Getting your Brampton Home on the Market

When it comes time to put your Brampton home on the market, there are issues that need to be addressed.  Calling your Realtor to discuss and get advice on what can be done to get top dollar for your house should be your first step.  Ask your Realtor questions and have a very honest discussion before listing your property is important.  Below are some tips to help you keep the pre-listing preparation to a minimum.

1. Walk through your home and look for obvious water problem and have them fixed.  This is the #1 issue that will make buyers look somewhere else.  The actual problem may no longer be there however it will alert the buyer and inspector.
   
   
2. Make all necessary repairs.  The items will be identified in an home inspection report anyway so it is wise to fix everything before putting your home on the market.  With everything in good shape, it will show well and give great impression to buyers. 
   
   
3. The least expensive way to brighten up your Brampton home is to give it a fresh paint in a light neutral colour.  Do not renovate if your home needs a lot of fixing because you might not get your money back.
   
   
4. Keep a minimum of furniture and de-clutter.  This will make your home look bigger and buyers can imagine their own decor in your home.
   
   
5. All the appliances should be in good working order.  This will usually be asked for in an offer anyways.  Why wait if something needs to be fixed?
   
   
6. Clean your home thoroughly and keep it spotless.  Pay special attention to the bathrooms and make sure there is no trace of mildew.  People will look carefully at bathtubs and shower stalls.
   
   
7. Remove all the spider webs in the high ceilings and corners, especially in the basement.  Cobweb makes your house look neglected and send wrong messages to buyers.
   
   
8. Clean all windows inside and out.  It may be worth to hire a professional company for the job if you don’t have the time and the equipment to do this safely.
   
   
9. Pay attention to windows and skylights.  They should be checked and caulked if necessary.
   
   
10. Make your home inviting.  Turn all lights on for a showing and make sure there is no burnt bulbs.  Dark hallways do not give good impression to agents and their clients.
    
    
11. If outside noise is an issue, have some music on.
    
    
12. Make sure the outdoor bulbs are functioning and there is enough lighting for agents to open the lock box.  The outdoor lights should be turned on in the evenings.
    
    
13. Place a welcome mat inside and outside your house so that potential buyers can wipe their shoes before removing them.
    
    
14. A bouquet of cut flowers on the dining table or in your kitchen will surely enhance the looks and atmosphere of your home.  Don’t use those flowers with a very strong scent.  Some purchasers might be allergic to it.
    
    
15. Clean your front yard and back yard.  Wash your decks and patio furniture.  In spring time, spruce up your porch and backyard with containers of hardy flowers like daffodils and pansies.  They add terrific colour to your yards front and back.
    
    
16. Cut back rose bushes in your yards and make it easy for people to walk through.
    
    
17. Pressure wash your driveway and walkway to remove dirt and debris.
    
    
18. If you’re a pet owner, make sure you take care of the pet smells.  Clean the litter box daily and make sure nothing outside the house and in the back for anyone to step in.  Open windows to let fresh air in when possible.  Use air freshener but don’t overdo it.
    
    
19. A pre-inspection before listing may cost as low as $350 depending on the size of your home.  Having an inspection report readily will give comfort to buyers and alleviate offers being conditional on inspections.  Also, you can address issues identified in the inspection report beforehand.
    
    
20. Arrange for duct cleaning and have your air conditioner and furnace serviced.  A new filter will also help bring down the dust.  This will show that you maintain your property well and take pride in home ownership.
    
    
21. Do not cover your fridge and walls with post-it notes.  They look messy and you certainly don’t want strangers to know about your personal matters.
    
    
22. Remove any unused “knob and tube” wiring if you have them in the house.  This will avoid it being an issue on a home inspection.
    
    
23. Parking spaces are being used as such.  Parking is an issue for many buyers.  If you turned a parking spot into a garden, it is time to switch it back to its proper use.

If all of the above can be addressed, I’ll say that your home will bring you top dollar in today's Brampton real estate market.  Since you will have eliminated some potential concerns of the buyer, it will be a lot easier to sell in the shortest period of time on the market.  Nevertheless, you might love your home so much that you do not want to put it on the market anymore.

However if you do, contact me here.