Remove Personal Decorations

• create a neutral environment
• remove any objects that reflect your personal choices and lifestyle
• some buyers have a hard time emotionally attaching to a home when a sellers' lifestyle choices are front and center
• it will also help you to emotionally detach from your home and to start thinking of it as someone else's 

• inspections are the number one deal killer in this industry
• you can eliminate the whole problem by dealing with the issue up front
• buyer's will second guess a house if the inspection report is loaded with issues
• performing an inspection before the listing is well worth the expense

• if it's in the budget, hire a professional cleaning crew
• when a house is unkept, it can be hard for buyers to emotionally attach to it
• a clean house gives the impression that the property has been well maintained and is easy to move into

• not everyone is a fan of kids and/or pets
• if your home smells like animals or has toys stuffed in every corner, you may have just lost your buyer
• pet odors are one of the most common reasons for a home to stay 
• also make sure that any evidence of your kids presence in your home is kept to a minimum 

• if you have any fixtures in your home that look dated, they should be replaced
• if you have old outdated light switch covers, replace them all
• walk through your house and try to identify every fixture that reveals the date of the home

• if the carpets aren't stained and are newer, you should still get a deep clean from a professional carpet cleaning company
• if cleaning will not restore them, you'll need to replace them
• carpets hold a lot of dirt and odor
• it is important that they look and smell clean for your showings

• if it's been more than a year since the interior of your house has been painted, then it's time to touch up
• if you have any strong colours in your house (purle, burgundy, lime green, etc.) it would be wise to paint over them with a neutral colour
• if you have exterior paint that is in need of restoration, take the time to work on it as well
• this includes fences, storage sheds, house siding, and trim work

• to stay competitive, it's wise to rent a storage unit
• start loading it with everything that you won't need while your house is on the market
• the more you put in storage, the better 
• buyer's love homes that are move in ready

• first impressions are HUGE in real estate
• the fastest way to freshen up your landscaping is new mulch
• if you want to make a great first impression, plant some colourful flowers
• trim any overgrown plants and bushes
• clean up your outdoor spaces to look new again

• experienced realtors look at dozens of homes every week
• every market is different and there are different tactics for each area
• an experienced realtor will point out all of the objections that you can expect to hear from your potential buyers