Mandana Tehrani - You've Found a Home

Your REALTOR^® is the key person on your team when you’re buying and/or selling a property. For most people, this is their largest financial investment. So, before choosing a REALTOR^®, you need to do your due diligence so you can find the one who is best suited for you. You want someone who is:

• Experienced and knowledgeable about your local market and up-to-date on recent sales. They should be able to give you all the information you need, so you can price your home strategically or make a strong offer.
• Is a great communicator, meaning that they respond promptly to your calls and emails, provide updates, and explain anything that may be confusing to you about the buying and selling process.
• Puts in effort by actively searching for properties that meet your criteria and negotiating on your behalf to get the best possible deal.
• Honest about challenges and opportunities, doesn’t hide information or make decisions without your consent.

Once you’ve short-listed some REALTORS^®, here are some suggestions for the next steps:

• Read their online reviews and ask them for references.
• Ask them about their experience, how they would market your home, and the strategies they would use to help you find your new home.
• Talk about your goals, timelines, and expectations for communication (e.g., regular updates and quick calls for new developments) to see if you are aligned.

Money, time, and energy are among our most valuable resources, especially when selling a home. As you prepare your property for listing, it is important to consider which improvements or repairs are unlikely to yield a worthwhile return on your investment, such as:

• Window treatments. Unless they are worn or damaged, don’t change them, as buyers may have their own preferences.
• Appliances, unless they are broken or very outdated, in which case, consider buying used.
• Floors (except in the case of very noticeable damage). Rather than replace hardwood, refinish it, and deep clean other types of flooring.
• An aging HVAC system — if it’s still functioning well, don’t replace it.
• Minor electrical or plumbing issues, such as switches that don’t work, dead outlets, or a faucet that drips a bit before stopping.
• Code violations that were allowed earlier. The building code is constantly changing.
• Minor cosmetic fixes, unless you are handy. However, if the cost of the repair is likely to exceed the potential return upon sale, or if you risk making further damage fixing it yourself, leave it as is.

Your REALTOR^® is the key person on your team when you’re buying and/or selling a property. For most people, this is their largest financial investment. So, before choosing a REALTOR^®, you need to do your due diligence so you can find the one who is best suited for you. You want someone who is:

• Experienced and knowledgeable about your local market and up-to-date on recent sales. They should be able to give you all the information you need, so you can price your home strategically or make a strong offer.
• Is a great communicator, meaning that they respond promptly to your calls and emails, provide updates, and explain anything that may be confusing to you about the buying and selling process.
• Puts in effort by actively searching for properties that meet your criteria and negotiating on your behalf to get the best possible deal.
• Honest about challenges and opportunities, doesn’t hide information or make decisions without your consent.

Once you’ve short-listed some REALTORS^®, here are some suggestions for the next steps:

• Read their online reviews and ask them for references.
• Ask them about their experience, how they would market your home, and the strategies they would use to help you find your new home.
• Talk about your goals, timelines, and expectations for communication (e.g., regular updates and quick calls for new developments) to see if you are aligned.

Are you planning to sell your property this spring? Here are some tips for a successful spring sale.

• Price your home competitively — Research comparable properties in your area for what they listed and sold for and use these as a guide.
• Be prepared to negotiate on price and terms — Think about the lowest price that would be acceptable to you.
• Give your home’s exterior some love — Expect potential buyers to examine the exterior more closely in the warmer months. Ensure your patio furniture is clean and wash the windows inside and outside if possible. For balconies, planters of colourful flowers go a long way. If you have a yard, clear any debris from the winter, consider putting down some fresh mulch, and tend to landscaping.
• Air out your home — Open the windows to let a cross-breeze through for fresh air. Also, consider placing some diffusers throughout your home for a pleasant scent.
• Stage seasonally — For example, since it’s springtime, setting out a vase of fresh tulips would be in tune with the season. Work with a professional stager.
• The entryway — This is your first opportunity to make a statement. Choose items that creates a lasting impression, such as a brand-new doormat, a nice framed mirror, a console and a matching bench.
• Give your home a good spring clean — Depending on your region, winter can create a lot of extra dust from continuous heating. Consider hiring professional deep cleaners.
• Tend to any repairs — While this may seem obvious, depending on your region, winter can be rough on a home, so scan your home to see if you need to do any minor repairs or improvements.
• Declutter—Donate or sell anything that doesn’t have a practical or aesthetic purpose for a well-presented home.

Even if you aren’t preparing for a spring sale, many of these tips can be used to stay on top of home maintenance and keep your home humming into spring.

When priming your home for sale there are some definite missteps you can make if you just “wing it,” which can affect the sale of your home. So, to prevent this from happening, read on for staging mistakes to avoid.

• Hodge-podge of styles — Maintain a cohesive style throughout your home to create a harmonious “look and feel.”
• Personal and bold — Put away your personal photos and mementos and keep your home décor neutral. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the home, so those personal items can be distracting.
• Simple repairs or updates neglected — Repaint dull or chipped paint and update outdated light fixtures or décor.
• Unprofessional photos — Professionally taken photos are well worth the investment as they will capture the attention of buyers quicker than poorly taken or poor quality photos.
• Layout and size of furniture — If you have a massive sectional occupying most of your living room, it’s going to make the room appear much smaller. If you have room, keep some space between the furniture and the walls to create an illusion of spaciousness.
• Clutter — Perhaps obvious, but those various coloured shampoo bottles in the bathtub and small appliances on the counter create an immediate eyesore for prospective buyers. Declutter and find a home to hide those unsightly items.
• Too little or too much lighting — Strike the right balance using soft, layered lighting throughout your home.
• Grungy linens— It doesn’t have to cost much to refresh your bed linens and towels that will be on display, and it's worth the difference it makes.
• Unpleasant scents — We become accustomed to the familiar smell of our home over time, but even if you think your home smells pleasant, have a friend come over to do the “smell test” and get an outside opinion.

Hiring a reputable professional staging company with plenty of good reviews will help you avoid these staging mistakes, so you stand your best chance of a speedy and successful sale.