• Buying
• Selling
• Resources
  • Buying Process
  • Selling Process
  • Completion Guide for Buyers
  • Completion Guide for Sellers
  • Moving Guide
  • Assignments
  • Referrals
  • Glossary
• About Rennie
• Contact

Selling Process

At Rennie & Associates Realty we strive to make the selling process as smooth and worry-free as possible, from our first consultation with you, to listing your home, getting ready to show, negotiating the sale and closing the deal.

We have the expertise to handle of all the details while maximizing the return on your investment. Our process includes accurate valuation of your home, realistic overview of the marketplace, superior marketing and service, and optimal sales.

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3 Showing Your Home

When showing your home, you only have one chance to make a great first impression. It has been said that many buyers decide whether or not they’ll make an offer within the first minute of viewing a potential new living space. That’s why it pays to prepare your home carefully with some key principles in mind.

• First impressions
  Consider your home from a buyer's eyes.
• Interiors
  Clean, de-clutter, repair and renovate
• Staging
  Set the stage for a fast and profitable sale.
• Exterior
  How to enhance your home's curb appeal.

First impressions

A home that appears to be well-maintained puts a buyer at ease, as the buyer will assume that based on appearance, what he or she can’t see is likely also well-maintained. Buyers lose confidence in the quality of a home if it appears rundown, uncared for, or even simply untidy.

We can assist you in making your home more attractive to buyers, with advice on staging, renovations, repairs, cleaning and reducing clutter.

The goal in preparing your home is to present an attractive, clean and clutter-free home that appears to maximize space and appeal to multiple buyers.

Try to consider your home from a buyer’s eyes. Take a hard look around your home and identify what needs to be cleaned painted repaired and thrown out or recycled. If you don’t feel you can be objective, ask an honest friend to help you, or your Rennie Sales Associate will walk thru to help identify any problems.

Interiors

Before you show your home:

Interiors:

• clean each room
• empty trash cans and recycling bins
• clean pet areas and put pet in kennel or take them with you
• don’t cook any smelly foods close to the showing time or date
• if you are smoker, move your habit outside for the time being
• clear countertops and make sure surfaces are spotless, dishes are clean and put away
• replace any burned out light bulbs and turn on a few lights
• open all drapes and window blinds
• clean windows
• keep laundry area tidy with no laundry left in the washer or dryer
• put on some soft music; turn your fireplace on if appropriate

De-clutter:

• remove anything you don’t use on a regular basis
• tidy bookshelves, entertainment centres, computer desks, cupboards and closets
• move personal items out of view

Repair and renovate*

• fresh paint
• new wallpaper
• bedding plants/hanging baskets
• ensure all appliances and mechanical systems are in working condition
• replace any broken windows
• check and repair any cracks in plaster, wallpaper, paint or tiles.
• repair all leaking/dripping faucets/showerheads

*only make cosmetic improvements; spend as little as possible

Staging

Staging is a technique used to make your house or condo more attractive to buyers. Well-staged homes look like new show homes and stand out among ordinary homes for sale. Set the stage so your buyers can imagine walking into an ideal and gorgeous lifestyle. If you want to go all out, you can even rent props such as furniture and lamps from a staging company or hire a professional stager to assist you. Referrals

Exterior

The outside appearance of your home is important too. A home with good curb appeal will attract potential buyers who are just driving by and contribute to a great first impression during showings.

Enhance curb appeal:

• keep your garden and lawns maintained
• trim hedges, trees and shrubs and plant fresh bedding flowers in your garden beds
• check concrete surfaces such as steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and signs of damage and repair if necessary
• check for peeling paint and refinish if necessary
• clean and align gutters
• keep your walk clear of leaves and snow
• add hanging baskets of pots of herbs and flowers near your entry

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