Practical steps to get your home, and your paperwork, ready before it goes on the market.
The work you do before your home is listed shapes how buyers see it and how smoothly the sale goes. Most of it is straightforward, and much of it costs little more than time.
Start with a clear-eyed walk-through
Walk through your home as a buyer would, starting at the curb. Note the things you have learned to live with: a sticking door, a dripping tap, a cracked switch plate, scuffed trim. Small repairs are inexpensive, and leaving them undone can make buyers wonder what else has been put off. For anything larger, such as a roof, furnace or water heater nearing the end of its life, gather the receipts and service records so you can answer questions plainly.
Clean, clear and neutral
A deep clean, including windows, carpets and the inside of cupboards, makes a home feel cared for. Clear surfaces and pack away some of the furniture, personal photos and collections so rooms look larger and buyers can picture their own things in them. Closets and storage areas should look like they have room to spare. If walls are marked or strongly coloured, a fresh coat of a neutral paint is often worth it.
The outside counts
In Calgary, the season decides what this means. In summer, mow, edge and tidy the beds. In winter, keep walks and steps clear of snow and ice, and make sure exterior lights work for evening showings. In any season, a clean front door and a tidy entry set the tone.
Get the paperwork ready early
Some of the documents a buyer will ask for take time to gather. If you are selling a condominium or townhouse, the corporation has up to 10 days to provide condo documents and an estoppel certificate once they are requested in writing, so it helps to start early. For a detached home or a bare land condominium, buyers will usually ask for a Real Property Report, and the Alberta Real Estate Association notes that its standard contracts call for one on bare land condominium sales. An older report may need updating if you have since added a deck, fence or garage. If you live in a lake community, confirm that your residents' association fees are paid up.
Showings and photographs
Most buyers see a home online first, so the photographs matter. Before the photographer arrives, open the blinds, turn on the lights and put away everyday clutter. During showings, try to be out of the house so buyers can take their time, and keep pets and their things out of sight where you can.
Every home and every seller's situation is different. Rob can walk through your home with you, suggest which tasks are worth doing and which are not, and put together a plan and timeline that suits you.