When it comes to “staging” your home for sale – which basically means ensuring it looks clean and uncluttered – you probably already know the basics: clean the counters, vacuum the floors, mow the lawn, etc.

But there are also some less obvious home staging tips that can help to sell your property faster and for a higher price. Here are a few examples.

The Kitchen
Obvious: The stove, sinks, and countertops should be spotless.
Not-so-obvious: The contents of your cabinets and refrigerator should be facing forward.

The Bathrooms
Obvious: They should be clean and uncluttered. Have fresh towels hanging neatly on the rack. (Create the “hotel bathroom” look.)
Not-so-obvious: All towels should match. Ensure toilet lids are closed.

Your Bedroom
Obvious: Make the bed neatly. Check that the closet is organized and uncluttered. (If your closet is bulging with clothes, put some in storage.)
Not-so-obvious: Don’t leave any clothes out. Even clean clothes neatly folded in a hamper can seem untidy to some people.

The Kids’ Bedrooms
Obvious: They need to be clean and uncluttered. (Good luck!)
Not-so-obvious: Arrange stuffed animals, games and other toys like an attractive display in a toy store. It’s okay to have a toy, like a racetrack, out of the box. Just make sure it’s completely put together.

As your trusted local, Guelph Real Estate Agents, Wolfgang and I are happy to help you with staging, listing and selling your home! Please give us a call for help or with any questions you may have!

Three Lists to Make When Selling Your Home

If you are thinking about selling your home, there are a few things to consider. There is the emotional side of deciding to move and pack up all of your belongings. The practicality of how much time it will take to clean out the house and make it presentable for buyers. And then there’s all that stuff in between like getting an appraisal, putting together a marketing plan, and finding a buyer. But, of course, that’s what Real Estate Agents are for!

When you put your property up for sale, you want to make sure that potential buyers get all the information they need on the features of your home and its surrounding area. If, for example, house buyers don’t realize there is a great school just a couple of blocks away, they might cross your property off their shortlist.

An effective way to make sure something like that doesn’t happen is to create three lists.

#1: The “I’ll miss it” list.

Chances are, there are things about your home that you’re really going to miss when you move. One of those may be the spacious living room that’s ideal for entertaining or the nearby park with scenic trails that are perfect for walking and biking.

Whatever you’ll miss, put it on the list! Chances are, those are features that will also interest buyers.

#2: The “Just the facts” list.

What are the facts about your property that a buyer needs to know in order to consider purchasing it? This may be a very long list including such items as total square footage, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, property taxes, size of the yard, and more.

#3: The “repairs and improvements” list.

Buyers are interested in the state of repair of your home, and in any improvements, you have made to it. On this list include all repairs you have done during the past three years and, if possible, attach receipts. It’s especially important to include anything that has been replaced, such as the furnace or roof shingles.

So, what ways can you ensure your house is attractive to potential buyers?

1. Think about the time of year you want to sell your home.

2. Update what’s on the market with comparable homes in your area that have sold recently, or are just now coming on the market and consider a pricing strategy that will make yours stand out from them!

3. Get pre-approved for a mortgage to show buyers how much they can afford in terms of monthly payments so they know they’re getting a good deal on their new house too!

Contact your Guelph Real Estate Agents with any questions you may have about buying or selling a home!

A growing number of homeowners are uncomfortable using traditional pesticides for a variety of reasons, including health and environmental concerns. If you’re among them, here are some natural ways to deal with insects in your home:

• Use a mixture of unsweetened lemon juice and water to deter spiders. Spray the solution near doorways and window sills where these arachnoids can enter.
• Combine an equal mixture of vinegar and water to create an effective deterrent for a variety of crawling insects, particularly ants. Spray the solution on floors and countertops that are close to these creatures’ food sources.
• Believe it or not, invest in a fake wasp nest (which you can purchase at your local home improvement store) to deter real wasps from building a nest on your property.
• Experts recommend that you test any surface spray you plan to use to make sure it doesn’t stain or otherwise harm the surface.

Have questions about homeownership? Call our team of Guelph Real Estate Agents today – we’re always happy to help!

You would have to visit your local pharmacy or science lab to rival the number of potentially dangerous chemicals in the average home. You likely store everything from fertilizers and acidic cleaners, to gasoline and corrosive drain openers.

Obviously, it makes sense to ensure that everyone in your home uses and stores these items safely.

For example, laundry detergent packs – which have become popular recently – are attractive to children. Be sure to keep the lid locked and the package out of sight. Do the same with all laundry products. Even exposure to fabric softener pads can cause skin irritation, especially to a child.

Always read and follow the labels on household chemical products. Use and store them as directed. Make sure the labels remain affixed to all packaging.

Keep corrosives, such as harsh cleaners and drain openers, separate from other chemicals and in a place where, should they leak, they will cause minimal or no damage.

Also, never put a chemical in anything other than its original container. You don’t want to take the chance that, for example, paint thinner stored in an old water bottle is mistaken for water!

As Guelph Real Estate Agents, we work inside of many people’s homes and know first hand the importance of properly handling and storing your household chemicals. Please take care and keep your family safe!