Thinking of Selling Your Summerhill Home?

Make sure you and your home are fully prepared before putting your Summerhill property on the market. By completing a few minor touch-ups, you can greatly increase the odds of selling your home faster and for a higher price.

The best approach to getting your property in tip top shape before listing is to tour your property inside and out with your “buyer’s hat” on. Step back, put all your biased opinions aside and look at your property through a potential buyer’s eyes. As you complete your walk around, make notes of items that stand out and which may need repair or touch up.

The list below includes 10 helpful tips for getting your Summerhill property in tip top shape before listing.

1. CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN! and then CLEAN some more. There is nothing worse than walking into an open house that makes you wish you could keep your shoes on while touring the inside of the property. Or a house that it so dusty that you end up leaving with hives. Leaving your home in a messy or dusty condition when trying to sell will only extend the length of time it will take to sell your home and could potentially even prevent your home from selling at all. It definitely will not help you obtain a high price and could also give potential buyers the impression that the rest of the house hasn’t been looked after. It is important to ensure that both the inside and outside of the home is clean before showing your property to any potential buyer. 
2. ORGANIZE. Make sure you clear up all the clutter throughout the inside and outside of your home. Ensure that all shoes are put away, all dishes are stacked neatly in the cupboards, beds are made, throw pillows are in place, lawn furniture is situated nicely and toys are neatly stored. Even organize the items in your storage area. You want to provide the impression that you are meticulous with your home and that it is the right home for the buyer. 
3. REPAINT. If you have lived in your home for a long period of time and haven’t recently repainted the rooms, doors and trim, it’s probably safe to assume that they could use some touching up. Whether it be due to the kids accidentally banging into the walls, furniture rubbing up against the paint, or residue on the ceiling from you or previous owners smoking inside, a new coat of paint can drastically enhance the appearance of both the inside and exterior of the home. Depending on your budget and lifestyle, this could be an easy, low cost option of enhancing the appearance of your home when completed on your own. If you are the busy type and simply do not have the free time or interest in completing a project like this on your own, you can usually find a painter for a reasonable price who will be able to complete the project in a short period of time. It is typically recommended to paint the walls a neutral colour and nothing too “loud”. It is well worth the investment. 
4. SNIFF. Pay attention to any odd or abrupt smells that may scare off a potential buyer. Make sure you check the basement for smells related to dampness, bathrooms for smells related to lack of regular cleaning, smells in the garage from garbage or excessive fuels or paints and the smell of smoke anywhere around your home (which a new coat of paint should get rid of). If you notice any awful smells, make sure you take the right action to remove these smells from the home. In addition, although this hasn’t been scientifically proven, some say that baking a fresh batch of cookies before holding an open house can help provide a homely smell and can possibly enhance the prospective buyers’ experience during their visit to your open house. Unless they dislike cookies. You might need to consider the odds before implementing this delicious concept! 
5. DEPERSONALIZE DECOR. Although your wedding photos or the photos of your favourite vacation to Hawaii may bring a smile to your face, potential buyers are not interested in seeing your personal stuff. The odd weekend open house browser might enjoy the sneak peak into your life but a true potential buyer will want to envision themselves living in your home. Personal photos or memorabilia make it hard for most people to visualize the space. My approach is to ensure that there is decor throughout the home but that it is decor that enhances each room, depersonalizes the space and provides a luxury hotel feel that makes guests want to stay as long as possible, or maybe forever. 
6. REMOVE THE BULK. I get it, the extremely large sofa is comfortable and you’ve enjoyed some of the best daytime naps or movie nights on it. Or maybe it was handed down to you or was given to you as a house warming gift from family. As much as you may like your large bulky sofa or you may feel obligated to have it in your home due to it being provided as a gift, it is best to ensure that it is out of the house before taking pre-listing photos, videos and definitely before holding any open houses. It is extremely important to showcase your home in the best way possible and this includes creating as much open space as possible without creating an empty feeling. It is best to remove any oversized furniture such as sofas, dressers and love seats from the home prior to listing. If you are someone who may need to consider this, there are several private storage facilities that can be used for temporary storage throughout the city of Toronto. Your real estate agent or stager should be able to assist you with the process of finding an appropriate storage facility. 
7. LIGHTEN UP. It’s extremely important that your home is as bright as possible during showings. It’s best to have your drapes up to par in relation to other homes being sold in your area and ensure that they are in good working order. It’s also important to have your drapes and any blinds open for any interior photos or videos. In addition to natural light, make sure all light fixtures are in good working order and that none of the bulbs are burnt out. This is important for both the inside and exterior lights. The effect that lighting can have on a potential buyer and the mood that it can set during showings is amazing. 
8. CREATE A SPA FEEL. It can be beneficial to create a spa-like feel in your bathrooms by ensuring they are lit properly and include clean, high quality, folded bath towels, a limited number of designer creams and hand soaps organized on the counter, sparkling clean counters, toilets, bath, shower glass and tiles, a full roll of toilet paper with the end folded nicely and a closed toilet seat! You may want to consider adding some scented candles near and around the bath (unlit, unless you’re a risk taker). 
9. DONT FOREGT THE NATURAL BEAUTY. While there is a lot to consider for the inside of your home, it is important to remember the exterior of your home, especially the front. You only get one chance to make a first impression and the front of your home is your opportunity to make a great first impression. By ensuring that your grass is cut, weeds are pulled, flowers are alive, driveway is clean and retaining walls and steps are in good condition, you are sending the message that you take care of your home and helps to entice potential buyers to view the inside of your home. If you are in need of some exterior upgrades such as landscaping, your real estate agent should be able to put you in contact with a reputable and reliable contractor who can assist you with your specific needs in order to get your property in top showing condition. 
10. ASK A FRIEND AND A REALTOR. Once you have completed the list above, you may want to ask your friends, family and realtor to visit your home for a pre-listing tour and ask them for feedback. This is a great way to get some valuable feedback which might point out some items that you didn’t think of. However, you will have to be prepared to receive some constructive feedback because people are always quick to point out minor defects rather than looking at the big picture. Make sure you have an open mind, but remember to take every suggestion with a grain of salt. Once you have received your feedback, you can make any necessary changes and then put your home on the market.

The above list captures just some things you can do to prepare your Summerhill home to sell for top dollar in the least amount of time. By completing the recommendations above, you are one step closer to achieving your real estate goals. Feel free to contact me for more helpful tips as I am full of ideas and I truly enjoy helping people achieve their real estate objectives.

Braden White
Sales Representative
Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited
Christie’s International Real Estate
Office: 416-925-9191
Direct: 416-294-3776
www.bradenwhite.com
www.chestnutpark.com
www.christiesrealestate.com