Travel and lifestyle
A while back we published an article in the Oaken Blog that listed 5 tips to help you sell your home. With a busy spring market expected in several parts of the county this year, we thought it would be helpful to add a few more things for you to consider if you’re planning to sell your home in the next few months.
Keep it light and bright
In our previous article, we noted that not everyone shares the same sense of interior design. To avoid turning off potential buyers, tone down those bright colours with a lighter, more neutral shade and be sure to let in as much natural light as possible.
A trick often used by designers is to strategically place mirrors to help “bounce” light into those darker areas of your home. Mirrors can also help give smaller rooms a more spacious feeling.
Set the stage
Speaking of designers, having your home decorated, or staged, by a professional designer has become standard practise in recent years. The point of having an expert stage your home is to decorate your home in a way that appeals to the largest number of potentially interested buyers. These experts keep up with the latest trends and can bring a critical eye to your home.
Most real estate agents work with or have as part of their team, professional stagers who will do an assessment of your home. For a “light” staging, you may be able to get by with just some furniture rearranging and the addition of a few accent pieces. If the property is a little out-dated, a more comprehensive staging may be required and this could include renting new furniture and even completing renovation work before listing.
Minimize artwork and personal photos
When prospective buyers view your home, you want to make it easy for them to imagine themselves living there. To help them make a personal connection with the property, consider removing those things that define the space as yours. For example, personalized artwork including family photos effectively “marks” the home as your territory and risks making buyers feel uncomfortable.
Make sure the price is right
As the largest single investment most of us will ever make, we naturally want to get the highest possible price when selling. Whether you hope to use the proceeds of the sale to purchase a larger home for your growing family or downsizing as you look ahead to your retirement years, you want to get the most you can for your home.
Before determining your asking price, you need to do a bit of research. Check out listings for similar homes in your area to ensure you are not pricing yourself out of the market. If you’re working with a realtor, ask for their assistance with determining an appropriate price for your home. They can also provide you with a sample of local homes and what they sold for and how long they remained on the market.
Pricing your home too far above the current market can be a critical error. With prospective buyers harnessing the internet to help them do their research, buyers can quickly determine if your asking price is reasonable. If it is too high, they may simply avoid your listing altogether.