Sure, it’s challenging buying your first home – but the first time you sell? It can feel like you’re up against an immovable mountain. But if you’ve outgrown your home, you’re ready to downsize and move into a condo and enjoy your golden years, or you just know that it is time to move on, knowing how to set your home up for success on the Hamilton real estate market is key. At LJM Developments, we want to provide a few of our favourite tips for first time home sellers to ensure your home sells sooner than later.
A good realtor
Finding a good realtor can make all the difference in getting your home sold ASAP and spending years keeping the home showroom-ready in hopes that someone will be interested. Further, a good realtor will know how to market the home, the target demographics for your home, and how to maximize the eyeballs on your listing. Before you do anything else, find a good realtor and have a conversation about your plans to sell; you will be pointed in the right direction.
Have a firm plan for what’s to come
What do we mean by this? After selling your home on the Hamilton real estate market and earning a pretty profit, you need to know where you wish to go from there. Of course, if you are selling then you already know you want to transition to another home but don’t just assume you will figure it out when someone is actually interested in buying the home. Don’t wait that long: before you think about putting that painter’s tape in that ugly bathroom, have a concrete plan on where you want to go. Are you selling because you want to downsize, or do you want to move to another location; want a bigger place to live, or is a change of scenery the reason for moving? Figure it out, then start the process of getting your home ‘showroom-ready.’
Know the right time to sell
Of course, if you’re trying to sell in an area or a time when people are not buying property, you may want to reconsider if you should sell at all. Sometimes, it’s better to wait a year or two in the event that your local real estate market has an upswing. If you absolutely have to sell, decide if risking losing money on your investment is worth it.
Tips For Introducing Yourself To Your New Condo Neighbours
Remove personal items, clear clutter before showing
When it’s time to get your home ready for your first open house, be sure to remove every personal item from the home. It’s vital that you set the home up in a way that potential buyers can imagine their items in the rooms of the home: if your personal items are littering the spaces of the home, they won’t be able to do that. It’s also going to make the home look junky and cluttered – and in some people’s minds, they may assume you don’t care for the home and will look elsewhere. For others, it will just turn them off to the home. Ensure your home looks more like a showroom and less like a reflection of yourself.
Remove any signs of pets
Pet lovers or not, potential homebuyers do not want to see your pet’s things in the home. Like your personal items, it makes the home look cluttered and unkempt. Some buyers may actually be turned off to the home completely if they know you have a pet in the home, so hide their toys, bowls, beds, etc. If you own a cat, remove the litter box from the home and clean the area to remove any foul odours.
Ensure it’s move-in ready
When the big day finally comes and it’s time for your buyers to move into your home, be absolutely certain that it is ready to move in. Missing the agreed closing date could be disastrous for you – in fact, the buyer could actually sue you. When you agree on a closing date, ensure that it’s realistic and one that you can meet. Finish your touch-ups and repairs as agreed upon by the buyers, and your closing date should go smoothly.
