Preparing Your Cochrane Home To Sell

Thinking about listing your home? Congratulations on taking this exciting step! To ensure your property shines, especially in a competitive real estate market, a little preparation can go a long way. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through some essential steps to get your home ready for a successful listing.

1. Declutter and Depersonalize: This is the simplest and one of the most impactful things you can do to get your home ready to list. Clearing out excess belongings not only makes your space appear larger but also allows potential buyers to better envision the home as their own and how their belongings will fit in the home. It can be difficult for people to look past what is right in front of them or even visualize the potential of a space beyond how it is currently being used. Trust your Cochrane Realtor® with this step as they will be able to provide an unbiased opinion on how spaces can be best viewed in the eyes of the common buyer.

2. Deep Cleaning: A spotless (and good smelling!) home leaves a lasting impression. Consider a deep cleaning, paying extra attention to high-traffic areas, appliances, bathrooms, and closets. A clean home not only looks more appealing but also signals to the potential buyers that the property has been all around well-maintained. 

3. Make Necessary Repairs: Attend to any lingering maintenance issues such as leaky faucets, loose handles or knobs, peeling or chipped paint, or squeaky doors. Complete any projects you’ve started but this is not the time to begin any major projects if you cannot confidently finish them quickly and correctly. Plus, what you believe to be important or stylish may not necessarily appeal to the buyer. Imagine spending thousands of dollars to put in a walk-in shower just for the buyer to rip it out and put the tub back in? Or, beautifully finishing a basement with a bar and entertainment space but your preferred layout doesn’t work for the family of 6 looking to buy? Chatting with your Realtor® is a great idea before taking on any kind of renovation as you may not see the return you expect. Simply put, a well-maintained property instills confidence in prospective buyers.

4. Enhance Curb Appeal: You’ve heard it time and time again, first impressions matter. When it comes to selling your home, that first impression begins the moment potential buyers pull up to the curb. Consider investing some time in landscaping and the exterior of the house. Again, this is not a time to start a large undertaking or pouring too much money into it, simply touch up exterior paint, clean up any weeds or dead vegetation, and add some potted plants or flowers to create a warm and inviting entrance. 

5. Neutralize Colours: Paint is another one of the easiest or most cost-effective ways to have your home appeal to more buyers. While you might love bold colours or a more daring wallpaper, neutral tones are generally more appealing to a broad range of buyers. Painting will yield the best ROI (return on investment). 

6. Showcase Key Features: Since sellers aren’t usually present when potential buyers come to view their home, highlighting its key features is another simple trick to make your house stand out. Arrange your furniture in a way that emphasizes a beautiful fireplace, cool architectural details, or a great view – draw attention to what makes your home special. 

7. Professional Staging: Staging your home is one of the pricier things you can do to prepare your home for sale but, if possible, it is definitely something to consider. There are many different staging options catering to all budgets. You can expect to spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. You can use your own furniture and simply have a design expert rearrange it or you can opt to have all new pieces brought in. Bottom line, it is proven that staged homes often sell faster and for more money.

8. Brighten Up Spaces: Who doesn’t love sunlight? Except when you haven’t dusted in a while! (see #2). Maximize natural light wherever you can, especially the main floor as that is where people spend the most amount of time. Consider adding strategic lighting to brighten up spaces that don’t provide as much natural light. Well-lit rooms not only make potential buyers feel good, but it also helps the room feel more spacious and inviting.

9. Organize Storage Spaces: Storage is often a priority for buyers. Organize closets, cabinets, and other storage spaces to showcase their full potential. Don’t dismiss this tip when decluttering! Even though Realtors do ask buyers to limit touching, people always open cabinets and closets when checking out prospective homes. 

10. Create a Welcoming Atmosphere: One final tip that will set you apart from other homes on the market is to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. In addition to the above 9 items that’ll help create an inviting atmosphere, you can take it one step further by displaying fresh flowers or even freshly baked cookies when you are preparing for a scheduled showing.  

Getting your home ready for listing is an exciting step toward a successful sale. I understand it can be overwhelming or you may feel like, what’s the point? By investing time and effort into these preparations, I promise that you will not only attract more potential buyers but also increase the likelihood of receiving competitive offers and ultimately getting the most amount of money for your beloved home. Best of luck in your home selling journey!