How to Prepare Your Toronto House for Sale

In spite of a constantly evolving market, Toronto real estate remains extremely valuable. It’s easy to see why homes here are in high demand, considering the city’s exciting atmosphere, unlimited educational and career opportunities, along with a vast array of housing options.

While many people may want to buy your house in Toronto, remember that not everyone can afford to. This makes high housing values a bit of a catch-22 in today’s market. You likely stand to earn far more than you originally paid for your home. However, finding a qualified buyer can be easier said than done.

As a commercial real estate agent, I am well-versed in the challenges of selling high-priced properties at top dollar. I also bring this expertise to the residential sector, where we often have to work twice as hard to make a house stand out from others in the area. Today, I’ll show you a few unique insights to help you prepare for a successful sale – even in a tough market.

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Assess the Situation

Have you ever taken a first-aid course? It may seem off topic. However, there is an extremely valuable takeaway for any life situation, including when selling your home.

The first thing you learn is to carefully assess the situation before taking any action. You need significant background information if you want to achieve the best outcome. This is equally true when trying to sell an expensive property.

Before formulating any part of your strategy, you must first dive deep into the market to see where your competitive advantages and disadvantages are. The more expensive your home is, the more critical this information becomes. Every step you take will be to make your listing front and centre, presented beautifully, with a comprehensive yet targeted marketing strategy.

An experienced real estate agent will help you find and make sense of all relevant information. This will include how many competing houses are available in your area, along with what buyers are searching for in today’s market.

Are you looking for a real estate expert you can trust in all aspects of your transaction? A long-term professional relationship is the key to getting results, whether you’re selling a home or a business. Learn more in Why Everyone Needs a Real Estate Agent For Life.

Consider Your Buyer

Knowing who your buyer will be informs every other part of your strategy, from decor and upgrades to your marketing. In commercial real estate, we always consider the demographic first. This tactic also pays off when it comes to selling a house. Think of what your buyer is looking for.

Younger buyers typically want energy efficiency, whereas those from the older generation tend to focus on safety and convenience. Still, they all have one thing in common: everyone wants a home with gorgeous aesthetic appeal. To complicate things, each individual has a different idea of what that means for them.

Understanding what your buyer is thinking and feeling is one of the most valuable takeaways you can learn from the commercial side of real estate. Though you can’t always pinpoint the exact upgrades and decor to please everyone, this deep analysis can still lead you to a successful outcome.

The key is to focus on the foundational steps that have universal appeal across all ages and demographics – your real estate agent can help you determine the specifics.

Research is critical, but do you need to agonize over all of the minor details? Find out in Do Stats Matter When Buying or Selling Toronto Real Estate?

Create a Blank Canvas

The ultimate goal in preparing your home is to create a blank canvas for your buyer to paint with their own imagination. You can’t pick one design theme that everyone will love, and the good news is – you don’t need to.

You want the buyer to see their own vision for your home. If they walk in and instantly start imagining where they will put their belongings and how they will decorate, you’re well on your way to a successful sale.

The first step in getting your house ready to sell is to start by cleaning and decluttering your home so there’s nothing to distract potential buyers. Emphasize de-personalization, which means removing or storing all personal items, such as family photos and souvenirs. You want space in your buyer’s imagination for their own belongings – so yours have got to go. Instead, replace them with tasteful yet generic decor.

Decide What and Whether to Upgrade

You may need upgrades to sell your home at the highest dollar amount. However, not every renovation is worth your time or investment. Once your house is clean and you know who your buyer will likely be, you can make strategic decisions.

A fresh coat of paint is likely worthwhile, while investing in wall-to-wall carpets may not pay off. If you suspect that your buyer might be from a younger demographic, you might decide to install some smart technology, like thermostats and automatic blinds. Your real estate agent will help you determine the most worthwhile things to do before selling your house depending on what buyers are searching for today.

Stage Your Home for the Final Effect

Staging means designing your home in a way that appeals to the highest number of qualified buyers possible. If you’ve cleaned, decluttered, and de-personalized your space, you’re halfway there.

Now, it’s a matter of arranging your furniture and decor in a way that showcases the best features of your home. You’ll want to maximize the natural light and create a feel of spaciousness throughout each room.

However, keep in mind that staging isn’t just about in-person visits; it’s about marketing. Once your home looks spectacular, it’s time for professional photos and videos. If your marketing materials are of high quality, a buyer will have already fallen in love with your house before they even arrange for a showing.

Do you want to learn more about buying or investing in commercial real estate? The posts below will deliver some valuable insights:

Set a Price Based on Research

Pricing mistakes are common and can lead to a less profitable sale – or no sale. With a commercial real estate transaction, the numbers must be absolutely on point to even have a chance to negotiate.

This precision also applies when selling a house. You might think that a buyer will try to negotiate if your price is too high. The reality is that most will walk away without making an offer or even booking a showing.

If your price is too low, you can lose out on the true value of your home. A real estate agent can help you get it just right so that your listing gets attention without sacrificing value. A lot of research and preparation goes into this single element. When your home preparation and flawless marketing and pricing strategy come together, you become nearly unstoppable!

Are you ready to sell your home and want to achieve a seamless sale at a fantastic price? Contact me today at OMarjanovic@kw.com or call 647.620.2882 for even more insights.

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