There’s a lot more that goes into listing your home than simply snapping a few pictures and putting a ‘for sale’ sign in the front yard. In fact, getting a home market-ready can be actually quite intricate – especially if you’re looking to get the best result possible.

So how soon can you get your home on the market? Well, the answer is different for everyone. However, it’s almost never an overnight process.

Whether you’re looking to list A.S.A.P. or are planning months (maybe even years) ahead, this blog will help you get an idea of what your presale journey will look like.

Where to Start – Working With an Agent

Every seller (and their home) is unique – including you. With that in mind, there’s no black-and-white process for getting market-ready. Instead, your journey to the market will be influenced by all kinds of personal factors.

That being said, the best way to get the ball rolling on your sale is by talking to a real estate agent. Think of your agent as a home-selling compass – you know where you’d like to go, and they can help you get there by pointing you in the right direction.

After getting a sense of your goals (including when you’d like to sell) and the current state of your home, your agent can put together a plan of what needs to happen before your home is market-ready. With this roadmap and a little bit of insights from your agent, you should have an idea of how long it’ll take to reach the market.

If everything goes according to plan, you should be able to have your home for sale by your target date. Depending on your circumstances, your agent may even be able to help you list sooner than you expected. Alternatively, they’ll let you know if your expected timeline isn’t exactly realistic.

Want more advice on selling your home? Check out these other blogs for important insights!

• Do I Need to Make Property Upgrades Before I Sell?
• How to Price a Home to Sell
• Attracting Relocators When Selling Your Durham Region or Kawartha Lakes Home

Create a Canvas For Potential Buyers

Once your agent has assessed your home and put together a plan, it’s time to create a space that potential buyers will love. This means decluttering, depersonalizing, and cleaning your space. As a seller, this step is where most of your work comes in.

Start with decluttering, i.e. removing excess items that make your home feel crowded. This includes clunky or outdated furniture, personal items, and decorations. From a practical perspective, this process is a great way to proactively weed out any unnecessary belongings that you won’t be bringing with you to your next home, but it’s also essential for making your home appealing to a broad range of buyers. The goal is to create a space that feels open and allows potential buyers to envision themselves living there.

Next, you’ll want to depersonalize your home. In other words, making it feel like a neutral space that potential buyers can make their own. Take down personal photos, sentimental items, and any extra-unique items that could make buyers feel like they’re in someone else’s space. Finally, give your home a deep clean from top to bottom.

Making Repairs & Strategic Upgrades

After your home is decluttered and depersonalized, you can turn your attention to any repairs that need to be done or any value-adding projects recommended by your agent. While this step can be time-consuming depending on the extent of the work needed, it’s usually worth it.

Buyers are often deterred by the prospect of having to make repairs (no matter how small) immediately after purchasing a home. To that end, even minor home improvements like adding a fresh coat of paint or changing light fixtures can have a significant impact on the sale price.

On the hunt for more home selling tips? Explore these blogs next!

• How Flexible Should You Be During Home Negotiations?
• How to Find a Reliable Real Estate Agent
• The Importance of Agent Experience

Once Your Home Looks Amazing

With your home now in top shape, most of your heavy lifting is taken care of. However, there are still a few steps before buyers are able to discover your home and book a showing. Next, your real estate agent will take the reins and gather everything they need to market your home. This means taking photos and videos, creating floor plans, building web pages, and putting together any other marketing materials that will help you attract as many buyers as possible.

Once again, the timeline of this step will vary based on your goals and your agent’s marketing plan.

Sell With Us

Thinking about selling your home? Puckrin & Latreille is here to help. Beyond our results-boosting selling strategies, it’s our goal to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. As a real estate team with more than 175 years of total experience, we know a thing or two about selling homes in Durham Region and the Kawartha Lakes. We have the experience, insights, and connections to make your real estate dreams a reality.

Hoping to sell your home for top dollar? We have the experience and insights to make your dreams a reality! Call 905-985-7300 or send an email to hello@liveplayinvest.com to reach out.

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