10 Tips for Selling Your Edmonton Home

1. List Down All the Things You'll Miss about Your Home

Take some time to sit down and think about exactly what you’ll miss about your home once you sell it and move out. These features are likely selling points for the home and should be mentioned in your listings as part of your marketing. You never know what might attract potential buyers so promoting these sometimes-overlooked points is often a good strategy.

2. Know Your Facts

You can’t sell something without knowing facts about it. Most buyers will probably ask questions about taxes, lot size, utility costs and other information pertaining to your home. You don’t have to memorize or be able to recite the facts by heart but it is a good idea to have this information ready in case these questions come up. Take some time to do your research on your own property so that the information is readily available to your real estate agent and to you.

3. List Down All the Recent Repairs Made on Your Home

Most buyers would like to know about any recent repairs, updates, or additions you’ve made to your home, such as the installation of a new roof, furnace, central heating, hot water heater, etc. Information such as the cost, the date, and who (or which company) did the job will be useful to provide. Any repairs, installations, or additions that were done during your ownership should be listed down, and if you have receipts lying around, providing your agent or buyer with copies will surely help, as they will validate the costs you had claimed.

4. Replace Some of Your Lightbulbs

This might seem like a small matter, but it can go a long way in making your home more “sellable”. Changing light bulbs to a higher wattage, for example, can help brighten up a room or an area and give it a more upbeat and spacious feel. Take caution to check the light fixture and note the maximum allowable wattage. Never use bulbs that are above the recommended usage. Here’s an old trick: add a drop of vanilla extract to lamp bulbs to add a fresh smell of vanilla to rooms!

5. Remove Anything of Sentimental Value

Sometimes you may want to keep certain items on display around your home, such as heirlooms, keepsakes or anything else of sentimental value, like an antique wall mirror on the hallway or a lamp that’s belonged to the family for generations. If you have any major items that you plan to take with you, replace them prior to any showings. It’s much harder to negotiate for these items once buyers have seen your home and offers to buy have been made.

6. Clean the Gutters

If your property is being shown on a day that happens to rain, the last thing you'd want is for dirty water to be gushing over the gutters and downspouts. Ensuring that your gutters are clean and that extensions move the water away from your foundation is a good idea for general maintenance of your home. It’s also proof to buyers of your attention to detail when maintaining and cleaning your home.

7. Hire a Building Inspector Before Listing

It’s always a good idea to sell your home in top condition. That way, buyers can’t fault you for trying to sell them a “defective” product. Hiring a building inspector can solve issues in advance, saving you from future headaches. It will help you make a list of repairs that need to be made and problems that need to be addressed prior to putting your property up on the market. Many home buyers will hire their own building inspector, and yours will act as a pre-inspection in some ways. This avoids the problem of buyers getting “cold feet” if an inspection shows on their report that too many repairs need to be made.

8. Don’t Scare Off the Seller

Don’t appear to be an anxious seller. You can give the buyer mixed signals or the wrong impression by pointing out too many features or facts about your home while sounding a bit desperate. This will ultimately hurt your negotiation and can even cost you thousands of dollars in losses. This is where a real estate agent can step in and negotiate and “sell” the home on your behalf. Qualified agents know how to handle the business side of things.

9. Have Your Home Appraised

Hiring an independent appraiser when selling a home on your own can be beneficial. It’s a good way to be reassured that you’re getting the best value for your home, without second-guessing yourself.

10. Contact the EdmontonRealEstate.ca Team

If you have any questions about selling your home, or would like to know some more tips, just give us a call at 780-800-9644. We can help guide you through each step of the process of selling your home and transition through the steps much more efficiently than if you were to try to do everything on your own. Remember, we're here to make your life easier!

Request a free home evaluation to find out how much your home is worth on today's market. Feel free to contact us online or call us at 780-800-9644 with any questions you may have about selling your Edmonton home.