Real Estate 101: Preparing your home for sale

Now's the time to address your home's little imperfections: the hole in the screen door, the chipped paint on the baseboards, and the mess in the basement. 

Get rid of clutter

Your house will feel a lot bigger and more inviting when you clear out those closets, remove bulky, unused furniture and rearrange the remaining pieces to make the best use of space. If you haven't used something in the past year, toss it, donate it to charity or sell it.

Cleaning is the single most cost effective way to make your home more attractive to buyers. Floors, windows, walls, doors, baseboards - everything! Give extra care and attention to the bathrooms and kitchen. And once it's all clean, keep it clean! You never know when your ideal buyer will visit.

Some repairs are absolutely vital, like a leaky roof or basement and unsafe electrical problems. Otherwise, fix all the little things like leaky faucets, doors that squeak, and small cracks in the ceiling.

You want buyers to walk through your house and feel like it's their home, not yours! Things like a cluttered wall of family portraits or your trophy collection are guaranteed to prevent buyers from emotionally placing themselves in your home. Remove everything that's too much about you.

Strong colours on the walls or wild wallpaper make it hard for buyers to imagine their furniture in your house. Consider repainting your home in bright, neutral colours that will enhance a room's size and look more inviting. Next to cleaning your home, paint is the most cost-effective way to increase your home's appeal.

You don't need to spend a fortune to make a big difference. Replace tattered old curtains with some fresh draperies. Mirrors on the wall help rooms feel more spacious. New houseplants add undeniable appeal. And on the outside of your home trim the trees, weed the garden and consider planting a few new flowers to make a great first impression.

Don't get so carried away with prepping your home that you forget why you're doing this - to get more money! You need to consider two things before making any improvements.These are just a few of the considerations when preparing your home for sale but important nevertheless.