“Staging” your home is all about making the space in your home as
appealing as possible to buyers. You may already know the basics, such as
eliminating clutter. Here are some other tips that are less well known yet
very effective:

• Chandeliers. Surprisingly, these are one of the simplest ways to
make a foyer, dining room or living room dramatically more eyecatching.
You can buy a good-looking chandelier for a few hundred
dollars.

• New linen. This is something many home sellers don’t consider, but
should. Replace any worn linen – sheets, coverings, towels, and
even oven mitts with new ones. Believe it or not, new linen makes a
big impression on buyers.

• Pedestal sinks. It may not be practical for you to replace a bathroom
sink. However, if you are doing a renovation, keep in mind that
pedestal sinks – especially in small washrooms – are a big hit with
buyers.

• New appliances. A brand new fridge, stove and dishwasher are
motivating selling features to buyers. That’s because new appliances
make the whole kitchen look brand new.

• Avoid multi-use rooms. Have a spare bedroom that doubles as a
home office? That’s a turnoff to buyers. Whenever possible, stage
each room so that it has a singular purpose. A guest bedroom, for
example, should be only that.

Want more tips on how to stage your home so that it attracts buyers? Call
today.

Imagine you’re viewing a potential new home. You walk in the front door
and are instantly impressed. You explore the property room by room and
like what you see.

Then there’s something you notice that’s not quite right. An odour. You
realize that it’s likely cat dander and, now that you’ve identified it, you smell
it everywhere. Suddenly the home doesn’t seem as attractive as it did just
moments earlier.

The owner of the property is probably so used to the smell that he doesn’t
even notice it. Neither does anyone else in the household.

So, when marketing your home for sale, be scent sensitive. Think about the
odours that you may have become used to but others are likely to notice.

Even odours you think are pleasant, like the strong scent given off by some
house plants, may not be pleasing to everyone.

An odour can easily distract a buyer from appreciating the good qualities of
your property. Pay particular attention to garbage bins (which can smell
even when empty), pets, kitty litter (even when fresh and unused), the

kitchen (especially after cooking), perfumes, and closets.

The smell of cigarette smoke is particularly unpleasant to many people. Its

odour can linger even on an outside deck or patio.

Bottom line? Don’t assume buyers won’t notice certain smells. They will.

Looking for more advice on selling your home quickly and for the best price?
Call me today.

Discovering that a home you like has “issues”

Say you’re viewing a home and are impressed with how it looks. The walls
are freshly painted. Everything seems bright and new. You’re considering
making an offer.

Then, while standing on a mat in the kitchen, you hear a squeak below your
feet. You lift the mat and see that some tiles are broken. Obviously the mat
was there to, literally, cover up that defect.

A few broken tiles are not a big deal. But now you’re thinking, “What else
might be wrong with this house?”

There’s no reason to worry that every home will have maintenance issues
hidden from view. However, it’s smart to do your due diligence to ensure the
home you’re considering is truly as good as it looks.

One way is to have a professional home inspector check out the property as
a condition of your purchase offer. He or she will inspect the home from top
to bottom, inside and out, and point out any issues you should address.
It’s also smart to ask questions. Find out the age of certain features, such as
the roof, furnace, and appliances. Ask about any recent renovations, and
determine whether they were done by a professional or by the homeowner.

Most importantly, work with a good REALTOR® who can provide you with
information on the property that you would have difficulty getting on your
own. Your REALTOR® has a stake in making sure you buy a home with
your eyes wide open — knowing all the potential maintenance issues you’re
likely to encounter.

Want to talk to a good REALTOR®? Call today.