PREPARING FOR SALE
Getting Your Home Ready for Sale
Before listing your home, there are a few essential preparations to complete to ensure it is in ‘show ready’ condition for the market.
As a homeowner, it’s crucial to understand that while deferred maintenance or neglecting necessary repairs may not prevent your home from selling, they can lead to offers that reflect these issues. Typically, this results in lower offers that favor buyers.
By addressing these concerns now and doing some spring cleaning before your home enters the Calgary Real Estate market, you can attract better offers that align more closely with your desired price.
- Enhance Curb Appeal
- Fix & Maintain
- Declutter & Neutralize
- Deep Clean & Refresh
Proper Lighting
This is especially important during winter when our days are shorter, and many potential buyers may view your home in the dark! Therefore, it’s vital to focus on your interior lighting; a dimly lit home can feel uninviting and fail to showcase your property’s features. Take the time to go through your home and replace any burnt-out light bulbs. It’s also a good idea to use the same type of bulbs for a consistent warmth throughout your space. Additionally, don’t hesitate to use the 311 application provided by the city of Calgary to report any streetlights that are out. This will enhance your home’s curb appeal and create a safer, more welcoming environment for prospective buyers.
Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is a crucial element of your home’s overall look and attractiveness. It starts the moment potential home buyers and their realtors arrive at your property for a showing. If your exterior isn’t inviting, or if there’s a lack of outdoor upkeep, trash, or an unappealing appearance, buyers might choose to skip your home, especially if they’re short on time. Dedicate a weekend (or two) to roll up your sleeves, or consider hiring a landscaping service to spruce up your exterior. This includes mowing the lawn, clearing away debris and trash, trimming hedges, and pruning trees—especially those that touch your home or any part of the exterior, including the roof. Don’t overlook exterior lighting, and make sure to remove any obstacles from walkways, fix broken fence boards, and address any deck issues. You can also enhance curb appeal by adding flowers or greenery.
Create Space
Allow prospective buyers to envision their own style in your home by creating space for them to do so. When it comes to staging and preparing your home for sale, less is more. Keep in mind that your primary goal is to sell your home, which means packing and moving are on the horizon. Get a head start, reduce stress during the busy times, and begin decluttering by putting away your knickknacks. A room can feel smaller or more cramped when filled with items, and cluttered countertops can detract from the actual space available. The last thing you want is for buyers to focus on your belongings instead of the home itself.
Set the Stage with Neutral Tones
Neutralizing your home is often considered just as important as decluttering, as it plays a crucial role in making your space appealing to a wider audience. Essentially, neutralizing involves removing bold colors, personal items that might be seen as controversial, and any belongings that could be used against you during negotiations, such as travel photos or diplomas. While you may love your vibrant Calgary Flames-themed room, it may only resonate with a select few buyers who share your enthusiasm. Most potential buyers might struggle to envision how they could repurpose a space filled with such specific decor. Aim to create a room with a neutral color scheme that allows for flexibility and imagination for prospective buyers.
Tackle Small Repairs
Little maintenance items can really add up quickly. As buyers tour your home, they’ll start to mentally note what needs fixing, replacing, or checking. This could lead them to skip your home entirely from their final list or use these items as leverage during negotiations in the due diligence period (home inspection). It’s worth the effort to address the small issues that are easily noticeable during a showing. Fix squeaky doors, ensure closet doors are properly hinged, patch up holes in the walls, and make sure your appliances are functioning well. Clean filters, resolve any electrical problems, repair broken fixtures, and fix leaking toilets or any other minor repairs that can be handled over a long weekend. During the condition period, a buyer will likely have a certified home inspector evaluate your property. Once the inspection is complete, a long list of concerns may arise, leading to a few possible outcomes. The buyer might withdraw their offer without waiving their conditions, especially if there are major issues like foundation cracks or significant leaks that they don’t want to deal with. Alternatively, they may request repairs or ask for a price reduction to cover the cost of the work. By taking care of many of these small items before listing, you’ll be in a stronger position to negotiate and avoid potential issues.
Make Your Home Shine
Nobody wants to move into a mess. Even if you’re willing to hire a professional cleaner (at your expense), buyers can easily be turned off by homes that aren’t clean. A tidy home is much more inviting and shows that you take pride in ownership, which can help lower their defenses in other areas. The perception of a well-maintained home can be felt throughout. Remember, when buyers tour your house, they’re not just looking around; they’ll be opening doors, checking closets and cupboards, and peeking under sinks and in showers. Give your home the best chance to attract new owners by making it sparkle and shine for potential buyers.
Eliminate Odors
Do you notice that smell? If you do, prospective buyers will definitely notice it too, and it might even be more pronounced for them since your nose has likely adjusted to the unpleasant odor! You won’t win over buyers with a home that has bad smells. Since you may have become used to it, ask a friend, neighbor, or family member for an honest opinion about the odors in your home and whether there’s any reason for concern as you prepare for buyers to visit!
Invest Now to Sell Faster
Investing money is essential for some items on this list. However, as mentioned throughout this guide, taking care of these issues now can save you from having to renegotiate terms after a deal is made. Even worse, it could lead to your property staying on the market longer than you’d like, resulting in price reductions or the risk of chasing a declining market.
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