Spring Into The Real Estate Market
Spring is upon us! Even though the Ottawa winter has been a brutally cold one and extremely long, we Ottawans made it through to the Spring season! The real estate market has already begun to pick up and will soon be in full Spring real estate market swing.
If you’re thinking of selling your home in the Ottawa area during the Spring market, don’t wait too long to get it ready to sell! The Spring market is very competitive because many home owners choose to list their home for sale in the Spring around April and May. There are many things that you can do to get your home market ready quickly in order to make the difference between selling or not. Here are some ways you can get your home market ready for the Spring housing market to set your home apart!
OUTSIDE
- Change Your Door Mat – We all know first impressions are lasting ones. A prospective buyer will usually first see a welcome mat when approaching your home the first time. Swap your winter mat for a bright and welcoming mat!
- Spotless Windows – Cleaning the windows is a must, especially after winter. Let the sunshine stream in brightly!
- Trim Bushes – The appearance of overgrown bushes isn’t one a potential buyer likes to see. Don’t show neglect. Make your hoe presentable and looking like its well maintained.
- Plant Bright Flowers – Make your home stand out from your competitors! Plant bright flowers in front of your home. Marigolds are a great choice as they come in many colors and are fairly durable.
- Maintain Grass and Gardens – Like cleaning windows, edging grass and gardens isn’t a desirable chore. Use the correct tools to get the job done. Having freshly edged grass and flower beds will give your home a nice “clean cut” and polished appearance. Make it stand out by adding fresh mulch (quite inexpensive).
- Power Wash and Paint Siding – The winter weather can be destructive on the exterior of your home. Whether power washing the exterior or painting it, make sure that prospective buyers driving by are attracted.
- Power Wash Driveway– Power washing the driveway and sidewalks. Once you wash them, if you notice any cracks, fill them with concrete or silicon caulking.
- Clean and/or Repair Gutters – Now is the time to clean out any leftover leaves from the fall! Check for any damage that the winter may have caused.
- Inspect Roof for Loose Shingles – Problems with a roof can be a big deterrent to potential buyers. Look at the roof for missing or loose shingles and hopefully your roof is in good condition.
- Service Air Conditioning Unit – Call a reputable HVAC contractor and have your air conditioning unit inspected.
INSIDE
- Clean Windows (from the inside too!)
- Dust Cobwebs – Dusting cobwebs takes no time at all. Use a broom to reach them up high. The last thing a prospective buyer wants to walk into is a bunch of cobwebs.
- Clean Sliding Door Tracks – Clean the tracks to make sure the door is opening and closing smoothly rather than being tough to open. You don’t want buyers to “struggle” when opening a door.
- Clean Light Bulbs – You can also change the old light bulbs for the newer LED or CFL light bulbs.
- Re-caulk Tubs, Showers, and Sinks – An inexpensive repair is re-caulking. It leaves a “crisp” and “clean” look.
- Re-grout Tile Floors – If you have ceramic tile floors and you didn’t do a good job at keeping the grout clean then fresh grout can make a floor look brand new!
- Remove Stains from Countertops – Prospective buyers will notice that coffee cup or wine glass stain on your counter.
- Reorganize Bookshelves – This will cost you nothing. Invest some time and get rid of those books you don’t read anymore and give your bookshelf a tidy appearance. Do not remove all your books but in this case less is more! De-clutter!
- Polish Chrome Faucets and Shine Mirrors
- Vacuum Rugs – Buyers are able to pick up on odours within a home other than their own. This is crucial especially if you have animals or if you are a smoker! You can rent a steam cleaner or hire a company to wash your carpets.
- Wash & Polish Floors – Clean and polished original hardwood floors. There are many products that will help your floors look good and also smell fresh!
- Dust Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures – Ceiling fans and light fixtures are important to some buyers. They will look at them so make sure they’re clean.
- Organize Closets – Like with reorganizing bookshelves, less is more! Donate clothes you aren’t planning on wearing. De-cluttering is key.