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If the time has come for you to sell your home, we have a few helpful strategies that should make this process run as smoothly as possible. A seller’s worst nightmare is to have their home listed forever and never make a deal. As your local Guelph real estate agent, I can provide 5 tips to help you quickly sell your home and prevent that fear from becoming a reality.

1. Curb Appeal

Whoever said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” was clearly not talking about a house. A home’s curb appeal could be the first and only impression it makes on a potential homebuyer. Therefore, it is important that you make the home look as presentable as possible. This could be done by installing a new roof, fixing any chipped paint or removing dead flowers from the yard. The more appealing your home looks the more likely a buyer will stop and look around.

2. Stage Appropriately

When your house is being viewed, stage it appropriately so the buyers can envision themselves living there. In many cases, this may mean depersonalising your home to some extent. Most homebuyers do not want to see your family photos or personalised items in their potential home; remove all unnecessary items so they can picture their family there instead. In addition, make sure all the furniture is in an appropriate place, and that the whole house has been deep cleaned.  Nothing will turn away a buyer faster than having an unorganised, dirty home.

3. Price Right

The real estate in Guelph is competitive so be reasonable with your listing price. Homebuyers are aware of the current market trends so don’t try and oversell. If you do not price your home appropriately from the start, home buyers could avoid viewing your home and you could risk the chance of making a sale. As experienced Guelph real estate agents, we are experts on the market and at pricing homes. We can help you get the most money for your home, in the shortest amount of time.

4. Online Listings

When selling, make sure your home is listed on all the major online sites. The more popular the website, the more viewings your home will get. Make sure all your photos online are of good quality because presentation is everything. One blurry photo could deter a buyer from wanting to see more. It will also be in your best interest to go above and beyond by adding helpful information about the neighborhood. This way buyers cannot only see what it would be like to live in your home, but to live in the community as well. We can help you make sure your home is marketed properly to the right audience!

5. Be Flexible

It is important to be flexible with your schedule. If you have someone who is interested in your home but can only view it at a certain time, be as readily available as possible. Having to constantly reschedule will discourage a buyer from wanting to make the effort of seeing your home and might look elsewhere. We understand that it can be difficult to always keep your home clean or have it available for potential buyers to view, but this will help make the process moving along much faster!

Working with a real estate agent in Guelph can provide more insightful tips on selling your home. So don’t wait, reach out to Ann O’Garr today at 519-831-7447 or aogarr@remax.net or Wolfgang Dobrowolski at 519-831-7447 or wolfgangd@remax.net.

Whether you need to relocate for work or you are purchasing a home closer to family or an excellent school, you have listed your home with the intention of selling it. Everyone hopes to sell their home in as little time as possible, and when that doesn’t happen, it can leave you wondering what is going wrong.

While problems selling your home are definitely unwanted, there may still be some good news! In many cases, there are steps you can take to remedy whatever problem is preventing your home from selling..

The most common reason for homes not to sell as quickly as they should is an issue with the price. There is a great deal that goes into pricing a home accurately and that is for good reason. If you start out too high, even in a seller’s market, your home can sit on the market without any traffic. As Guelph realtors, we understand many people want to price their homes higher in the beginning as a way to “leave room” for negotiation. Our experience in the industry has shown us that this method of pricing a home just leads to longer time on the market and possibly even a lower selling price.

By pricing your home correctly from the beginning, you are more likely to sell your home at a price that works well for you. If your home is currently priced too high, that could factor into why your home has not yet been sold.

The condition of your home, especially in relation to price, will also have an important role in how quickly your home sells. If your home is priced according to the homes being sold in your local area, but it hasn’t been looked after in the way the other homes have, it isn’t going to sell.

In situations where a seller’s home could use some “TLC” we recommend taking care of the more inexpensive jobs and adjusting your price to accommodate for anything that has not been taken care of. This will give buyers more of an incentive to purchase a home that they know will involve additional time and money on their part.

How your home is being marketed to buyers is another thing you should take a look at if your home isn’t selling fast enough. Your Guelph realtor should be helping you stage, photograph and market your home to appeal to the largest number of buyers.

While we may not be able to help you with issues involving your title or other things of that nature, we can definitely help you sell your home if price, condition or marketing are your issues.

If your home hasn’t sold yet, it’s time for a change. For help selling your home, give us a call today!

