10 things to do before putting your Comox Valley home on the market

10 things to do before putting your Comox Valley home on the market

1. Price it right. Find out what your home is worth and slash it by a percentage that you’re comfortable with. Though you can likely ask more for your home now than you would next summer, you can still ruin all your hard work by pricing too high and having your home sit stagnant on the market.
2. Take the home out of your home. It’s time to disassociate yourself with your home. This emotional step is a tough one, but once you do you’re golden. Protect your privacy and pack away the family photos, heirlooms and trinkets to allow prospective homebuyers a chance to envision themselves in your home.
3. De-clutter. Everyone likes space, and you want homebuyers to see all that you’ve got. This is a good time to clear closets and pack away all those things you haven’t used in the past six months. Remove small appliances from kitchen countertops and books from shelves. This is also a good time to remove window coverings that you’d like to take with you and replace them with ones you’ll sell with the home.
4. First impressions are the only impressions. Deal with curb appeal! It’s time to create a clean entry, power wash your driveway and home exterior, sweep the porch, glean the gutters, paint the trim and be sure your walkways are free of leaves and ice. Cleaning your windows and replacing burned-out lightbulbs is also a good idea. Even though it’s winter, it’s also a good idea to make sure your hedges and landscaping are tidy.
5. Be strategic with upgrades. Quick fixes are definitely worth it, but you likely won’t get your money back on a huge improvement project before listing your house. Choose updates that will pay off, like a fresh coat of paint on the walls and fresh window dressings. Replace door handles and cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.
6. Make your house shine. Make your house sparkle by scrubbing it from top to bottom. Now’s the time to wash windows, clear out cobwebs, dust ceiling fans and clean out your fridge! Take the time to rearrange closets and cabinets—buyers are snoopy—and invest in some new towels and area rugs. It’s also a good idea to air out your home and entice buyers with the smell of freshly baked goodies.
7. Know the neighbourhood. This is the time to do some research and find out what’s selling in your neck of the woods and what’s not. You want to sell, so it’s a great idea to figure out what you can offer with the features in your home.
8. Conceal the critters. While you love your pets, buyers don’t want to walk into a home and see dog food, smell the cat litter or have tufts of pet hair on their clothes. Scenes like this give the impression that your home is dirty. If you have a showing, send your pets on vacation for the day.
9. Always be ready to show. You never know when a buyer could walk through the front door, so you need to be show-ready at all times. It’s a little inconvenient making sure dirty dishes aren’t left in the sink and your bathroom always sparkles, but having your house neat and tidy at all hours will speed up the sale of your home.
10. Get a reliable, experienced agent. You need a reliable Comox Valley Realtorwho knows the market and has valuable experience when it comes to staging homes. (Hint: I know a great Realtor!)

Ready to list your home in the New Year?

I have one of the most extensive online real estate marketing strategies in the Comox Valley, and I’m ready to help you sell your home next year! Call me directly at 250.792.2776 or email me at tvincentrealty@gmail.com.  I promise you’ll never be “just another listing!”