TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME QUICKER!

Competition can be fierce in the real estate market. You have a house to sell before you can move on but so do hundreds of other owners. What will make your house "the chosen one?" Put the best face possible on your home.

Start with the exterior. Do a drive-by of your own home; approach your home as a prospective buyer might. What is its first impression? Peeling paint, no exterior lighting, dead bushes and spent flowers, dead tree limbs, leaves on the lawn and walks, or toys, cars, and equipment cluttering up the grounds?

Start at the curb. Make sure the lawns, walks, flower beds, bushes and trees are cleaned up; mulch the flower beds. If you are coming into the spring market, do some cheerful planting around the house. Touch up peeling paint on the exterior. Repair or remove damaged shutters. Put a fresh coat of cheerful paint on your front and rear doors. Hang a tasteful welcoming wreath on the door. Be sure your exterior lighting allows prospective buyers and their realtor safe and comfortable access.

On the interior of your home, do a survey, and un-clutter. Over-crowded rooms seem smaller and are distracting to a buyer. Clean up and clean out. Do this on a room by room basis.

In the winter months, since it is dark earlier and many days are overcast, be sure to have all rooms well lit. There is something about interior lighting; especially if there's not natural outside light, that warms the spirit and says welcome to your new home. For daytime showings, be sure window coverings are open to allow in as much natural light as possible.

Be sure your home is clean and have all the windows washed inside and out-sparkling windows are cheerful.

If you are going to have a yard sale before you move, do it before you put your home on the market. This will help you to dispose of items cluttering up the house, basement and garage. Remember this process not only helps you sell your home but will make your move more efficient.

Basements are a special source of interest to buyers. Basements contain some of the most important elements of a home-the heating and cooling systems, electrical systems, hot water heaters, water treatment systems, and often tell the tale of whether there is any water coming into the house. Be sure to clean out, freshen up - a coat of white paint on the walls of an unfinished basement, light gray or beige paint on a cement floor and good ceiling lights so the buyers don't feel they are going into a dungeon.

CHECKLIST

INSIDE

• Does the door bell works?

• Does it smells fresh?  If not, use air freshener, carpet powder, or scented candles. Don’t overdo it! Avoid cooking curry, fish or spicy food that might cause lingering odour  Pay attention to scents.      

• Clear and clean all countertops and tabletops.

• Quick dust all flat surfaces, wood, tile, and vinyl floors.

• Vacuum all carpets.

• Put away all toys, clothes, newspapers, mail, etc.

• Make all beds.

• Open up curtains and shades, turn on lights in dark areas.

• Clean all glass and mirrors.

OUTSIDE

• Clean off front porch or entry way.

• Close your garage door.

• Step out to the curb and take a look at your home. Does anything look out of place? Pick up and put away any toys, tools, bikes, garbage cans, etc.

• Mow the lawn, trim trees and shrubs away from the house.  You can't sell a house if you can't see it.

• Check verandah lights.  House numbers faded? Windows clean?

• Clear patios or decks of planters, flower pots, charcoal or barbeques.

• Touch up outdoor paintwork.

LIVING ROOM

• Discard worn furniture and move extra to storage area. Too much furniture makes rooms look small. 

  Visit a model home to get decorating ideas.  

  Clear away all magazines, books, and unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house.

  Take down pictures that hide walls. Patch nail holes and paint.

  Add lamps and lighting if dark.

  Open curtains. Clear window  ledges of all objects to give a nice glimpse inside and out.

  Set out fresh flowers.

   KITCHEN

• Are all appliances in good working condition?  Professionally clean oven and stove.

  Replace broken appliances, and repair squeaks, drips, or binds in cabinet drawers.

  Clean all appliances inside and out until they are spotless. Wax and polish floors.

  Discard old food and leftovers from refrigerator.

  Clean refrigerator front of messages, pictures and magnets.

  Clear all magazines, small appliances, and cookware from counter tops.

  If it hasn’t been used for months...put it away.

  Repaid drawers, sliding doors etc. that won't open or close properly.

    BATHROOMS

• Remove any unnecessary items from counter tops, tubs, and commode. Put away as much as possible, and make every bathroom look like a “guest bathroom.”

• Sink, commode, bathtub, tile, and shower curtain should look immaculate, no soap film or hair.

• Fix leaky faucets, rust stains and faulty plumbing that may squeak or bind.

• Caulk and grout tile. Bleach discolored grout.

• Replace or remove any wallpaper that isn’t “conservative.”

• Coordinate towels to one or two colors only.

• Place softer bulbs in bathroom fixtures and scented flower arrangement on vanity top.  Make these rooms sparkle.

    FAMILY ROOM

• Clean fireplace.

• Replace carpet if it’s a loud color. (I know it costs money, but you’ll get it back at the settlement).