When it comes to real estate, whether you are buying or selling, there are a lot of terms that may be associated with each transaction.

Throughout our experience working in the real estate industry, we have come across each of these terms countless times. This has helped us obtain a firm grasp of the meaning of each aspect of the process and allows us to better assist our clients as they find the perfect home or buyer in the Ontario region.

We understand that, while it is crucial to work with an experienced real estate professional, many of our clients also feel more confident when they understand the process themselves.

There are many common, and not so common, real estate terms whose meanings may not be as familiar as they should be. Below, you will find a list of a few of these words, along with a brief definition, to help you better understand each term.

Amendment: An amendment is a document that states a change that has been made to a contract. This may include a correction, clarification, addition or deletion of a certain section or term of the contract. The contract must have been previously agreed to for it to need an amendment. If the contract has not yet been agreed to, changes may be made to it by either party and these changes, once agreed upon, will just be part of the contract itself.

Appraisal: An appraisal is a formal, unbiased estimation of property’s value. It is most often issued in writing and must be evidenced by criteria relating to relevant property data.

Chattels: Chattels are all the removable possessions that are not secured to or considered part of the real property. These possessions may include furniture, décor, and appliances. A common term that is often associated with this lesser known term is personal property.

Closing: The process of closing on the purchase or sale of a property refers to the finalizing of the real estate transaction. During this process, all documentation is signed by all required parties, funds are properly distributed and keys are exchanged.

Surveying: Surveying refers to the process of accurately measuring the boundaries and elevations of a certain piece of land or structure. A survey is taken during the home buying process to ensure that all parties are aware of the exact measurements of the property before the sale is finalized.

Valuation: The process of valuation occurs when the value of a certain real estate property is determined. Unlike an appraisal, the process of valuation can be done through many different means, and is not necessarily a formal declaration of value, although it may still be helpful for things like pricing your home when you list it for sale.

These terms represent only a fraction of the information that is involved with each real estate transaction, which is why we always recommend working with a real estate professional who is experienced and educated on each and every aspect of the process.

As Guelph real estate professionals, we are always happy to help people on the move! Give us a call today for more information or to get the process of buying or selling your home started now!

Whether you are relocating for work, moving to an area with more options for your children’s education, or downsizing as you enter retirement, there will come a time when you are ready to sell your home.

As trusted Guelph real estate agents, we want to help you understand the importance of preparing both yourself and your home before you put your house up for sale.

The most important thing to consider when you make the decision to sell your home is who you will be working with throughout the selling process. Aside from deciding to sell your home, deciding on who you want to work with is the most important choice you will make because it can affect everything else!

The right Guelph real estate agent will help you price your home, market your home and sell your home.

Whether you choose to work with an expert or try to make a go of selling your home on your own, there are many factors that will need to be taken into consideration before you can accurately price your home.

You and your agent or realtor will need to conduct research on the local housing market to see what the homes in your area with similar characteristics to your home are selling for. This will not only help you set a realistic asking price right from the start but will also give you an idea as to how long most homes in your area and price range are taking to sell.

The process of selling will vary from home to home, but this relevant market data should give you a great starting point for your own process.

It is important to remember not to overprice your home when you first list it on the market, as this can drag out the process which could have a large impact if you have time limitations due to work or other scheduling obligations.

Once your house is “market ready” and you and your agent or realtor have conducted the necessary research and accurately priced your home, it will be time to list your house!

From the moment your agent lists your home for sale, you will be responsible for keeping your house clean at all times. If you and your agent have done a good job of pricing your home, you should be getting regular calls from other agents with potential buyers. You will often be given very short notice when buyers want to view your home, so you should make sure your home is ready to be shown at any time.

As experienced Guelph real estate agent, we can help you prep, price and sell your home with ease! We have been helping people on the move for years and we can’t wait to do the same for you!

Give us a call today for more information!

Sources: http://bit.ly/2udrdlR, http://bit.ly/1EjUFru, http://bit.ly/1mTjiWS

In our previous post, we discussed the logistics of hosting an open house – choosing the right date, advertising properly, etc. Once your open house has been properly planned and scheduled, it is time to tackle the project of preparing your home.

The best place to start is where potential buyers will start. The first thing they will see when they come to your open house is the outside. This is where their first impression will be made, so it is important to make that a good one.

