Ready or not, homeowners in Markham are in the midst of one of the hottest sellers markets ever. Riding the wave of ongoing low interest rates and demand that outstrips the supply of homes on the market, record high prices are being set for every type of home, from fully detached to condo apartments.
As a homeowner, you couldn’t be blamed for entertaining the thought of getting in on the action. If you are, you may have two questions:
- When is the best time to sell?
- How can I get the highest possible price for my home?
The first answer is a tough one. No one can predict the future of real estate prices, even when prices seem to be rising in leaps and bounds. The only thing you can say for sure is what you’ve read in the papers: home prices are at record levels right now. Any speculation beyond that, even if it comes from “experts”, is just speculation and should not be relied upon.
The answers to the second question are easier to provide because of the research that’s been done into what motivates buyers. Just because you can sell your home for a lot more than you paid for it doesn’t mean you should miss out on the tens of thousands of dollars that you could add to the value of your home by presenting it in the best way possible.
If there is one thing that is certain if you put your home on the market, it is that it won’t be the only one for sale. You’ll have a lot of competition. To attract the highest offers, you should stage your home to maximize its value.
There are many excellent, professional home staggers who serve Markham, Richmond Hill and York Region. You can ask your real estate agent for recommendations.
But if you’re on a budget, or are simply a do-it-yourselfer at heart, there are a number of relatively easy and inexpensive upgrades you can make to your home to help it make a better impression on potential buyers.
Overall directions for your home staging:
1. Curb Appeal
First impressions are always important. It’s been said that a buyer will decide whether they like a house within seconds of seeing it from the outside.
2. Kitchens & Bathrooms
You’ve heard it before, but it can’t be emphasized enough. Your kitchen and bathroom have a greater influence on a buyer’s impression of your home, and their willingness to buy, than any other aspect of the house.
3. Paint
For the cost of a few gallons of paint, you will not get more value from any other part of your staging than from painting your home – inside and out. So just do it. Make sure you use brighter, neutral colours so buyers can more easily imagine their own furniture and touches around the house.
4. Paint Outdated Tile
If you bathroom hasn’t been updated in a while, you may have outdated, dirty or damaged tiles. Apply a high-adhesion primer and use ceramic epoxy. It might sound a little more complicated than a regular paint job, but it is still a fraction of the cost and effort of re-tiling.
5. Get Rid of Mold & Stains in and Around the Bathtub and Shower
Very little will turn off a buyer more than dark mold stains. Wipe them away with a mixture of one part water and one part bleach.
6. Scour Shower Doors
You might not notice the soap scum build-up on your shower doors, but buyers will zoom in on it as soon as they walk into the bathroom. Use a mixture of 1 part muriatic acid and 10 parts water and scrub it in with steel wool.
7. Refinish or Reface Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinetry can get very expensive. Depending on the surface-type of your cabinets, you may be able to refinish them to freshen their look. You can also look for ways to reface cabinets with an entirely new surface. And if you want the easiest way to update their look, try some new handles and pulls, you’ll be amazed at the difference they can make.
8. Make Sure Your Master Bedroom Appeals to Him & Her
Everyone who looks at a master bedroom needs to see themselves being comfortable in it. If yours is too gender specific, it could be a turn-off for one partner or the other.
9. Get a New Fireplace Screen
They are not expensive and they can set off your family or living room.
10. Minimize Furniture and Accessories
That wall collage you have of your children is very special to you, but it’s just clutter to a potential buyer. Remove as many pieces of furniture, wall hangings, etc., as you can, leaving only enough to not make the room look bare.
11. Place Furniture for Easy Flow
Buyers should be able to walk into a room and see the furniture – not stumble over it. If your room leads to another, make sure nothing is in the way of the clearest path to the next room.
12. Clean Out Your Closets
Everyone loves storage space, unless it’s full of storage items. Buyers will be checking out your closets and other storage areas, so make sure they are as clean and tidy as possible.
13. Refinish Wooden Decks
While it might be a great shape, it probably doesn’t look that way. Wooden decks tend to show wear quickly and it relatively easy to quickly refinish it as a highlight of your yard.
14. Park Your Car in the Driveway
First, it keeps the garage clear for buyers’ inspections. Don’t park it too close to your home or garage door so people can get a good look at your home and freely move around outside.
15. Use Planters
If you’re selling in spring or early summer, your garden may not be in full bloom. Put together some colourful flowers in planters to add a floral touch around your main entrance ways.
There are many more tips and tricks to making your home make the best impression and get a higher price if you decide to sell. Just ask your real estate agent or a professional home stager.