You have probably heard how important first impressions can be. But did you know that within 15 seconds a buyer has developed an opinion of your property? This is why establishing the right first impression is critical to achieving a successful sale.

In addition to the items below, think about how you may have personalized your home over the years and if your presonal touches may have a negative impression on a potential buyer. A buyer must be able to visualize themselves living in your home – too many personal statements throughout your home may not allow a potential buyer to see how their family will settle in.

A little preparation may bring you a higher sale price and a quicker sale! Is your home ready? Use this handy checklist to make sure your home is ready to show!

Clean and Store

Store all bikes, toys and equipment out of sight.
Get rid of unnecessary furniture.
Clean closets and clear off countertops.
Scrub all tile floors.
Clean all carpets.
Clean all windows and mirrors.
Clean stains in all sinks and tubs.

Fix-It

Fix leaky faucets.
Replace missing door or cabinet handles.
Fix or replace broken appliances.
Replace broken tiles in bathroom or kitchen.
Paint if necessary.
Discuss major repairs with your Realtor®.

Freshen Up

Stop smoking in the house.
Bathe pets and clean out litter boxes.
Empty all trash, recycle bins, etc.
Dry-clean drapes and shampoo carpets.
Use baking soda boxes in smell-prone areas.
Place flowers, potpourri or air fresheners around the house.

Ask a “buyer”

Invite a friend to walk through your home like a buyer would. Get their opinion on whether or not it’s inviting, clean and well-maintained. Make any changes they suggest.

Who sells their home during the winter? The temperatures are freezing, so no buyer wants to shiver as they look for houses. The days are shorter, so there’s no time to view properties during daylight hours. And the weather is terrible, so nobody wants to deal with the ice and snow. No wonder sellers pull their offerings from the market…But you don’t have to be one of those people!

If you want to enjoy two advantages of selling your home during cold weather, read on:

First, you have almost no competition. Secondly, many  potential customers appear during the holiday season. These are the folks coming back to visit family and friends, or to attend school reunions. Maybe they long for a permanent return. Also many corporate relocation buyers appear at this time of year. You can fulfill your desires if your property is available for sale to them. Remember, most of the buyers searching for homes at this time of year are serious buyers.

Of course, you need to prepare your home differently for cold-weather selling. First, make sure the path to your front door is free of any weather-related obstructions, such as large mounds of snow or thick ice. You want potential buyers to be able to get inside. If you want them to visit special outdoor areas, such as decks or storage areas, make sure those places are clear as well.

Make sure that buyers cannot feel any drafts while inside. If you don’t weatherstrip sufficiently around doors, windows, or vents, any cold air will force visitors to wonder if your insulation is inadequate. Keep the interiors bright and cheery by turning on all the lights, getting a fire going, and setting out holiday decorations. Bake a pie, gingerbread cookies, or other treats to offer potential buyers.

For more ways to sell your house during cold weather, or if you want to put your house on the market, please contact us, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have!

I remember the first home I listed. I had 2 dogs and a Mazda hatchback. Last minute showings were a nightmare as we’d climb into the car and park down the road – while I prayed that I had managed to vacuum up all of the dog hair, put the toys away, and hide the dog bowls…and dang! I forgot to clean up the business taken care of in the backyard!

Meet KC and Charlie. You just have to look at them and they will magically shed all over you. While I did manage to sell my home quickly, there were definitely some tense moments as juggling work, family, home and dogs became a full time job!

If you are trying to sell your home, the goal each and every time a potential buyer comes through is for them to be able to imagine themselves living in your home. While the super-sized comfy dog bed laying on the floor in the living room is not offensive to you – a non-pet owner may be immediately turned off.

So what can you do if you are trying to keep your home in showing-ready form while living with pets?

Here are some ideas for you to try:
•Give Fido a vacation – see if a relative or friend is able to keep your pet(s) while your home is on the market.

Since this may not be an option for everyone, read on!

•Try your best to keep shedding pets off the furniture. Fabric covered furniture and bed spreads are often the first thing people see when entering a room. Try to keep them hair-free.
•Keep doors to rooms closed. Often pets will just wander in and out of rooms, for no real reason, leaving a trail of hair behind them.
•Keep a bin handy to toss toys, bones and dishes into for last minute showings.
•More walks = less backyard business! Try taking your dog for walks more often rather than given them the run of the back yard or dog run. Believe me – when you are in a hurry to get the inside of the home ready, the backyard will almost always slip your mind!
•Have the carpets professionally cleaned. This will give your home a fresh scent and get rid of stains on the carpet that you may have just gotten used to seeing, so they are not as obvious to you any longer.
•Keep your Realtor® in the loop. Let them know if the pets will be in the home or see if a neighbour can assist with letting them outside.
•Do your pets sleep on the bed with you? Consider using a flat sheet on top of your comforter to collect pet hair. In the morning, remove the flat sheet for a hair-free bed. (don’t forget to close the bedroom door now!)
•Keep lint brushes handy. Use them to remove hair on the bed or toss cushions – or anywhere you spot pet hair as you rush out the door!

Looking for more tips to prepare your home for sale? Check out 60 Cleaning And Organisation Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale (By Cleaning Experts)

If you have a special circumstance with your pet, discuss this with your Realtor®. Chances are they may have a suggestion for you. As a professional, they have likely encountered many situations involving pets and showings and will be able to offer some great advice!

Good luck with showing your home!