RSS

Don't wait until it's time to list to get your house ready and organized to put on the market.

 

If you're planning on listing your home in the Spring, now is the perfect time to check tasks off of your to- do list, before the warmth and sunshine of Spring become too distracting. By getting prepared now you won't have a laundry list of things to do by the time the 'for sale' sign goes up .

 

See below for tips to start getting your home ready in advance to sell. 

 

Clean & Declutter

After the holidays is the perfect time to start sorting through items and deciding whether to keep, sell, or store them. For items you want to keep, think about if they'll add to the decor of the house or just become clutter. If they fall under the second category, begin organizing boxes to put into storage while your house is on the market. Anyting else can be sold or donated (this is especially important to keep in mind if you're downsizing). 

 


Freshen Up Your Decor

As we start approaching March & April, think about how your decor style may look to potential buyers? Is is dark and heavy from the Winter? Is it dated? Too personalized/ not neutral enough? Your realtor can help you figure out how to edit your decorating style to help your home appeal to as many buyers as possible, but getting a jump start doesn't hurt. Adding seasonal touches will make your house feel cozy & help buyers picture themselves living there.

 

Pay Attention to Details

Now is the time to go through your home and take notice of the little imperfections that you would look for if buying a home. Note any paint chips, crooked lightswitch plates, dirty grout and chaulking that could use a clean or replacing, damage to fllooring (think stains and wear & tear on carpets; scratches & dents in hardwood & laminate), etc. It may take a little bit of time and money now to address these things, but come time to sell you'll be glad you did. Making small upgrades and fixes can even help you fetch a better sale price.

 

Freshen Up 

Something important to keep in mind is the odor of your home- if you're a smoker and/ or pet owner. Does it smell fresh when you walk in? Musty and damp? Can you tell fido just ran through? It can take time to air out your home, so starting now by trying to eliminate (or at least minimize) these scents that can be off- putting to buyers. As the weather warms, try opening doors and windows to let fresh air in, keep dirty pets outisde, and try smoking near an open window or under cover outside. Again, these may seem like inconveniences now, but if your house sells faster because you took the time in advance, you'll be glad you made the extra effort.


Final Touches

Right before you list your home & have the first open house/ viewing, make sure you add a few finishing touches, like fresh flowers. Do a final dust check & make sure you turn on lights to make your home bright & welcoming. Replace any burnt out bulbs and do a final walk- through of the house to make sure it makes a good first impression. Have your realtor do a walk- through with you to make sure the you've got everything covered and your home shows the best it can.

 

Thinking about selling this year? Need some advice to get your home ready? We would love to be the realtor team to help sell your home. Contact us today to schedule a meeting!


Image Sources: Bob Vila

 

Read

So you've made the decision to sell. And by now you've probably heard about staging your home- declutter, clean, & de- personalize... But have you considered the little touches to showcase what makes your house a home? In addition to keeping your house clean & show- ready, make sure you showcase the merits of how warm & cozy your house can be. Help potential buyers not only see how beautiful of a house you have, provide them with visual cues to help them envision what it would be like to live there. 

 

Since we are well into Spring and have the Easter long weekend to look forward to, consider how you can further set your house apart from the competition: Bring some seasonal touches into your home.

 

 

Some inexpensive suggestions:

- Vases of bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, & hyacinths make beautiful arrangements and help bring the outside in

- Consider your colour pallette: use accents such as pillows, candles, & other accessories to freshen the look of your home

- Set your kitchen and/ or dining room table as if it were ready for entertaining company; help potential buyers feel like they've been invited into your home as guests

- Arrange some inexpensive planters of annuals by your entryway, front door, etc to make a good first impression and add a splash of colour & curb appeal

- Add special touches such as fresh Spring flowers, candles, and accent towels in bathrooms to give them a spa- like feel

- Remove any decor & accessories that are heavy and/ or reminicscent of Winter; think fresh & bright

 

