While recent numbers coming out of Calgary’s housing market may stress the need for buyers to act quickly when buying a house, presenting your home in the best possible light is still sound advice for sellers. In addition to seeking advice from your REALTOR®, here are a few easy and affordable tips to make your house an eye-catching piece of real estate for potential buyers when it comes to selling.

Now that summer has arrived, adding a little lush to your lawn could be the difference between a potential sale and a missed opportunity. Ensure your lawn is mowed, garden weeded and hedges trimmed for maximum appeal. Flowerbeds should be given fresh mulch and annuals can be planted to provide serious curb appeal.

Calgary’s harsh winter months can leave your deck and driveway looking dreadful. In addition to any minor repairs, both should be given a serious power washing to remove stains, mold, dirt and cobwebs. For those who like to use the area under their deck as storage, either find a less conspicuous place to stow those old chairs or get rid of them altogether. For oil stains on your driveway, use cat litter to soak up the oil, remove, then apply dish soap and scrub.

In addition to washing down your deck and driveway, wash windows, inside and out giving potential buyers the best perspective. If showing in the spring, renting a power washer to remove collected dust and debris left by winter storms gives a home a more inviting look. However, special care should be taken when washing under siding courses or in soffit vents where moisture can cause damage.

De-cluttering and de-personalizing your home for pre-sale allows potential buyers who see the home to imagine their things in the space instead. If you haven’t used something in over a year, you probably don’t need it, it could be donated or thrown away. Before viewings, everyday, essential items can be tucked in a small box and stored in a closet.

Houses tend to show better with fewer pieces of furniture, so one option is to rent a storage unit for excess and leave enough pieces to hint at the purpose of a room. Another idea is to hire a personal home stager to utilize your furniture pieces to their full potential. In addition to arranging your own furniture in the best fashion, many stagers also have their own supply of fancy furnishings for your home.

Affordable updates can be made to make your home more modern and appealing to potential buyers. Changing paint colours can vastly change the mood and feel of a home. For example, if your child’s room is a bright pink, consider painting it a more neutral colour like a beige or taupe. A neutral palette in a home that’s for sale makes it easier for potential buyers to imagine their furniture and knick knacks in the space.

Minor repairs can be made throughout the house taking little to no time at all but making a huge difference in the look of a space. Change burnt out light bulbs, patch holes in the wall; re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.

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