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As a seller, you want to get the best results possible when listing your home. No matter what, the final price and the amount of time it takes to find a buyer will depend on the market to a certain degree. Some aspects are beyond your control. However, you can position yourself for success by preparing your home strategically.

If you want to achieve the highest price in any market, the guidelines in this post will help.

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Start With Research

Extensive research may not be exciting or glamorous, but it will save you a lot of time and frustration when your house actually hits the market. For example, you’ll have a good idea of what repairs to make and what to avoid. As an added bonus, you’ll likely earn more money from your sale because you’ll know exactly what to do to attract qualified buyers to your listing.

Thanks to the Internet, real estate research is simultaneously easier and harder than ever. There’s a ton of information at your fingertips; the trick is to figure out what’s true, what’s hype, and what it means for you in today’s market.

Working with a knowledgeable Realtor® in your area can help you navigate the information overload and develop a winning plan for reaching buyers for your home. In addition, they will have access to extensive data that isn’t available to the general public.

Before you even begin preparing your home for the market, it helps to do some background research. The posts below are a great place to start:

Tackling the Hard Part First

One of the most critical tasks in getting your house ready is simply to clean and declutter each room. This can also be the most time-consuming project. The earlier you start, the less overwhelming it will feel.

Many of us acquire a lot of unnecessary items over the years. Books we always planned to read but never got around to it. Clothes that we wore once or twice, if ever, and then put back in the closet. Perhaps you still have boxes that you haven’t even unpacked from the last time you moved. The tidiest of all homes will have at least one dedicated “junk drawer.” The question becomes, how much of this is actually clutter that you can discard and never miss?

Preparing for a sale early gives you the motivation to sort through all of these items without the pressure of a looming deadline. The process itself is simple. Place everything in one of three boxes labelled keep, donate, and discard. The challenge is in the emotional aspect – it can be difficult to part with items you’ve had for years. However, the transformation will make it well worthwhile. Buyers will be drawn to your home, and you might even find it hard to recognize your own space!

An Emphasis on Presentation

A sparkling clean, organized and clutter-free home is one giant step toward a successful sale, but there are still many other ways to appeal to potential buyers. With this step out of the way, your real estate agent can give you personalized advice as to what renovations are likely to lead to a faster sale and a higher price.

Often, these updates are just minor. Even something as simple and quick as a fresh coat of paint can offer a healthy return on your investment. Other final touches could include new lighting fixtures and hardware on cupboard and drawer handles, replacing old faucets, and new silicone around the sinks and showers.

In getting your house show-worthy, be sure to remember the exterior. Beautiful curb appeal is essential because it’s what a potential buyer sees first. Often, they will unconsciously decide whether or not they love your home before they even get out of the car.

Creating curb appeal isn’t just for the spring and summertime, either. During the autumn months, you’ll want to take full advantage of the natural beauty of the season. In the winter, paying attention to the exterior can reassure buyers that your home is well cared for and maintained. The more luxurious your property, the more critical it is to ensure your presentation is perfect, inside and out.

Southern Georgian Bay and Thornbury real estate is in a class of its own. Learn more about our specialized services for home sellers in the area right here.

The Value of Staging

Staging is the final piece of the puzzle when it comes to preparing your home to appeal to qualified buyers. No matter what type of property you are selling, you must keep your focus on what truly matters: designing the house in a way that entices buyers and increases their desire to make you an offer.

Staging means creating a blank slate to inspire the buyer’s imagination rather than decorating according to what you think looks good. A big part of this process is depersonalization.

As much as possible, you want the buyer to forget that you live there, and instead picture your house as their house. If you have personal items such as family photos and other memorabilia, it’s time to pack it all away for now.

Replacing those belongings with attractive yet impersonal decor will make your home more appealing to a greater number of potential buyers. Done right, staging can actually increase the final selling price, and even help you find a buyer faster. If you’re looking for specific decor ideas that will get results in this market, one of our local real estate agents will be happy to guide you.

Are you ready to take the next step toward a successful home sale? Our Thornbury real estate agents can help you with a seamless transition. Reach out to 705.888.2888 or email Mike@TheKearnsGroup.ca to learn more about our services.