Synonymous with prime selling season, spring and summer are the perfect time to freshen up your space in preparation for getting your house listed on the market. I've rounded up some great cleaning tips that will not only transform your space into a swoon worthy dwelling but also attract home buyers looking to purchase their next home. Ready to embark on your cleaning journey? Read on to get started!
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
First things first: declutter your home. No prospective buyer wants to step into a house filled with perceived junk. Go around the house to identify items that have been taking up precious space for months and years. Perhaps it's your collection of novels you've been meaning to read. Or clothes you've held onto for special occasions or 'just in case' situations that never quite materialized. Once you figure out what needs to be donated or boxed up and stored in your garage, you'll breathe easier knowing that you've created a perfect space for the next owner to manifest their dream home.
Keep Your Windows Sparkling Clean
There's nothing like dirty windows, screens, and sills that signal 'Don't look inside' to prospects. Tackle this moderately intense project by starting with the inside of your home, as you'll have more control over the outcome. To clean the windows outside, hose them down and remove excess water by using a squeegee or hire a professional for the harder to reach exterior windows. As for cleaning solutions, there are plenty of eco-friendly products that will yield sparkling, streak free results. More of a DIY person? Mix distilled white vinegar with water for the same results.
Get Your Floors Spick and Span
Chances are, you already sweep, dust. or vacuum your house every week to keep your floor looking and smelling fresh. Despite your best efforts, stubborn dirt, dust. and allergens get deeply embedded in your hardwood floor or carpet, leaving behind a less-than-pleasant appearance and odor. Whether you live in a large compound or a smaller, cozier house, it's well worth the money to enlist the help of a professional floor cleaning service to ensure every square inch of your place looks and smells brand new. Want to maintain the freshness without added chemicals? Use an air purifier in lieu of air fresheners to eliminate funky smells.
Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal
Beautifying your outdoor space is just as important as cleaning the interior of your home. Take a mini-tour of your yard and garden; does your lawn need a proper cut? Are there any pesky weeds sprouting throughout your otherwise pristine yard? Take care of the landscaping duties your self or hire a professional to tidy things up while you bask in the sun and sip on a refreshing glass of Arnold Pa I mer. If neither of these applies, enjoy a weekend of embellishing your garden with fresh flowers and lush plants conducive to thriving in your city. Or try adding a fresh coat of paint to your front door for a quick, inexpensive way to make the right impression. (Pro tip: Stick to neutral colours as they appeal to most home buyers.)
De-gutter and Mend Your Roof
After months of snow-ridden (or unseasonably warm) winter days, chances are your gutter and roof show some weather-induced wear and tear. Remove the collection of dead leaves and debris from the gutter to prevent any unwanted critters and insects from inhabiting the space and potentially clogging it. While you're at it, inspect your roof for any holes, leaks, and other damages incurred during the previous season. Taking these steps will not only save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in costly repairs, but whoever is lucky enough to snag your abode will have a sturdy yet comfortable roof over their head.
Make Your A/C Unit Run Like a Breeze
With warmer weather ahead, make sure that your air conditioner is in tip-top shape. Not only will this prevent you from enduring sweltering heat once the temperatures rise but the next occupants will also appreciate the cool breeze that sweeps through the house. Start by changing the air filter regularly (the general rule is every 30 days) since that can be done easily by yourself. For more intense tasks such as cleaning air vents and ducts, hire an HVAC profession also they can access hard-to-reach areas in your house.
Ready to Sell?
For professional advice and information on selling a home with a top notch agent, contact Andrew St. Hilaire Winnipeg REALTOR®.
A 'bidding war' may sound like a military incursion fought over a real estate purchase, but really, it simply means there is competition from multiple buyers, all submitting an offer to purchase the same property and then increasing their offer to compete. It can cause frustration and serious issues for buyers looking for their next home, and can be very rewarding for sellers who end up selling for much more than they are expecting.
The competition in today's seller's market, where supply is low and demand is high, pushes buyers to submit offers with a price much higher than the list price, and in order to keep their offers competitive and 'clean', they may even exclude some conditions that would otherwise be reasonable to include such as a home inspection or even a financing condition. However frustrating or rewarding a bidding war might be for buyers and sellers, bidding wars are not absolute chaos and there are rules and guidelines for agents to follow when handling multiple offers.
