Selling a home can be an exciting experience. If you are planning on listing your house a few things should be done in order to make the process as stress-free as possible. When we have lived in a place for a long time we grow used to cracks in the tiling, outdated paint colours and broken fence panels. We do not always keep up with furnace or septic tank maintenance.
Taking a proactive approach to selling your home by doing house repairs and maintenance before any viewings can make a big difference and positively affect the length of the listing and number of offers from potential buyers. We asked top Vernon BC real estate agent Lisa Salt what to consider before contacting a realtor. This is what she said:
Fix The Fence
Do not forget about curb appeal. The odd broken board or rotten post, flaking paint or an ill hanging gate can change the first impression from good to bad. Take a little time to replace what needs to be replaced and touch up any blemishes. When the buyer pulls up to your house a positive first reaction can set the stage for a good viewing.
Declutter
One of the first things a realtor will do is take pictures of your home. This is what draws other realtors and buyers. A fresh clean look without any unnecessary clutter is very important. Take some time to look through your rooms with this in mind. Don’t wait to until you call the realtor. Donate, throw away or store anything you don’t need.
Check your Furnace
Whether you are selling in the winter or summer people considering an offer will want to know all about your furnace. How often has it been serviced, when was it last serviced, how old it is and how good of shape it is in. Know your furnace and make sure to service it before you list.
Consider Staging
Take a walk through your home and try to see your pictures, paint and furniture through new eyes. Too much furniture in a room can make it seem smaller. Replace family pictures with more neutral art. Hire a cleaner to come in once a week. Make beds and empty out your closets of clutter. Pick up and put away your kid’s toys. Hide your pet beds. Staging plays an important part in a sale.
Septic Tank and Well Maintenance
Not everyone has a well for water or a septic tank system. Those who do will want to take this into account. Though we do not really want to think about our septic tank buyers will want to know whether it needs emptying or cleaning and when the last maintenance was done.
Landscaping
If yard maintenance and plant pruning is not your specialty it is a good idea to contemplate hiring a landscaper for a day or two. Maybe they can add some bushes to an area of the yard that looks bare or prune a tree that is taking up too much room. The outdoor area of a home can be a huge selling point so sprucing it up is a great idea.
Paint
Your paint is the canvas of the home. It is the backdrop to the pictures hanging on the wall and the furniture that fills the rooms. When selling our home we do not always realize the importance of a fresh look and a neutral colour tone. Though you might like your bright orange wall it might turn off a potential buyer. The dings from general wear and tear make a house look run down. Make sure to touch them up.
Flooring
The shape your floors are in is another important element to think about. While I would not necessarily suggest replacing large areas of your floor, a stained carpet, cracked tiles and scratched floors can be off-putting to someone viewing your house. See what can be done to fix the flaws. If you can swap out a chipped tile for a new one, polish the scratches on the floor and replace the stained carpet.
Roof
One very important question that every buyer should ask is how old the roof is. They will want to know how good of shape it is in, when it was last done and when it will need to be redone. A new roof is a very big expense so make sure you are up to date and know the ins and outs of your roof. A potential offer may hinge on what you know about the roofing.
