The Do’s and Don’ts of Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

There’s something about spring that makes you want to throw open all your windows, give the house a good cleaning and toss out the clutter that’s been making you crazy all winter. Am I right?

When it comes to selling your home, the same motivation applies.

To start, homeowners need to be open to new ideas (and help from your trusted realtor!), get ready to do a deep clean and a serious de-clutter. There are some definite Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to getting your home ready to sell, so I’ve compiled them here for you.
Remember: if you or someone you know is thinking of selling, send me a quick email or give me a call! Feel free to forward this blog post to them as well. The earlier we can make a plan together, the better!

Getting Ready to Sell: Do’s

1. DO make a list of big jobs that need to be done around the house.

One question I always ask my clients when they are thinking of selling their home is: are you willing to invest money in your house to sell for a higher price? If the answer is yes, we need to make a list of the big jobs that need to be done around the house. I also advise to anticipate that some (or all) of the jobs could take 3-6 months to complete.

What do I mean by “big jobs?” Big jobs are things like installing a new roof, a new furnace, selecting and installing new flooring and replacing windows. These will pay dividends when you sell the home, and you just need to consider if you are going to invest time and money to have them done.

2. DO de-clutter, paint and tackle small improvements

I’m often asked by clients if they should renovate before selling their home. Should they fix up the bathrooms, or the kitchen, to appeal to more buyers?

It’s a great question. I usually say no. If you're going to spend that much money on a renovation, wouldn’t you like to enjoy it also? Another thought is, if you spend 15k for a bathroom reno or 60k on a kitchen reno, more often than not, these expenses won’t reflect on the selling price.

Small renovations will not reap the benefits when it comes time to sell. Extensive ones, yes! However, improving areas of the home with new paint, updated light fixtures and a general de-cluttering will help the house show better and will freshen it up perfectly. It also allows the new owners to envision themselves living there, and they can make changes or renovate to their tastes after purchasing the property.

3. DO work with a realtor with a game plan

I recently worked with a client who was getting ready to sell a home they had lived in for a decade.

The de-cluttering, packing and storage of items became very overwhelming and I could see it. I suggested they let me take over, knowing that isn’t easy for a lot of people!

I came to them with a plan of how to tackle the job. I had a team to help pack up each room with labelled boxes, we used their garage to store some items and I helped them hire a painting crew to get the house a fresh coat in no time. In the end, it relieved their stress and we listed their home with a successful outcome.

I always say, work with someone who won’t push you into making bad decisions, but will help you make good ones. When you’re getting ready to sell, work with a realtor who can show you what they do to prepare a home for sale and the team they can bring to get it done in a timely manner.

Getting Ready to Sell: Don'ts

1. DON’T miss the best times to sell

The best times to sell are in the spring and fall markets. Those months are generally March to June and September to early November. If you are interested in selling your home and you want to invest in doing some big jobs, such as replacing the roof, HVAC system, flooring or windows, to increase the value of your home, plan for 3-6 months to get them done. If you need to clean, de-clutter and paint, plan for up to a month to get this done and get your home on the market.

2. DON’T think you need to do it all on your own

Getting your home ready to sell is not something you have to do all by yourself. If you work with an experienced realtor, that person should be able to tell you what they do to help you sell and who they can bring in to help you sell.

Your realtor should have connections to contractors, tradespeople and service providers. From big jobs like replacing HVAC to painters and packers, you can ask for help assembling a team so that the stress of preparing your home to sell is not overwhelming.

3. DON’T forget to tell everyone you know

Tell everyone you know when you are preparing to sell your house. That way, when your home goes up on the market, word has already spread.

You never know, you could have someone in your social network, who is interested or who knows someone who would be interested in your home. Word of mouth is still the most powerful tool we can use in selling real estate.

Wondering about the best time to buy and sell your home? I wrote a recent blog post about Buyer’s and Seller’s Markets, check it out here.

If you’re interested in learning more about me, how I treat my clients differently than most, and how I can help you in your home buying journey, check out my introductory blog post here.

I’m always up for a virtual coffee chat! Call me anytime at 647-801-2233 or send me an email here and let’s connect soon!