Ethics
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has a Code of Ethics all REALTORS® must follow as a standard of conduct based on moral integrity, competent service to clients and customers, and dedication to the interest and welfare of the public. This standard ensures the protection of the rights and interests of consumers of real estate services. Under this code, REALTORS® have a duty to protect and promote the interests of their clients. This duty would require that if a client wishes to encourage a multiple offer situation and possibly a bidding war, it is the REALTORS® obligation to do what is best to promote their client's interests.
REALTORS® also have an obligation to disclose if they are representing multiple clients in a specific sale, such as if they represent both the seller and a buyer, since all parties need to provide informed consent, and no private information regarding motivations, circumstances, etc. is to be shared between parties that might give an advantage to either party.
Manitoba Disclosure Rules
When there are multiple offers submitted for a property, and there is a set date and time when offers will be presented to the seller for review and consideration, the listing agent is required to communicate to all buyers or their agents that there are multiple offers and may provide the total number of offers. Generally, this is done an hour to 15 minutes before the offers will be presented and this provides an opportunity for buyers to consult with their agents and decide if they wish to make any changes to their offer. If changes are to be made, the buyer or their agent will communicate the changes to the listing agent who will update their submitted offer.
According to the Manitoba Securities Commission, the listing agent must be very precise in their communication to the competing buyers or their agents. Listing agents must not disclose any details of the competing offers, whether directly or by implication, and likewise, must take heed of contract law, and traditional industry practice related to the options of acceptance, rejection or counter. Some very limited degree of "pre-qualification" and "clarification" is allowable. Any other variation will make the listing agent subject to discipline. Except as noted below, as a general rule, an agent (acting on a seller’s instruction) may only accept, reject or counter an offer, and do so in writing.
By way of an exception to the general rule, a listing agent may contact the buyer or their agent and communicate in the following manner:
- If there is something unclear (or there appears to be an error in drafting) on the buyer’s offer, the listing agent can seek clarification.
- The listing agent can enquire whether the buyer is flexible on a particular term (e.g. possession date, or the amount of the deposit).
In doing so, the listing agent must be precise in noting that they are not communicating a counter-offer, but are merely going through a pre-qualification or clarification exercise. Likewise, there is no guarantee that a seller will issue a counter-offer, or select the offer for further consideration, once the presentation process begins.
In the interests of transparency, a listing agent must keep a list of offers presented to the seller. The list will be maintained on a draft form provided by the Manitoba Real Estate Association (MREA). The form will note the following information:
- the number of offers presented to the seller;
- the identity of the buyer agent/selling agent;
- a notation of whether the offer was received in a sealed envelope;
- a notation of whether sealed envelopes were opened in the presence of the seller;
- the form will be signed by the seller and/or listing agent.
This list will be maintained on the listing brokerage’s file and will be provided to any buyer, buyer agent, or selling agent who wrote one of the competing offers, and requests a copy.
Sellers Under Listing Properties
Although the REALTOR® Code requires REALTORS® to protect and promote the interests of their clients, the Manitoba Securities Commission has cautioned agents about under listing properties and possibly committing fraud. They remind agents that the definition of fraud in the Real Estate Brokers Act includes "any course of conduct or business calculated or put forward with intent to deceive the public or the purchaser or the vendor as to the value of real estate." Deliberately under valuing a property in a listing in order to create a bidding war qualifies as fraud under the Act as the listing agent is deceiving the public and creating an interest in the property for buyers who are not qualified to purchase the property at the price the vendor is expecting to accept. In addition, advising a vendor to list a property below market value also qualifies as fraud under the Act.
If the Commission receives a complaint alleging that a listing agent under listed a property, it will be up to the agent to demonstrate how they determined the listing price. If the agent is found to have deliberately under listed the property, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.
Sellers and their agents should use a Comparative Market Analysis to determine the fair market value when listing a property and the price at which the seller decides to list the property should be a number they would be willing to accept.
How to Win a Bidding War
There are a few things in an offer that a seller is going to be looking at, and the more attractive your offer is to the seller, the more likely they are to accept your offer. The seller and their agent will be essentially looking at what additional terms may be included, what conditions are included, what price is being offered, and the possession date. In addition to these few things within the offer itself, sometimes including a personal cover letter can make a difference, especially if the offer matches closely with another one, the amount of the deposit cheque and whether it is included in with the offer can matter especially for unconditional offers, any mistakes on the documents, and if the documents are clear to read. I've had several buyer clients win bidding wars and not be the highest price by considering all of these factors and making the best offer possible for their specific needs. Remember that you may not know you're in competition until just before the time offers will be presented, so your initial offer doesn't need to be any higher than the asking price since you'll have an opportunity to update your offer and that's when the following tips will come into play if you want to fight to win the bidding war.
