Things to Consider when Selling your Ottawa Condo

If you plan on selling a condo in Ottawa, chances are you are facing some difficulty locating prospective buyers. No, it’s not because of your home. Condos are hot in today’s market! If you would like to make a successful sale, there are a few things you have to keep in mind before you put on your salesman hat:

First Impressions Count

The owner of a home is ultimately responsible for its upkeep and maintenance. If you show potential buyers a condo that looks rundown and is in desperate need of a new coat of paint, no one is going to take you seriously. Even if your Ottawa condo looks presentable, those real estate agents and buyers will still go through each room with a fine toothed comb before they even think of buying it.

The simplest way to fix this problem is to actively participate in condo association meetings. This includes gathering (and implementing) as much information regarding your condo’s upkeep as you can. Once you put them in practice, you will have an easier time convincing potential buyers to give your home a chance.

 

See through your Buyer’s eyes

No matter how frustrated you get seeing those buyers walk out the door, your condo will remain owner-less until you know what they actually want. You see, buyers aren’t stupid. They know what they are looking for and even the slightest defects can make them back off.

Your job is to make them feel completely comfortable by ensuring that all taxes are clearly identified on the property and disclosure documents don’t leave them scratching their heads in confusion. The latter is of particular concern to real estate agents and buyers since it details the condition of the entire condo such as the state of the plumbing, overdue taxes (if any), additional charges etc. If they feel uncertain, they might hire a building inspector for a detailed inspection!

Give Your Condo a Personal Inspection

Even if you are a regular at those condo association meetings, make sure to run a critical eye over your home before inviting any interested buyers. Check for leaky plumbing, mould, water damage and any other defects that can put them off. Fix them yourself or hire a handyman to do general repairs for you before asking anyone to come over and analyze your home.

Better yet, hire a professional to thoroughly examine your walls, ceilings and floors. They know what to look for and can even give you relevant advice regarding your condo’s upkeep. If they can give you papers stating your condo is in top condition, even better! Present them to buyers to reassure them that proper measures were taken to ensure they received the best home their money could buy.

Condo or Ottawa homebuyers are not just looking to place a roof over their heads. They are on the lookout for homes that can enrich their life style and be a welcome port in a storm after a hard day outdoors. Even if your condo is considered to be the best, very few will consider buying it if it has defects. Respect their needs by maintaining your home. Chances are you’ll have a successful deal at the end of it.

Visit www.bennettpros.com for all your real estate needs.

How to Stage Your Home: Choosing the Right Furniture

When you are ready to sell your house, you have to look into certain aspects. Staging a house may seem as simple as decorating or cleaning, but these factors should not be taken lightly because they will help potential buyers see how warm and loving the house is. Ottawa real estate agents may ask you to place furniture in a more strategic manner. Staging a house is all about getting your home ready for the debutant ball. You have to make sure everything is perfect.

The first thing you have to do is get rid of all the clutter you have lying around the house. If you buy new furniture, make it a replacement for existing furniture. Adding furniture and not getting rid of its older counterparts can make the house look smaller and crowded.

You should also try to avoid placing the furniture against the wall. It is a common misconception that placing the furniture against the wall will make a room look bigger. Position couches and chairs in groups so that you can move around the room and converse easily in groups.

Experiment your home’s décor by moving furniture, decorations, and art pieces around different rooms. Your living room and drawing room furniture can be shifted easily from one room to another. That nice coffee table in your living room may look even better with a couple of chairs in the drawing room, library or study room.

If you have a corner or a room that is seldom used and you use it mostly to store things, repurpose it. Adding a few pieces of furniture and organizing the junk that is lying around may go a long way and increase the offers your home generates.

The lighting of a staged home is very important. It gives a very warm and welcoming look. Make sure that the lights are working properly and that there is at least one light every 50 square feet. If you have just one fixture in a big room, add in other types of lights such as lamps.

If you have a small room, paint it in a colour that makes it look bigger. Use light colours, paint the dining room and kitchen the same colour if you can. If you still are not satisfied with the staging you have done, hire a professional home stager with the help of your real estate agent in Ottawa.

A perfectly staged home can be the forum for a successful open house. Ensure that you follow the tips mentioned above to appeal to the home buyers that view your home. Satisfying more than a few of them may even open up a bidding war between the buyers and you may earn more for your home than its appraised property value.

Visit www.bennettpros.com for all your real estate needs.