The condo must evoke a positive feeling with the prospective buyer in order to obtain a quick sale and the highest price. Ask yourself objectively what you perceive a prospective buyer’s first impression would be. If you feel you cannot be objective or want a second opinion, have a relative or friend look at your condo with a critical eye and ask them to honestly and candidly and tell you all the negative aspects they see, as well as the positive aspects.

Part of getting your home ready for sale means getting rid of unnecessary possessions that could detract from a sale. Give yourself plenty of lead time to remove items before putting your home up for sale, in order to make the process more acceptable and less stressful. You may have to allocate three or four months of weekends before you have cleaned out the excess. Many people are packrats and have a mental block about letting go of possessions accumulated over time. They feel more comfortable about being surrounded by familiar items, no matter how unattractive, junky, or impractical. Of course, this statement does not apply to you! If you are having difficulty deciding whether to keep certain items, ask yourself if you have used the item over the past year. If so, consider keeping it as long as it is still usable. If not, then ask yourself if it has any real value to you, or considerable sentimental value. If not, then get rid of it by selling it at a garage sale or donating it to charity.

Another important step, once you have completed all the home improvement procedures, is to prepare a list of things about your condo that you like, e.g., special or unique features such as a workshop or solarium, or a beautiful garden. Do a list of the key selling points about the house, in your view. For example, if you have repainted the condo inside or out, replaced the carpets, renovated the bathroom or kitchen for an updated modern look and feel,  or had new landscaping done, those make your home attractive to a prospective buyer. Finally, do a list of the main points that you like about the neighbourhood, such as convenient shopping, transportation, schools, parks, or playgrounds. Such factors as a quiet neighbourhood, friendly and helpful neighbours, babysitters nearby, and a community spirit are important points to note.

Here are some tips to consider. Many may be obvious, but it is helpful to have a checklist. For more home selling ideas, refer to the website: http://www.homebuyer.ca.

Keep Things Clean
Keep windows sparkling and clean, inside and outside. Clean all mirrors. Have drapes, carpets, and rugs cleaned and vacuumed. If the carpet is especially worn, consider replacing it. Your home will likely sell faster, and hopefully recover your full cost. Keep entrances clear, clean, and inviting. Clean up any adjacent walkways.

Made the Interior Decorating Attractive
Major re-decorating before selling may be neither necessary nor desirable because many buyers will probably prefer to select their own colour schemes. On the other hand, if the paint is old, dirty, or dull, you may wish to paint the key areas or all of the inside of the condo in a light, bright, and natural colour.  Make sure it is washable latex paint. Lighter colours make the room appear larger and brighter. Neutral colours make the room more flexible for any type of furniture. A dingy closet or a badly marked wall can be made much more attractive with a good scrub, a touch of fresh paint, or a bright strip of wallpaper. Try to have a natural flow from room to room. If you need creative and practical ideas, get some consultative feedback from interior designers or decorators.

Un-Clutter the Premises
Keep untidiness to a minimum. Rooms can look comfortable and lived in without being untidy. Vacuum and dust thoroughly. Keep kitchen and bathroom counters uncluttered and gleaming, tables uncluttered and dirty dishes out of sight. Clean up books, magazines, and newspapers that might be lying around in a messy fashion. Store or sell excess furniture if it makes the room look cluttered and small with little floor space. Since you want to make the home look more spacious, and make it easy for prospective buyers to imagine themselves in your space, remove items that are too personal.

Clean the Closets
Make the best use of space. Show your closet and storage areas to their best advantage. Stack linen neatly, hang clothes carefully, and use garment bags and shoe racks. Crammed closets look small, but well organized ones appear larger than they really are. Closet organizers would show how efficiently space could be utilized. Remove all “junk” from storage space and discard it, give it away, or sell it at a garage sale.

Make Kitchens and Bathrooms Inviting
The two most important rooms to many buyers are the kitchen and the bathroom. It is particularly important to make those areas appealing. Keep both rooms immaculately tidy and spotlessly clean. You want to create the impression that the home is easy to maintain.

Tidy the Garage
If you are living in a townhouse or bare land condo, you may have your own garage or carport. Keep your garage or carport neat and organized to show all the extra storage space. A garage can be a selling point, particularly if viewers are accustomed to the parking or storage problems associated with apartment living.

Make Necessary Repairs
You may be accustomed to a broken window catch, dripping tap, sticking or squeaky door, broken switch covers, and loose doorknobs, but potential buyers will notice and develop a negative impression. Therefore, fix everything that could be irritating from the buyer’s viewpoint as described, and anything else, such as wobbly towel racks, loose mouldings, holes in window screens, and stuck windows. Walk around your home, inside and out, and make a list of small but necessary repairs. cl