7 Things to Avoid When Selling Your Home

Don't Do These Things When Selling Your Home!

Has the time come for you to sell your home in Calgary? If so, you’ll want to make sure everything goes as smooth as possible for a variety of reasons, one of the most important ones being your own peace of mind!

Selling is a very involved process and you’ll not only want to get the most value out of your home, but you’ll also want things to proceed efficiently and without stress (if possible). Help yourself out and avoid these 7 things when selling your home in Calgary for a smooth selling process!

#1 – Leaving Out Personal Items & Clutter

Too much clutter in your home can make it hard for potential buyers to envision their own family and belongings in the given space. It’s in your best interests to remove unnecessary furniture to open up the space and help buyers imagine what living in your home would be like for them.

You’ll also want to remove things such as:

• personal pictures

• certificates of accomplishment

• documentation of any sort

• utility bills

...or anything else that might supply a potential buyer with any information about you in any way. Some of these items can have a negative effect on the way a buyer thinks or feels about purchasing your home.

• Also see Calgary Home Sellers Guide: Protecting Your Privacy

#2 – Not Cleaning Every Last Corner

Buyers can be the toughest home inspectors around, especially if they are serious about your home. Therefore you’ll want to make sure every last corner in your house is cleaned thoroughly.

Even the slightest amount of dirt in a kitchen drawer or on top of the base boards can negatively affect what a potential buyer thinks about your home. That includes cupboards and everything else hidden from immediate site!

You don’t want anyone to begin drawing their own conclusions about how well maintained your house has been in the past. Take charge and show them exactly how well kept your home is by getting it in the cleanest shape its ever been in!

#3 – Ignoring Smells

It is one of the biggest turn offs for any potential home buyer. Smelling an unpleasant odour of any kind whether that be from the garbage, the pet, the kids or any other source will leave a bad taste (literally) in any buyers mouth.

Do yourself a favour and make sure your place smells great when it’s time for showings. Open up a few windows if need be (if weather permits) and buy some fresh flowers if possible. It never hurts to have fresh air and pleasant scents around anyways!

#4 – Not Replacing Old Fixtures

Another must do before listing your home is to replace any old fixtures including…

• Ceiling and light fixtures

• Door and cabinet handles

• Sink fixtures

• Bath tub knobs and shower heads

And any other ones you can think of. It will only cost you a small amount to do this but compared to the massive benefits you will reap, its essential you do!

This can make a huge difference in creating an appealing look for potential home buyers.

#5 – Forgetting to Remove Your Wallpaper

When a buyer sees wallpaper, it’s likely the only thing they think of is removing it. After all, wallpaper is highly personalized as you probably spent hours at the store picking it out.

What are the chances that a potential buyer will like the wallpaper you chose? It's not very likely at all!

When selling your home you want to minimize anything and everything a buyer feels like they have to add to their “to do” list; removing wallpaper is usually one of them.

#6 – Focusing on the Inside, Not the Outside

It’s a common mistake for home sellers to focus more on getting the interior of their home prepared for showings than the exterior.

The condition of your home’s exterior is a tell-tale sign of just how well you’ve maintained your home, so do yourself a favour and make sure to thoroughly walk around its perimeter looking for anything you can improve or needs repairs.

• Learn more at 11 Tips to Boost Your Homes Curb Appeal

#7 – Not Putting Yourself in the Shoes of the Buyer

Most of us become accustomed to the spaces we live in over the years. It’s completely normal where that scratch on the wall or chip on the door becomes so usual to us it’s no longer there.

Put yourself in the shoes of a buyer. Pretend you are going to be purchasing your home and do a thorough walk around while making a list of what needs to be fixed. This will go a long way in getting your home in tip-top shape for showings.

• Learn more at Calgary Home Sellers Guide – Becoming the Buyer

Questions about Selling Your Calgary Home?

I am extremely passionate about helping you get the most money for your home and if you’d like, I am 100% committed to helping you find the best home for the best price afterwards. Receive my full market analysis for your home today!

Call me anytime at 403-370-4180 or message me below, I would love to help you accomplish your real estate goals!

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