18 WAYS TO MAKE A HOME MORE SHOWABLE
Buying a home is an emotional process, don’t you agree? Most buyers look for homes that are well cared for and bright. In general, clean and spiffy. Here’s a check list.
Four Items Are Super Critical
1. Kitchen - stove, refrigerator, and sink should be spotless. All work space should be clear.
2. Bathrooms - neat, spotless and fresh. Repair broken putty around the tub.
3. Closets - untidy or over crowded closets suggest inadequate storage space.
4. Children and pets can keep buyers from thinking positively. Keep them secluded or out of the house, if possible.’
What We At Family Realty Village Inc Recommend
5. Lawns and yards - remove clutter, cut grass; edge walks; trim hedges; weed gardens.
6. Front of house - paint, fix or wash railings, steps, storms, screens and or front door.
7. Other Exterior - side or back door, gutters, wash doors and windows.
8. Garage - straighten up paint, fix or wash doors and windows.
9. Plumbing - repair dripping faucets, leaky toilets.
10. General Condition - dust, wash paint, fix defects as required.
11. Lights - replace all burned out bulbs, faulty switches.
12. Hall and stairs - remove clutter to give wide appearance.
13. Hardware - oil hinges, tighten door knobs, faucets.
14. Consider feeling of spaciousness - store unneeded items to “enlarge” room size.
15. Open drapes in daytime, close them at night.
16. Turn on all the lights.
17. Spray with scented disinfectant, especially if someone smokes.
18. Remove snow and ice from walks in the winter.
A tidy home is a SOLD home.
MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE
WHEN BUYING PROPERTY
1. You are given through MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, a vastly greater selection of properties for sale. You are saved the extra time and work it would take to go around to each REALTOR’S office to see his individual listings.
2. You secure individual attention and service from the agent and salesperson of your choice, who is able to serve you efficiently with a choice of many MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE listed properties.
WHEN SELLING PROPERTY
1. You list your property with the REALTOR of your choice.
2. Through MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE Listing, experienced real estate salespeople receive a photograph and description of you property for presentation to their prospective buyers.
3. Your property is shown at you convenience and by appointment only, if you desire. Your REALTOR saves you the annoyance of dealing with many different people. He weeds out the mere lookers.
4. You are given, without charge, helpful suggestions on ways and means of increasing your property’s saleability and how and when the property should be shown to its best advantage.
5. You also receive a careful evaluation of you property’s market value.
HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT
THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE OR “MLS” CAN BE A VALUABLE SALES TOOL...
THROUGH MLS:
- The details of a wide variety of listed properties are made available to a broader base of potential buyers
- Your property gets greater exposure to a whole network of Local Real Estate Professionals
- Saves tremendous amounts of time and effort in the search for the right home
- Large up-to-date monthly listing booklet with latest market statistics
- Over 400 qualified Real Estate professionals in the Quinte Region
- Only a Realtor can offer you MLS Services. Brokers who are not members of the local Real Estate Board and the Ontario Real Estate Association cannon list MLS.
THE REAL VALUE OF REAL ESTATE COMMISSION
Market Evaluation of Your Property
Writing Ad Copy
Education & Experience
Contractual Knowledge
Advertising in the MLS Catalogue
Signs
Computers
Negotiation Skills
Printing & Advertising
Seven Days a Week Service, 24 Hours a Day
Evening Showings
High Professional Standards
Distribution of Flyers
Photography
Fax Machines & Services
SALES PERFORMANCE
It’s important to know that you are dealing with a professional who has a ‘track record’ in your neighbourhood. When you work with someone who is active in your neighbourhood, you can be assured that they know current values and are continually working with potential buyers looking in the area.
SELLING YOUR HOME
Your Home is Unique
You purchased your home originally because you liked certain elements, and we want to
be sure we have a total understanding of the value of your home. Only in this way can we be assured that your home is properly presented to potential purchasers.
What fist attracted you to your home?
What do you like most about your area?
What features do you most enjoy?
Additional comments about your home:
What are the specific benefits of these features?
SETTING THE RIGHT PRICE
Well Priced Properties Sell Fast!
Well priced homes attract everyone’s attention...both local Realtors who are fully aware of current market values, and their prospective buyers. Purchasers will usually limit their search to properties priced within a reasonable range of what they are prepared to pay.