- Work with a good real estate agent.
- Put your best price forward.
- Be pre-approved for financing and let the seller know you are pre-approved.
- Make the offer as 'clean' as possible.
- Make the deposit amount as high as possible - it counts towards the downpayment.
- Include the deposit cheque if possible.
- Find out from the listing agent what the seller's ideal possession date would be and try to get it as close as possible in the offer if it works for the buyer.
- Include a personal cover letter - it can't really hurt.
Having a responsive, experienced, and knowledgeable agent to provide guidance and strategies to win the bidding war is key! Contact Andrew St. Hilaire Winnipeg REALTOR® to help you win as a buyer or a seller in today's real estate market.
You might believe you don't need your own REALTOR® when buying pre-construction or new construction homes, but then who's there to protect your best interests? Most builders and developers have an on-site representative, usually a REALTOR®, who can take care of all the paperwork and who will say they can do everything for you themselves, but this representative also has the builder's goals in mind - to make the sale! Buyers should have their own agent involved to increase their advantage, protect their interests, and for guidance and support.
Less Overwhelming
Buying a new construction home can be a lot more complicated and involved than purchasing a resale home. An experienced agent who understands the development, neighbourhood, construction materials, and sales and market data will be of great benefit to a buyer. An agent will also greatly enhance your search process, saving you time and effort while also providing full access to a search portal and notification system from REALTOR.ca and other sources. Agents also know the reputation of builders, how they meet deadlines, and how they follow-up on issues. Agents can also offer advice on a good time to buy, whether during pre-construction, mid-construction, or after the building is completed and may also have information on upcoming promotions or other development areas.
Negotiation
A REALTOR® working for you will help you to understand all the fine print in a purchase agreement and they will negotiate for the best terms, features, and upgrades. A skilled agent can also spot the upgrades and extras that may not be worth the cost the builders would charge and they can help with the decision on which might be worth including or excluding.
Price Discounts
Consider this: builders and developers price their products very carefully and the purchase price for new homes is not typically negotiable because other buyers will be able to see the history of previously sold similar homes and then expect to also be able to purchase the home at that price. Buyers are sometimes led to believe that by not using their own agent to buy a new construction home that the builder will subtract the potential commission from the purchase price, but this risks setting a price precedent on that model of home and builders generally prefer to avoid this. Since the seller usually pays the commission for a buyer's agent, it makes the most sense for you to work with your own trusted agent.
Guidance and Support
There are multiple steps and multiple stages to navigate with pre-construction and new construction homes as well as interacting with many people involved in the process before closing. Decisions may be needed on the design, electrical, construction of the home as well as dealings with financing, home inspectors, contractors, appraisers, alterations, etc. Working with a trusted REALTOR®, who can help guide and support you through the entire process, will make the process less overwhelming, a lot easier, and ensure that all your needs are met. Read a few great tips here.
A Trusted Agent
When buying pre-construction or new construction homes in Winnipeg or the surrounding areas, you can count on me to be your trusted REALTOR® - Andrew St. Hilaire Winnipeg REALTOR®.
To sell quickly and for top dollar, staging is probably the easiest and best way to succeed. Home staging allows buyers to see your home in the best light possible. A positive first impression and seeing the potential for each space makes a buyer more likely to write an offer and offer a higher purchase price in their offer. Seeing an empty room or a room with mismatched or outdated furniture, clutter, or lots of personal items makes it difficult to see the true potential of the property in photographs and in person which will result in fewer buyers scheduling viewing appointments, fewer buyers interested in writing an offer, and buyers offering a lower purchase price. Read on for home staging statistics, tips, and benefits that make it clear how you gain by staging your home for sale.
Statistics
According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2021 Survey:
- 82% of buyers' agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.
- 47% of buyers' agents cited that home staging had an effect on most buyers' view of the home.
- Staging the living room was found to be very important for buyers (46%), followed by staging the primary bedroom (43%), and staging the kitchen (35%).
- 23% of buyers' agents said that staging a home increased the dollar value offered between 1% to 5%, compared to other similar homes on the market that were not staged.
- The median dollar value spent when using a staging service was $1,800 (adjusted from USD to CAD).
