I Want to Sell My House.
Where Do I Start?

"I need someone to help me learn how to sell my house."

If you've said this to yourself, and don't have much of a clue about how to sell a house, then you're really going to appreciate the solid advice I'm about to offer you.

First of all, before you do anything else, it's a good idea to ...

Set the Stage

If you wanted to sell your car, you would at least wash and wax it. Right? You'd also probably shampoo the interior, clean out the trunk, and maybe even steam clean the engine. You might go as far as to give it an engine tune-up. Why would you do all this? To make it more attractive to potential buyers. The nicer it looks and feels, the more money you might get for it. Make sense?

Preparing a home for market is no different. It's arguably one of the most important things to do in the process. So, in learning how to sell a home, this is your first step. Give it a make-over, or at least a face-lift.

"To sell my house and get the highest price possible, what must I do to effectively prepare it?", you ask.

It's best to evaluate your property with total ...

Objectivity

... as though through the eyes of a buyer. Given a choice, everybody would prefer brand new. Wouldn't you agree? Well, maybe a brand new home in a mature neighbourhood. So, if your home has been 'lived in', and is looking a little worn around the collar, or is, as referred to in the trade, tired, the minimum you should do is clean it. And give it a fresh coat of paint throughout. Even if a prospective buyer currently lives in a dirty house, they won't be interested in your dirt. They'll want to dirty it themselves.

Dirty windows give the impression of a dirty house. They should be crystal clear. Rover's nose prints and slobber on the front or patio door will be an immediate turn-off for buyers. Clean it up. And repair the damaged screen.

If you have old worn carpet, it may be worth the expense of replacing it with a trendy new carpet. Or maybe with a very popular solid or engineered hardwood floor. Does your home already have hardwood floors, but Rover has done quite a job on it with his claws? You may want to consider having it refinished.

Sell my house, you say. Well, the kitchen is by far, the most important room in the house. Is it looking a little tired? It's an expensive proposition to replace the entire kitchen cabinetry, but a face-life would help. You could refinish the doors, or replace the counter-top with a contemporary style and colour. How about a new kitchen floor? At the very least, your kitchen, and appliances, should be ...

Clean - Clean - Clean

You may not notice the odour because you've become accustomed to it. But when a stranger enters your home, especially with the usual judgmental attitude, an unclean home definitely smells. And it won't excite them.

If you're a smoker (my sympathies) saying sell my house, you're definitely going to have a challenge. It's nearly impossible to remove the smell from walls, ceilings, carpets and furniture. I recommend you hire a cleaning company to thoroughly clean everything. And painting all painted surfaces is an absolute must. And stop smoking in the house immediately!

Leaky faucet? Fix it. Or install a shiny new one. They're not expensive. And clean out the cupboards. People will open the doors - guaranteed.

The same goes for the bathroom. It should sparkle. Are the fixtures avocado green or dark salmon? Hmm. A new sink and toilet are not very expensive, and would spruce it up a lot. And bath tubs can easily be given a new lease on life with a shiny new finish to match. A must do is the grout repair around the tub. And get rid of the mold. Polish the tiles.

Do you have a fireplace? Call a chimney sweep to have it thoroughly cleaned, including any smoke residue on the interior brick or stone facing. It's also a good idea to have your furnace, gas fireplace and air conditioner serviced. At least, change the furnace filter.

How about the basement? Is it dirty and in a state of total disarray? I suggest you organize and clean it up. Unfinished? Paint the concrete floor. It'll look great and will be money well spent. Any leaking cracks? I advise you to have them repaired. The buyer's home inspector will find them, and recommend they be repaired. So, you may as well bite the bullet yourself. And get rid of the cobwebs from the laundry area at least. It'll creep her out.

Make sure all your light fixtures are clean, and with maximum allowable bulbs. Bright sells.

