When it comes time to sell your home, the entire process can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. Between staging, listing at the right price, and negotiating with buyers, there’s a lot to consider.

At the Barnett Real Estate Team, our step-by-step home selling approach works to help make the entire home selling process as easy and stress-free for our clients as possible. However, to help ease any immediate worries you might already have, here are some frequently asked questions we get.

1) Do I pay the commission for the buyer’s agent?

Prior to selling your home, you will have agreed to and signed a listing agreement. This is a contract between you and the agent that outlines many aspects of the transaction, including the commission. It’s important to remember that the commission outlined in your listing agreement is split between your listing agent and the buyer’s agent. There is no extra commission deducted.

2) How should we price my home?

An informed pricing strategy is one of the most important components of a successful home sale. How you come to determine your pricing strategy depends on quite a few variables, however.

Ultimately your Realtor® should be able to advise you on the optimal pricing strategy for your home following a thorough home evaluation and Comparative Market Analysis of similar homes in your area. Whether your Realtor® suggests you enter the market below, at, or above your home’s current market value, it’s best to have faith in their pricing expertise and follow their lead.

3) What can I do to start preparing my home?

As a seller, there’s a lot you can do to help prepare your home before it’s listed on the market. While most major preparations are best left to the professionals, there are a lot of minor tasks you can take care of ahead of time.

Some examples include cleaning and decluttering your home inside and out, doing a little landscaping to boost your curb appeal, and completing any minor repairs.

To get a full run-down on pre-sale tasks you can complete as a seller, download our comprehensive seller’s guide here.

4) Does my home really need to be staged?

Staging your home with a professional is one of the most effective ways to increase the appeal of your home to potential buyers. By using proven staging techniques, professional stagers are able to (among many other things):

• Make your home appear larger and brighter
• Improve visitor foot traffic flow
• Direct attention away from any weak areas
• Enhance your home’s strong areas

Plus, expertly-staged homes on average sell quicker and for higher prices, which is why we always recommend it.

5) What will you do to market my property?

In today’s fast-paced digital world, it’s only half the battle to make your home look great in person. It’s critical that we utilize all of our digital and traditional marketing strategies to capture the attention of potential buyers from the first image they see of your home.

We focus on:

• Capturing phenomenal, high-quality professional photography of your home
• Producing enticing virtual home tours with state of the art image capture technology
• Utilizing our expansive digital presence to maximize buyer exposure and reach via social media, online listings, website advertising, and more

6) Should I be present for viewings?

When potential buyers come to see your home in person, whether it’s through an open house or private showing, it’s usually best for you not to be present.

While you might feel more comfortable being there or you might want to be on call to share your wealth of knowledge of your home, buyers are generally more comfortable when the current owners of their potential future home aren’t there.

Remember: buyers’ first experience of your home is perhaps the most important. Once they’re physically inside your home, they can truly begin to picture themselves living in the space for the first time.

7) Are there any seller’s closing costs?

Outside of the commission costs, sellers can expect to pay their real estate lawyers’ fees as well as any outstanding property tax and utility bill payments.

Are you thinking about selling your home for the first time? Ensure you’re set up for success by working with a real estate team that frequently helps first-time sellers. Book your personal home selling consultation here.

Spring is a great time to put a home on the market. Buyers are out in full force, and the average sale price tends to be higher—while the time it takes to sell is often shorter. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make the most of these springtime conditions. It starts with preparations that make your property stand out in the crowd.

Here are five tips for making your home shine in the spring real estate market…

1) Bust the clutter

From rarely-used furniture to old clothing and magazines, clutter has a way of building up. Unfortunately, these items can make your home feel smaller—and prevent buyers from seeing its many possibilities. The good news is, by thoroughly decluttering, you can create the right canvas for staging.

First, start looking into local donation centres. Then, go through your belongings room by room, deciding what you’ll keep, donate, and toss out. You can rent a storage locker if need be, or use this as an opportunity to rid yourself of possessions you don’t use! (Here are some tips on decluttering to sell)

The market has changed! Here are some updates you might want to know about:

• How Will Rising Interest Rates Affect Buyers?
• Is Now A Good Time To Sell Your Investment Property?
• Everything You Need To Know About Buying A House In Milton

2) Clean every inch

Once your home is clutter-free, it’s time to make it sparkle—top to bottom. The truth is, buyers often look at every inch of a property before they seriously consider buying it. From the inside of your cabinets to the grout between your bathroom tiles, there’s a good chance it will all be scrutinized.

While you may choose to break out the broom, vacuum, and bleach, it’s best to also enlist help from the pros. The right full-service real estate team can connect you with reliable, professional cleaners.

3) Think about the outside

Your home’s exterior is the first thing a buyer will see before they step inside for a viewing. It can make a strong impression, so it makes sense to ensure it’s a positive one. That’s where curb appeal comes in.

From making sure your lawn is green and trimmed to touching up any chipped or faded trim, maximizing the appeal of the outside of your property is crucial. Remember that the little details also count, from fresh flowers to sleek porch light fixtures.

4) Freshen things up with paint

Once they step inside, one of the first things a buyer will likely notice is your walls. They form the backdrop of a room, and they look best when they’re freshly painted. This is especially true in spring, when the sunlight reflects off of interior surfaces.

Make sure you choose a high-quality formula—and the right colour. Warm neutrals tend to work best since they appeal to the largest pool of potential buyers. Studies show that the ideal hue can lead to a higher sale price, so be sure to consult with your agent and any staging or professionals they recommend.

5) Add some decorative touches

Spring is a time of renewal. To make the most of any positive feelings it evokes, why not bring the season inside? The best way to do that is with furniture and decor that makes your home feel big, bright, and airy.

Tasteful spring colours, light fabrics, and vibrant plants are the name of the game. A talented stager can determine which aesthetic decisions will have the best overall impact.

Spring market may be the ideal time to list, but that doesn’t mean you should forgo preparations. After all, making your home shine is one of the keys to securing fantastic results. Are you ready to take the first step?