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.

9 Steps to Finding your Next Dream Home

If you're thinking ahead to your next dream home, the road you need to take to get there may seem confusing. Do you search for listings online? Drop by Open Houses on the weekends? Call the number on For Sale signs?

Let's break it all down! Here are the specific steps you need to take to ensure you find a home that fits your wants, needs and budget.

1. Find out how much your current property will likely sell for on today’s market. Submit a request for a free home evaluation here!

2. Arrange for financing, so you know what you can afford. Pre-approval for financing often makes offers more appealing to sellers.

3. Select neighbourhoods you'd love to live in. (That may involve some

   fun exploring!)

4. Decide on the type of home you want to buy. (For example:

   detached, three-bedroom, etc.)

5. Prioritize the property features you want most, so you can be flexible

   if a feature is missing from a home listed on the market that is

   otherwise ideal.

6. View properties on the market that closely fit your criteria, particularly

   new listings that may not yet be posted online. (Tip: Arrange with your Realtor to be

   immediately notified of new listings that are a good fit for you.)

7. When you find a home you want, make an offer designed to get the

   property — without overpaying. This is where working with a top Realtor will give you a strong advantage.

8. Negotiate until you secure the deal. This may involve counter-offers.

9. If the negotiation is skillfully done and all goes well, the home is

   yours.

As you can see, there isn't a lot of mystery in finding your next dream home. You just need to take the steps and get the professional help you need along the way.

Looking for a real estate agent that can get you to the finish line? Call today!

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!