Advertise Your Home on the Multiple Listings
Service (MLS)
This service is only available to real estate agents. It
is a database of all the homes for sale through agents. Details
about your home will be available to other agents searching
for homes in your area, in the range of your asking price.
Arrange Showings
In addition to giving your home the once over with a
mop and dust cloth, have your agent prepare a home
feature sheet. This is a one page synopsis of your
home that highlights lot size, room dimensions, features
and upgrades as well as utility costs and taxes. Prospective
buyers will take a sheet and refer to it while viewing
your home. Plus, it makes for a great reference sheet
when the buyers are comparing properties.
The Open House: This is usually not a pleasant experience.
The upside is that you usually won't have to be there
to act as a guide. The downside is that you might have
a series of open houses over a few weeks, with people
poking through all areas of your home. And you'll have
the constant pressure of keeping your home looking its
best.
The Viewing: When an agent has a client who is interested
in your home, they will first call to make an appointment
with your RE/MAX agent. If you're lucky, you'll have
time for the last-minute tidying. Of course, you can
say no if the prospective purchaser wishes to come at
an inconvenient time.
During the viewing, make sure you give the viewer and
the agent a feature sheet and get the agent's business
card. Give viewers the freedom to wander around your
home by themselves. Following may make them uncomfortable.
The agent will stay with the prospects to offer some
protection against theft or property damage.
Is Your House in Any Condition to Be Put Under a Microscope?
That's what they say about first impressions. Now, take
a look at your house as if you were a buyer. With a
critical eye, examine your home from outside and inside.
Bring along a pad of paper and take notes! Determine
what can be solved by a simple cleaning and what needs
professional attention and repair. Your list should
also include problems that are immediately evident
and underlying problems you know of, like a leaky basement.
Let's start with the exterior of your home. Think of
what you would like to see when you're viewing a home,
or better still what you wouldn't like to see -- cluttered
yard, weeds crowding the garden, loose or dangling exterior
features (like a broken door), paint peeling, broken
fence, or an oil-stained, damaged driveway.
Get out your ladder and inspect the roof. Are the shingles
in good shape, are the gutters in good condition and
free of debris? You may wish to trim back any trees or
shrubs that are leaning on your roof or drainage system.
Take a good, objective look at the outside. Would what
you're facing invite you to explore further or make you
ready to leave?
Simply having the lawn mowed or the driveway shoveled
in the winter will make a better impression. Also, remove
any "cutesy" lawn decorations that may have
home viewers rolling their eyes. And trim any overgrown
shrubs or hedges. If you have a sizable property, you
may also wish to hire a professional to weed and feed
your lawn.
Flowers are a very effective way of adding colour and
warmth to your home. If you're selling during the spring,
plant flowers to make the property colourful and inviting.
A bouquet or two in your house also adds a nice touch.
The Next Step
You're in the home. Your five senses are alert. Is what
you see clean and organized? Is there an odour? Old
shoes? Stale cooking? Garbage? Pets? If there is, it
could be a deterrent to potential purchases. Bake cookies
or simmer potpourri before your home is shown to give
your place a comforting smell. Also, clean your carpets
and air out your home.
And speaking of carpets, cleaning them is fairly inexpensive.
Without the grit, and with the carpet pile looking fresh,
your home takes on a new appearance. While you're at
it, take a broom around and brush your walls and light
fixtures to remove any cobwebs.
Work your way from the ground up. Wash the walls or
repaint soiled areas. Touch up chips or plaster nicks.
If you've used severe designs or dark colours on your
walls, you may wish to repaint your home so that has
a more neutral move-in appearance. Also check the ceiling
and plaster and repaint it white if necessary.
Clean and Shine
Put extra emphasis on your kitchen and bathroom. Replace
moldy shower curtains and clean mold and mildew off
of bathroom tiles. Caulk if necessary. Repair leaky
faucets and replace cracked toilet seats. Ensure that
the toilet flushes properly. Make certain that the
drains are unclogged. Everything should sparkle --
faucets, floors, counters, mirrors. What can be cleaned,
should be!
In the kitchen, clean the stove and refrigerator, organize
the cupboards and wash the floor. Make certain your appliances
work. Wipe the walls, touch-up paint or re-stick wall
paper if necessary. Clean the sink and ensure that it
drains properly and the faucet doesn't leak. (When your
home is shown, make sure there are no dirty dishes in
the sink and don't forget to take out garbage out!)
Check All Floors and Stairs
Replace missing or damaged tiles. Is there any wood rot?
Do the floors look clean? Does the wood need a good
sanding and varnishing? Does the floor squeak? (There's
a new device on the market that enables you to invisibly
fix your squeaky floor right through the carpet. Ask
your hardware retailer for details.)
Are your stairs creaky? Are the handrails loose? Are
there any missing pieces?
Examine All Doors and Windows
That means all interior and exterior doors. Look for
structural or surface damage. Do the doors need repainting?
Do the hinges squeak? Are the door knobs worn - and
do they work?
Are the windows drafty or are they properly caulked?
Are they easy to open? Are they clean? It goes without
saying that all window panes should be crystal clear
and unbroken.
Take a Good Look At the Basement
If it is finished, make sure that it is as spotless as
the rest of your home. If it is used as a storage area,
eliminate the clutter and organize all boxes. (This
will also help you with the move!) Check for any signs
of dampness.
Have the Plumbing and Electricity Checked
Are there leaky pipes or electrical outlets that don't
work? Have them repaired before you put your home on
the market. Also, it's a good idea to replace any broken
switch or outlet covers and match switches and covers
to the room decor.
Make Sure the Furnace and Air Conditioner Work
Replace the furnace filter and have the furnace and air
conditioner professionally serviced.
Don't Just Hide Clutter
Buyers will look everywhere -- into cabinets, under carpets,
inside closets. (You think you had it bad with nosy
relatives poking around!) Plus, a clean house gives
the impression of being larger.
Home Inspection Checklist
Make notes on what needs minor clean up and what needs
a major repair. Evaluate your home as if you were a
potential buyer, so the key is to be honest with yourself!
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