Whether you’ve sold a house before or it’s your first time, you might feel like you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions. Between working with your realtor, preparing your house, looking for a new home, and getting ready to move, there’s a lot to consider. We’re here to help you find calm in the chaos, and set yourself and your property up for a smooth sale. In this post, we’ll tell you our top 6 tips to achieve a successful sale.

1. Get clear about your goals

Are you moving up? Downsizing? Relocating for work? Whatever your reason for selling your property, it’s important to clarify your goals and expectations. Your goals will differ depending on the reason for moving. If you want to move up, you’ll want to prioritize upgrading your property to generate the highest return. If you’re relocating for work, you may be on a strict timeline that doesn’t allow for extensive preparations. Once you’re clear on your motivations and goals, you can easily find the right representation to help you plan for your sale.

2. Partner with the right agent

Even if you’ve sold property before, finding a real estate agent who is aligned with your needs and experienced in your neighbourhood is essential to ensuring a smooth and successful property sale. Once you’ve outlined your reasons for moving and your goals, the right agent will work with you to create a customized plan forward. To be sure you work with the right person, remember to ask a lot of questions—after all, your property is probably your most significant investment. The right agent won’t pressure you into anything, and they’ll tell you exactly what they’re going to do to help you upfront.

Find an agent to work with on the Barry Team here.

3. Price your home accurately

When deciding how to price your property, you should rely on your agent to share recent, local data about real estate sales so you can have an accurate picture of what your home will likely sell for. This is usually done in the form of a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). Our pro-tip suggestion is to ask your agent to revisit the CMA just before listing to ensure the information is still accurate and your pricing strategy will be effective. Although a CMA is a great tool, your agent should consider things like current buyer expectations and your ultimate goals when determining the list price—because you and your property are unique.

Book a property evaluation with our expert local team here.

4. Declutter

Parting ways with old possessions, getting rid of junk, and putting seasonal items in storage is an important step in preparing for your sale, and your eventual move. Not only will you be getting your property ready for any upgrades and staging that needs to take place, but you’ll get a head start on transitioning into your new home. The best way to tackle decluttering is by making a checklist. List out every room and write down what needs to be done in each one so you can systematically get through your do-to list without feeling overwhelmed. When you organize your tasks in a list, you’ll be done before you know it!

5. Set the scene for staging and photography

A good realtor will have a professional staging and photography team ready to bring your property to life. All you need to do is make sure they have the perfect canvas. Since you’ve already decluttered, it’ll be an easy job. Here’s how:

• Do a deep clean (sweep, vacuum, mop, and wipe down all surfaces)
• Wash all linens and bedding
• Leave the lights on! 
• Pack away personal photos
• Get rid of extra decor (e.g. rugs, plants, etc.)

Download our Seller’s Guide here to get our in-depth process for preparing to list.

6. Showtime

Showings can be a time of high emotions. It’s a little nerve-wracking having dozens (maybe even hundreds) of people walking through your home. But this is the moment you’ve been preparing for for weeks, and maybe even months! Here are a few key tips to make the most of open houses and viewings:

• Keep an open schedule, prioritizing evenings and weekends. The more availability you have for showings, the more people see your property, the more offers you’ll get—it’s that simple!
• Don’t hang around the house. While it might be a nervous time for you, your presence will make buyers feel less comfortable. They need to envision themselves in the home, and that’s hard to do if the owner is hovering. 
• Keep up with exterior maintenance. Shovel driveways, mow lawns, maintain gardens, sweep porches. Curb appeal is key to making a great first impression.
• Keep the interior refreshed. Maintain the staged home so buyers fall in love at first sight.

Book a seller’s meeting with one of our experienced Niagara Region agents here to get started with your sale. 

Once your home is prepared and buyers are coming to see it, your agent will work with you to navigate offers and negotiations. If you’ve partnered with a seasoned local agent, they’ll come up with a plan that involves leveraging current and historical market knowledge to get you the best possible return from your sale. 

Selling your property can seem like an overwhelming task, but we’re here to make sure it’s as smooth and straightforward as possible. Keeping these 6 tips in mind, you’ll have a simplified, successful experience.