Every home has pros and cons. 

_{Tips to Make Your Home Stand Out Above Others and Eliminate the Cons.}

Exterior

The exterior of your home is just as important as the interior.

Make sure all shrubs, gardens, and trees are at their best. Not draping over and infringing on walkways or peeking through patios. Add colourful flowers during the three seasons that allow things to grow – even if they are hanging baskets.

Keep the lawn mowed or driveway and walkways shoveled.  A well-manicured lawn or snow-free property makes it much more appealing when showing the property, or just driving by. In the fall make sure your leaves are raked.

Put away all trash cans, and recycling bins and throw out the garbage. If you don’t have a garage, arrange the bins and bags nicely along the side of the house.

Make sure all exterior lights have working light bulbs and the lights themselves are clean.

Do your garage doors work? Are they clean and free of dirt and debris?

Window washing is essential. Entry doors and exterior of all windows should be clean. What would purchasers think if they can’t see the view?

Welcome Buyers into your home with a fresh coat of paint on your front door.

If you have young children, make sure their outside toys are out away or neatly placed by the side of the house.

If your deck needs repair – fix it. Maybe a sanding or coat of varnish to give it a facelift.

Are your eavestroughs and downspouts clear of fallen leaves? The last thing you want is puddles near the house if (and when) it rains while your home is listed. This will raise red flags to potential buyers about water getting into the basement.

If you have a swimming pool, make sure it is always clean (and not green). If you are listing your home while the pool is closed, make sure you take lots of pictures of the pool when it is open. Your Realtor can use these to show Buyers how lovely your backyard is in the summer months.

Interior

A fresh coat of paint goes a long way. Select neutral colours.  Although paint is cosmetic and can be changed, some Buyers find it difficult to envision their colour scheme when the walls are painted bright colours.

How do your floors look? Whether you have hardwood, laminate, ceramic, or broadloom, make sure the floors are spotless. You can have the carpets professionally steam cleaned, especially in high-traffic areas. For hardwood or laminate floors, make sure they shine!

Open the windows and air your home out. A homeowner will be the last person to notice any odor that could be obvious to potential buyers.

Wash all the inside windows. As stated previously. Windows, window sills and jambs should always be clean. 

Clean out your closets. Time to purge all the clothes that you have not worn in years. A closet jam-packed with clothes will appear smaller than it is.

Dust Free Zone: All flat surfaces should be dusted including fireplace mantels. Keep the knick-knacks to a minimum. (Eliminating more things to dust) and will stop a Buyer from focusing on the décor, not the home itself.

Light fixtures should be clear of dust, cobwebs and have the maximum safe wattage bulbs.

keep the fridge, oven, and stove clean. Believe it or not, Buyers will look inside the appliances that they could be purchasing. Make sure that the inside of all your appliances are clean (including the washer and dryer).

Repairs. Make sure that no faucets leak or drip, caulking around bathtubs, showers, and sinks are in good condition. Simply put – if it's broken, fix it.