How Can You Help Your Home Stand Out In A Competitive Real Estate Market?

With Spring quickly approaching, many Kitchener-Waterloo homeowners are thinking about selling. If you’ve been considering a move, it’s important that you have the right selling strategy. If you have any questions about your first step, or when the best time to list your home is, don’t hesitate to contact us.

In the meantime, here are some things to keep in mind.

Top Things To Help Your Home Stand Out in a Competitive Market

Source: remax.ca

When it comes to selling your home, especially in a competitive market, making sure your home stands out is essential. In markets that are fast paced, houses come and go constantly, so standing out to prospective buyers is incredibly important. There are dozens of different ways you can make your home stand out in a competitive market, so it can sometimes be hard to know where to start.

We’ve reached out to our RE/MAX Influencers – a panel of RE/MAX Sales Associates throughout Canada – to narrow down a list of five things that can help your home stand out in a competitive market.

Paint & Repairs

A fresh coat of paint can work wonders when it comes to standing out in a competitive market. Painting your home a light, neutral color will help potential buyers to visualize themselves living and making changes to the home.

“Make sure walls and doors are clean and freshly painted. Any carpet or damaged flooring should be replaced. Help the buyers visualize themselves living there as opposed to all the money they would need to spend to be comfortable. In the end, not doing these things will take away from a seller’s best sale price” – Kelley Law, RE/MAX All Points Realty, Coquitlam, BC.

A fresh, neutral colour palette will help make your home seem move-in ready. Lighter colours help to brighten up spaces and make rooms seem bigger, which can be a huge asset when it comes to showing the home — especially a home with a small footprint.

Cleaning & De-Cluttering

One of the most important things that you can do to help your home stand out in a competitive market is to de-clutter and have it professionally cleaned. When a potential buyer walks into your home, they want to be able to envision themselves living in the space. Having clutter built up and visible to buyers can hinder their viewing and can make it harder for buyers to imagine their items in the space. “Live minimally, so when you get that last minute showing, a quick vacuum and wipe-down is all you need!” says Shilo Storey, RE/MAX First, Calgary, AB.

Try to tuck away as many personal items as possible to allow buyers to walk through your home as a neutral environment, not one littered with family photos and personal items. The cleaner and more pared down your home is, the better — particularly when it comes to showing potential buyers!

“Keeping the home looking sharp (pride of ownership) indicates long-term care and attention to looks and mechanical. Home appearance is a good indication the owner has looked after problems in a timely manner” – Michael Ray, RE/MAX Crest Realty (Burnaby Kingsway), Burnaby, BC.

Staging & Photography

Staging and photography go hand-in-hand when it comes to selling your home. Having professional photos taken to showcase your property can help attract potential buyers to your listing, and proper staging can help to impress those buyers if they choose to walk through your property.

“Professional presentation of the home, with staging, will set the bar high for online showcasing of the home, marketing materials, etc, to get people into the home” – Rob Grey, RE/MAX Nanaimo, Nanaimo, BC.

Staging your home will allow buyers to see how furniture fits in the space and can help potential buyers visualize living in the home themselves. Having professional photos taken after staging can help set the stage for online viewings and will help attract people to your listing.

Curb Appeal

First impressions are very important and can have a huge impact on your listing if you are trying to stand out in a fast paced, competitive market. The curb appeal of your home is going to be a potential buyer’s first impression, therefore it needs to make an impact! Make sure the grass is cut, weeds are pulled, and any other items, such as bikes or toys, are tucked away out of sight. If you are trying to sell your home in the winter, make sure you have a recent summertime photo of the exterior of your home to help potential buyers visualize what the home looks like year-round.

“The first impression is paramount, so walking to the front door should make you want to go inside and find out more” – Francine Legault, RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty, Comox, BC.

Price

Finally, when it comes to standing out in a competitive market, price is one of the most important factors to consider. In a fast-paced market, pricing is key to a quick sale. If your house is priced too high, it may be overlooked by potential buyers which will result in your listing sitting in the market with no offers coming in. If your house is priced too low, you may receive many offers, however you won’t get the right price for the value of your home.

“In a buyers’ market, it is important to set yourself apart from the competition. Pricing is critical as overpriced homes in the market will not attract showings or offers and will sit on the market,” says Matthew McBean, RE/MAX First, Calgary, AB.

When determining what price you should list your home, make sure to do your research. Look at comparable homes in your area to ensure you’re entering the market with an appropriate listing price.