You may be ready to sell your home but here are some things to consider:

• Home staging
• De-personalize
• Clean
• De-clutter
• Aesthetics
• Curb appeal
• Pricing
• Timing
• Inspection
• Listing appearance
• Bonuses

In competitive real estate markets like those in Coquitlam and the surrounding areas, the number of active listings dramatically increases every week. When selling a home in Coquitlam, it’s important to make your home stand out among the many other available properties. With the help of a Coquitlam realtor, you can get your property in Coquitlam or the surrounding area get sold quickly.

Home staging!

When prospective buyers walk through your home, they need to be able to imagine the space as their own. You can help them achieve this by presenting a clean and clutter-free environment. It’s a good idea to call on a friend or your real estate agent to do a walk through and suggest some improvements since they will see things you may miss. Trust their advice, they do not have an unbiased opinion.

De-personalize!

Remove all personal items such as family photos, religious décor, knick-knacks and collectibles. Take down all window blinds and curtains and let the natural light come in. These tips make rooms appear larger as well. If you have selected unique paint color choices, it may be time to re-paint with neutral colors. A fresh coat of paint instantly transforms a space, helping it to look neat, clean, and up-to-date. Always fix obvious wall imperfections like cracks and nail holes, before painting. The prospective buyers need to envision your home as their own. Make it easy for them to think creatively.

Clean

Do not cut corners when it comes to cleaning. This is probably the most important part of making an impression. Pay special attention to bathrooms and kitchens. Consider hiring a professional cleaner if you don’t have the time for this step. Put away all small appliances and make sure the counter space is clear. If it’s suitable for your space, adding fresh flowers and plants adds a nice touch.

De-clutter

Create big open spaces. Move extra furniture, box up extra clothes, toys and personal items. Clear out closets, basements and garages. Donate to charity or put items in storage. This is also a very important step, so even if you have to temporarily borrow a friend or family member’s garage, you should do it. You want to make your home as simple and easy to navigate around as possible. Most homebuyers look for storage space, so it’s important to show off the storage space you have available.

Aesthetics

Replace old, worn shower curtains and bath mats. Spray WD40 on all hinges so everything operates smoothly. Have windows cleaned inside and out. Fix drafts by re-caulking windows and replace exterior doors if necessary. Steam clean carpets and runners. Ensure pet / smoking odours are eliminated, this is a crucial part of the first impression, so its very important. Replace light bulbs and add light fixtures in dark areas.

Curb appeal

Some prospective buyers will drive by after the sun goes down, ensure that all outdoor light bulbs are turned on in order to show your home in its best light.

Pricing

Look at other properties in the area and get the opinion of a reputable real estate professional that specializes in your area. First and foremost, find out how much your house is worth. The general rule for listing price is to take the value of your property and subtract 15 to 20 percent off the price. Following this guideline will generally get several bids, even in slow markets, which will result in the potential buyers to bid over the price the property is worth. It takes real courage and most sellers prefer not to risk it, however it’s the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market.

Timing

The best seasons to list your house on the market are spring and fall. Set a clear timeline for yourself of when you’ll lower the price if you don’t receive an offer. It’s unwise to cling to a price that may be too high and refuse to budge. This approach often results in the listing being on the market for a number of months in order for the property to sell. Going in with a timeline will take emotion out of the pricing and help you sell your property faster. If time isn’t an issue, and comparable homes in your neighborhood are still in the same range, it might be best to wait before listing. Your local real estate agent will be able to guide you.

Inspection

While a pre-sale inspection isn’t extremely common, it is a good way to show potential buyers that your home is in top form, especially if the report is made available during open houses. Additionally, discovering potential problems ahead of time will allow you to address them and avoid holds and conditions being placed on the offer.

Listing appearance

Hire a professional photographer or brush up on your photography skills. Many potential homebuyers conduct an online search before visiting a home they are interested in. Most of these searchers eliminate the listings with unappealing photographs. To avoid losing out on potential homebuyers for your property, ensure your home looks intriguing and eliminate the possibility of being skipped for bad imagery. Take photos on a sunny day and make the home appear inviting and warm. If you don’t have a good camera, it might be a good idea to rent one from local camera shop for a day or so. Your real estate agent will be able to assist and often arrange for photographs to be taken.

Bonuses

Consider offering something extra to the buyer, especially in a competitive market. For example, offer to take care of the closing costs, which is often a couple of thousand dollars. While this may seem like a large sum, it will appear confident to the potential buyers and in return get you more offers. An additional bonus may be transferring any home warranties (appliances, etc.) over to the buyer, offer a quicker move-in date, etc. Your real estate agent will be able to offer additional suggestions pertaining to the specific sale and market.