GETTING READY TO LIST
Once ready to list your home, your RE/MAX agent will draft a listing agreement with the details of your home. This will give you a comprehensive insight into your home for prospective buyers. Room sizes and the age of the home are just some details required to list your home.
With this information your RE/MAX agent can list your home, and depending on your listing agreement your agent will post this information to various websites, such as; the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) and remax.ca.
CHECK THE CONDITION OF YOUR HOME
With a critical eye, examine your home inside and out. Determine if there are any small repairs or underlying problems that you are aware of. Any small repairs that you are able to complete will help negotiate with buyers. If there are any major repairs, like a leaky basement, you will want to bring them to the attention of your agent.
Kitchen and Bathroom
Put extra emphasis on your kitchen and bathroom. Replace moldy shower curtains and clean mold and mildew off of bathroom tiles. Caulk if necessary. Repair leaky faucets and replace cracked toilet seats. Ensure that the toilet flushes properly. Make certain that the drains are unclogged. Everything should sparkle — faucets, floors, counters, mirrors. What can be cleaned should be!
In the kitchen, clean the stove and refrigerator, organize the cupboards and wash the floor. Make certain your appliances work. Wipe the walls, touch-up paint or re-stick wall paper if necessary. Clean the sink and ensure that it drains properly and the faucet doesn’t leak. (When your home is shown, make sure there are no dirty dishes in the sink and don’t forget to take out garbage!)
Basement
If your basement is finished, tidy it in the same manner as the rest of your home. An unfinished basement is an opportunity for you to showcase the potential your home has to a potential buyer. If you currently use your basement as a storage area, organize any clutter and store boxes neatly to best showcase your home.
Clutter
An organized and clean home will appear larger. Ensure that clutter is not just hidden, but organized is the best approach. Buyers will look in drawers, cabinets and closets. Hiding the clutter in those places will make them seem smaller and overcrowded.
Floors and Stairs
Check your floors and stairs for anything that needs to be repaired or replaced. You are able to remove and replace damaged tiles individually, and there are plenty of DIY fixes available at your local hardware store.
Doors and Windows
Exterior windows and doors quickly get a weathered look from exposure to the Canadian climate. Consider repainting any surfaces that appear faded or damaged. Also, review your interior window trim to see if a quick coat of paint can resolve any scuffs and smudges.
WHAT YOUR RE/MAX AGENT WILL DO FOR YOU
Marketing Tools
To assist in selling your home your RE/MAX agent will market your home using a variety of tools. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) is the primary tool for all real estate agents. This service allows for your home to be marketed on a wide number of sites including remax.ca. The MLS® allows all buyers to view your listings, as well as other agents who are trying to match buyers with homes. Your agent may also choose to supplement internet marketing with classic newspaper advertising, and of course a RE/MAX For Sale sign outside your home.
Photography
Before photographs are taken of your home your RE/MAX agent may give an impartial analysis of you home. This will include a detail on how your home relates to “competing” homes on the market while considering current design and trends that attract buyers.
Arrange Showings
Your RE/MAX agent may arrange an open house to showcase your home on a single day. This allows for multiple potential buyers to view your home in a short period of time. Your agent will act as their guide through the home while informing them about the neighbourhood, and attributes of your home.
Potential buyers can arrange a viewing with their buyer agent. The buyer agent will arrange a time with your RE/MAX agent, who will confirm the time with you. These kinds of arrangements may give you a little time to tidy your home. Keep in mind you can always reschedule and suggest a better time to have your agent show your home.