Image Source: http://www.stonegableblog.com/2011/03/daffodil-table.html

Read
Categories:   2015 market information | 55+ | adding value | advice | ammenities | apartment | apartment, | apartment, condo | apartment, condo, for sale, Fraser Valley, White Rock, South Surrey, attached, | apartments, condos, attached, house, home, Vancouver, Fraser Valley, market information, trends, baby boomers, | architectural details | arranging | attached | attached, | Bank of Canada | bathroom | bbq, grill, outside, outdoors, exterior, deck, patio, yard, Summer | BC, beautiful BC, lakes, fishing, outside, outdoors, activities | BC, Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland, market, | bedroom | buy a house | buyers sellers | buying | buying, | buying, condos, apartments, attached, houses, homes, Cloverdale, Surrey, detached | buying, condos, apartments, Surrey | buying, first time home buyers, investment | buying, selling | buying, selling Langley, detached | buying, selling, | buying, selling, Fraser Valley, market information, detached, townhomes, single family homes | buying, selling, Fraser Valley, Vancouver, Lower Mainland | buying, selling, house, home, | buying, selling, house, home, real estate | buying, selling, market information, Fraser Valley, Surrey, Langley, Cloverdale, South Surrey | buying, selling, mortgage rates, lending | buying, selling, property value, home evaluation | buying, selling, terms, information | buying, selling, Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, market information, detached, attached, condos, apartments, local | buying, Surrey, attached, bungalow, rancher | buying, White Rock, South Surrey, attached, condos, apartments, patio, deck | Canada Day, July 1, celebrations, family, buying, selling, Fraser Valley, Vancouver, Lower Mainland, cooking, baking, cake | checklist | Christmas, | cleaning | coffered ceilings | community, ev | community, events, garage sale | condo | condo, | condos | conserve energy | curb appeal | custom built | deck | deck, | declutter | decor | decorating | detached | detached, | detached, house, home, buying, Surrey, Fraser Valley | dining room | DIY | DIY, outside, outdoors, curb appeal, projects, garden, herb garden, patio, small spaces | DIY, yard, garden, outside, outdoors, exterior, curb appeal, backyard, fire pit, bbq, stone, Summer | doors | drafts | drain spouts | economic growth, economy, buying, selling, | emergency preparedness | emergency savings | energy | energy bills | ensuite | entertaining, Summer, bbq, patio, deck, yard, | entrance | entryway | expenses | exterior | exterior, interior, maintenance, curb appeal, Spring cleaning | Fall | Fall, | family room | financial advisor | fixed, variable, interest rates | for sale | for sale, | for sale, condos, apartments, South Surrey, White Rock, attached, | Fraser Valley | Fraser Valley, | furniture | FVREB, reports | garage | garland | get your home ready to sell | granite | gutters | hardwood floors | high rise | holiday | holidays | home | home maintenance, | home office | home staging | home staging, | home, | hot water tank | house | house inspection, home inspector, home evaluation, home safety, interior, exterior | house insurance, buying, selling | house showing | house value, property value, | house, | house, home, buying, selling, tips, advice, home staging,sell your home fast, | house, home, maintenance, outside, outdoors, exterior, curb appeal, advice, tips | how to | in case of emergency | in suit laundry | income property | income property, apartments, condos, flipping, virtual tour, Surrey, Fraser Valley, Vancouver | increase the value of your home | information | information, resources, advice, tips, BCREA | inside | inspection | interior | January | just listed | just sold, | kitchen | land | Langley | Langley, | large home | large lot | leaky faucets | leaky toilets | listings, open house, market information | local market | local, | local, Summer, family, daytrips | lock in your rate | Lower Mainland | Lower Mainland, | Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley | Lower Mainland, Metro Vancouver, | maintenance | maintenance, | make rooms feel larger | market information, advice, | market information, Fraser Valley | market information, Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Canada, statistics, mortgage rates, lending, buying, selling, | Metro Vancouver | Metro Vancouver, | modernize | mortgage rates, | mortgage, info, advice, tips, interest, principal, buying, homes | nanny suite | new listings | off- season selling | office | open house | open house, selling, buying, Surrey | open house, White Rock, | ornaments | outside | outside, exterior, curb appeal, DIY, hanging baskets, planters | outside, inside | outside, outdoors, exterior, maintenance, Spring cleaning | outside, outdoors, yard, garden, maintenance, tips, advice, Spring, Summer, buying, selling | parking | parks, Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, activities, family, outdoors, outside, things to do, nature, Summer Vacation, Holidays | patio | pay down debt | penthouse | planning ahead | powder room | prepare your house for sale | private yard | property | property sales | real estate | real estate, home, house, investment property, tips, advice, realtors, real estate agents, | real estate, market, information, detached, attached, condos, apartments, houses, homes, | REBGV | recipes, | recipes, Easter, | recipes, fish, fresh, local, BC, | reduce your debt | reduced | renovated | renovation | renovations on a budget | renovations, home improvement, selling, kitchens, bathrooms, outside, inside, interior, exterior, decks, patios | repairs | residential, attached | resources, tips, advice, | retirement | retirement community | return on investment | roof | safety | save money | sell your home fast | sell your home fast, | selling | selling, | selling, buying, for sale | selling, home staging, Spring, decorating, decor, seasonal, tips, advice | selling, home staging, Spring, decorating, decor, seasonal, tips, advice, curb appeal | selling, renovating, DIY, bathrooms, powder rooms | selling, tips, advice | senior complex | smoke detectors | sold, | South Surrey | South Surrey, | space | split level | Spring, Summer, outside, activities, Metro Vancouver, Lower mainland, neighbourhood, community, local | stage to sell | stainless steel | statistics | storage | stress free | suite | suites | Sullivan Heights | Summer, family, activities, local, BC, roadtrip, travel, | Surrey | Surrey, | tips | tips, advice | tips, advice, resources, | top floor | townhome | townhouse | update | updated | updated, renovated, high ceilings, patio, deck, ocean, beach, views, | updates | updating | utility bills | Vacnouver, YVR, Fraser Valley, real estate, detached, attached, houses, homes, information, prices, market info | Vancouver | Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland, | Vancouver, YVR, Fraser Valley | vaulted ceilings | walk in closet | water bills | White Rock | White Rock, South Surrey, Attached, condos, apartments, patio, deck, beach, ocean, open house | windows | Winter | winterize | wreath
Reciprocity Logo The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB.