Selling

Step 1: Deciding to Sell your Home Everyone has their own reason for selling their home. One thing, however, is universally true: the desire to get as much as you can for your home. There are a lot of ways you can add value that you might want to consider, such as: •  Renovating – this can be something as simple as freshening up the walls with a coat of paint or updating your door knobs and lighting with more contemporary styles all the way to major renovations like installing a new kitchen, bathroom or hardwood floors. Before you do anything though, it’s probably wise to know how much value a renovation or remodel will actually add to your sale price and how much other comparable homes in your neighbourhood are selling for. A Royal LePage agent is a great source of information. They can give you an assessment on your home so you don’t embark on expensive renovations before knowing •  Enhancing curb appeal – first impressions mean a lot. Which is why you want your home looking its very best when a potential…

Step 2: Contacting Hodgins Home team to Sell Your House Now that you’re ready to sell, the next thing you should do is list your home with a Hodgins Home Team. Because the reality is, selling a home involves a great deal of research, paper work, effort and most importantly, trust. Scott and Jamie have a good knowledge of your neighbourhood and local market trends. A good agent will provide a wealth of knowledge and breadth of services that will help you accomplish your goals.   Hodgins Home team is committed to helping you as we have a fiduciary duty to act in your best interests, to be completely transparent and accountable.

Step 3: Listing Your Home for Sale Your home is about to make its big debut on the market. And there’s more to it than sticking a sign on your lawn and doing an MLS listing. Establishing a home’s true worth can be tricky. Hodgins Home Team will be there to make sure your home is poised for success. Here’s how they can help: •  Set a price – this isn’t as easy as you might think. Price your property too high and buyers won’t be motivated. Price it too low and you stand to lose thousands. Scott and Jamie can help by doing a complete property profile of your house, including current condition, location, surroundings, special features like a view from the property or high ceilings; a comparative market analysis that will show you what houses in your area have sold for in recent months, and a total market overview. They take into consideration as many factors as possible to accurately assess the fair market value of your property so it sells fast while maximizing your profit •  Market your home – no matter…

Step 4: Home Staging Tips The way your home looks to prospective buyers can make a striking impression. The goal is to get buyers to feel like they can already see themselves living in your home. There are a few tricks of the trade that can help you do this: •  Home staging – this literally means, getting your “set ready” for buyers. In other words, cleaning your home from top to bottom including carpets and drapes, kitchen and bathroom tiles, walls, ceilings and trim. Next, dispose and declutter which entail getting rid of those items in your home that make rooms feel smaller than they actually are. Then, organize. Tidy up cabinets, bookcases, closets and toys and put away personal items such as photographs, souvenirs and other memorabilia. If your home has empty rooms, stage it with the right furniture. You may be able to borrow some nice furniture from family or friends. There are even places to rent furniture for staging. Keep it simple and classic, nothing too trendy that could potentially turn…

Step 5: Reviewing and Accepting an Offer on your Home Not all offers are created equal. Fortunately, Hodgins Home Team  is there to help you review an Offer to Purchase and discuss all the details. Here are a few things you should do: •   Get to know the terms – the main factors on most offers will include the price the buyer wants to pay, details about the offer and financing as well as any conditions, inclusions or exclusions the buyer wants to make contingent on the closing. These offers can be “firm” which means that they’re willing to buy the home exactly as it is. Or, the offer could be “conditional” on things like a home inspection, approval of financing or the sale of their existing home •   Review every detail – it’s not just about price. The buyers may have asked for other things to be included like appliances, draperies or chandeliers. They may have even requested some minor renovations like reshingling your roof or repairing your driveway. Some buyers may have asked for longer or shorter closing periods…

Step 6: Negotiating and Counter Offers Perhaps the price was lower than you were expecting. Maybe the buyers have asked for some extra inclusions. In some cases, you may have multiple offers from different buyers to entertain. This is one stage where you’ll be glad to have Scott and Jamie by your side to help. Here are some things to consider now: •   Counter offers – take a good look at what the buyer is asking for, then ask yourself, “Is it worth losing a sale for a minor inclusion like a rug or drapery?” Maybe not. So, the best strategy is to have one. Know ahead of time what you’re willing to compromise on and, as far as the price goes, how much. Finally, if you feel you’re not going to be able to come to terms, don’t be afraid to reject the offer •   Multiple offers – you may be in a situation where you receive offers from several buyers. Now, you have the opportunity to compare and decide which offer, based on price and conditions best suits you. Things that could make one offer more attractive…