Top 5 Tips To Sell Your Home For Top Dollar
Selling your home can be one of the more stressful times in your life. But in Canada’s red-hot real estate market, it’s not enough anymore to just sell your home, but making sure you get top dollar. Here are 5 tips to help you make sure you get the best price possible when selling your home:
1. Get the Best Real Estate Agent Possible
You need an agent that lives and breathes the market. A good agent knows the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) like the back of their hand and they know what properties are going for in your neighbourhood. Make sure your agent is also tech-savvy – adept at using any and all tools available to get your house sold.
2. Set Your Home’s Sale Price At The Right Price Point
Look at recent sales in your neighbourhood to give yourself an idea of your home’s current value. Look at homes that have sold in your neighbourhood within the past 6 months and go from there. Remember though, if you price too high, you run the risk of not being taken seriously by anybody. If you price too low, you may get lots of offers – but they will be far lower than what you could have gotten. Your realtor can help you find the right balance.
3. Get the Professionals’ Honest Opinions
Objectivity is key here. You need to be realistic and honest about your home’s good points as well as the bad points. A good real estate agent will not be shy about telling you what should be done aesthetically to make your home more marketable. Disclose everything about your home and you’ll be off to a good start.
Selling your home is not the time to be emotional. Be detached and you’ll be more likely to attract multiple prospective buyers. Several buyers compete with each other, single buyers only compete with you.
4. Take the Home Out Of Your House
A good rule of thumb is to get rid of a third of your belongings and put them in storage. Family photos and personal keepsakes have to go. If you can, hire a home stager. A decent home stager is inexpensive and can really add to the marketability of your home. Stagers know how to arrange your furniture in the best possible way to showcase your home’s floor plan and maximize the use of space.
Remember too, not everybody is a dog- or cat-lover. If you’re planning an open house, send your pets away for the day. Prospective buyers want to envision themselves in your home, not see remnants of your life everywhere they look.
5. Make a Great First Impression: Clean and Fix Everything
You never have a second chance to make a first impression, so deal with the outside first. Purchase some inexpensive plants and brightly coloured flowers. You’ll get a 100% return on the money spent. The first impression should include the entranceway as well – make it warm and inviting. Also, add a small bench, or place fresh flowers on a shelf. As for the rest of the house:
- Don’t leave dishes in the sink
- Keep bathrooms spotless
- Clean and vacuum all surfaces. No dust bunnies!
- Put a fresh coat of paint on the walls
- Get some inexpensive new curtains
- Replace worn door handles and cabinet hardware
- Make sure all closet doors open and close without creaking
- Fix leaky faucets and clean the grout
Following the above tips will make your home more attractive and it will sell for the top price you envision. They are small things but they definitely add up. Lastly, be sure to Check out some of our other blog posts at mortgages.ca