A comprehensive guide for preparing your house or condominium for maximum profit! Find out how to make both the outside and the inside of your house a seller's dream- even if you are short on time or tight on money!
I. From House Seller to Marketer 
Selling your house can be a stressful and time-consuming process, and it is very easy to get frustrated if you do not get the response you want from buyers. After all, you cannot believe someone criticized your gorgeous Victorian bathroom, calling it old fashioned and dated...how dare they!
Unfortunately, developing a thick skin is a necessary part of selling your house. It can be difficult, though, especially if you are moving from a house you love. An attachment to your house makes it especially difficult to see the house's faults, but that's why I'm here. It's difficult, but helpful to first condition your mind into thinking, we are selling "a house," not "our beloved home."
In the coming pages, I will walk you through all the steps you can take to make your house irresistible to potential buyers. If you really want to sell your house and have an open mind about the suggestions I have in this book, you will really benefit from this guide, which tells you how to prepare both the exterior and the interior of your house for sale.
I know your house is a valuable commodity, both financially and more than likely, emotionally. The reality, however, of selling your house is that you may not have more than one chance to impress a potential buyer.
Prepare your house to sell well, and you may be rewarded with a faster sale and higher profit.
So, from this point forward, consider yourself a marketer, not a mere house seller. Better yet, to eliminate the emotional undertones, consider yourself a house seller (not "home seller") and your buyers- homebuyers.
The Buyers Have Spoken: Survey Says
In the National Association of House Builders' 2004 consumer survey, "What 21st Century House Buyers Want," prospective homebuyers offered their opinions on what they most look for in a new house. You may want to see if you can accommodate their desires.
Among them:
• They want larger houses with a great deal of open space; they especially favour large, open kitchens and family rooms that flow seamlessly together without any walls or doors separating them.
• Upscale features like high ceilings and kitchen islands are popular.
• A front porch, deck or patio adds to a house's marketability.
• Laundry rooms are considered essential in new houses.
• Nearly 40 percent of the respondents said they would like a minimum of four bedrooms, though 49 percent would accept three (This is of particular note if you are thinking about turning a den or study into a bedroom!).
• Twenty-five percent of respondents said they wanted at least a three-car garage, despite the cost.
• Walk-in pantries and light wood cabinets are more desirable in kitchens.
• New bathrooms with fancier features are popular. A separate shower enclosure, water temperature control, a whirlpool tub and dressing room were features respondents positively ranked.
• Forty-six percent want a sunroom.
Perhaps most telling is that respondents feel spaciousness is highly esirable; therefore, in decorating your house for walkthroughs, remember to keep everything open.
Buyers also like well-lit and bright-looking houses, as well as distinctive features, such as sun rooms and bathrooms with separate shower enclosures, that can still be decorated beautifully with less expensive fixtures.
Value in Getting Ready for the Sale
Deciding to sell your house is never easy. Everywhere you look, you see memories...the stairs your daughter first climbed, the kitchen where your family used to gather before the kids moved out and the garage where you parked your first mini-van.
It is important to remember, though, that by moving, you are not giving up these memories-they will stay with your forever. You are simply selling the house-the bricks, the wood, the mortar-- nothing you cannot find in another neighbourhood.
That said, it is critical that you realize selling your house may involve some concessions on your part. For example, even if you want to receive X amount of dollars for your house, a buyer may want to pay less due to the house's age or because of necessary remodeling.
You must be prepared for such concessions.
Once you have decided to sell, it is next necessary for you to give your house an honest assessment.
Does your house need a paint job? A new roof? Take note of these things, as you may profit tremendously in preparing your house for sale. You get used to seeing things in your house and start accepting things because you know they're good and working properly but a person looking to invest in your house wants the best look they can get for the buck.
As a first step, if you belong to a homeowner's association, inform the directors that you are selling your house. Ask if there are any lawsuits or legal issues that concern the association, and obtain copies of any documentation.
Next, understand that having a house that is visually pleasing and technically sound will help it sell much faster. And, with a house that does not require many renovations or repairs, you are more likely to get your asking price. So, if you think inexpensive improvements can be done and you are willing to pay for them so your house value will increase, suggest these improvements. Certainly, however, I will forewarn you-preparing your house for sale is a long process, requiring more than a little hard work (but it's well worth it!). So, if you're ready, let's evaluate the outside of your house first.
Create your "Must-Do List" which includes house projects that need to be completed, jobs that I recommend in this book, as well as those that the buyer's house inspector may report.
I hope you enjoyed Part 1 of this series - Preparing Your Home For Sale - From House Seller To Marketer.
Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow - CURB APPEAL: THE INITIAL SEDUCTION!
If you have any questions regarding how to prepare your home for sale call Barry today! Your Oakville & Burlington Real Estate Expert.
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