Category: Information For Sellers

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When it comes to the sale of your home, it is the little things that can go a long way to increasing the price you will receive. Most buyers respond positively to a clean, clutter-free home that is in good condition. The more effort you put into the appearance of your home, the more likely you’ll receive greater activity and possibly generating a higher profit.Over time, we become accustomed to our homes, often overlooking the eyesores and the list of honey-do’s that were never completed. Clutter accumulates.

There are numerous smaller, inexpensive things you can do to greatly improve the showing of your home. With a little elbow grease, and a little creativity, it is easy to keep your home in prime showing condition.

Prior to the listing, have a garage sale.

The rule is “less is better.” Clean. Organize. Discard. Donate. Pack all that you can. Clean out closets and storage areas. Donate old clothes and furniture to local charities. This will create a sense of greater space — and mean less to move. What about all those books and magazines that you do not want? Perhaps you can donate them to a local library, hospital or charity.

Set the stage.

Take full advantage of the areas in your home. Set the table with your best china. Create warmth and coziness in the living room, with a crackling fire. Put a pair of wine glasses and a vase of flowers on the coffee table in front of the fire.

Eliminate the odors.

Buyers respond less favorably to smells. Use cleansers of all kinds to make the home smell fresh, from carpet freshener to potpourri. Deodorize your cat’s litter box. Scoop litter daily. Put cedar chips inside the closets. Use the sense of smell to your advantage by having fresh-baked cookies or other baked goods on the kitchen table. People have both allergies and concerns when it comes to animals. If you have a pet, make arrangements to have it elsewhere when a home is being shown.

Create space.

Ensure that all doors, cabinets and drawers open all the way without sticking or bumping into anything. Clean out the entrance hall closet. Move oversized furniture to a storage facility or garage. Entrances to all rooms should have an open flow.

Make the most of your views.

Put a screen or a basket of flowers n front of a fireplace if not in use. Make sure there is enough room for visitors to view out the windows. Remove any clutter around window areas. Clean windows

Create counter space.

Store away extra appliances. Put away dish racks, soap dishes and other clutter. Remove magnets from refrigerator.

Aim for neutral décor.

De-personalize your teenager’s room, the family room or other areas by removing wild posters or items that could be construed as offensive.

Increase the wattage.

Pay attention to the laundry room, kitchen and bathrooms. Prior to showing, turn on the lights in every room.

Family photos.

Place family photos throughout your home especially in living room, bedrooms and family rooms.

After you have completed these inexpensive tasks, stand back. Ask a friend to view your home. Is it warm and inviting? Does it look comfortable and spacious? Is the aroma pleasant? When you create a positive, warm environment it is likely your buyer will feel the same way.

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What is your home worth? Click here for a free online home evaluation.

Over the past few years Sellers in Kamloops have had much more power in the Real Estate market than buyers. Homeowners have seen incredible growth in their investments but now we are seeing a strong shift in the market.  Buyers now are much more selective when buying a home, this is because homes are more plentiful, are on the market longer and the prices aren’t increasing at this point.

There are five very important things that Sellers need to know when preparing to list their home on the market.

1. The market sets the price of homes, not the realtor, the Seller or the neighbour. The changing market will dictate your home sale. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. The best thing to do is accept the fact that it is a buyer’s market and work within the market’s limits. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that the market is going to appreciate like it has over past years. Price appropriately from the beginning, this will allow you to experience much less frustration while selling your home.
2. Buyers are much choosier when it comes to finding themselves a new home.  They are very easily put off by simple things such as uncut grass, over grown bushes, scuffed hardwood, brightly painted walls, stained carpets, outdated fixtures or finishings and dripping sinks. By simply improving your “curb appeal” preventing buyers from finding simple things wrong with your property, the better off you will be. You would be surprised to know how much of a difference it makes to just paint interior walls a neutral colour.  Also don’t forget to DE-CLUTTER your home. The less you have in your home the better.  De-cluttering the fridge magnets, counters, tables, shelves etc. the better. Remember the larger you make a room feel the better.
3. Educate yourself about the market and current market conditions. You will help yourself understand the market in your specific neighborhood and in Kamloops as a whole. Don’t base your information on the “List Price” or asking price of a property, the SALE PRICE is the only number that matters in current market conditions. Also, more recent information will better reflect the current conditions, for example if your neighbour sold their home four months ago that doesn’t mean that the same home will sell at that price today.
4. Get a home inspection. It will give you an idea about what your home needs.  Also it will prepare you for any offers that you will receive on your home, as buyers will almost always have a home inspection done. Having a home inspection prior to listing your home will give you a chance to fix anything that would be an issue in the eyes of a buyer.
5. List your home with a Realtor who you trust and is devoted to selling your home. Listing your home by owner in a buyer’s market makes selling your home incredibly difficult for many reasons. Most home owners have a day job, don’t have access to listing their property on the MLS and other proven marketing techniques. They also are not well versed in the market and are not connected to other Realtors who work with qualified buyers actively searching in the market. Selling a home is a full time job and most For Sale By Owners have a very difficult time selling their home in a buyer’s market. You need a professional who will prepare a thorough market analysis, who will give you a realistic asking price for your home and is not afraid to give you the bad news with the good. When your Realtor brings you an offer, make sure you consider any and every offer. Remember offers are negotiable. Often the first offer is the best offer and you don’t know where the next one is coming from. Buyers are now less anxious and more willing to walk away in this market; don’t assume there is an endless supply of well-qualified, serious buyers.

We are now in a buyers market and it all comes down to accepting the new market conditions and adjusting appropriately. Remember the housing market is very dynamic and always changing. There are ups and downs and it never stays the same for long. Don’t get frustrated, find a professional you trust and you will sell your home in these tougher times.

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