Selling your home is one thing, getting the home ready to sell is, for many, an undertaking. While most sellers tend to focus on the home’s interior, the exterior often gets neglected. Yet, as the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Buyers are quick to judge and decide, so view your home from a buyer’s perspective.
The following is a list of items to help you create the best first impression to boost your home’s sale potential.
Add some color and greenery
Blossoms and greenery for impact? It is fairly easy and inexpensive to add some color to a garden. Depending on the season, some flowering annuals work wonders to add some color to the yard. Or add some perennials or small bushes to fill up those empty spots.
If the season allows, consider adding a few planters with flowers to decks and patios.
Trim or remove any tired plants and bushes
Remove any plants and shrubs that are deteriorating or (nearly) dead. Trim back any bushes that are overgrown. Remove any branches that are blocking the windows. This will allow as much light into the home as possible. Trim any trees that look overgrown, so that potential buyers can easily walk by or under them.
Maintain the lawn
Fertilize the lawn in the spring and/or fall. Mow the lawn regularly, keeping the grass at a moderate height. This will keep the lawn looking greener longer. Although watering lawns in Calgary may seem a waste of water, perhaps consider watering the lawn fairly close to the time of showings (unless Calgary has issued water restrictions). This will create the best look. Also, rake up any grass cuttings and leaves.
Remove doggie poop
Remove any dog feces. Nothing is more appalling for a buyer than having to maneuver through an obstacle course.
In winter, it may be difficult to clean up the poo while it is lying under the snow, frozen solid. Consider an offer to the buyers of a spring clean up to remove your pooch’s patties. Calgary has companies that offer this service. Some years ago, sellers offered this spring clean up to our clients, and it was a gesture very well received by the buyers.
Yellow pee spots on the lawn are always an eyesore. Consider reseeding over those yellow spots, if time and the season allows. A bag of grass seed and some soil are relatively cheap.
Good photography gives a first impression, and these yellow stains show will be glaring. There are products available to color those pee stains back to green. The question is always, though, if a buyer feels deceived, seeing that paint was used to hide the pee stains.
Remove kids’ toys and Christmas lights
Kids toys, dog toys, building materials, junk, tires, etc; remove any excess or at least as much as possible, from the yard.
Christmas lights are great but only in December. Remove Christmas lights if the home is listed in the remaining 11 months of the year.
Front door, siding and windows
Vinyl siding often catches dust, making the home look dirty. The siding around the front door most especially needs to look clean and fresh. The front door is the place where many buyers have to wait while the realtor gets the key from the lockbox to open up. So, this area must definitely look inviting.
Ensure the key fits properly and the lock works smoothly. A realtor struggling to unlock a door is not an uncommon scene. However, it gives a bad first impression to buyers.
Keep the pathway to the house swept and clean. If necessary, consider a new fresh door mat.
Also, don’t forget the path alongside the house to the back yard. Keep it clean and uncluttered. Buyers like easy access to the back yard.
Cleaning windows and doors is always a good and inexpensive way of creating a positive impression. If needed, paint window trims, as well.
Replace the doorbell if it is broken. Polish the door fixture until it gleams. Wash the mailbox or consider replacing it if it is faded and rusted.
Garage door
Make sure the garage door works well. If needed, remove any rust, something often seen at the bottom of the garage door.
Clean up the garage and shed
Buyers love to peek in the garage. Try to clean up the garage as much as possible. Hang up tools and stack and arrange items on the shelves. Also, declutter as much as possible, so that the size of the garage shows its full glory.
While tidying and cleaning the garage, if applicable, don’t forget the shed in the back yard.
Sometimes it is necessary to use the garage to stack and store boxes during the moving process. This is not a problem. However, do make sure that boxes are nicely stacked and not in the way. Buyers like the opportunity to have a look in the garage from well inside.
Check for items under the deck
Under the deck is a great hiding spot for old wood, old building materials, and other rubble. Always check that area under the deck. A buyer who sees a mess under the deck, or anywhere else, is often quick to negatively judge the seller.
Repair fences and gates
Make sure that the gate to the back yard is easy to open. Most buyers walk around the property, so easy access to the back is important. Repair fences and gates wherever necessary.
Examine the roof
Check for any loose or missing shingles, and replace or fix them. Also, check the water downspouts. Check the eaves troughs to ensure there is good drainage from the roof, away of the home and basement. Every home inspector inspects for issues regarding water downspouts thoroughly.
Pool
Not many homes in Calgary have pools. In Calgary, pools seems more of a negative feature of making it more difficult to sell a property. They are expensive to maintain and the season feels too short to enjoy pools in Calgary. If the pool is above grade, consider removing it. Either way, keep the pool clean of leaves and debris.
Showing a home in wintertime
Clear all the snow from the sidewalk and all pathways that provide access to the home and all other buildings to be viewed.
In Calgary, showing a home in winter comes with different challenges. At all times, create the ideal circumstances for buyers and their realtor to view your home. Clear all the snow from all the paths, including the path alongside the home to the backyard. Sprinkle ice melt or gravel wherever necessary. You may even consider providing a small bucket with gravel and a scoop. Calgary’s winters can create issues with freezing and thawing within hours. Icy spots underneath fascias can especially cause slippery spots.
Consider adding a fire pit
Buyers love to picture themselves in their new home. A fire pit is one of those items creating visions of gatherings with friends, drinks and s’mores. Good times!
Consider a landscaper for a pre-sale clean up
Many landscape companies offer a service to clean up and refresh your yard for the sole purpose of selling a home. The cost may be a few hundred dollars, but the end result elevates the salability of the home.
Get an honest opinion on creating a better first impression when selling you home!
As soon as a buyer arrives at your home, a first impression is made. And, as mentioned, buyers are quick to judge. Many sellers often ask us: ‘What steps can I take to give my home a better appeal for selling?’ As experienced realtors, we recognize areas for improvement and make your home more attractive to potential buyers, both inside and outside the home. Keep in mind that these recommendations may vary for each property, as every home is different and may appeal to specific buyer demographics.
Feel free to reach out to us, and we are happy to help you in compiling a list of items that need attention to boost your home’s sale potential, before putting your home on the market. Because, first impressions count!
We are Tanja van de Kamp and Ariette van Pelt, working as a team, both buying and selling homes in Calgary. Calgary has been our home since 2004, and real estate our full-time profession since 2009. Tanja was a lawyer in The Netherlands for 12 years, and learned how to negotiate strategically, and to work in the best interests of her clients. Thanks to our honest and transparent approach to real estate and towards our clients, we have built our business.
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