• Remove all magazines, books, toys and worn furnishings that might influence a buyer’s feeling about the room.

• Create an easy-going relaxed atmosphere in your family room. This is where families spend their time so make it look good.

     MASTER BEDROOM

• This is the second most important-to-be-appealing room in a home. (After the kitchen, and before the family room and garage)

• Define areas, sleeping, dressing, and sitting by furniture arrangement. Try to have the bedroom look as simply furnished as possible.

• Be sure that all clothes are hanging up, not laying out in room.

• Make closets more appealing by storing off-season clothes elsewhere. Go ahead and pack them up since you’re moving away.

     CHILDREN'S BEDROOMS

• Here’s the challenge: ask children and teenagers to help by thoroughly cleaning up their rooms, removing all posters, questionable photographs. Low lighting and clutter make bedrooms look smaller than they are.

• Patch and paint walls if necessary.

• Open curtains.

      CLOSETS

• Make them look bigger.

• Make closets more appealing by storing off season clothes elsewhere.  Go ahead and pack them up since you're moving away. Show that your home has ample closet space.

     BASEMENT

• A finished basement is great! Just follow the same guidelines given in preparing the family room.

•  If unfinished, make sure concrete floor is swept and clean.

• Seal or paint concrete floors. (Battleship grey)

• Clean water heater, change filters, and put strong light bulbs in fixtures.

• Put away all unnecessary articles to show large space in the basement.

       GARAGE

• The perfect garage contains only cars. But if this is not possible, clean up, fix up, sell or toss unneeded items. (This may be your only opportunity).

• Clean and seal cement floor.

• Neatly stack tools and clean up work bench and tidy up storage shelf areas.

Before starting any major renovations on your home, it is important to look at what renovations will give you the best return on your investment. The following is a list of industry averages.

Checklist For A Successful Garage Sale

Garage sales are an ideal way to get rid of "junk", as part of our spring cleaning ritual, and make a little money at the same time.

Garage Sale Signs Restrictions in Toronto

Plan Your Garage Sale
Schedule a date for your sale, but give yourself at least two to three weeks to plan and organize the sale. You may want to set an alternate date, in the event of rain. Set a specific time for your sale (e.g. 8:00 AM ), but be aware of early birds -- some are dealers.

Try to hold your garage sale on weekends for maximum traffic, but avoid conflicts with long weekends, when many people are away. Contact your family, friends, and neighbours to see if they want to join you in the garage sale

Look For Things to Sell
Prepare for your garage sale by doing some spring cleaning. Check your attic, basement, closets, garage, and other storage areas for items you no longer need or use. Ask your friends and relatives to see if they have any items they no longer want or need. Children's clothes, toys, books, antiques, appliances, and furniture usually sell the best.

Advertise For Success
Place a classified ad in your local newspaper. Specify a "rained out" date, if you wish. Ask for your garage sale kit, if it's available. Advertise "cash only" if that is your preference. In addition, post a "cash only" sign in a prominent location at your sale. Put up posters at the local laundromat, grocery store, or other community bulletin boards. List key items that may attract customers. Investigate use of online classifieds or messages on your local freenet or newsgroups. Put up signs at strategic locations, on the day of your sale, to direct customers to your sale. Be aware of local bylaws regarding sign postings on public property.

Price Your Items Appropriately
Be realistic when pricing your items. Check out other garage sales to get a feel for prices. As a general rule of thumb, start pricing at 30% of retail, but be prepare to discount prices -- if you really want to get rid of the item. Label all items with self-adhesive price tags. Use different colour labels for each family, or highlight with a colour marker, if more than one family is involved in the sale. For joint sales, keep a log of all items sold, according to your colour codes. Be prepared to bargain with your customers or reduce the price, if you really want to get rid of your items.

Set Up Your Items For Display
Make sure that all items are clean and in good shape. Arrange display tables for easy access and viewing. Make it attractive. Group similar items together in one area. Make it interesting. Hang up clothes in a temporary rack and sort by size. Provide an electrical outlet, if necessary, for customers to test appliances and electrical tools. Display books, CD's, videos, and record albums with spine up for easy readability. Set up a "freebies" box for items you wish to give away.

Where to donate possessions

Salvation Army (416) 425-2111 for location of a drop off centre or thrift store near you.

Gently used clothing, household goods, kitchen goods, furniture and working clean appliances accepted.

Goodwill Industries  (416) 362-4711 

Hospitals  in Toronto St. Michael’s volunteer department (416) 864-6082 too see which items they can use.  ( accepts wool, material, clothing especially warm winter clothing, practical shoes, blankets and towels.

MAKE YOUR LAWN GREEN

If you want a lawn that will make your neighbors green with envy, follow these important rules:

1) Choose the right grasses. The right grass for your yard will depend upon your climate, conditions, and soil. Talk to your nursery expert about the best choices. In general, cool-season grasses survive harsh winters but tend to suffer during summer months; warm-season grasses thrive in summer sun but go dormant during the winter--and turn brown in below-freezing temperatures.

