your location. Paint colour and faded sofas shouldn't be deciding factors for Buyer's...but they are!

The process of selling a home is never without stress. Often new opportunities arise when our current homes are not at their best. Whether a home has been lived in for 4 years, or 40 years there are essential steps that must be executed to attract the highest price in the shortest period of time. As simple as most "to-do" lists are, I still see lost opportunities everyday when I'm out showing properties to my clients. Maximizing the saleability of your "product" for sale will attract the best offer and put more money in your pocket!

Here are the basics:

1. Take everything off the walls, EVERYTHING!
This helps you disconnect from your home and it visually reminds you that you are moving. The more disconnected you are, the more you will pack, purge and get excited about the process.

2. Fill all picture holes and touch up flaws in the plaster/ drywall.
By filling holes, so walls appear new, strategic artwork can be hung without appearing as though deliberate staging techniques have been applied. Aesthetic distractions are not always favoured by today's savy Buyers. Often over staged homes lead Buyer's to wonder "what am I missing?", or don't submit an offer because "it's too good to be true".

3. Clear all surfaces, especially the kitchen and bathroom counters, but don't forget dressers, buffets and mantels too.
Clearing surfaces invites Buyers to touch and connect. The more connected they are with your space the more they will want it for themselves. Keeping surfaces clear and tidy throughout the process also makes cleaning up an easy task before showings.

4. Make it sparkle! I always recommend hiring a cleaning crew to come and do a pre-list cleaning. This should include all windows, doors, door handles, baseboards, etc. as well as a good general cleaning. We all get into a cleaning routine, become nose blind to our own smells and overlook areas a Buyer may notice. Hiring a professional will ensure that beauty is noticed in the details.

5. Dress the house for the market. This means, if you are trying to appeal to the double income 30 something's out there, do not rehang the collection of flowery oil paintings from your mother's art class, or showcase your once 4 bedroom house with a bedroom, a sewing room, an office and a storage room. Buyer's won't do the mental math on room possibilities, they will instead move on to the next home on their list. Most human beings can only envision what is actually in front of them. If you have a 3 or 4 bedroom home, make sure it shows as one. 

6. Curb appeal, curb appeal, curb appeal! It's more important now than ever before. The
first impression a Buyer has of your home is now instant on their iPads, smartphones and computers, immediately available to compare to hundreds of other homes for sale right in your area. If your home doesn't look good from the street or the main listing picture, you are missing the biggest opportunity to convert the "I'm just browsing" Buyer, into one who is booking a showing.
Take the time to make your property look its best from the curb and you will attract the best possible offer!
- Paint your front door, the first point of connection (remember what happens when a Buyer connects), even change the hardware if it's old, outdated, loose or pitted.
- Install large seasonal arrangements (that are healthy, well watered, not dead) make entrances look welcoming.
- Install simple, strategic landscaping and spread new (dark) mulch around trees and shrubs. A well planned front landscape can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line.

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Always hire a professional Realtor that knows how to market your property to the known (or researched) target demographic in your area. Get it right and you can make thousands more than you thought. Get it wrong and your house could become stale, stagnant, and less desirable than it should be, all due to a lack of aesthetics and proper presentation.

For more information on the types of services and expertise I provide my Seller's, visit me at www.lauramcbride.ca

Thanks for reading!

If you or someone you know is thinking of making a move, please contact me. I'd love to work with you!

Laura ;)