Selling Nanaimo Real Estate

	Sellers Resources

Selling your home is an emotional and time consuming process.
You are, in most cases, dealing the largest investment of your life.

Here are some tips to help you along the way.

Tips for Nanaimo Real Estate Sellers'     

• Moving day "not too far away"

• Getting the house ready to sell

• Setting a Price for your home

• Comparing home prices

• Additional tips to sell your home

 

Moving day "not too far away"?  

Place your home on the market long enough prior to buying a new one. If you buy your second home prior to selling the first, you may end up with two mortgages. You will also need time to get the house ready for the market. Simple repairs and cosmetics will take time and money to implement. Remember how quickly Christmas comes? Time, in this case "is money".

Getting the house ready to sell   

A home with lots of curb appeal will get more viewers and in the end generate a higher selling price. Here is a simple check list of items to watch for.

• Is the lawn and garden well maintained? Keep lawn and hedges trimmed and watered and leaves racked.
• Is the paint color faded or out of date? If so choose a neutral color to appeal to a broad range of people. Outdoor paint should match the neighborhood. A fresh coat of paint can dramatically improve the look of a home both inside and out.
• Are the gutters clean and in good condition?
• Are there any door or window seals that need fixing.
• Cleaning is a top priority bathrooms, kitchen and floors should gleam.
• Replace dripping faucet washers and oil squeaky doors.
• Remove all clutter from the house get an early start on packing.
• Consider replacement of light fixtures that "date" the house.
• Wash all the windows and mirrors.
• Polish any metal fixtures.
• Check all of your windows to make sure they open and close easily.
• If you have pet's have the carpets shampooed and keep them off property during showings. Febreze works on pet odors.
• Do not bake on showing day, if you burn the cookies it will have the opposite effect you desire. Try potpourri and flowers.
• Clean cupboards and counters of clutter.
• Clean out your closets, now is a good time for that call to goodwill.
• Add a few flowers to the garden for color.

Remember, cosmetic changes do not have to be expensive

Setting a Price for your home      

A home sells when the price falls between the sellers' floor price, and the buyers' ceiling price. The Nanaimo Real Estate market has been very active in the last year and prices continue to rise. If you price your real estate well often you will see it sold in less than a week. Some homes end up getting multiple offers causing it to sell for more than it was listed for.

Some conditions that affect the market value of your home;

• Your location real estate in nicer areas always draws more attention.
• How long the home has been on the market.
• The property's curb appeal.
• Economic conditions.
• Supply and demand in the local housing market.
• Seasonal factors.
• Local services.
• What is included in the sale price -- window coverings,appliances, carpeting, light fixtures, heating oil, etc.
• Your home's extra features-- pool, fireplace, hot tub, etc.

Comparing real estate prices      

Homes recently sold in your neighborhood are adjusted for value based on;

• Square footage.
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of bathrooms.
• Appliances.
• Heating systems.
• Air conditioning.
• Defects, both physical and functional.
• Natural features.
• Proximity to other properties, both positive and negatively speaking.

Tips for moving       

I have moved all over the world so I know a few things that might help.

Boxes
Start collecting boxes early, if you get them early enough you can start packing things like halloween costumes, books, unused kitchen equipment. Try and get the strongest boxes you can, liquor boxes are good. Get custom boxes for glassware and china they are worth the money. Custom boxes save time and reduce breakage. Make labels on your computer for all the boxes you plan on using. Label them for what room they are from. i.e.: kitchen, bathroom, linen closet. Make labels for both the top and the side. Remember to pack heavy items on the bottom. Try and get boxes that will hold the weight you need and stack well.

Tools
Get a razor, knife and scissors you don't really care about. Felt markers are good for marking things last minute. Get really good packing tape. If boxes are covered with dust some tape will not stick. I like the kind of tape with reinforcement string built in but it is tough to cut). Styrofoam peanuts are good for some things but make a mess and seem to cling to everything. Styrofoam peanuts are like confetti you will find it months after you move everywhere. Do not use newspaper if possible it leaves ink on your hands and on all your china. Buy packing paper instead, it is cleaner and you can save it for your next move. If you are not using movers buy a two wheel dolly from home depot. It was the best $30 I ever spent and friends now borrow it  for their moves.

Think ahead
Pack a separate bag with toiletries, a change of clothes and anything you need for the first day or two. Things like hand cream and gloves(dry hands from moving) are good. The last things I pack are the same things I tend to need first, soap, towels, phone, music to pack or unpack by! A case of beer doesn't hurt to motivate the army of friends helping you. Save your receipts for moving related expenses in a folder for income tax deductions. Now would be a good time to fill prescriptions if you have them, renew your passport if you are moving away from an area with a passport office. Go to the doctor and dentist and ask them to forward your records. If you start a new job your dental coverage may not start for three months. Make sure to have all the utilities hooked up the day you arrive or the day before. I once moved to a house that needed gas to heat the hot water, it resulted in the coldest shower I ever had. Call ahead especially for cable and internet service appointments are hard to get in some cases and plan on spending the day waiting for them.

As a homeowner, you can play an important part in the timely sale of your property. When you take the following steps, you’ll help your RE/MAX Sales Associate sell your home faster, at the best possible price.

The easiest and most reliable way to improve the appeal of your home is to enlist a quality home service professional. The right professional can help you get everything in order - from repainting the kitchen to providing a thorough cleaning - so you can stay focused on more important things.

• Make the Most of that First Impression
  A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted – or at least freshly scrubbed – front door. If it’s autumn, rake the leaves. If it’s winter, shovel the walkways. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better.
  

• Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends
  Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to your property. If you’re worried about time, hire professional cleaners or painters to get your house ready. Remember, prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look with a little work.
  

• Check Faucets and Bulbs
  Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home.
  

• Don’t Shut Out a Sale
  If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospect’s mind. Don’t try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a closing.
  

• Think Safety
  Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your residence as non-perilous as possible for uninitiated visitors.
  

• Make Room for Space
  Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.
  

• Consider Your Closets
  The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now’s the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.
  Make Your Bathroom Sparkle
  Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats, and shower curtains.
  

• Create Dream Bedrooms
  Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must.
  

• Open up in the Daytime
  Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is.
  

• Lighten up at Night
  Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside - when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
  

• Avoid Crowd Scenes
  Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they're likely to hurry through. Keep the company present to a minimum.
  

• Watch Your Pets
  Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: Keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.
  Think Volume
  Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction. When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo or TV.
  Relax
  Be friendly, but don't try to force conversation. Prospects want to view your home with a minimum of distraction.
  Don't Apologize
  No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let your experienced RE/MAX Associate handle the situation.
  

• Keep a Low Profile
  Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But RE/MAX Sales Associates know buyers - what they need and what they want. Your RE/MAX Associate will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay in the background.
  

• Don't Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store
  When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.
  

• Defer to Experience
  When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, let them speak to an expert - your RE/MAX Sales Associate.