Prepare Your Home For Sale

Is Your Home Fit To Sell?

You play an important role in selling your home.

Preparing your home to be as presentable as possible is an important role you can play to ensure your home sells quickly and for the highest possible price. RE/MAX Michael Cowling And Associates Realty is pleased to provide you with this Fit To Sell package to help you best prepare your home for sale.

The Fit To Sell featuring Carla Woolnough—a renowned designer and home staging expert—will provide you helpful tips to prepare every room of your home to look its best.

Download Checklist

1. Curb Appeal

Your exterior says a lot about how your home is maintained both inside and out. When buyers see an attractive exterior they will be eager to stop and excited to view the interior as well.

2. Air Quality / Odour / Pets / Holiday

Air quality, odour, pets and holiday decorations can influence whether or not a buyer will make an offer on your home. Buyers want to envision themselves living in the house, and if the home is not presented in a manner that will allow them to do that easily, most buyers will move on.

3. Depersonalizing

Depersonalizing is an important step when it comes to selling your home. Disconnecting yourself from your house will allow buyers to emotionally connect and envision themselves living there. You need to commit to removing your identity from the house and focus on turning your home into a “model home”.

4. Flooring

Flooring is a very important part of preparing your home for sale. The flooring will reveal to buyers how well the home has been maintained. Up-to-date flooring is one of the top selling features buyers are looking for.

5. Furniture Placement and Lighting

Proper furniture and lighting placement will display the room to its full potential. Keep in mind the traffic flow and how buyers will walk through each room. When furniture and lighting are properly placed, you will be able to show off the prime features and allow buyers to see the specific function of each room. Make sure to have all lights on for showings and taking photos of the home.

6. Home Inspection

Consider having your home inspected before it is listed. By having this done you will learn if there are any major repairs needed and can address them before the house goes on the market. This will also show buyers and their agents that you have been proactive. Once the inspection is completed you will be able to determine what the next steps are in preparing your home for sae.

7. Main Selling Rooms

The overall impression of your home is important, but most buyers will focus on the main selling rooms first. Make sure these rooms have an exceptional first impression.

8. Paint

Buyers want to purchase a home that is move-in ready. If your house is painted in very bright or unusual colours, then potential buyers may be turned off or feel that they can negotiate on your asking price. Neutral colours are restful to the eye, and most buyers want to live in the home for awhile before deciding if they want to change the paint colour.

9. Pre-Packaging / Cluttering / Editing

Preparing your home for sale is not just about pre-packing, clutter and editing, but this is a big part of it. Your house needs to be neat, clean and orderly. Organizing and  pre-packing items that are not regularly used will create a spacious feeling. Storage is one of the top items on a buyer’s list.

10. Updates and Repairs

Take an objective look at your house to determine what updates and repairs are necessary. Based on your timeline and budget you will be able to determine what needs to be completed to improve the overall presentation of your home. Buyers today are looking to purchase a home that does not require work. They are also willing to pay more for a house that has been well looked after, so show them that your home is in turnkey condition.

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