Doing a ‘For Sale by Owner’ is becoming more and more popular, especially with sites like ‘CommFree’ and ‘WeList’. While I always recommend that homeowners wishing to sell enlist the services of a qualified, experienced realtor, I understand that this is not for everyone. Here are some tips to help you through the process.

  1. Make all the necessary repairs on your home unless you are selling the home as a fixer upper.  Anything that is obviously broken can give a buyer a reason to offer you a lower price.
  2. Create an open and spacious feeling while showing your home.  Open all doors and windows if weather permits.
  3. Turn on all lights and open all blinds to let in as much light as possible.
  4. Light a fireplace to give that cozy feeling.
  5. Use open house signs and flags to draw as much attention  and make it easy to find as possible.
  6. Make sure the home is neat and clean, inside and out, fresh paint and clean carpets can go a long way!
  7. Park cars away from the home and out of the driveway.  This will make a front garage look larger.  Cleaning the garage is also a good idea.
  8. Curb appeal is very important!  Make sure you mow the lawn and water it, or shovel snow, before your open house.
  9. Light nice smelling candles prior to the Open House, a bad odour can deter would be buyers.
  10. Keep pets locked up, or better yet away from the home all together.  Don’t scare prospects away!
  11. Have fresh flowers in your home on display. It helps give a feeling of life in the home.
  12. Make sure all windows and crystal clean.
  13. Clean out closets nearest the front entryway; make it appear very open, with plenty of hanger space for winter coats, etc.
  14. Hold a garage sale before listing your home to make sure there are no cluttered spaces, storage areas, basements, or garages.  The more spacious every aspect of your home is the more presentable it will be to prospects.
  15. Cleaning for home is very important, but pay extra attention to your appliances, make sure they are sparkling clean, especially the kitchen area.  If you have stainless steel appliances, clean off the finger prints.
  16. Depending on your relationship with neighbours; inform them that you are having an open house and ask them if they would make sure their lawns are cut.  People purchase homes based on more things than just price.  The neighbourhood they will live in is every bit as important.
  17. Do not have too many people at the home while showing. If it is possible, no more than two. Do not follow visitors around your home, they do not want to feel pressured or hurried.  Make sure you put away any type of valuables or jewelry.  Always have some type of marketing piece on your home that can help answer basic questions such as room counts and sizes.
  18. Ask guests to fill out a guest registry list so that you can market people later and inform them of any price reductions or other pertinent information.

Good luck!

For more information on the value a Realtor can provide, check out the CREB website.