In the midst of this crazy Polar Vortex we've been experiencing across the province, here at the Stuart Sinclair Team, we take console in the fact that the spring season is now officially only 16 days away!
But would you believe it if we told you that the 'Spring Season' always comes early to the real estate market, and in fact, is already underway for 2014?
Spring is undoubtedly the busiest time of year for real estate, and it's easy to understand why. Most families who plan on making a move want to do so before the summer months are out, ensuring kids can be registered for schools in time and that moving day doesn't interfere with any planned family vacations. Spring is also the best time of year to showcase your home in it's most positive light, which is one of the reasons why a surge of new listings typically hits the market in February, March and April of each year. All this is great news for anyone thinking of selling their home, but remember, increased activity means increased competition on the open market. Here are some important things to remember to help you get the upper hand when it comes to listing your home for sale this spring:
1) Prepare Early: If you plan on using a Realtor, be sure to contact them as early as possible. A professional Realtor will help you identify areas for improvement within your home, help you look at market statistics and activity in your neighbourhood to determine the best list price, plus put together a marketing/advertising plan to help get your home the best possible exposure. Don't underestimate the value of using a Realtor. Many homeowners struggle for months on end trying to sell a home privately. This can lead to wasted time and money, which many of us can't afford to part with.
2) Depersonalize and Start Packing: Depending on just how 'lived in' your home is at present, decluttering can take anywhere from a week to a month for the average homeowner. Start by removing personal items from within the home such as family photos, kids art work, and other items that give potential buyers insight into the way you live. Excess toys, nick-nacks, books, decorative items and even extra furniture should be packed up and moved to storage, leaving you with more of a blank canvas that is ready for staging and will appeal to a wider range of potential buyers.
3) Invest in Improvements that will Yield Higher Profits: So if you want to list in March, it's likely too late to look at a full kitchen renovation. That being said, it's NOT too late to invest a bit of money on cosmetic improvements to help your home stand out from the rest. The biggest bang for your buck? Repairing any chipped walls and repainting in neutral colors is a relatively inexpensive way to completely transform your home. Looking at other quick fixes? Consider new kitchen and bathroom hardware, a DIY backsplash, switching out a few light fixtures in principal rooms, or installing closet organizers to help your home appear more spacious.
4) Clean Windows & Early Garden Prep: You may be surprised just how much sparking windows can do for a home's appearance both on the inside and the outside. Inside, it helps natural light beam off other surfaces, helping the home appear brighter, cleaner, more spacious and inviting. From the outside, sparkling windows also make a huge improvemet to your home's curb appeal. Speaking of curb appeal, it may be a little too early to plant spring flowers, but clearing downed branches, removing debris and garbage from your property, clearing eavestroughs, and re-mulching/raking flower beds will help your home make a stronger first impression, plus make it easier on you when the ground really starts to thaw out.
A little hard work in the colder months can have a huge impact on your ability to sell quickly and for a great price when you do hit the market this spring.
Don't worry, the process isn't overwhelming when the right team is backing you up, and that's what we're here for.
Are you ready to sell? The crunch is on... contact us to get started today, and all the best for a blossoming and profitable spring season!
-The Stuart Sinclair Team
www.thestuartsinclairteam.com
[email protected]
But would you believe it if we told you that the 'Spring Season' always comes early to the real estate market, and in fact, is already underway for 2014?
Spring is undoubtedly the busiest time of year for real estate, and it's easy to understand why. Most families who plan on making a move want to do so before the summer months are out, ensuring kids can be registered for schools in time and that moving day doesn't interfere with any planned family vacations. Spring is also the best time of year to showcase your home in it's most positive light, which is one of the reasons why a surge of new listings typically hits the market in February, March and April of each year. All this is great news for anyone thinking of selling their home, but remember, increased activity means increased competition on the open market. Here are some important things to remember to help you get the upper hand when it comes to listing your home for sale this spring:
1) Prepare Early: If you plan on using a Realtor, be sure to contact them as early as possible. A professional Realtor will help you identify areas for improvement within your home, help you look at market statistics and activity in your neighbourhood to determine the best list price, plus put together a marketing/advertising plan to help get your home the best possible exposure. Don't underestimate the value of using a Realtor. Many homeowners struggle for months on end trying to sell a home privately. This can lead to wasted time and money, which many of us can't afford to part with.
2) Depersonalize and Start Packing: Depending on just how 'lived in' your home is at present, decluttering can take anywhere from a week to a month for the average homeowner. Start by removing personal items from within the home such as family photos, kids art work, and other items that give potential buyers insight into the way you live. Excess toys, nick-nacks, books, decorative items and even extra furniture should be packed up and moved to storage, leaving you with more of a blank canvas that is ready for staging and will appeal to a wider range of potential buyers.
3) Invest in Improvements that will Yield Higher Profits: So if you want to list in March, it's likely too late to look at a full kitchen renovation. That being said, it's NOT too late to invest a bit of money on cosmetic improvements to help your home stand out from the rest. The biggest bang for your buck? Repairing any chipped walls and repainting in neutral colors is a relatively inexpensive way to completely transform your home. Looking at other quick fixes? Consider new kitchen and bathroom hardware, a DIY backsplash, switching out a few light fixtures in principal rooms, or installing closet organizers to help your home appear more spacious.
4) Clean Windows & Early Garden Prep: You may be surprised just how much sparking windows can do for a home's appearance both on the inside and the outside. Inside, it helps natural light beam off other surfaces, helping the home appear brighter, cleaner, more spacious and inviting. From the outside, sparkling windows also make a huge improvemet to your home's curb appeal. Speaking of curb appeal, it may be a little too early to plant spring flowers, but clearing downed branches, removing debris and garbage from your property, clearing eavestroughs, and re-mulching/raking flower beds will help your home make a stronger first impression, plus make it easier on you when the ground really starts to thaw out.
A little hard work in the colder months can have a huge impact on your ability to sell quickly and for a great price when you do hit the market this spring.
Don't worry, the process isn't overwhelming when the right team is backing you up, and that's what we're here for.
Are you ready to sell? The crunch is on... contact us to get started today, and all the best for a blossoming and profitable spring season!
-The Stuart Sinclair Team
www.thestuartsinclairteam.com
[email protected]