There are many quick and easy updates that can be made to the front of your house to boost this first impression or curb appeal as it is often called, but these are not always necessary. You do, however, need to make sure that your lawn is properly maintained, all debris is cleaned up, and your garbage cans and recycling bins are put away.

The next place visitors of your open house will see is your entry way. Remove all unnecessary items, including jackets, coats, shoes and dog leashes to make this space as tidy and inviting as possible. If you have a small closet in this area, don’t over pack it with these items. Instead, put them away in larger closets, in storage bins if possible, to make this space appear larger.

This tip can work throughout your entire house! Clear out as much clutter as possible to make your home feel as open and welcoming as possible. Potential buyers who visit your open house will appreciate the chance to get a better idea of how their own belongings will fit into this new space.

As guests begin to walk through your home, they will be considering more than just the way your home looks. Smells are also something that can impact the way an open house visitor feels about your home. Clean your home and neutralize any odors with scented sprays. Baking sweets and lighting scented candles are also great ways to improve the scent of your home to make sure potential buyers leave with a lasting, positive impression.

The best tip for when you are getting your home ready for an open house is to try to look at your home from the perspective of a potential buyer. Is the house clean enough, lit well enough, and deodorized?

For a more detailed list of ways you can prepare your home for an open house, contact us today! We are more than happy to help you hold a successful open house, from planning and preparing to hosting.

We have been helping people on the move for years and can’t wait to help you too!

 Source: http://blog.comfree.com/2015/02/16/10-tips-host-best-open-house-ever/#.WTAMxhPyuL0

The strategic marketing concept of holding open houses has been under scrutiny for quite some time. There are people who will swear by open houses and others who don’t believe open houses truly help when it comes to selling their Guelph real estate.

It is true that most people looking to purchase their home will start their search online and this is a great way to start bringing attention to your property. With such an emphasis on online marketing it is hard to see the value in an open house, but trust us, it’s there!

Have you ever made a purchase online before? What type of item did you purchase?

It was most likely something you have purchased in the past or had already seen in a store. If most people are worried to purchase clothing online for fear of receiving the wrong size, they aren’t going to purchase a home strictly off what they read about it on a website.

People want to experience the house. They want to check out the neighborhood as they drive up and picture their possessions as they walk through the house. An open house is the perfect way to let as many people as possible have these experiences and fall in love with your home.

With that being said, if you and your agent or realtor do decide to hold an open house, it is important to get it right! The following tips should give you some great ideas when it comes to holding your own open house:

Choose the Right Day and Time

One of the most important aspects of holding your open house is selecting the right day and time. Open houses are now typically held for only a couple of hours, say from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. This strategy of limiting the hours will bring more people to your house in a shorter amount of time, giving them all the impression that there is heightened competition for your home.

Choosing the right day is also an important factor when planning your open house. You don’t have to stick to the weekends if the buyers you want to target would be more likely to come by on say a Thursday. Take some time to think about the potential buyers you want to draw in and consider their usual movements, then work your open house plans to fit into their routines.

Advertise

It is very important to advertise your open house to draw as much attention and traffic to your home as possible. This can be accomplished with flyers and signs and via social media and word of mouth. Your agent or realtor should also have some marketing tools they can provide to ensure your open house is properly advertised.

Make it Friendly and Enjoyable

An open house doesn’t have to be a sort of informal home inspection. Make your open house more of a social event by inviting your neighbours. The potential buyers that come to your open house with this welcoming and friendly atmosphere from your neighbourhood will have a much better impression of your home.

Hold Two Open Houses – One for Agents and One for the Public

Holding two open houses is a great way to draw more potential buyers to your Guelph real estate. Hold one exclusive open house that is only for other agents and realtors. This open house won’t be advertised to the public, but your agent will be able to advertise it to other agents and realtors that represent potential buyers. It is important to get them excited about your property so they will take your information back to their clients.

The second open house will be the open house you hold for the public and can be accomplished using the tips we have given above.

If you are considering an open house, it is important to remember that online marketing and open houses don’t have to be either or. You can absolutely post your property online, with an agent or realtor, and hold an open house. These two marketing concepts go hand in hand and both are designed to increase your exposure to potential buyers.

Do you want to hold an open house? Give us a call today and we will be happy to help!

Source: http://www.moneysense.ca/spend/real-estate/selling/tips-for-better-open-houses/