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OK, so you’ve made the decision to sell your home—congrats! You’re about to embark on an exciting journey, one that will surely lead to lasting memories. But before you can get going, you’ll need to get your home in top shape for prospective buyers.
Getting your home ready to sell can take some work, but it’s worth it to help maximize your opportunity for the best offers possible.
We spoke with REALTORS® to get their advice on what to do around your home to prepare it for walkthroughs and open houses.
Less is more
Nicolas Anania, salesperson and REALTOR® with Royal LePage Prime Real Estate in Winnipeg, Manitoba, tells us decluttering as much as possible during the process of selling your home is crucial when trying to appeal to buyers.
“Sell it, toss it, donate it,” he shares. “If you haven’t used it in the last six months, it’s got to go. Buyers believe the way they view the home is how they’re going to live in it, so make sure it’s looking as ready as possible!”
Yashna Hathi, salesperson and REALTOR® with The Syroid Group in Fredericton, New Brunswick, echoes Anania’s advice on decluttering, but says it’s important to not get overwhelmed by the process.
“It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole of downsizing and decluttering when you’re looking to list,” she tells us. “Your closets and garage do not have to be perfect. Focus on your main living areas and ensure those spaces look fresh and bright.”
Renovations aren’t mandatory
Before you go and spend thousands of dollars on updating your kitchen or bathroom for purely aesthetic reasons, check in with your REALTOR® to see if that’s necessary. Anania says “everyone thinks you need a new kitchen or bathroom to sell a home and that’s not the case.”
He goes on to tell us, “I have many buyers who love a house that hasn’t been updated as long as it’s been cared for and clean. A clean home goes a long way!”
Your REALTOR® will be able to tell you about certain renovations that can increase your home’s value to help absorb the cost of your investment.
In the kitchen
Even though you may not have to fully renovate your kitchen before selling, you still need to make sure it’s in tip-top shape for any walkthroughs or open houses. Keeping the space bright, clean, and organized is crucial.
“To get your kitchen ready for selling, clear all surfaces—for photos and showings you want the countertops to be clutter free,” Hathi shares. “Having everything put away shows potential buyers you have enough storage for all of your kitchen appliances and knick knacks.”
“No one likes cooking or baking in the chaos of a dirty, unorganized kitchen,” says Anania. “You’ll have buyers open cupboards to check to see how much storage is available, so try to make sure what they find isn’t off putting. Ensure there are no cooking odours from the day before, and that garbages and recycling bins are empty.”
Here are some other things to consider when getting your kitchen ready:
- Refrigerator spotless inside and out?
- Is it organized? Spoiled food discarded?
- Frost removed in the freezer? Light bulbs working? (Buyers look!)
- Oven and stove top clean? Burner trays cleaned?
- Sinks clean? Faucets working properly and leak-free?
- Garbage disposal in good working condition?
- Dishwasher clean and stain-free?
In the bathroom
“Similar to kitchens, it’s essential for bathrooms to look and smell clean,” Anania explains. “Shelves should be organized and highlight the amount of space that’s available. New towels should be put out and garbage bins emptied. Make the buyers feel welcome with a scented candle or plug in, but make sure it’s not too strong—that can be off putting as well. ”
“The main thing is getting the clutter off the counters just like your kitchen,” Hathi adds.
Here are some other things to consider when getting your bathroom ready:
- Fresh soap on display?
- Sinks spotlessly clean, faucets working properly?
- Tub and shower surfaces clean?
- Towels stain-free and hanging neatly?
- Shower curtains clean and in good repair?
- Toilet extra clean and working properly?
- Medicine cabinet cleaned out?
In the living room, dining room, and bedrooms
Your living areas—including living rooms, dens, dining rooms, studies, and bedrooms—need to be inviting to potential buyers, and not overloaded with personal items that detract from the space itself. Hathi says sometimes that means finding inexpensive items to replace what you currently have.
“Staging the furniture to use the space efficiently is key as well,” she tells us. “Think of how photos would look. Recently, I listed a home that had a very large couch in the living room, hiding the beautiful fireplace they had. It made the room look quite small. We replaced it with an aesthetically pleasing couch we found on an online marketplace and the difference it made was incredible!”
For bedrooms, Anania says they “need to feel comfortable and relaxing, not chaotic.”
“It’s best to put away most of the family photos, jewellery boxes, etc.—anything that sits on top of a night table or dresser,” he explains. “And, the bed must be made. All of this is an effort to show the person who owns the home is really looking after it and they are on top of things. This impression is carried through to all other aspects of the home, like cleaning, maintenance, and overall care.”
Here are some other things to consider when getting your living, dining, and bedrooms ready:
- Everything thoroughly vacuumed/dusted?
- Excess furniture removed?
- Remaining furniture clean and in good repair?
- Wood and other surfaces clean and polished?
- Bookshelves neat, organized and clutter-free?
- Children’s games/toys stored neatly?
- Fragile items removed and stored?
- Smaller valuables removed/locked away?
- Window coverings open for views and sunlight?
- Mirrors clean and in good repair?
- Fireplace clean, logs/kindling stacked neatly?
In the yard
Outside your home is also important when it comes to selling. Your front yard needs to make a great first impression, and any other yard space should make it easy for potential buyers to envision how relaxing it would be to enjoy.
“Make sure no kids’ toys are left on the lawn and all landscaping lights are working,” says Anania. “Make sure your gate latches are working and functional. First impressions are everything and the exterior of the home is your first impression.”
“Cut your grass, maintain weeds, remove any debris from the yard,” Hathi continues. “You want people to be able to imagine throwing a ball in the yard and being able to use it in whatever way they may have in mind. You don’t want them to envision how much work they would have to put into it.”
Here are some other things to consider when getting your yard ready:
- Driveways and sidewalks clear of snow and ice?
- Lawns freshly mowed/edged?
- Large bare spots repaired?
- Trees pruned, hedges trimmed?
- Flower beds weeded and tidy; dead plants replaced?
- Junk and scrap removed?
- Lawn furniture clean, organized, and in good repair?
- Bicycles, children’s toys stored neatly?
- Firewood organized and neatly stacked?
- Dog runs secure, yard free of “doggy deposits”?
What people often overlook
We asked Anania and Hathi some of the things people overlook when listing their home.
“Cleaning your windows is a big one,” Anania shares. “Wiping down light switches and baseboards goes a long way, as well. When those things are clean it gives the buyer confidence that other, perhaps more important things, are taken care of.”
“If you have dark bedding, consider replacing it with a lighter colour—it brightens the room and photographs so nicely,” Hathi explains.
At the end of the day, your REALTOR® will help ensure your home is in the best shape possible before listing, but there are some things you can start doing in advance to help move the process along. Check out our full list of things to do before listing your home!
