Prior to prospective buyers viewing your home you will need to do all you can to enhance its appeal, and therefore its value. Learn from our experience, and take advantage of a few of our trade secrets.

PRESENT A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE: When it comes to showing your home looks count. Appeal to buyers by presenting a home that is clean, fresh and charming. Display freshly cut flowers, a bowl of fruit and healthy houseplants.

CLEAN EVERYTHING: Be ruthless with household dust and dirt. Make sure all exposed wood areas like banisters or hardwood floors are dust-free and polished. Window panes and mirrors should be newly cleaned and streak-free. Don't forget those hidden areas like medicine cabinets, appliances, mouldings, closets and window sills. Organize bookcases and organize cupboards to give an orderly appearance.

CREATE SPACE: Take a tour through your home and try to look at it with "new eyes". Take note of items that are unsightly or distracting. If you have an overly bulky or unappealing chair, for example, now may be the time to put it away. Clear away any piles of paper or other items which give the appearance of clutter. Make sure your bookcases and shelves are not overstuffed. In closets, remove out-of-season clothing to give the appearance of space. Do not be afraid to put most of your personal items in storage. Some furniture may need to be stored as well, again to create a sense of space.

CURB APPEAL: We put a "For Sale" sign outside your home to catch people's eye so let's make sure they like what they see. Painted areas need to be in good condition, not cracked or peeling. Siding should be freshly cleaned. For decks or a porches consider staining to revive a the appeal. Any yard or green space should be weeded and trimmed. Make sure that flower beds are fresh and alive.

PETS: Pets are wonderful but not all buyers are pet lovers, and in fact some are afraid of them. Be aware of this and keep pets out of the way. Also, make sure that leashes, litter boxes, food dishes, toys and other things related to your pets are put out of sight. Eliminate odours associated with pets. Bad smells of any sort will be a big turn-off for your buyers. Sense of smell is a very influential factor to buyers.

HOME STAGING: Some sellers are understandably reluctant to spend money on home staging. Study after study however has shown that the increase in the purchase price of staged homes typically covers the cost of doing so. Staged homes typically sell much faster. Ask Adam and Don about Home Staging.

HOME INSPECTORS: You may want to call a Home-Inspector, and depending on size, you could have your house pre-inspected for as low as $350.00. This will alleviate any offers being Conditional on Building Inspections and also give you a list of some items that you may be able to address before listing. Adam and Don can make some recommendations on qualified Home Inspectors. 

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First impressions count and you don’t get a second chance to make that first good impression. A small investment in time and money can give your house an advantage over competing homes.  Here are some suggestions for preparing your home for showing.

Well Maintained

Repair leaky taps and toilets Clean furnace and humidifier Tighten door knobs, cupboard latches Repair cracked plaster Touch up chipped paint Clean and repair windows Repair seals around tub and basin Replace burned out light bulbs Touch up chipped paint Oil squeaking doors

Create A Buying Mood

Arrange to be absent during the showing Turn on all lights Turn on air conditioning Light fireplace Open drapes in the daytime Play quiet background music

Cleanliness

Clean and freshen bathrooms Clean refrigerator and stove Clean washer, dryer, and laundry tubs Clean furnace exterior Clean carpets

Lots Of Space

Clear halls and stairs of clutter Store surplus furniture Clear kitchen counters and stove Make closets neat and tidy

When The Door Opens

Clean and tidy porch and foyer Does the doorbell work? Is the door hardware in good shape? Is the air fresh? Touch up paint

Curb Appeal

Cut lawns Trim hedges and shrubs Weed and edge garden Pick up litter Clear drive and walkway of snow and leaves Repair soffits and eaves troughs

Valuables

Take jewelry and valuables with you during the open house or lock them safely away Take precautions to ensure property (such as objects of art, vases, figurines, mementos) are safely situated out of reach or locked away