Sellers

Sellers

When you’re putting a home on the market in Toronto, there are plenty of things you need to be mindful of. Whether you are a seasoned seller or selling a house or condo for the first time, this comprehensive guide to selling will walk you through every step you need to take. Keep reading to learn how to:

1.  Prepare and stage a home like a professional.

2.  Price and promote your condo or house (or find a suitable agent to achieve this for you).

3.  Be prepared to show the place to potential buyers.

4.  Make negotiations for the home and close the sale.

FIRST STEP – DEPERSONALIZATION AND DECLUTTERING

Consumers are habitual creatures – people tend to hang onto things they don’t need. Too many things can be a distraction, especially to a potential buyer. When your property is being prepared to go on the market, you need to cut through the clutter. You need to find storage for clothing, knick-knacks, shoes, books, toys, etc. Your space needs to be neutralized as best you can so that a potential buyer can visualize themselves as a resident of the unit. As such, you will need to put away mementos, collections, and personal pictures.

SECOND STEP – CLEANUP

You can think of cleaning as something that must be done to prepare the property. Think of yourself as a hotel housekeeper getting a room ready for a guest. Baseboards should be washed, cobwebs should be removed, ovens and fridges should be scrubbed down, closets should be emptied, cabinets should be vacated, shelves should be dusted, and carpets should be cleaned professionally. Unfortunately, cleaning is an ongoing endeavour – you’ll need to keep doing it the entire time your home is on the market. That includes cleaning up after your children, washing the floors, etc.

THIRD STEP – HOME STAGING

Staging can be described as optimizing the deal, use, and look of each room in the home. It may entail transforming a home office into another bedroom, furniture rearrangement, wall painting, light fixture replacement, or something as simple as replacing the towels in your bathroom. Staging can be done either by a real estate agent or a professional. Having your property catch the eyes of as many buyers as possible doesn’t need to be a costly endeavour, but it’s a process that should not be rushed through, either. The effort that goes into a home transformation will affect the length of time necessary to sell the property (as well as the offers you receive for it).

FOURTH STEP – RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS

Many people tend to procrastinate when little things need to be fixed. We put off fixing leaky faucets, peeling wallpaper, drywalling dents, and excavating gutters. A handyman can be brought in to finish such minutia – getting a professional to handle these matters tells buyers you have a well-maintained home. You can handle the little things, though, like changing light bulbs that have burned out.

FIFTH STEP – HOME INSPECTION PRE-LISTING

If you have ownership of a property, completion of a home inspection (pre-listing) must be performed before the condo or house goes on the market. Doing so will isolate any problems with the property that buyers could object to. For instance, a home inspector could determine that a roof replacement will be necessary for the house. Upon hearing that revelation, you can opt to: a.) have the roof replaced/repaired before it goes on the market, or b.) integrate the costs into the asking price. Your home’s deficiencies will impact the amount you receive for it. If your home is being priced competitively, ensure that a pre-listing inspection report is accessible to buyers (as it will stimulate them into making an offer).