Presenting Your Property

It is important that your property looks at its best in order to achieve the best possible rent and to help it let quickly.  Inside and out, attention to detail helps make a great first impression.  With such a wide choice of properties on the market, it's more important than ever to show your property to its best advantage.

Outside appeal.

An attractive exterior is the key to bringing the most prospective buyers to your doorstep. Here are ways to improve the “curb appeal” of your home:

  • Keep the lawn trimmed and fertilized.
  • Keep snow and ice removed from driveways and sidewalks.
  • Shape up the shrubs. New decorative stones or woodchips may help, too.
  • Weed flower beds and add charm by potting flowers near the front door.
  • Add warmth with a seasonal door decoration.
  • Clean and straighten sagging rain gutters.
  • Remove oil stains from driveways and garage.
  • Repair stray or warped roofing shingles.
  • Advise sale associate on the best placement of the yard sign.

Cleaning.

Begin with a thorough cleaning. Sort out the things you no longer want. Hold a garage sale and convert that “stored cash” into needed repairs.

  • Store or give away excess furniture that makes the room appear cramped.
  • Discard unwanted items from cupboards and kitchen.
  • Sweep the basement and garage floors.
  • Wash windows.
  • Clean and arrange cupboards and cabinets; they will look bigger with less clutter.
  • Make your kitchen appliances shine.
  • Wash walls and woodwork.
  • Scrub soap film from tile and grout.
  • Clear off counters to make the kitchen look spacious and neat.

Decorating.

Decorating helps assure you will get the best price for your home.

  • Give rooms needing paint a fresh coat, in a neutral color.
  • Re-stain or paint chipped woodwork.
  • Replace torn or soiled wallpaper, carpeting or draperies in a neutral shade.
  • Arrange your window treatments to allow maximum light into rooms.
  • Consider new light fixtures and mirrors to expand a room.
  • Add flowers to make your home more attractive.
  • Perk up a bathroom with a new shower curtain.

Repairing.

Minor flaws in your home suggest negligence to a buyer or tenant. Your repair list should include:

  • Fix leaky faucets and toilets.
  • Make sure closet and cabinet doors close easily.
  • Make sure the garage door is in working order.
  • Inspect the furnace, humidifier and water heater.
  • Touch up paint, repair plaster and putty nail holes.
  • Make sure your doorbell is working properly.
  • Polish or refinish badly scratched hardwood floors.

Showing preparation

Remember the importance of first impressions—they mean everything. Pretend you are a buyer or tenant seeing your home for the first time.

  • Remove clutter.  Make sure junk mail doesn’t pile up by the front door. Arrange to have mail redirected.
  • Make beds.
  • Turn on soft music and all lights; turn off the television. Keep curtains fully drawn for maximum light and ensure windows are sparkling to let in more light. 
  • Open windows to air out any stuffy rooms. Set central heating to come on in winter.
  • Bake bread or cookies; the aroma is pleasing. Avoid unpleasant cooking odours.

Feature Properties