20 Tips for Selling Your Vancouver Home
Like most real estate markets across North America, sales are down in the Vancouver region. Economic woes coupled with falling housing prices and conservative lending practices have all contributed to a difficult market for home sellers in Vancouver. Many homeowners are quickly learning that they're not getting full value for their home and as such are reluctant to sell. Moreover, buyers are wearier due to the current economic climate and as such now it is a particularly difficult time to sell your home. Nonetheless, the following 20 tips can help you sell your home faster for the best possible price.
1. First Impressions Count!
When a potential home buyer arrives at your home, landscaping is the first thing they will notice. A well-maintained lawn, trimmed shrubs, and tidy yard will make your home more attractive and welcoming. Consider the season and maintain your yard accordingly. Rake your yard of leaves or shovel your driveway and walkways to enhance the first impression of home buyers.
2. It's what's on the Inside that Matters!
Make sure that the inside of your house is tidy too. Clean your living room, bathroom, kitchen, and bedrooms. Minor redecorations like buffing hard wood floors and a quick lick of paint can go a long way to attracting home buyers. These modifications are relatively inexpensive but can add thousands to your selling price.
3. Check your Fixtures!
Dripping faucets and burned out light bulbs give an impression of disrepair. Moreover, a leaking faucet can be an annoyance that does more than stain your sink. Small problems like this are easy to correct and shouldn't distract potential buyers.
4. Closed Doors Open Doors!
When cabinets or doors in your home stick they will also stick in home buyers’ minds. These issues are easily fixed but when left unrepaired can leave a negative impression on visitors.
5. Safety Matters!
Create a safe environment for potential homebuyers by cleaning up loose odds and ends. Hide extension cords and remove rugs that are prone to slipping.
6. Open Spaces create Open Minds!
Especially when we've been living in a home for several years, we tend to develop a lot of clutter. But clutter can shrink the size of rooms and dissuade buyers. Clean out your garage, attic, and basement so that buyers can see living space and storage space.
7. Clean out your Closets!
An organized closet will appear larger and give the impression of storage. Get rid of unwanted clothes, shoes and boxes so your closets appear bigger.
8. Brighten up the Bedrooms!
Open up your bedrooms by getting rid of excess furniture. Also, open curtains and blinds to bring more light into a room. The visual features of space and light are very attractive to buyers.
9. Keep your Bathroom Spic and Span!
Realistically, bathrooms are a very important selling feature in homes. People want cleanliness in the bathroom. Fix leaking faucets, repair the caulking in tubs and showers, and keep out your best towels and floor mats.
10. Open Curtains and Blinds!
Natural light creates a positive mood. When showing your home in the daytime be sure to allow as much natural light to enter the house as possible.
11. Bright Lights at Night!
Keep outdoor lights on at night. Your house will appear brighter and safer to prospective buyers.
12. Keep a Quiet House!
When showing your house, it is best to have only one potential buyer visiting at a time. A crowded house may make visitors feel as though they are intruding and they're more likely to quickly move through your house rather than giving it the attention it deserves.
13. Keep Pets Away!
While pets are great companions they can be an annoying distraction to home buyers. They may get underfoot or even cause anxiety in your visitors. Keep cats and dogs outside when showing your home.
14. No Loud Music!
Playing your television or music too loud will deter buyers. Turn off the stereo and TV, or at least keep the volume down, so that home buyers are not distracted.
15. Think Language!
Never make negative comments about your home to potential buyers. Don't apologize for the size or condition of your home. You will only give them negative attributes to consider when deciding whether to buy your home.
16. Be Invisible!
Trust your realtor to sell your home. They are experts in knowing what people need and want and will be better and highlighting the virtues of your home so try to stay out of their way.
17. Your Home is Not a Thrift Store!
Prospective buyers viewing your home may be put off by offers to sell them furnishings or fixtures. Your house is the important sale.
18. Use your Realtor!
When it comes to price, terms, or other real estate issues, you should trust your realtor. He or she is an expert who will have your best interests in mind.
19. Offer a Helping Hand!
Whenever possible, give your agent the help he or she needs. Your real estate agent can sell your home more easily if showings are scheduled through their office.
