Spring is prime time for buyers and sellers to move house. It’s traditionally the busiest period of the year in the real estate market – April to June – when families prepare to move for work and school, take new jobs or jump into the move-up market.
Early spring sales for St. Albert and the Edmonton region are down slightly compared to last year, mostly with higher-end product, over $500,000, while more modest/average-priced homes are still selling strongly, according to realtor Ryan Boser of Sarasota Realty.
“Consumer confidence affects mentality. The Edmonton region is still robust, but with the provincial economy sputtering, some buyers and sellers are hesitating – staying put with a “wait-and-see” attitude,” he said.
No matter the market, there are things sellers can do to help wow shoppers and move a home fast.
“When you’re looking at five to 10 homes in an evening, it can be hard to remember one house from the next. Little things can differentiate your home from the competition,” said Boser, citing well-known tips like baking bread or cookies – even putting cinnamon in the oven – to create a cozy, homey feel and contribute to that all-important first impression. “It’s critical –buyers make a decision within moments of walking through the front door.”
A recent article in Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine offers staging tips for sellers, starting with a “change of mind.” That means de-personalizing the space of too many photos or mementos, and renovating with the buyer’s taste, not your own list of “must-haves” in mind.
“It’s key to look at a property from a buyer’s perspective,” Boser said.
Also commonly known, but not always done, is to maximize curb appeal. Draw people inside the home with neatly trimmed bushes and weeded lawns, and make a great first impression without breaking the bank – an urn of seasonal flowers on the front walk, freshly-painted front door, new mailbox and house numbers – they are easy and cheap fixes that work.
“You only get that one chance with a buyer. Once they walk through the door, it’s just to confirm what they’re already thinking about the property, so think curb appeal and clean, clean, clean,” said Boser.
Other tips are proven winners too, such as choosing a neutral colour palate (tans, taupes, greys) to keep the feeling light and bright throughout the home. Pay attention to kitchens and bathrooms. En suites are big, according to Boser, but focusing on the main floor is a good rule-of-thumb. Don’t forget lighting and flooring.
“If you don’t have great natural light, use lamps and pendant fixtures to make the space as bright as possible,” he said.
Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine reports that flooring always increases the value of a home, and will cost less for sellers to replace than to leave it to new homeowners.
“Buyers are looking for reasons to discount their offers, and flooring is one of the first things they see when they walk in,” the report said.
There’s an entire staging industry in real estate, and with good reason. A vacant home sits, and staged properties sell, say the experts, as buyers need help to imagine how to use the rooms in the house.
“A vacant house feels cold and smaller – people need to be able to see themselves in the home,” Boser said. “It’s a no-brainer for our clients, as staging is included in our service.”
Delete and re-arrange furniture as needed to best highlight a space, add new throw pillows to the living room, and place fresh linens in the bathroom and bedroom. Replace the burnt out bulbs, fix the leaky faucet, put a bowl of fresh green apples or lemons on the kitchen counter – it all helps create the impression of a cared-for home, say the experts.
Happy selling!
