Fantastic, you have come to the right place.  Here are a few simple things you can do to prepare to have your home showing its Sunday best come its first showing.

As a buyer walks through their home, we want them to be drawn to the selling features and illustrate the luxury of the home.  We don't want them to start a mental checklist for items they would need to change before moving into the property.  When preparing your home, think of all the positive aspects of your home, then prepare your home to show these features off.    

1) Declutter- Think minimalistic, clear, open spaces to create optimum sight lines.  Try and keep countertops as clean as possible.  Keep the floor space clear and open.  Try and create space to navigate through the home.  Choose only a few aesthetically pleasing items to place on the counter.  Examples of kitchen space would be a designer toaster or coffee maker, a trendy cookbook, or bright fresh flowers in a vase.  Try a basket to place decorative blankets in to keep the seating area neat.  

2) Paint- A fresh coat of neutral paint will help brighten up the room and hide any blemishes on the walls.  The more neutral the canvas, the more buyers can focus on the selling features of the home and not get bogged down by undesirable paint colours.  

3) Deep Clean - Remember your photos will be taken with every light on in the house.  So, give those floors a good scrub and clean those high-traffic carpeted areas.  A clean kitchen invites buyers to bask in entertaining ability for friends and family.  Clean bathrooms give off an instant feel of luxury.  Most importantly, clean your windows, inside and out.  Nothing worse than sunlight drawing attention to a streaky window, instead of the beautiful view and natural light it provides. 

4) Lighting- Ensure all your fixtures have matching bulbs throughout the home.  Choose soft whites to illuminate the large open-concept rooms.  Put large fixtures on dimmers that can create mood lighting in specific areas.  In darker areas, try and place lamps on switch-operated plugs for added lighting and ease of use.  

5) Repairs & maintenance- Our goal here is to bring the home as close to new as possible.  Cosmetic issues such as scuffs and marks on the walls are easy to get started with.  Stay away from drastic remodels before listing.  The concern is that you might not return all your value from the changes.  Remember, all homeowners have different tastes, and we are trying to attract the largest pool of potential buyers possible.  The curb appeal is huge, so make sure you freshen up those garden beds with bright welcoming flowers, shrubs, and trees.  We want the buyer to feel a sense of luxury the second they set eyes on the property.   

6) Depersonalize- Our main goal is to allow buyers to imagine their family living in this new space.  Therefore, removing very personal items, such as family photos, posters and flags from bedrooms allows the buyers to imagine it as if it were their home. 

Most importantly, get professional photos and floor plan layouts done!  It would be a shame to get your property looking 10/10, only to be photographed with an iPhone.  By completing the tasks, you will be on your way to getting your property ready to hit the market.  

Let's Connect! Check out justinbaarts.com and get started today. I would love to help show your home to the world.  With the Engel & Völkers brand, I can utilize our network of shops to get our listing in from more qualified buyers in the surrounding areas.