I was looking back at some old real estate promotional information that I had come across.  It made for some really entertaining reading as most was written long before the advent of the internet, when people used to shop for homes out of a book, kind of like the old Sears Christmas Wish Catalogue.  In particular, there was a piece about selling your home and the realtor who had written it made the statement “we will make selling your home an enjoyable and stress free experience”.  Once I stopped laughing and picked myself up off of the floor, I thought about everything that goes into completing the sale of your home.  So here are some thoughts on what to expect when your home is for sale.

I believe that we always begin with the end in mind.  That being said, I think most home owners are looking for a quick, successful and profitable sale of their property.  To accomplish this there is some work to be done before a home even gets to the market.  If you choose a successful realtor here in Dufferin, they will typically have a step by step process to get you ready to go that is dependent on the time of the year.  Let’s assume we are talking about spring or summer.  That process might include enhancing the curb appeal of your home.  This may be as simple as cutting the lawns, cleaning up the gardens, black top coating the laneway, fixing eaves or down spouts or touching up exterior paint.  Nothing that will cost you buckets of money but simple things that will make your home more attractive to a buyer.  Staging is another big thing today.  Buyers want to come into your home and have it give them a comfortable, inviting feeling.  So let’s assume you have partnered with a top local Dufferin realtor, you have listened to them and are ready to go to market.  What’s next?

The best piece of advice that I think I could give anyone is to always leave the home show ready when you leave in the morning.  I know that there is always stuff to put away and situations to contend with, and if you have children, your work goes up exponentially!! But here is the thing.  When you get a phone call to request a showing for your home, you want to say yes.  You don’t want to be thinking crap, I didn’t make the beds, or the dishes are in the sink, or the lawn hasn’t been cut in three weeks.  If you miss a showing because of lack of preparation, you could be missing the one buyer who really, really would have fallen in love with your home.

Here are some things to consider.  Keep the grass cut and the gardens cleaned up.  Curb appeal is the first thing a potential buyer will see when they come to look at your home.  Make sure boots and jackets have been put away.  Turn on the lights.  Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.  If you like an occasional beer, take a minute and put the empties in the garage.  If you smoke – cigarettes or cannabis – do it outside.  Hate to be the bearer of bad news but it turns a lot of people off.  If you have pets, try and make sure the home doesn’t smell like wet dog or a litter box that should have been changed a week ago.  If you have a big snake in a terrarium, let the showing agent know.  I once had a client pee their pants when they walked around the corner and saw the 8 foot pet boa constrictor.  Wasn’t pretty at all.  Make beds.  Put laundry away.  Wipe the tooth paste out of the sink.  It’s all these little things that add up to creating an environment that will excite a buyer about purchasing your home.

At the end of the day, the better your home shows, the more the opportunity exists that you will sell your home, more quickly and for more money.  We are always here to help if you have any questions what-so-ever.  Please reach out.