Everyone knows that you only have one chance to make a good first impression, so before you put your property on the market, here are some tips to help you make it a show-stopper!
Improve curb appeal by keeping the grass and walkways tidy, trimming shrubs, placing pots of colourful flowers outside the front door, replacing exterior light bulbs or fixtures, cleaning gutters and downspout extensions
Fix minor problems, such as leaky faucets, loose door knobs, cloudy or broken window panes, burned out light bulbs, dead batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, dirty furnace filters, loose railings, peeling wallpaper, cracked caulking around bathtubs, cracked driveway or walkways
Arrange for annual maintenance of building systems, such as furnace, air conditioner and chimneys
De-clutter your home, room by room, especially the kitchen, bathrooms and closets. Stack storage bins in the basement or garage, rent a storage locker or a storage pod.
Tidy up the area around the electrical panel and furnace, so buyers and home inspectors have easy access
Test GFI outlets in bathrooms, laundry room and outdoors
Wash windows and curtains, if necessary, to brighten up the interior
Clean pet areas and add an air freshener, if necessary, to remove allergens from the air
Gather important household documents, such as your deed, survey, service records and warrantees for major appliances, roof, furnace and air conditioner, as well as records of heating, hydro and water bills for the past year
Have a duplicate set of keys ready, including condominium entry fob, storage locker and mail room keys
Write a letter to your condominium corporation, if applicable, requesting a current Status Certificate for your unit. The cost is $100, but is well worth having before listing so you can accurately represent your parking and locker information
Consider booking a pre-listing home inspection so that you can identify and fix small maintenance items, and identify potential concerns buyers may have. This report may also allow buyers to make a firm offer on your property and ensure a smoother sale.
