There are endless reasons why people sell their homes, but every seller has one thing in common: the desire to get top dollar for their property and to obtain this goal as quickly and as hassle-free as possible. It starts with you! Make your first impression your best impression. Does anything need to be cleaned, painted, repaired, or tossed out to increase your home’s appeal? Often, sellers believe that people will see past the little imperfections to the solid house underneath. Though cosmetic issues don’t necessarily mean anything deeper, buyers can be irrational when it comes to presentation. A small investment in repairs, decor, and organization can add many thousands of dollars to your property value.

SEE YOUR HOME THROUGH A BUYER’S EYES

Now is the time to address your home’s little imperfections: the hole in the screen door, the chipped paint on the baseboards or the mess in the basement. Small things often make a big difference in how your property is viewed.

GET RID OF CLUTTER

Your house will feel a lot bigger and more inviting when you remove knickknacks, clear out those closets, pack away your children’s unused toys, remove bulky, unused furniture and rearrange the remaining pieces to make the best use of space. If you haven’t used something in the past year, toss it, donate it to charity or sell it.

CLEAN EVERYTHING

Cleaning is the single most cost-effective way to make your home more attractive to buyers. Floors, windows, walls, doors, baseboards – everything! Give extra care and attention to the bathrooms and kitchen. Once it’s all clean, keep it clean! You never know when your ideal buyer will visit.

ODOUR REMOVAL

You may have gotten used to pet odours, food odours or cigarette smoke over time, but others walking into your home, haven’t. Smell is very important. Odours should be aired out of fabrics and surfaces should be cleaned, not just sprayed.

REPAIR AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, WITHIN REASON

Making some repairs are vital; like a leaky roof, wet basement or unsafe electrical problems. Otherwise, fix all the little things like doors that squeak, small cracks in the ceiling, a leaky faucet or even small things like replacing a burnt-out light bulb.

DEPERSONALIZE YOUR HOME

You want buyers to walk through your house and envision their home, not yours. Things like a cluttered wall of family portraits or your trophy collection are guaranteed to prevent buyers from emotionally placing themselves in your home. Remove everything that’s too much about you.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PAINT

Vibrant colours on the walls or ornate wallpaper make it hard for buyers to imagine their furniture in your house. Consider repainting your home in bright, neutral colours that will enhance a room’s size and look more inviting. Next to cleaning your home, paint is the most easy and cost-effective way to increase your home’s appeal.

ADD SOME BEAUTIFYING TOUCHES

You don’t need to spend a fortune to make a big difference. Replace tattered, old draperies with some fresh curtains. Update your décor with decorative pillows. Mirrors on the wall are also inexpensive and can help rooms feel more spacious. New houseplants add undeniable appeal. On the outside of your home, trim the trees, weed the garden, add mulch, and consider planting a few new flowers to make a great first impression to boost your curb appeal. You’d be surprised how often potential buyers drive by and don’t give a property a chance if it doesn’t look appealing from the outside. Small and inexpensive components can make a world of a difference.

WEIGHING THE COST OF IMPROVEMENTS VS. THE POTENTIAL RETURN

Don’t get so carried away with prepping your home that you forget why you’re doing this – to get more money! You need to consider two things before making any improvements.

• Will this make my home more desirable to buyers?
• Will this increase the value of my home more than it costs me to do it?

If you have any questions about adding value to your property and what will give you the biggest bang for your buck, Adam would be happy to provide his professional advice.