Tips For Selling

As a homeowner, you can play an important part in the timely sale of your property. When you take the following steps, you’ll help your RE/MAX United Vision sales associate sell your home faster, at the best possible price.

The easiest and most reliable way to improve the appeal of your home is to enlist a quality home service professional. The right professional can help you get everything in order - from repainting the kitchen to providing a thorough cleaning - so you can stay focused on more important things. Just ask us for a recommendation or a list of trades people.

Make the most of that first impression

A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free entry welcome prospective buyers to your home. So does a freshly painted – or at least freshly scrubbed – front door. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better.

Invest a few hours for future dividends

Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh paint can refresh and add value to your property. If you’re worried about time, hire professional cleaners or painters to get your house ready. Remember, prospects would rather see how great your home really looks now than hear how great it could look "with a little work".

Check taps and light bulbs

Dripping taps rattles the nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned-out light bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home.

Don’t shut out a sale

If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospective buyer’s mind. Don’t try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way towards a sale.

Think safety

Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your house as non-perilous as possible for uninitiated visitors.

Make room for space

Remember that potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your garage, kitchen, laundry and garden shed are clean and free of unnecessary items. Take the time to clear away the clutter in your living spaces, boxing up any unnecessary items and storing them with a friend or in a storage unit. Organise all your cupboards – from the kitchen to the bathroom, bedrooms, hallway and under the stairs. The more organised a cupboard, the larger it appears. Now’s the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.

Make your bathroom and kitchen sparkle

Bathrooms and kitchens sell homes, so let them shine. In the bathroom you should check and repair any damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers then put your best towels, mats, and shower curtains on display. In the kitchen make sure everything is clean and tidy and fix any problems with the stove, hot plates, rangehood or dishwasher. Faulty appliances are better replaced than left to cause a problem with the sale if the buyer chooses to do a builder’s inspection.

Create dream bedrooms

Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture. Freshen up the rooms if necessary with new bed linen and window dressings. Keep your shoes out of site and don’t forget to tidy up the cupboards.

Create a welcoming atmosphere

Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and blinds during the day so buyers can see how bright and cheery your home is. If it is the middle of summer turn on the air conditioning or open up all the windows well before the buyer arrives to prevent your home from feeling hot and stuffy. In winter, make sure it is warm and comforting. For night inspections, turn on all your lights - both inside and outside. Lights add color and warmth making prospects feel welcome.

Watch your pets

Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way. If your dog is likely to spend the entire inspection barking at the “intruders” then grab a lead and take it for a walk instead.

Think volume

Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction. When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the music or television.

Avoid crowd scenes

Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they're likely to hurry through. Keep the company present to a minimum. During pre-scheduled Open House events it’s always best to leave your home in the hands of your sales associate. Go for a quick coffee, a walk around the block or drop in to visit a neighbour so your agent can get on with the job of selling your home. Nobody knows your home as well as you do, but your RE/MAX United Vision sales associate knows buyers - what they need and what they want. Your agent will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay in the background. If you must be present, be friendly with prospective buyers but don't try to force conversation. Prospects want to view your home with a minimum of distraction and often sellers can unintentionally disrupt this process. No matter how humble your abode, never apologise for its shortcomings. If a prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let your RE/MAX United Vision sales associate handle the situation. When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.

Defer to experience

When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, let them speak to an expert - your RE/MAX United Vision sales associate.

Help your RE/MAX United Vision sales associate

Your sales associate will have an easier time selling your home if all inspections are scheduled through the RE/MAX United Vision office. This protects your safety and security if a stranger should pull up outside your “For Sale” sign and ask to come in. By referring your friends or neighbours to your RE/MAX United Vision sales associate you will also avoid the difficulty of trying to negotiate price or other terms of sale. You'll appreciate the results!