Posted by: Karim Ali
Coffee with Karim
Proven Strategies for Top Dollar
Selling your home is a big decision, and as a seller, you may want to sell quickly and for the best price possible. Here’s a 10-step guide on how to sell your home fast and for top dollar in Ottawa.
1. Price it Right from the Start
- Active realtor’s expertise: A good, active REALTOR® will help you price your home by considering real-time market conditions, which can change week-by-week.
- Timing advice: They’ll also advise on the right timing for listing, which can make a big difference in how quickly your home takes off. Timing can be key to creating buzz and driving interest.
2. Complete a Pre-Listing Inspection
- Confidence for buyers: Having a pre-listing inspection completed gives buyers confidence. They’ll feel more comfortable making an offer close to the top of their budget, knowing what expenses (if any) to expect.
- Avoid renegotiation: It reduces the risk of buyers trying to renegotiate after their own inspection. It also speeds up the process if they decide to skip their inspection altogether.
- Quicker offers: Much like the status certificate for condos, a pre-listing inspection can lead to faster, stronger offers by eliminating buyer concerns upfront.
3. Obtain a Status Certificate for Your Condo
- Transparency and trust: For condos, having the status certificate ready helps build trust with buyers, offering transparency about the condo corporation’s financial health and upcoming expenses.
- Speeds up negotiations: It removes any doubts buyers may have and can result in quicker, more confident offers, just like a pre-listing inspection.
4. Stage Your Home to Impress
- First impressions matter: Buyers make decisions about a home within minutes of walking through the door. Declutter, depersonalize, and clean your home to make it as appealing as possible.
- Professional staging: Consider professional staging to highlight your home’s best features and help buyers visualize themselves living there. It can significantly boost the perceived value of your property.
5. Light it Up
- Maximize lighting: Proper lighting makes a huge difference. Open curtains to let in natural light, and replace dim bulbs to create a bright, welcoming space.
- Winter showings: This is especially important during Ottawa’s winter months when it gets dark early. Many showings take place on weekday evenings, so strong indoor lighting can be crucial to making a great impression.
- Make it feel larger: A well-lit home feels more spacious and inviting, which is a huge draw for buyers.
6. Hide Evidence of Pets
- Cleanliness matters: Not all buyers are pet lovers. Seeing pet bowls, smelling kitty litter, or finding pet hair can make buyers feel the home is less clean. Send pets away during showings and remove all traces of them.
- Remove odours: Be sure to clean thoroughly to eliminate any pet-related odours or hair before open houses and showings.
7. Leverage High-Quality Marketing
- Professional photography: Professional, high-resolution photos are key to showcasing your home online, but it’s important to choose the right local photographer for your specific property (e.g., luxury homes, condos, rural properties).
- Virtual tours and videos: Offering 3D tours or video walkthroughs gives online buyers a comprehensive look at your home and can set your listing apart. Likewise, not all 3D tours & videos are created equal, so it’s important to make sure to hire the right help.
- Social media promotion: Targeted ads on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook will help you reach the right buyers, especially those who may not be actively looking but can be motivated to move by a well-fitting listing.
- Documented marketing plan: Make sure to agree on a specific, documented marketing plan with your REALTOR® before signing a long-term listing agreement.
8. Host Strategic Open Houses
- In-person marketing: Open houses can be an excellent way to bring in multiple buyers at once, but they also serve another purpose: reaching neighbours. Some neighbours might be renting or thinking of an up/down-size and would seriously consider buying your home but aren’t actively looking online.
- Feedback and adjustments: Open houses also allow you to gather feedback from buyers in the market and make adjustments to your listing & marketing strategy as needed.
9. Offer Flexibility on Terms
- Flexibility on non-price terms: Instead of covering closing costs, consider being flexible on other terms (e.g., move-in date, included appliances) to keep negotiations moving. Flexibility in these areas can give you leverage to hold firm on price.
- Negotiate like a pro: A skilled REALTOR® will help you navigate offers and counteroffers. They’ll know when to be flexible and when to stand firm, ensuring you get the best deal possible.
10. Find an Aggressive Real Estate Agent
- Research and interview: Not all real estate agents are created equal. To find an aggressive agent, research the market, ask for recommendations, and interview multiple agents to find the right fit.
- Local expertise: An active, local agent will know the local market, understand typical negotiation practices, and know how to deal with lowball offers effectively. This expertise can make a big difference in securing top dollar for your home.
Final Thoughts
Selling your home in Ottawa doesn’t have to be stressful or time-consuming. With the right approach—competitive pricing, great marketing, pre-listing inspections, lighting strategies, and a strong REALTOR®—you can sell your home fast and for top dollar.
If you’re thinking of selling, reach out – we’re a local, active real estate team who know the Ottawa market inside and out. We’ll guide you through the process to ensure a smooth and successful sale.
Bonus tips
1
Highlight Upgrades or Unique Features
It’s crucial you highlight any upgrades or unique features of your home in the listing. Features like high-quality finishes, a recently renovated kitchen, or proximity to schools, places of worship or other amenities can make your property stand out and justify a higher price.
2
Flexibility with Closing Date
If you’re looking to sell quickly, being flexible with your closing date can attract more buyers. Offering a quicker or more flexible closing window can make your listing more appealing to buyers who are on a strict timeline.
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