The Canadian National Newspaper: The Top 10 tips to selling your house smartly

You want to sell your property quickly and for most money? We'll give you the top 10 things which need to be done to accomplish that goal.

You will probably agree that the first impressions can make a big difference in the way the potential buyers perceive your property. You want them fall in love with YOUR house, as purchasing a home is an emotionally based decision! In order to do that you'll have to put some effort, time and a bit of money into the preparation (in that order!).

First things first. Living in your home is not at all the same thing as selling a property and that's the mindset that you should be in if you want to succeed. Try to be objective and detach yourself emotionally as much as possible.

Nothing beats a spacious and clean house. And until that is done, nothing else will have the same impact. So, walk around your property and decide what can be given away, sold or put away in storage -- keep only the essentials.

The house can never be too clean. Everything should be sparkling - so pay attention to bathrooms, kitchen counter tops, appliances, windows, spider webs anywhere, carpets, etc...Clean, clean and clean again!

Walk around and pay attention to anything that's not in good working condition - chipped paint, cracks on walls/ceilings, doors which don't open/close properly, missing/broken handles, missing lights, running faucets, etc. Get it fixed.

Painting is the cheapest way to enhance a room! In the least, paint main rooms (entrance, living room, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom) in fresh, neutral colors (if needed). A Home Staging professional can help you with the choice of colours.

Make sure all your furniture, light fixtures and accessories look contemporary. Most of the time, you can achieve the «fresh» look without spending a lot. For example, changing the counter top and/or cabinet handles in the kitchen can make a huge difference without having to remodel it. Changing light fixtures or faucets can also make quite an impact on the look and feel of a room. Simple things such as a new bed ensemble, a few decorative pillows and two nice table lamps will transform a bedroom.

You need to put away anything that reflects your personal life and/or taste in an obvious way and make it look like it could be anyone's home. It does not mean «boring» when done properly! For example, any religious or political symbols might be disagreeable to some buyers. Pay attention to any object which might offend anyone. Finally, if you have your favourite collections, put most of them away, keep only a few best items on display.

A bright house is a great house. So, open all the blinds/curtains and make sure there is sufficient light in every room, add fixtures, stand up or table lamps - you can't have too much light!

Don't forget the outside. The visitors will notice the way the house looks from the curb and their perception of your property will start there.

Furniture and accessories

Last but not least, the space management optimization and proper furniture and accessories placement is essential. It will give a home a warm and appealing look and feel. For example, the living room furniture has to be positioned as to create a conversation area which will look toward the room's focal point. A painting, a vase filled with decorative branches or a bowl of lemons will bring the ambiance to the room.

A professional Home Stager can help you at any stage of this journey. They know how to bring out the best features of your property and use «what you have» in new and creative ways to enhance the property and enchant the prospective buyers.

To read more on the art of Home Staging, please check out Home Staging Montreal, LINK.

Sveta Melchuk is the founder of Home Staging Montreal, a Montreal area firm specializing in Home Staging and interior redesign. She has been working with realtors as well as home sellers since 2005, helping them to enhance their properties so they can sell them quicker and for more money. Sveta and her team specialize in staging Empty properties as well as using what clients already have to stage in a creative and moneywise manner. Her Home Staging Montreal website, is dedicated to providing top quality information, tips, advice and resources for anyone interested in home staging services and interior redesign. LINK

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