The top 22 things Realtors recommend to sell houses quicker and for more money!

The Exterior

Curb Appeal is a vitally important aspect when selling a home. It is what prospective buyers see first and a seller’s first chance to make an impression. When preparing the exterior of a home for sale sellers should focus on beautifying the driveway, entrance, landscaping and even the front door.

1.Manicure the shrubs and lawn and ensure the garden areas are mulched.
2.Take away all clutter from the front lawn.
3.Repair any cracks in the walkway or driveway.
4.Ensure that the gutters and downspouts are clean and functioning properly.
5.Remove any chipped or frayed paint on window frames and doors with fresh paint added.
6.Paint and / or replace the front door if needed.
7.Paint the exterior of the home if it is needed.

The Interior

1.All walls should be cleaned with no visible dirt or smudge marks. If there is any dingy paint the walls should be repainted. Lighter colors will make the house appear to be larger.
2.Carpets should be clean and in good condition or they should be replaced.
3.All windows should be thoroughly cleaned because buyers like to look outside. The screen doors and windows should open and close easily and be in good condition. (take a q-tip and clean out the black grime from the tracks of your windows, its an eyesore and is a visual cue as to whether or not they've been well maintained)
4.Remove all clutter.
5.Place all clothes neatly in drawers and closets.
6.Clean the kitchen thoroughly. That includes the cabinets, appliances and counters. They should spotless with all clutter removed. Glasses and dishes should be neatly placed in cupboards and never leave any dirty dishes on the counter or in the sink.
7.Reorganize closets to make them appear large by removing clothing if needed.
8.Remove excess furniture and place it in storage or in the basement. This will help the home appear larger. The home should NEVER be difficult to walk through and between rooms in the home so clear the pathways.
9.Make sure that the plumbing and electrical items are in working order.
10.Any appliances which are broken should be repaired.
11.Ensure that the garage door is in perfect working order.
12.Ensure that any curtains are open, window blinds or shades are up and lights are always on when the home is being shown. This includes during the day because the combination of artificial lighting and natural light sources give the impression of a larger and more open home.
13.The scent used most frequently in builder’s model homes is vanilla because a fresh scent will appeal to home buyers senses. These can be purchased from places like Home Depot and placed directly on your air filter to disperse throughout the home. The smell of baking cookies works well too!
14.Eliminate any and all pet odors. If you have cat litter boxes, after cleaning them (which should be done before any showings) sprinkle baking soda in the box.
15.When buyers are shown the property ensure there is soft music or classical music playing in the background.

A word of advice! Never do excessive expensive work!

Too many times sellers think that more upgrades will return a higher price which is not necessarily true. When sellers go beyond the needed fix ups it becomes easy to start wasting money. Do not do unnecessary fix ups before selling the Kitchener/ Waterloo area home.

My hope is that you found this information valuable. As your local real estate professional I am here to answer any additional questions or questions specific to your situation which you may have. Call me for advice anytime.