Buyers Are Informed
With so much information easily available online, buyers know what they want in their ideal home. Staging a home helps buyers to determine if a house meets their requirements and expectations, but with no staging may prevent a buyer from seeing the potential. According to the NAR Survey, 40% of buyers' agents said home staging had an effect on buyers' views of a home while only 6% said it made no difference.
Broad Appeal
Everyone has their own personal style and taste for the design and feel for their home, but remember that it's the buyer, not the seller, to which the home should appeal the most when selling. Getting buyers through the door to visit your home is key and staging will improve your efforts dramatically if you intentionally stage a home so it has a broad appeal in order to be attractive to the most potential buyers.
Top Dollar
Remember, 23% of buyers' agents said that staging a home increased the dollar value offered between 1% to 5% compared to other similar homes on the market that weren't staged. Among seller's agents, 22% agreed, and 17% say it actually increased the offered price by 6% to 10%. That's a notable increase to the selling price. Also, 0% of sellers' agents and only 1% of buyers' agents said that staging had a negative impact on offering price. It's easy to see the value in the cost to stage compared to the return in the offered price.
Time On Market
Homes that sit on the market tend to become harder and harder to sell since buyers can begin to think there's something wrong with the property. Staged homes tend to sell faster and for a higher price.
Home Staging Tips
A professional home stager might charge between $1,000 to $1,500 for an average staging. They will visit a home for a consultation at which they will discuss staging options, prepare a list and plan for the staging, and make suggestions for de-cluttering, de-personalizing, and what pieces of furniture, artwork, or decor should be left or removed. Professional stagers also typically have an inventory of furniture and decor to choose from so filling a vacant house or making an occupied house look its best can be easier and much less expensive with their services. Working together can produce the best results and here are some tips to consider doing or which a pro might suggest at a consultation.
De-clutter
Entering a room and feeling like it is open and uncluttered makes it look bigger and more appealing. It's a good idea to box up everything you don't need for day-to-day living and store it out of the way until the property sells or you've moved into your next home. It's not uncommon to have a storage container dropped off on the driveway to store boxes and furniture items and have it hauled away for storage until the property sells or even just leave it on the driveway if the costs of moving and storing the container are prohibitive. It's ok to have the container in the driveway so long as the house can show it's best, but even better if it can be stored somewhere else.
De-personalize
Try to create a blank canvas for buyers to be able to picture themselves in a home. Seeing personal photos of the current owners can make it harder for buyers to imagine the house as their own home. Store family photos and any other overtly personal items like toothbrushes, clothes, etc. out of sight.
Clean
First impressions are important to get right, to leave buyers feeling positive about making an offer. Clean as deeply as you would if you were just moving into your home after unpacking. If you don't have the time to do the job well, hire a professional cleaning service instead. Don't forget to tidy up outside too by keeping the grass trim, the patio or deck clean, and the yard and garage tidy.
Minor Repairs
Make time to do any needed paint touch ups, caulking, fix plumbing leaks, replace missing electrical covers on light switches or outlets, replace burnt light bulbs, and anything else you may have been putting off. Buyers may not notice every little thing but they may be keeping a mental list of all these little things and they will add up to a bad impression.
Stay neutral
Remember that your taste may not be everyone's taste in style or colour choices. If you have brightly painted walls, or dated colour choices, it might be a good idea to paint with colours that will appeal to the most buyers. A professional stager might be able to help with some ideas at their consultation, or take some photos and ask for advice on social media or from a few experienced people you might know. Paint is relatively inexpensive and painting a few walls will help buyers to see the possibilities for the space instead of being distracted.
Hire An Experienced Agent
For professional advice and information on buying or selling a home with a qualified agent, contact Andrew St. Hilaire Winnipeg REALTOR®.
If you're considering selling your home or house hunting to buy, you might be wondering why you should use a real estate professional and how much benefit they might provide. Why not list your home for sale on your own or just call the agent on the sign or from the online listing when you see a house you might like? Here are five reasons why you need a real estate agent.
1. Industry Knowledge
Real estate professionals require extensive training before obtaining their real estate license and using the REALTOR® trademark. Agents must have knowledge about developments in real estate as well as actively updating their education. They have access to valuable market data that the general public can't access on their own including the ability to produce a Comparative Market Analysis and other reports that will help to develop a pricing and marketing strategy for the sale of a home or in determining a fair market value when buying. As well, they have real estate industry materials, experience, a network of colleagues and allied resources to further increase their knowledge and value.
2. Negotiation Skills
Having an experienced real estate agent with an arsenal of negotiating tactics and strategies at their disposal is the best way to maximize your results in a deal. A skilled negotiator will help to avoid blunders that could affect your negotiating position which could result in money left on the table. Terms and conditions are as important as the purchase price and having the ability to negotiate the entire agreement with the other party is essential.
3. Working for You
In an agent/client relationship, the salesperson and his/her real estate firm is required to protect and promote your best interests in the transaction as they would their own. The following outlines some of their duties arising out of an agent/client relationship in a typical real estate transaction:
- Loyalty to serve your best interests ahead of anyone else's, including their own, and at all times to exercise good faith and to disclose all known facts and information which may influence your decision.
- Obedience to follow all of your lawful instructions.
- Discretion to keep confidential your private circumstances, motivations, and confidences which you shared with the salesperson or which the salesperson or the real estate firm has learned.
- Competence to exercise reasonable care and skill in performing all assigned duties.
- Accounting of all money, deposits, or other property entrusted to them.
On top of these requirements, an agent helps to leverage your time and does a lot of the work for you. Successfully selling a house with the best outcome requires an effective marketing strategy that can involve promotional materials delivered to the surrounding neighbourhoods, social media posts and other online listing platforms, many phone calls, an attractive and visible yard sign, scheduling and doing showings, open houses, and so on. When buying a house, your agent will get to know your needs and wants and then provide you access to all the available homes that meet your criteria and stay on top of the market and new listings to be sure you see everything that might be a match for you. When buying or selling, an agent will be there to give advise, share market data, provide access to their resources, help you to easily handle all the paperwork, and most importantly, they will negotiate on your behalf.
4. Guidance and Support
Purchasing or selling a home is exciting, but it can also be emotional and even overwhelming. It's one of the largest financial commitments for most people and the place where you'll be making new memories with friends and family if you buy it and where those memories might make it difficult to move on when you sell. A real estate agent can provide guidance and support through each step and will be at your side for every home viewing, helping you to find the right house for you and your family, or working hard to sell your home with experience, advice, and being attentive to what's important for you.
5. Avoid Closing Issues
Everyone wants to avoid obstacles and problems when it comes to their purchase or sale of a home. An experienced agent can foresee any issues and help you to avoid, overcome, and resolve them before it's too late. Closing issues can include:
- Condition deadlines being missed
- Document errors
- Legal risks
- Last-minute requests
- Issues at possession
Avoid these frustrations and other issues by using an experienced real estate professional!
The Bottom Line
It's a lot to learn how to sell your house on your own or to buy a house with no one there working with you, especially for one of the biggest transactions of your life. Agents have access, experience, and knowledge that are incredibly beneficial to their clients. For more information on buying or selling a home with a qualified agent, contact Andrew St. Hilaire Winnipeg REALTOR®.
Deciding whether to buy a house or a condo may be an easy decision for some, but for others, there may be factors that make this decision more difficult. There are pros and cons to each considering resale value, amenities, convenience, and space.
The best approach for deciding is to identify what's most important for you as far as goals, lifestyle, and budget. An experienced REALTOR® will help you to make an informed decision by helping you focus on the things that matter the most for you and looking at the options available in your desired market which will make deciding between a house or a condo easier. You can start by entering your search criteria here to see all the available listings that match your needs and wants between houses and condos in your preferred neighbourhoods.
Condo Types
There are two main types of condos on the market, freehold and leasehold.
Freehold condos include buildings divided into units, row townhouses, and standalone townhouses or homes. Within these freehold condos, there are standard condominiums where you will buy your unit with an interest in the property's shared common areas and elements, but you won't own the land. Common elements condominiums have no units but you own the property and the land on which it sits. Owners within the common elements condominiums community share the ownership of common elements, and they fund their maintenance and repair jointly.
Leasehold condominium corporations don't own the land in the condominium corporation, but the lease purchasers buy a leasehold in units and common elements.
Price
The difference when buying a standard condominium compared to a house is that you're only buying a unit in a building without any of the land. Other kinds of condominiums may be different though.
Most of the time, a condo is more affordable than a house in the same area, but this gap can be wider in some markets, and may not exist at all if it's a common elements condominium. Sacrificing a convenient location in certain cities like Toronto and Vancouver, for example, will significantly influence your decision for a house or condo. The choice is much easier in Winnipeg.
Expenses
Condos include monthly fees to pay for certain services, maintenance, and amenities. These are usually based on the size of your unit and the number of units in the building. Some condos offer luxurious amenities, like a 24-hour concierge, pool, gym, sauna, theatre, and even a bowling alley. Of course, your condo fees will be higher with the better amenities being offered.
The condo fees generally cover the costs when anything break inside the common areas of the building. Obviously, homeowners bear these costs on their own.
Typically, insurance rates for a condo are much less than for a house and utility bills for heat and gas are also generally less with a condo.
Maintenance
Maintaining the yard, snow shovelling, seasonal repairs are not your problem with a condo so if you hate these chores, a condo might be a good fit. Houses require a lot more work in general.
Location and Lifestyle
Condos usually have central and convenient locations to give owners an easy commute and easy access to public transit, restaurants, and shopping. Professionals may decide these conveniences are a priority over having a back yard of their own or more living space and would prefer to enjoy their free time without performing any maintenance on a house.
If you have children or plan to have any soon, considering living space and yard space, noise, and available privacy in a house compared to a condo may be important.
Freedom
Condo boards have rules that all owners or tenants need to follow. These rules may limit how many pets you're allowed and what kinds, prevent smoking, restrict visitors in certain areas, prohibit renting out the unit, prevent having a BBQ on patios, among other limitations.
Condo Pros
- Not responsible for repairs or maintenance outside of your unit
- Possible access to amenities like pool, gym, concierge
- Better security
- Usually easier to rent in the short term
- May be located in a more central or convenient location
Condo Cons
- Usually less privacy
- Limited outdoor space
- Monthly fees
- Possibly pay for amenities you aren't using
- Possible restrictions or limitations
House Pros
- More freedom to renovate or decorate
- More control of your space
- Like to have more outdoor space
- More privacy
House Cons
- Responsible for repairs and maintenance
- Utility bills are usually higher
Are you getting ready to put your home on the market? Maybe you’re curious how the pros sell homes faster and for top dollar? Whatever your situation, I’m going to break down the top 10 best tips for selling your home.
1. First impressions matter – Make it count!
First impressions are so critical that it would be unwise to ignore this when selling your home. The first time a prospective buyer sees your house will be a huge determining factor in their decision to go ahead or not. Using a professional staging service is one of the best ways to create a great first impression and especially when selling a vacant house.
2. Keep your home ready for buyers.
It goes without saying that if your home doesn’t look ready to show, it won’t encourage buyers to write an offer. Keep your home show-ready for buyers every time, and you’ll sell your home faster.
3. Your kitchen is the most important room.
The money you put into your kitchen generally comes back to you. When it comes to home buyers, the kitchen can make or break a potential sale. If you can’t afford to upgrade, use neutral paint colors and possibly replace the doors and visible surfaces or even simply update the cabinetry hardware.
4. Let buyers imagine the space.
The easiest way to keep your house clean and show-ready is to reduce the clutter. Rent a storage facility and stage your home to sell. Buyers want to imagine the space as their own, and they can’t do that with all your stuff there. The rule to follow is to de-clutter and de-personalize.
5. Don’t go overboard on the upgrades.
While upgrades in the kitchen and the bathroom matter, you don’t want to put upgrades everywhere. Instead, make simple changes for a dramatic effect. Fresh coats of paint, new curtains, new cabinetry hardware, and clean grout can go a long way.
6. Pets don’t sell a house.
This one is simple. Make arrangements to have your pets with family or at a day care or pet kennel and their litter box and toys hidden away. Find more helpful tips here.
7. Clean, Clean, & Clean!
Clean everything! Remember, you’re not just competing with other resale homes, but brand-new ones as well.
8. Bright and light are how it’s done right.
While not all homes are bright and airy, it’s crucial to find ways to let the light in for showings. Add some light features to improve the lighting in your home, and you’ll have buyers feeling the love. Light and neutral paint colours are best to lighten up a room.
9. Leave some space in your closets.
Home buyers want to see space, not clutter. Keep your closets at most halfway full so that they can imagine the space.
10. Price your home based on its value rather than its sentimentality.
It can be hard to look at your home objectively, but by having your agent prepare a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) you’ll have a better sense of the selling price of similar homes in your area. An experienced agent will also help you decide on a pricing strategy based on your timeline and selling price needs as well as considering other factors like a buyer’s, balanced, or seller’s market.
Looking for an agent?
If you’re looking for an agent to sell your home in Winnipeg or the surrounding areas and who can help you to implement these tips, help with strategies to sell within your timeframe, and to get you the best price possible, contact Andrew St. Hilaire Winnipeg REALTOR®.