Sellers' Info
Why use an agent?
Selling a home takes more than just putting a "for sale" sign out
front. You need an agent with experience and training to help you determine the
right price, come up with an effective marketing strategy, and anticipate and
solve any problems that come up during the selling process. A real estate
professional can help you with every part of selling your home, and offer you a
smoother, hassle-free experience.
When you're selling your home, there are a number of advantages to working with
an agent:
- He/she knows real estate
values in your neighbourhood and will help price your home competitively
by preparing a market analysis of homes that have sold, competing homes
that are still on the market and homes that were on the market but didn't
sell.
- He/she will establish a
marketing strategy for your home, ensuring that it's exposed to as many
potential buyers as possible.
- He/she takes care of the
tasks involved in selling a house, ensuring that the transaction is simple
and low-stress for you.
- He/she is an expert in the
home selling process and will advise you of your rights, options and
obligations.
- He/she is an experienced
negotiator and will work for you to get you the best possible price.
Effective marketing for your home
An agent can help you market your home by exposing it to as many potential
buyers as possible. The first step is putting it on the MLS. But listing your
property is only the beginning; your agent will prepare a personalized plan
that includes everything he/she plans to do to sell your property. At Royal
LePage, your property will be aggressively promoted through:
- A posting on the Multiple
Listing Service (MLS)
- Royal LePage property
advertising publications
- The Royal LePage web site
- Other Royal LePage offices
and real estate professionals
- Mailings to potential buyers
in your area
Renovating for resale
Renovations don't have to be expensive or extensive to offer you a good rate of
return. In fact, a quick coat of paint can go a long way to boosting your
selling price. Just make sure your new décor is tasteful, with shades of white
and tame versions of popular colours.
The kitchen and bathroom are your best bets for renovation with the highest
payback. Take a look at these average rates of return for home upgrades:
- Interior painting and décor -
73%
- Kitchen renovation - 72%
- Bathroom renovation - 68%
- Exterior paint - 65%
- Flooring upgrades - 62%
- Window/door replacement - 57%
- Main floor family room
addition - 51%
- Fireplace addition - 50%
- Basement renovation - 49%
- Furnace/heating system
replacement - 48%
- New lighting - 84%
As an expert on home sales trends in your neighbourhood, your Royal LePage
Sales Professional can suggest which areas of your home could benefit from
renovation and increase its value.
Preparing your home for an inspection
If you're selling your home, be prepared for a visit from a home inspector, who
will be checking out the property on behalf of possible purchasers. Take a look
through your home using these steps, and repair any problems to ensure that
your inspection is a success.
1. Make sure the structure is sound. Check to see if any renovations
have damaged the structure. Look for termite damage. Ensure that
"settling" hasn't caused damage to the foundation or support beams
and joists.
2. Check if electrical and wiring systems are safe. Loose wires or
incorrectly installed or wired receptacles, switches or electrical box problems
are hazardous and should be fixed. All homes should have a minimum of 100 amp
service.
3. Look for leaks. Water can leak into unexpected places, causing
extensive damage over time. Examine the underside of sinks and dishwashers,
along ceilings, on floors or along basement walls. Plumbing fixtures,
water-using appliances, drain pipes, water supply inlets and outlets, basements
and roofs can all be causes and sources of water damage.
4. Resolve safety issues. Make sure windows open easily and lock
securely, and entrances/exits can be securely locked. Correct hazards such as
hidden curbs, loose railings and stairs, uncapped wells, etc.
5. Check plumbing. Faucets should run easily and shut off completely,
bathtubs should be properly caulked and grouted, toilets should be bolted down
securely, drains should be clog free, and the water heater should be in good
working order.
6. Make sure your heating and cooling systems work. Make sure they are
up to date, clean, in good working condition and have clean filters. Check
refrigerant in air conditioning units.
7. Have a friend take a look. A general, unbiased overview of your home
by a neighbour or friend may reveal issues you might have overlooked.
Getting your home ready to show
If you're planning an open house, or are expecting buyers to be looking at your
home, make sure their first impression is a good one. Here are few hints for
making your house look great to potential buyers:
Exterior
- House in good repair
- House number easy to read
- Eavestroughs, down spouts and
soffits in good repair
- Garage/car port clean and
tidy
- Litter picked up
- Cracked or broken window
panes replaced
- Lawns and hedges cut and
trimmed, garden weeded and edged
- Walks shovelled and salted
- Boot tray inside front door
- Doorbell and door hardware in
good repair
- Porch and foyer clean and
tidy
Interior
- Chipped plaster and paint
touched up or replaced
- Doors and cupboards properly
closed
- Leaky taps and toilets
repaired
- Burned out light bulbs
replaced
- Squeaky doors oiled
- Mirrors, fixtures and taps
cleaned and polished
- Seals around tubs and basins
in good repair
- Floors cleaned, garbage
containers empty
- Inside of closets and
cupboards neat and tidy
- Appliances cleaned
- Countertops neat and polished
- All lights turned on
- Air conditioner turned on in
warm weather
- Fresh air in house
- Fireplace lit in cooler
weather
- Halls and stairs cleaned
- Drapes opened during daylight
- Carpets freshly vacuumed
- Fresh flowers in various
rooms
- Jewelry and valuables locked
safely away or taken with you
- Valuable property, such as
art, vases and figurines out of reach, out of sight or locked away
- Pets absent, where possible,
or contained during the showing, and litter boxes clean
