Staging your Home in a Hurry

Ideally you should have a week or two available prior to listing your property in order to stage your home and make it look its best for buyers. But, what if you need to list quickly? You will need to get your home ready for photographs to be taken and for buyers to walk through.

In that scenario, you need to do some quick "staging" to get your home ready. Let's assume your property is already clean and tidy. Here are some other things you can do.

• Open the curtains, even at night. This will make each room seem brighter, more appealing and more spacious.

• Pull out some boxes or storage bins. Put away personal knick-knacks (like that bowling trophy) and other personal items to reduce clutter on shelves and countertops.

• Clear countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms. Put most or all small appliances out of sight.

• Make sure lighting throughout the house is bright and comfortable. In darker areas, plug in a lamp.

• Clear away as much as you can in the foyer. Make that space look open, uncluttered and welcoming.

• Move cars out of the driveway.

• Make the beds. Fluff pillows on sofas.

• Clear away as many items as possible from the closet floors (such as shoes).

• Open a window and air out the kitchen, especially if you just finished cooking.

Make sure your pet is in a crate or, if possible, out for a walk. Not everyone loves pets.

These staging tips take only a few minutes each, but can make a big difference in the impression your home makes on a buyer.

Want more advice on how to prepare your home for the market? Get in touch for a consultation and free home evaluation.

Relocating to a New Town or City

Moving around the corner or even across town is relatively simple because you are likely familiar with the various neighbourhoods and you can access them anytime. If there's a listed home you want to view, you can simply go see it.

Relocating to a different town or city, however, is much more challenging. It may not be possible for you to make multiple visits to see homes for sale. You may also be unfamiliar with the various neighbourhoods.

So what do you do if you want to move out-of-town or need to relocate due to work?

Your first step is to get the information you need. You'll want up-to-date data on the neighbourhoods so you can pinpoint the ones that are the best fit for your needs and lifestyle. You'll also want to get a sense of the types of homes for sale in those neighbourhoods — style, size, features, listing price, etc.

Your next step is to schedule a day to view homes. This visit must be carefully planned so you only see those properties that are likely to be of interest. You don’t want to travel all that way only to end up seeing properties you wouldn't likely buy. What a waste of time!

So, if you’re relocating, you’ll need help. Give me a call. I can help make the relocation go smoothly for you.

Taking the Stress Out of Selling your Home

For some people, the thought of listing their home for sale is stressful. They worry about the lengthy to do list and all the things that could go wrong.

Luckily, it doesn't have to be that way. Here are some tips for making your home sale go smoothly:

• Give yourself time to prepare. If you're thinking of selling six months from now, start preparing your property now. Do any necessary staging, and get it looking its best. Avoid doing these tasks at the last minute.

• Set the right price. Pricing your property too high will likely result in few, if any, buyers coming to see it. You might end up having to lower your price later, causing your home to linger even longer on the market. That's stress you don't need!

• Have a flexible viewing schedule. If you make it too difficult for buyers to see your property, they might lose interest or simply choose to buy another home. Be as flexible as possible when a buyer wants to view your property.

• Plan get-away activities. When a buyer comes for a scheduled viewing, don't be home. Instead, plan some fun activities for your family. Think: playground, shopping, cycling, the zoo, etc.

• Accept the ups and downs. Prospective buyers might say they love your home and plan to make an offer. Then you don't hear from them again! It happens! Accept the inevitable ups and downs of selling your home.

• Get help with repairs. You'll probably have things that need to be fixed around the home, like a dripping faucet that needs repair or a room that needs painting. If possible, hire a professional to do some of that work.

• Finally, work with a great real estate agent. That will make the biggest difference in ensuring your move goes smoothly and stress-free.

  Looking for a real estate agent like that? Call me!