Lake & City Homes SOLD sign riderAre you trying to sell your home? While it may still be a buyer’s market, it certainly doesn’t mean your home has to remain on the market for several months. In fact, by implementing a few simple seller tips, you will be far more likely to get your home sold quickly and at a reasonable price. Here is a look at 5 basic tips that all home sellers should keep in mind.

Tip #1: Curb Appeal is Key

Curb appeal, or the way your home looks when a potential buyer drives past it, is essential to getting your home sold. Not only do many buyers keep an eye out for homes as they cruise the streets, but the way your home looks from the street will give the buyer his or her first impression. First impressions are long lasting, so you want to be sure yours is a good one.

Tip #2: Depersonalize the Space

When trying to sell your home, your agent will do his or her best to help the buyer envision himself living in your home. If you have family photos, knick-knacks or souvenirs sitting throughout your home, it will be difficult for the buyer to visualize anyone other than you living in the home. In the process of removing personal items, you will also reduce the amount of clutter in your home. By reducing clutter, you will make your home appear larger, airier and more comfortable to the buyer.

Tip #3: Appeal to the Senses

To help convince the buyer that your house is his or her next home, you need to create a “homey” atmosphere. One of the best ways to do this is to appeal to the senses. Things such as baking an apple pie or chocolate chip cookies before the buyer visits your home will help fill the air with scents of home. Similarly, placing a vase filled with fresh flowers on the table or even playing soft music in the background will appeal to the buyer’s senses and help link positive thoughts and feelings to your home.

Tip #4: Choose Neutral Colors

Applying a fresh layer of paint to the interior walls is always a good idea when prepping a house for sale. As you select your colors, be sure to choose neutral colors that will appeal to the broadest range of buyers. While you may like neon orange trim, you are not likely to find many buyers who feel the same. By selecting neutral colors, you will significantly increase the number of buyers who will be interested in purchasing your home.

Tip #5: Select the Right Agent

Selecting the right real estate agent can make a world of difference when it comes to selling a home. Ideally, the agent you select should be one who has experience selling homes in your neighbourhood. Furthermore, your agent should be able to lay out a comprehensive marketing plan that will include the use of traditional marketing techniques as well as the vast array of technology that is available to today’s real estate agent. About the author: Crystal Tost is an experienced Calgary Realtor where she has been a full time real estate agent since 1997. www.calgarylistings.com

Posted by Jolenta Averill on

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Thanks for the excellent tip list, Crystal! It's no wonder you sold your last listing in record time.

Posted by Jolenta Averill on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011 at 6:27pm

You know, to most of us professionals, this probably sounds elementary. But I cannot begin to express how little people know when it comes to selling their home. Curb appeal is HUGE - might be the biggest factor as you gotta get people in the door (literally). And next is getting rid of all your personal crap you think is so wonderful. News flash people: Nobody likes your stuffed boar in the living room - get it out of sight! *facepalm*

Posted by Josh B on Thursday, June 16th, 2011 at 12:26pm

Aloha Crystal,

Great tips. I specially agree with #2, too many sellers want to showcase their home in such a way that it really makes it about THEM and not the house. Well written post.

Alex

Posted by Alex Cortez on Friday, June 17th, 2011 at 5:00pm

Great tips for selling a home. You only get one chance to make that critical first impression so curb appeal rightly deserves the number 1 spot on this list!

Posted by Mark Brian on Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 at 6:50pm

Jolenta - Wise tips for home sellers. It is so time consuming selling a home and making sure everything is neat and tidy, but the home seller who heeds your advice upfront will have fewer days on the market and be moving on to their next home in a much quicker time frame!

Posted by Paula Henry on Thursday, September 15th, 2011 at 4:59pm

Very good posting. I wish all of our clients would follow the same simple rules that you have layed out here. Thanks.

Posted by Edward Elliott on Thursday, October 6th, 2011 at 9:37am

Often times during divorce you wind up having to sell your home and knowing the best ways to get the most out of your home would be extremely beneficial. These are great tips to keep on hand!

Posted by Divorce and Real Estate on Saturday, March 10th, 2012 at 4:04pm

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