8 Tips for Selling in Your Home While Living in It
Selling your home in a slow market, could mean that your home is up for sale for as long as a month or more. While that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t list your home, it does mean that you should be prepared to live in your home while it is on the market. It can be difficult to navigate a stream of visitors in your home, so we’ve put together our top eight tips for selling your home while living in it.
1. Stay on Top of Cleaning
A sparkling clean home is a must when trying to sell in any market. And if you don’t want to perform an extensive clean every time a buyer wants to view your home; you have to stay on top of the cleaning every day. Keep surfaces clear, ensure appliances clean, dust and vacuum regularly, and wipe scuff marks off walls and floors when they appear.
Tip: Keep a cleaning kit with your essentials in a tote that’s easy to grab and tuck away when you’re done. Be sure to include a great multi-purpose cleaner that works on glass, ceramic, and stainless steel to make your job easier.
2. Pack Everything you Don’t Need
It’s a lot easier to keep a house clean when there’s less stuff in it. Off-season items such as holiday decorations, sporting equipment, and seasonal clothes and toys can all be put into storage. You can also pack up rarely used items like books, extra dishes, and spare blankets store them away.
Once you remove all the things you don’t use daily, you’ll find much easier to put away the things that are left. Removing clutter and extra furniture also makes your home feel bigger and lets buyers see more of the house instead of your stuff.
3. Be Mindful of Smells
Nothing turns people off quicker than an unpleasant odor. Whether it’s last nights’ dinner, a full garbage, or an overpowering air freshener, strong smells leave a bad impression. If you are selling your home while living it, smells can be tough to battle. To help keep any unwanted odors at bay, wash the dishes daily, don’t let laundry pile up, and take the garbage out every night before bed. You should also avoid cooking fragrant meals such as fish or spicy foods the night before a showing.
4. Work with a Home Stager
You may feel that you can handle the preparations yourself, but a home stager will see your home more objectively and will help present it in the best possible light. They’ll provide a list of what fix and what to pack away. And they’ll also let you know if the bold paint colour you love so much is right for your market, or how your furniture could be arranged more effectively.
5. Depersonalize Your Space
Potential buyers are looking at your home trying to imagine themselves living there. Seeing a home filled with someone else’s precious memories can make that more difficult. Pack away all family photos, travel mementos and religious artefacts to make your home a more neutral space.
You should also remove anything that could be considered a weapon – even it’s a model or a replica. And always store valuables away safely before a showing. Whether you lock them in a safe or move them to a trusted friend or relatives while your home is on the market, never leave jewellery, money, important documents, or small electronics out while strangers are in your home.
6. Have a Plan for Pets
We know your pets are your family, but not all potential buyers see them the same way. Pets can be a turn off for many buyers so it’s best if they are not around for showings. Have a plan for how you’re going to get them out of the house and where you will stash all their stuff. Their accessories such as toys, dishes, leashes and litter should also be out of sight for showings. And keep in mind that showings can occur on short notice and a walk in the park may not be possible in bad weather, so you may also need a backup plan.
7. Be Prepared to Leave for Showings
Nothing is more distracting for buyers than the owner being home during a showing. Always plan to be out of the house for the duration of any showings. And whenever possible, always say yes to the showing even if it means you have to rearrange something. You don’t want that perfect potential buyer to choose the next house because yours wasn’t available. Even though you are still living in your home while selling it, you should always try to be accommodating.
8. Listen to your Realtor’s® Advice
Our Realtors® understand how to sell homes in Ottawa in every type of market. We’ve helped all kinds of clients sell their home while living in it and can offer excellent advice based on years of experience! Contact us today to discuss how we can help you sell your home faster and with less stress.