2) Water appropriately. It's better to water deeply to encourage root growth instead of watering frequently. There are not hard-and-fast rules about how often to water. When the surface soil feels dry to the touch, it's time to water.

3) Fertilize. Apply a nitrogen fertilizer in late spring and summer and be sure to water thoroughly. Fertilize cool-season grasses throughout fall and spring. Again, ask a local nursery person about specific recommendations.

4) Mow properly. Don't let the grass grow too long; mow it when it reaches about one third taller than its optimum height.

In early spring, get your lawn off to a quick start by setting your mower a notch lower than normal to remove surface debris and any damaged grass. Use your bagging attachment so you don't have to spend time raking. If you have a name-brand mower, you should be able to buy a special de-thatching attachment that will help open up the turf so it can receive more air, light and moisture. 

f you have bare spots (and who doesn't?), over-seed the area with the correct type of grass. Check with your County Cooperative Extension agent or your local garden center. If appropriate, try some of the improved varieties that don't need as much fertilizer and are naturally disease-resistant. Some types don't even grow as fast!

REGULAR HOME MAINTENANCE

A healthy home is a happy home. If it is regularly checked and maintained, the chances of problems arising are less. With proper maintenance, if and when problems do occur, there is less chance that they will blossom into major problems. Items to check:

Exterior
Roof: Visually check shingles from ground. Watch for missing shingles or broken pieces.

Gutters and downspouts: Check and remove any debris to assure unobstructed water flow away from foundation.

Veneer or siding: With brick, watch for deteriorating bricks or masonry. For siding, watch for warping or rot.

Check all painted surfaces.

Windows and doors: Check caulking around doors and windows, glazing around windowpanes.

Lawn and garden: Watch for accumulation of tree limbs, branches, debris that can attract wood eating insects.

Asphalt Driveways: Check for cracks or deterioration. Reseal if necessary.

Heating and cooling: Make sure outside unit is unobstructed. Clean unit with garden hose.

Interior
Attic: Examine for evidence of any leaks.

Baths: Check for evidence of any leaks, especially around toilets and under sinks (vinyl tile will usually discolor if water is getting underneath it). Check grout on any ceramic tile.

Kitchen: Check for leaks under sink and around dishwasher. Check burner operation on stove. Check grout on any ceramic tile. Clean dust from refrigerator condenser (rear of unit).

Heating System: Change filter, check coils for buildup

Water Heater: Check for signs of leaks. Drain to remove any sediment. In areas with hard water, drain every 3 months.

Smoke Detectors: Check operation. Change batteries.

Basement or crawl space: Check for cracks or any sign of dampness or leaks. Check for any evidence of termites or wood eating insects.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT HEATER FOR YOUR HOME

Making the right choice in water heaters is very important. But which one is right for you? Natural gas fuels more than half of all water heaters; electricity heats most of the remainder. A small percentage of water heaters burn propane, oil, or kerosene. And some use wood heat or solar collectors to heat water.
Your best option would be to choose a gas-fueled water heater, given that it is available to you. Electricity is the fuel of choice only where it is the only option--or where it is impossible to run a flue out the roof to carry the water heater's combustion emissions. Gas is both cheaper and much faster at heating a tank full of water. So are propane, kerosene, and oil, but they're less convenient because they must be delivered (not piped) to a house.
In rating residential energy sources by the average dollar cost per million BTUs of heat they produce, natural gas was found to be the least expensive fuel followed by heating oil, propane and electricity came in at the most expensive. Obviously, these amounts vary with local energy prices and do change over time, but in the relative world of energy, natural gas is by far the cheapest, most convenient fuel for water heaters.
If you have an electric water heater and want to take advantage of the economy of natural gas or propane, check out how your system can be converted. With some innovative systems, the electric heating element is removed from the existing water heater, turning the heater into a storage tank. A new gas-fired heating unit is mounted on an outside wall, where it doesn't require a vent, and it's linked to the existing tank with two 3/4-inch water lines. Gas is piped directly to the new heating unit. The new system has three times the heating capacity of a standard electric water heater.

ALARMS

QUICK FIX FOR SCREEN DOORS

With warmer weather on the way it may be time to take a look at your screens. If some are in need of repair, here are three quick fixes.

1.  Repair a very small tear in metal or fiberglass screening with epoxy or acetone-type glue. Layer the glue on until the tear is filled.

2.  Repair a small hole by weaving or darning strands of screening into the tear. Weave the strands into sound fabric to close the hole. 

3.  For a large tear, cut a patch larger than the tear. Unravel each side, bend end wires, and push them through to hold the patch.

WHAT IS A "FIXER UPPER"?