I'm Thinking of Selling My Home - What Should I do to Get Ready?

Planning to put your home on the market...soon?  Spring time seems to be a popular time for people to want to list their properties.......and the  Spring Selling Season is fast approaching......what to do?... 

I'm Thinking of Selling My Home - What Should I do to Get Ready?

With Christmas behind us and a New Year in full swing it is the perfect time to...

Start now and get ahead of the Spring Market!.....You can get your house ready for showing at a pace you can control.....it is the perfect time to start doing the necessary improvements, preparations and start organizing your home!

With more selection on the market there is more competition among home sellers than there has been in the last few years.... its time to take stock and definitely put your home's best foot forward!

Some home sellers have their homes in pristine condition and looking like the cover of a Martha Stewart Magazine...but for most of us we need a little help in that area!

                                                                                                                                               Times have changed, and the of multiple offers and homes with clutter, unsightly decor and green shag carpets should be over.....Until recently home sellers could get away with a lot because just about anything was selling.........For a few years now - Selling in a Seller's market has been a bit of a breeze and we've been spoiled.  Clients used to say 'what do we need to do'.......and the answer was - probably nothing! There was so little inventory that everything was selling - and selling quickly. But not anymore!

I've always said, that a Realtor should put their own home on the market every few years, just to remind us what its like for 'Sellers'...........And  I have!   So I can speak not just from the perspective of a Realtor - but from that of a Home Owner!  And I won't say that its not challenging...and my home really didn't need any major renno's or improvements......but here are a few tips if all you need is a general spiffing up!*

1.) Start leisurely  chipping away at your list of improvements well before your home goes on the market.  You ARE doing improvements aren't you?? :-) If you do you'll avoid so much stress...tackle the big items first and then start focusing on the small touches that will make your home stand out from the rest!

2.) Go to your local movers and ask if you can have their used packing boxes.  I refer my clients to these movers so I always get free boxes both for myself and my clients.  While you're at it get some packing paper too!

Then I put a box in every room in the house - and start pulling out every thing that might be considered to 'clutter' for some people; photos, knick knacks, books, pictures etc.,I wrap it up, label it and then start stacking the boxes in a corner of the garage.  Less clutter, less to clean and this way you'll be a quarter packed when you're ready to move!

3.)Rearrange some of your furniture - give your home 'flow' and make it easy to manoever.  

4.)For Cleaning....Divide up your home into areas.........not just rooms, ie.  Kitchen:  1. cupboards;stove;fridge;drawers.............Bedroom:  bedding,dressers,walk-in;....For example if yoiu have 2 weeks in which you want to get your home ready and you can set aside 2 hours a day - divy up the chores.........you won't  be overwhelmed, and you'll be done in no time.  Actually once you find yourself working your plan, you might even get on a roll and get way more done in a shorter period of time. This was my mom's tip - and i'll tell you - it will bring you down from 'overwhelm' to 'calm cool and in control'.........in no time! :-)

5.) Colour your world.......either wash your walls, paint your rooms, or touch them up....paint a feature wall and maybe add a little drama or 'ping' to your home...

6.) Buy some flowers - candles etc......do a fruit arrangement - anything with a bit of whimsy...

7.)Light up your house!  Open up all your blinds and window coverings - clean your windows.........and make sure all your light fixtures have lighbulbs in them and light it up!

8.) Pay special attention to your Entrance, Walk Way - and what we like to call your Curb Appeal! Mow your lawn, trip your tree branches, shrubs, clear your walkway.......and make your Entrance Sizzle......first impressions are so important.....

9.)If all this is a little more then you can handle...... hire a 'home stager'!........Seriously people, for the few hundred that they charge, you'll more then make up for it in the sale price of your home, not to mention the peace of mind and de-stressing effect it will have on you!  Check out Active Rain......for a Home Stager near you - you'll be happy you did !  :-)

10.) Last but not Least - Hire a Realtor that you Connect With.  Pick Someone that Sparkles with Enthusiasm and Prepares with Professionalism.  Frankly...you have a lot of Realtors to Choose from.....choose the Best - I'd suggest you choose Me! :) 

Choose the one thats Best for You!  That doesn't necessarily mean the one with the Most Listings, the One with the Biggest Team, Your Aunt or your Best Friend's Friend.......Do some research...check the papers if you like.........but definitely check out their Website....Head for the Testimonials Page - and see what others have to say.......and for Heaven's Sake pick a Realtor that has aBlog! 

There is no better way to get to know how Professional - Knowlegeable - Respected - What their Values are - Their Hobbies - or about their Family -  then to read about A Day in Their Life in a Blog! 

 *Not a complete list  - now I couldn't tell all here could I?  :-) For more tips - call - e-mail - or post a comment or question on my Blog!  :-)

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 If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Chilliwack Realtor Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty  a call at- 604-799-0459  or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.   

Copyright © 2011 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission.   Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.