20. Stay Optimistic!
There is no doubt that we are living in difficult times when it comes to selling your home. Still, optimism goes a long way to selling your home. With a positive outlook you can convey positive feelings to potential buyers and you are also less likely to experience stress and anxiety yourself!
1. First Impressions Count!
When a potential home buyer arrives at your home, landscaping is the first thing they will notice. A well-maintained lawn, trimmed shrubs, and tidy yard will make your home more attractive and welcoming. Consider the season and maintain your yard accordingly. Rake your yard of leaves or shovel your driveway and walkways to enhance the first impression of home buyers.
2. It's what's on the Inside that Matters!
Make sure that the inside of your house is tidy too. Clean your living room, bathroom, kitchen, and bedrooms. Minor redecorations like buffing hard wood floors and a quick lick of paint can go a long way to attracting home buyers. These modifications are relatively inexpensive but can add thousands to your selling price.
3. Check your Fixtures!
Dripping faucets and burned out light bulbs give an impression of disrepair. Moreover, a leaking faucet can be an annoyance that does more than stain your sink. Small problems like this are easy to correct and shouldn't distract potential buyers.
4. Closed Doors Open Doors!
When cabinets or doors in your home stick they will also stick in home buyers’ minds. These issues are easily fixed but when left unrepaired can leave a negative impression on visitors.
5. Safety Matters!
Create a safe environment for potential homebuyers by cleaning up loose odds and ends. Hide extension cords and remove rugs that are prone to slipping.
6. Open Spaces create Open Minds!
Especially when we've been living in a home for several years, we tend to develop a lot of clutter. But clutter can shrink the size of rooms and dissuade buyers. Clean out your garage, attic, and basement so that buyers can see living space and storage space.
7. Clean out your Closets!
An organized closet will appear larger and give the impression of storage. Get rid of unwanted clothes, shoes and boxes so your closets appear bigger.
8. Brighten up the Bedrooms!
Open up your bedrooms by getting rid of excess furniture. Also, open curtains and blinds to bring more light into a room. The visual features of space and light are very attractive to buyers.
9. Keep your Bathroom Spic and Span!
Realistically, bathrooms are a very important selling feature in homes. People want cleanliness in the bathroom. Fix leaking faucets, repair the caulking in tubs and showers, and keep out your best towels and floor mats.
10. Open Curtains and Blinds!
Natural light creates a positive mood. When showing your home in the daytime be sure to allow as much natural light to enter the house as possible.
11. Bright Lights at Night!
Keep outdoor lights on at night. Your house will appear brighter and safer to prospective buyers.
12. Keep a Quiet House!
When showing your house, it is best to have only one potential buyer visiting at a time. A crowded house may make visitors feel as though they are intruding and they're more likely to quickly move through your house rather than giving it the attention it deserves.
13. Keep Pets Away!
While pets are great companions they can be an annoying distraction to home buyers. They may get underfoot or even cause anxiety in your visitors. Keep cats and dogs outside when showing your home.
14. No Loud Music!
Playing your television or music too loud will deter buyers. Turn off the stereo and TV, or at least keep the volume down, so that home buyers are not distracted.
15. Think Language!
Never make negative comments about your home to potential buyers. Don't apologize for the size or condition of your home. You will only give them negative attributes to consider when deciding whether to buy your home.
16. Be Invisible!
Trust your realtor to sell your home. They are experts in knowing what people need and want and will be better and highlighting the virtues of your home so try to stay out of their way.
17. Your Home is Not a Thrift Store!
Prospective buyers viewing your home may be put off by offers to sell them furnishings or fixtures. Your house is the important sale.
18. Use your Realtor!
When it comes to price, terms, or other real estate issues, you should trust your realtor. He or she is an expert who will have your best interests in mind.
19. Offer a Helping Hand!
Whenever possible, give your agent the help he or she needs. Your real estate agent can sell your home more easily if showings are scheduled through their office.
20. Stay Optimistic!
There is no doubt that we are living in difficult times when it comes to selling your home. Still, optimism goes a long way to selling your home. With a positive outlook you can convey positive feelings to potential buyers and you are also less likely to experience stress and anxiety yourself!
posted by VancouverResidence
