Looking to Sell your Home in the Oakville or Burlington Area?

Home Staging Tips

You’ve heard it before- it’s all about first impressions!
 
Home staging simply helps your home look more attractive while highlighting some of its best features. If your home is on the market, your goal is to makes potential buyers feel like they could live there, and the finest way to do this is to neutralize the surroundings.
 
Below are some helpful styling tips to help put your home in prime showing shape!
 
- Clear out your closets and clutter
- Focus on highlighting the most visible areas in your home (kitchen, living room, master suite, family room etc)
- Remove personal items in your home like family photos and souvenirs
- Put away large items such as porcelains, plates and vases to create more space
- In the summer, water your grass and garden 30 minutes before an open house- this will make your lawn sparkle
- Do not cook anything that will leave an odor (fish, garlic etc)
- Set the dining room table with attractive linens and dishes
- Neatly arrange fresh flowers throughout your home
- Uses mirrors to help smaller rooms look more open
- Use as much natural light as possible
- Make small repairs to faucets, squeaking doors and fences
- Bring another set of eyes to help you catch something you may have overlooked

1. Investors are Buying
There are many bargain hunting investors out there looking for great deals on properties. With the economy the way it is, this is a great time to buy!
2. Time to Downsize
With the kids off to college or getting ready to move out, you shouldn’t work hard to maintain a larger property. Now could be a good time to look for something smaller.
3. Upgrade to a First-Class Neighborhood
With the decrease in home prices lately, there are desirable homes in terrific neighborhoods all over!
4. Get More While you still Can
In an uncertain economy, it is better to sell earlier rather than later when market prices decrease even further!

1. Find a Representative
The knowledge and dedication of your real estate agent is crucial to the successful sale of your home. A good agent will ensure a smooth, successful and stress-free sale.

2. Determine your Selling Criteria
Not only do you have to worry about selling your home, but you also have to think about where you are looking to buy. Determining a selling price is also important, but accepting an offer slightly below your asking price often leads to a quick sale. Your knowledgeable agent will ensure you are satisfied with the result of the sale.
 
3. Prepare your Home for Showings
Homes that are not prepared for showings are one of the main reasons why people fail to sell their homes. We all know the saying: “first impressions last a lifetime”- same thing goes for your home. If your home does not look its best, it will likely result in a sales disaster.
 
4. Know about the Local Market
Knowledge about local market conditions is important for a smooth sale. Being realistic to market conditions will position yourself favorably to sell your home. There is no substitute for a real estate professional for acquiring market information.
 
5. List it!
Nowadays it is important to have an effective online presence. Most buyers begin their search online, and this trend is only growing. Your real estate agent should have the tools necessary to expose your home to a wide range of online sources.

Mistake #1: Selling for the Wrong Price
Of course, every seller wants to get most money out of their property. However, this will not happen by pricing your property too high. A high listing price will cause buyers to lose interest before they even look at your property. On the flipside, a listing price that is too low will cause buyers to feel there is something wrong with the property, or you are hiding something. In general, your property should be priced according to its fair value, taking market conditions as well as other factors into consideration.
Mistake #2: Failing to Properly Showcase your Home
As obvious as this mistake may seem, it is still very widespread among home sellers. If you are trying to sell your home, it is imperative that you make your home as pleasant looking as possible. Failing to ensure your home is clean, presentable and welcoming will quickly turn away potential buyers.
Mistake #3: Trying to Hard Sell During a Showing
Buying a home is a very emotional experience. After all, it is likely the largest investment anyone will ever make. As a result, you should allow prospective buyers to comfortably examine your property. Trying to forcefully sell your home during a showing will take away from the pleasant home buying experience. This will surely make any potential buyers look elsewhere. The best idea is to point out any important amenities and be accessible to questions.
Mistake #4: Trying to Sell to “Window Shoppers”
Everyone who comes into your open house is not a prospective buyer. As a matter of fact, most individuals who attend your showing are not ready to buy. A good real estate agent will be able to distinguish between a “window shopper” and a real interested buyer. Trying hard to sell to the wrong people is very inefficient and time consuming. This will result in missed opportunities to focus your attention on real interested buyers.
Mistake #5: Signing a Contract with Your Agent with No Escape
Hopefully you take your time to pick the right real estate agent to represent you. However, as we can relate, circumstances sometimes do in fact change. Before signing a contract with your agent, make sure you are not bound to that realtor in anyway. You should know the exact terms of the contract, so in circumstances where you want to find another agent, you can easily do so without any harsh penalties.
Mistake #6: Ineffective Marketing and Advertising
Your real estate agent should have the experience to employ the necessary marketing techniques to help sell your home. Today, information technology and the internet are the number one means to attract prospective buyers. When searching for an agent, make sure they have the necessary skills and resources to use the internet effectively to attract buyers. Otherwise, you will risk your home being on the market longer than it should be.

According to many real estate agents, investors and other experts, the kitchen is the most important room in the house when it comes to selling your home. The kitchen has the power to close the deal, or make the deal fall through. This is why it is extremely important to take extra care of the kitchen before showing it to potential buyers.
Not only will a beautiful kitchen make selling your home a lot easier, it can also increase the value of your home. Renovations to your kitchen can end up being a good investment, especially if you intend on selling your home.
When getting your kitchen ready for a showing, creating space should be your main concern. You want your kitchen to look light and spacious. Clear out as much clutter as possible. You should take out as much out of your drawers as you can because buyers will surely be opening up your drawers during a showing. You want them to see space, not clutter.
One of the focal points in the kitchen is the sink area. It should be absolutely free of stains and rust, and especially no leaks or drips. If your faucet looks old, consider replacing it with a newer model. This small investment will go a long way towards improving the look of your kitchen.
These are just a few small steps you can take to get your home ready for a showing. Remember, buyers will quickly notice any shortcomings in your kitchen. You want to do everything you can to improve your kitchen and give it a fresh new look!

Small improvements to your home could greatly increase the perceived value of your property. It is always a good idea to freshen up the interior and exterior of your home before putting it on the market. This does not necessarily mean you have to go out and spend a lot of money to make it happen. There are many things you could do on your own to make your home look perfect.
Here are some simple steps you could take to help increase the perceived value of your home, and make a great first impression:
 
Exterior
- Keep your lawn cut
- Weed and edge gardens
- Keep your driveway clear and clean oil spills
- Clean out your garage
- Do small paint touch ups
- Clean porch
- Make sure the doorbell works
- Repair broken screens
- Repair door locks
 
Create Space
- Clear halls and closets of clutter
- Store excess furniture
- Clear kitchen counter and stove top
- Remove empty boxes and containers
- Put away personal photos- this helps the buyer envision the home as their own!
 
Maintenance
- Repair taps and toilets
- Clean furnace and filters
- Repair cracked plaster
- Clean and repair windows
- Repair seals around tubs and basins
- Replace burnt out light bulbs
- Oil squeaking doors
- Repair squeaking floor boards
 
Keep it Clean
- Clean bathrooms
- Clean appliances in and out
- Clean around heating vents
- Clean washer and dryer
- Clean carpets
- Eliminate pet odors and stains