40 Tips to Help Sell Your Regina Home

People usually decide within two minutes whether they like your home. The first impression is often the lasting impression. And they start forming their opinion before they even walk in the front door.

So, it's smart to ask yourself if your home is as presentable as it can be for a faster sale at the best price. The best way to find out is to imagine you're a prospective buyer. You've probably been looking at other homes; so approach your present home the way you look at other houses.

REALTORS® will do all of their part by bringing prospective buyers to look at your house, but when it comes right down to it, your house is going to have to sell itself.

Here are 40 time-tested tips we suggest to make your home more presentable. A good rule to follow is to do the cosmetic things which will improve your chances of selling, but avoid making major changes unless they will increase the value of your home more than the cost of the improvement. Clean up. Fix up. Paint up.

Outside

1. Invest in landscaping where it can be seen at first sight. A well manicured lawn, neatly clipped shrubs and cleanly swept walks create a good first impression.
2. Cut back overgrown shrubbery that looks scraggly or keeps light out of the house.
3. Paint your house if necessary. This can probably do more for sales appeal than any other factor. If you decide against painting, at least consider touching up front shutters and window frames. Power-wash the exterior.
4. Inspect the roof and gutters. Any missing shingles to replace? Gutters and down spouts in place? Need paint or repair?
5. Consider putting potted or hanging baskets of flowers outside the front door.
6. Repaint or stain the front door.

Kitchen

7. The kitchen is the most important room in the house. Make it bright and attractive. If dull, paint or oil cabinets and put up perky new curtains.
8. Clean the ventilating hood in the kitchen.
9. If the kitchen floor is badly worn, put down new flooring. Replace any loose tiles.
10. Remove any appliances that you keep on your counters. Clean counters make the room look larger.

Bathrooms

11. Repair dripping faucets.
12. Use special cleaning products to remove stains from toilets, bathtubs, sinks and showers.
13. If sink and bathtub drain too slowly, unclog them.

Living Areas

14. Have all plaster in top shape. Cracks (or nail pops, visible seams in dry walls) are easy to fix.
15. Check ceilings for leak stains. Fix the cause of the damage, repair the ceiling and paint.
16. If painting and redecorating, avoid off-beat colors; stick to conventional colors outside and easy to work with pastels/soft colors inside.
17. If you have a fireplace, clean it out and lay some logs in it to make it look inviting.
18. Wash windows.
19. Replace broken glass.
20. Mend torn screens.
21. Check to see that all windows will open and close.
22. Replace burned-out light bulbs. Use brighter light bulbs.
23. Make sure every light switch works.
24. Make the floors shine; clean and polish them. Nail down any cracking boards or stair treads.
25. Straighten up closets; get rid of excess items. Use air freshener to eliminate musty odors. Lubricate any sticky or squeaking doors.
26. Change your kitty litter daily! Use air freshener in the area.
27. For sliding doors that stick in their tracks, rub the tracks with paraffin or candle wax.

Basement, Attic, Garage

28. Clean out attic, basement and garage and dispose of everything you are not going to move and pack everything you won't need until you're settled in your new home

Showing Your Home

Showing your home effectively to prospective home buyers is one of the most important aspects of the entire selling process, yet it's amazing how many homeowners don't make the most of this opportunity. A home showing, whether it's a showing appointment or an Open House, is your best opportunity to capture the interest - and hopefully, the emotions - of a prospective buyer. It's your chance to distinguish your home from all the others in your area and price range, and make a connection with your viewers.

One of the best ways to make this emotional connection is to help potential buyers visualize the property as their home, not yours. In addition to cleaning the house from top to bottom, so everything is spic and span, you should also start the process of de-cluttering and de-personalizing. By removing the majority of your personal mementos and decorative items from the landscape, you are creating a blank canvass where the buyer can picture setting up their own belongings. Remember, they're looking for a home that most closely suits their own possessions, not how well it showcases yours. This is one of those cases where less is definitely more, so why not start the packing process early?

While there are many things that you can do to help make the showing of your property a success, the most important one may surprise you. One of the best ways you can help your salesperson conduct a successful showing is to get out before the potential buyers arrive, and stay out until after they've gone. Surprised? Don't be. Prospective buyers rarely speak their minds when they think the homeowner may still be in earshot. If your viewers don't speak freely about their objections or concerns, that doesn't leave much opportunity for your agent to counter them, offer solutions and point out other compensating factors.

Having the homeowners present in the property also tends to make viewers feel less comfortable taking a good look around. They feel as if they are intruding and tend to skip through rooms quickly. Your presence also inhibits the viewers' ability to picture themselves living there; it still seems like someone else's home. This is particularly true if other family members, children and pets are present. Even the best behaved children can distract your prospective buyers from their purpose, and in the case of pets, they can be a downright turnoff to some people.

You've chosen a real estate professional for their ability to showcase the best selling points of your home and to counter objections as they arise. Why not give your representative the freedom to do their job to the best of their ability? Whether it's an Open House or a showing appointment, bundle up the kids and the dogs in the car, go out for a walk in the park and an ice cream, and leave the showing to the professional. It could make all the difference in selling your home.

29. Keep room draperies and shades open to let in light. This also makes the rooms appear larger.
30. Have your home well-lit during showings.
31. At night, turn on porch light and outdoor lighting in backyard if you have it.
32. Neatness makes a room look bigger. Avoid clutter. Pack up un-necessaries!
33. If possible, leave your furniture and rugs in the house for showing it.
34. Avoid having dirty dishes in the sink or on counters.
35. Keep any toys in the children's rooms. Bikes, wagons and skateboards should be made as inconspicuous as possible.
36. Keep radios, stereos and TV's off or turned way down.
37. If possible, try to leave the house during showings to give prospective buyers space.
38. Don't mention furniture or furnishings you wish to dispose of unless asked. Such discussions can kill the sale!
39. Take pets outdoors or for a walk when you are showing your home.
40. If you are at home, don't tag along when the REALTOR® is showing your home; only answer questions asked of you. Don't volunteer additional information.