If you’ve read the news, you know that Calgary is currently in a buyer’s market. With just shy of 8,000 listings on the market, that’s more than six months of inventory. There isn’t a single silver bullet that will guarantee your place stands out among the other 8,000 listings in the eyes of buyers, but I can steer you in the direction of a few things that have helped many many sellers in the past.

1)      It is so important to price your home properly from the beginning. I know what many sellers think. Let’s just float it a little high and see if anyone bites. Don’t do it. Particularly in Calgary’s current buyer’s market. If it’s priced significantly over market, buyers are going to ignore it and look at the properties that are more reasonable. Sure, you can reduce it later, but now you’ve lost that “new listing” buzz. You don’t want your property ignored when it’s a new listing. That’s when you should expect the most showings. Don’t miss out because you’ve priced yourself out of the market as a trial balloon.

2)      The little things. I said this in an earlier blog, make sure the little things are taken care of. Burnt out light bulbs need to be replaced. Taps that drip and leak need to be fixed. Paint needs to be touched up… which actually brings me to my next item.

3)      Interior painting. Harrison Bowker is an Edmonton-based real estate appraisal company that publishes a Home Renovation Value Guide every year. The Guide explains the return on investment a home owner can expect from the different types of home renovations (interior, exterior, mechanical, etc.). Every year, almost without fail, the home renovation that generates the greatest ROI is interior painting. Having your home freshly painted before selling helps, but make sure the work is professionally done. If you want a copy of the Harrison Bowker report, send me an email at nscollard@cirrealty.ca and I’ll send it to you right away.

Thinking about selling? Simply have questions about the process or things you can do to get ready for selling? Give me a call, 403-796-9317.