When preparing to list your home, there are a number of steps that you should take to ensure that you are presenting the house in the best light (both literally and figuratively). While not all sellers choose to stage their homes, it is something that can give you an edge when listing. Here are five staging tips to help you prepare to list your home.

• Declutter and depersonalize
  When prospective buyers step inside the house, you want them to see themselves living there. You want them to see where their furniture and personal items can fit in the home. Seeing as you’re preparing to move, chances are you are already taking steps to declutter, but consider going one-step further. Packing up anything you don’t need until you move that might be taking up extra room and utilizing an external storage to keep as many unnecessary belongings out of the house. Among those items could be anything on display that is deeply personal. Take the photos and magnets off the fridge, family memorabilia off the mantle, and clean up the children’s toys.
• Swap wallpaper or bold colours for neutral paint
  Part of allowing prospective buyers to be able to see themselves in what might be their new home, is giving them as clean and neutral canvas to visualize their furniture and other belongings in. Part of this taking the time to add a fresh coat of paint to the walls. Wallpaper will most likely be removed by the new owners, as well any bold wall colours. So, preemptively putting neutral colours on the walls will appeal to the potential new owners.
• Clearly identify each room
  When walking through a home of interest, it’s extremely important for the size and versatility of the home to be on display. This means that each room needs a clearly defined purpose. That spare room that was an office one day, a gym the next and a spare room on the weekends, needs a clear purpose. The goal is not to tell the buyer what the room has to be, but show them what it can be in a way that efficiently maximizes the space.
• Add greenery to freshen up focus rooms
  Fresh flowers and plants can do wonders to brighten and freshen up a room. While you don’t want to clutter a space that you have just worked hard to declutter, strategically adding a few plants in focus rooms of the home can bring it to life. Make sure you don’t overwhelm the room or yourself, because with plants comes upkeep. You want to make sure that any greenery added is greenery you can maintain so that they don’t get overly dusty and you can remove dead leaves or flowers as needed.
• Clean, clean, and clean again
  One of the most important routines you can get into when listing, is constantly cleaning. Anticipate the mess before it happens. Everything from ensuring clothes are out of sight, desks are clear, countertops are empty, and remnants of pets, old food, or anything that can leave an odour, is taken care of. Making yourself a daily check-list and taking thirty minutes each day, will help you keep your home showing ready at any given moment.

If you’re considering selling your home, don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. I’m here to help lead you to a successful sale. Get in touch with me today at [email protected] and we’ll get started.

If last year taught us anything, it would be to expect the unexpected. A global pandemic halted life as we know it, and yet, the Toronto housing market didn’t just survive… it thrived!

2020 surprised us all with over 95,000 home sales, the third-best result on record, and with the average selling price reaching almost $930,000! Lisa Patel, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President explains that the 2020 housing market recovery from the initial COVID-19 shock is due to a strong rebound in many economic sectors, ultra-low borrowing costs and the enhanced use of technology for virtual open houses and showings. The housing market kept on keeping on while many other economies were struggling through the thick of the pandemic.

This year, 2021, is expected to be another strong year for the seller. The season is predicted to be characterized by growing demand, low supply and rising prices. Housing availability is expected to continue to decline, especially in February and March, which may push the average home price up. The condo market in Toronto is currently a buyer’s market, based on their affordability for first-time homebuyers. Buyers looking to ‘move-up’ or upgrade will also likely be a large driver of demand this season. Condo rentals are expected to see an increase, as the pandemic caused a boost in new rental listings and therefore a drop in rental prices, especially in the city centre.

With the work-from-home movement becoming so predominant, priority has switched from workplace proximity to a larger, more separated home. Dedicated office space and living spaces will become more sought after. Housing outside of the city core will also see an increase as people migrate further from their workplaces due to their ability to work remotely. Green space, larger square footage, and less density will be the buyer’s goal. Additionally, the remote workplace will encourage more people to move cities or locations with the aim of a change in environment. This will drive more traffic to the GTA in general, both to condos in the downtown core, homes surrounding the city, and in the suburbs.

The rolling out of the COVID-19 vaccines brings both a sense of comfort and the anticipation of normalcy. It is expected that with this, traditional real estate cycles will return, and spring will prove to be a busy and successful season. But until then, we can take advantage of technology and virtual showings, which proved to be successful last year! I’m here to help you find the home that best suits your needs, so let’s have a conversation! Send me an email at [email protected] and we’ll get started.