Highest Prices Obtained!
Overpriced homes set the stage to help sell competing homes that are “Market Priced”. Market priced homes generate more interest in the first several weeks of listing, which can produce more buyers and potentially more offers.
Minimum Inconvenience!
Well priced homes don’t stay on the market long. This limits the time required to keep the home in ‘show’ condition and saves on family interruptions. Properly priced properties encourage reasonable offers, pleasant negotiations and smooth closings.
Overpricing your property could cost you in terms on money, disappointment, time lost, and missed opportunities. Overpriced listings become “Market-Weary” and draw far less attention, even after several price reductions.
Don’t just list your home...Get it SOLD!
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Beyond the usual obligations and services provided by real estate professionals, Family Realty agrees to provide the services described below:
- Show you how to improve the marketability of your home using our “Check for Saleability List”.
- Publish information about your home through the multiple listing service and our marketing network.
- Review the progress of the marketing of your property with you regularly.
- Hold open houses by mutual agreement.
- Pre-qualify Family Realty purchasers before showing your property to eliminate unnecessary - inconvenience to you.
- Place a “For Sale” sign on your property.
- Distribute marketing material to notify neighbours and potential purchasers that your home is for sale.
- Represent your best interests in the negotiation of a sale agreement.
INTERNET
A New Dimension in Marketing
Your listing deserves to be promoted in cyberspace.
Let Family Realty show you how
Your listing can reach an audience of over 30 million people around the world.
Human Resource Departments of major corporations and government agencies who transfer thousands of employees are linked to Internet.
Your listing can be accessed and printed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by potential buyers.
All our representatives have their own E-mail address of Internet. They can communicate on your behalf with potential buyers and sales people which can speed up the negotiation process.
A Family Tradition
Family Realty has been a leader in the real estate brokerage business for over thirty-five years. We started in small-town Ontario. While our growth has enabled us to develop the most effective marketing programs for our customers and clients, we still retain our traditional family values - honest, hard work; combined with a sincere interest in the personal needs of our customers.
Our People
Real Estate is a people business and good people produce the best results. We believe that our people can achieve the best results for you - and for all our customers and clients. That’s because we provide our people with advanced training and we back them up with innovative marketing programs and the latest computer technology. But, more importantly, our people carry the Family Spirit - a team approach to helping people like yourself who need assistance in selling or buying a home.
Our Services
Selling a home involves far more than putting a sign on the lawn and waiting for someone to call. We can promote your property through a variety of mediums from newspapers and direct mail, to past clients and present buyers. We can also network your property through our local office to thousands of other real estate sales people. And when it comes to mortgage financing, and other financial services, our professionals can assist you in accessing exactly what you need to complete your real estate transaction - from a pre-approved mortgage to one with a flexible payment schedule.
Our Name Says it All!
We are proud of the ‘Family’ name. We think it represents what we strive to achieve with every customer.
We treat you like ‘Family’!
CHECK ... FOR SALE -ABILITY
First impressions are often the only impressions!
This checklist should help you examine your home with a critical eye. Make whatever improvements are necessary, remembering that little things make a big difference. Every check mark brings you closer to a serious offer.
Is your home attractive from the street?
cut lawns or shovel pathways
trim hedges and shrubs
weed and edge gardens
pick up any litter
clear driveway of leaves, snow, toys
repair rain gutters
touch up painting, if required
What is the first impression at the door?
touch up front door finish
clean and tidy porch and foyer
make sure doorbell works
repair/replace door hardware if needed
make sure air is fresh
Does your home appear well maintained?
replace burned-out light bulbs
clean or replace wall switch plates
tighten door knobs, cupboard latches
correct loose tiles, sticking doors
repair cracked plaster, chipped paint repair leaky taps and toilets
check caulking around tub and basin
fix broken windows
Does your home give the impression of space?
clear kitchen counters
clear halls and stairs of clutter
organize and clean closets
store unnecessary furniture etc.
clear out basement, attic, garage
Does your home sparkle?
Clean bathrooms
clean walls and floors
polish windows
clean refrigerator, stove oven
clean laundry equipment
clean exterior of furnace
Have you created a buying mood?
Arrange to be absent during showing
take children and pets with you
open drapes and blinds turn on lights
turn on air conditioning or light fire
appeal subtly with soft mood music, fresh flowers or sweet baking aromas