Purge

Get rid of all your junk that you've been hording for years. The same goes for the garage. If you aren't using it, throw it out, or give it away, or sell it in a garage sale. Think of it this way - it's just stuff. And you'll not have to pay a mover to move it again and again.

And how about that beat up old garage door? Dented with peeling paint? It definitely won't add to your curb appeal. At least paint it. If you can afford it, a new door with an automatic opener will do wonders to improve first impression.

If it's winter, and you get snow, you'll not be able to do much with the landscaping. Just make sure your driveway, walks and porch are kept clear of ice and snow. However, how to sell a house in warm weather is to invest in the landscaping. If you'd rather not spend a ton, at least seed the bare spots on your lawn, and keep it nicely mowed. Prepare the flower gardens by edging and adding some mulch or bark. It'll look great, and not cost much. Plant flowers. Trim the shrubs. And get rid of any junk lying around the yard.

If your driveway is looking rough, with cracks and stains in the asphalt, you may want to consider re-coating it. And give it a good clean edge.

Do you have a swimming pool? or a hot tub? Make sure they sparkle. And don't expect to easily sell your home off-season if you have a pool. People don't usually like to pay much, if anything, for future benefit, especially if they can't see it.

'If I do all this, how will it help me sell my house?'

All this effort and expense will give buyers the impression that your home has been cared for, that there's ...

Pride of Ownership

And before you begin showings, it's also smart to properly ...

Stage Your Home

Rearrange furniture to improve traffic flow, or create quiet conversation areas. De-clutter, de-personalize, and maybe add a few accent pieces. Remove all the family photos, the giant stuffed fish mounted on the wall, and the grizzly bear rug. The closest you can make-over your home to the standard of a professional model home, the better you'll do on both ultimate sale price and length of time to sell.

You're ready to begin showing your home to prospective buyers. 'I'm ready to sell my house. Where do I begin?'

'Can I sell my house privately?'

Yes. You could advertise privately, which I'll deal with in another page of my website. Or you could seek professional assistance.

So, the next part of the process is ...

How to Choose a REALTOR®

'How do I find a REALTOR® to sell my house?'

There are plenty of realty companies out there. Where do you begin?

You could call various REALTORS® from print or internet advertising. Or you could visit open houses in your neighbourhood. Or you could walk into one of several local realty companies to talk to the duty agent. These methods may work out, but may not. It's a really important decision that is not to be made lightly. Just because a real estate agent has the money to distribute fancy advertisements to your mailbox, doesn't necessarily make them great at their job.

You could interview several local REALTOR® from various realty companies until you meet one who inspires you, one who you feel is qualified, has the necessary skills, tools and knowledge, one who you feel knows how to sell a home. But above all, you must feel comfortable with them, and ...

Trust Them

And whatever you do, don't automatically list with the REALTOR® who quotes you the highest estimate of market value. Make each agent justify their opinion. Don't allow them to 'buy' the listing because, when your home hasn't sold in a few weeks, they'll be at your door asking for a price reduction.

The absolute best way of how to choose a REALTOR® is by personal recommendation from someone you trust. Ask your family, friends or neighbours if they've had any experience with real estate agents. You may hear horror stories, and that's fine. At least you'll know who not to call. But you may luck out.

Or you could contact me for a recommendation. If you happen to be in my market area, I may be able to assist you personally. Or I could certainly refer you to an experienced, qualified REALTOR®in your area. You don't know me, you say. I understand. But check out the testimonials on this website. You may feel a little more comfortable then.

There are no absolute guarantees in life, well maybe except for death, taxes and politician's failed promises. When you say to a REALTOR®, 'can you sell my house?', all they can do is the best they can do given market conditions, the physical condition of your property, and their skills. And remember that they commit their time, effort and expense, to working ...

On Your Behalf

... without any guarantee they'll be compensated for their efforts. So, it's only fair that you make a commitment to them as well. Be honest with them.

Usually, you'll be glad you did.

For more on 'how to sell my house', click here. For even more advice on how to sell a home, click here.

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