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That’s it, it’s time to sell the house you’ve been living for 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years. Whether this change is welcome or unexpected, it is normal to feel overwhelmed by the situation.

That’s it, it’s time to sell the house you’ve been living for 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years.

Whether this change is welcome or unexpected, it is normal to feel overwhelmed by the situation.

We therefore offer some tips to prepare you to sell your home taking into account the particular situation in which you find yourself.

1. Clean Up

Up Whether you’ve lived in your home for 20 or 40 years, you’ve surely had the opportunity to accumulate a lot of goods over time.

A move is a great time to clean, purge and give! Take the opportunity to determine if all the things you own are really useful.

Cleaning up your things allows you to better judge how much space you will need in your next home. Then, getting rid of obsolete items, furniture and documents will reduce the volume of items to be moved. In addition, it will be easier for you to carry out renovations. Finally, prepare yourself to present your home in its best light; buyers prefer properties that are not cluttered.

Tips

• Shred confidential documents to protect your identity.
• Some charities offer to pick up at home the furniture you want to get rid of.
• You could try to sell some items in good condition on classifieds website.

2. Have Your Home Inspected

Once you have disposed of the excess of your property, it is strongly recommended that you order a pre-sale inspection for your home.

This is a particularly crucial step, even if you have maintained your home well. At the risk of seeming too obvious, the older a home gets, the more likely it is to reveal problems caused by the damage of time … which are not always obvious to notice without the expert eye of an expert.

A qualified inspector will evaluate a large number of items, both inside and outside your property. He will check the condition of the windows and the roof, the energy efficiency and ventilation of the house, the integrity of the structure, the safety of the basement, as well as the presence of molds, cracks, cracks, infestations and moisture problems.

At the end of the inspection, the inspector will tell you if leveling work is needed. It may also recommend additional studies to other experts if in doubt. For example, he might suggest using an electrician to upgrade the electrical circuitry, or a geotechnician to perform a soil test.

Tips

• Potential buyers will be reassured to know that you have completed a pre-sale inspection, especially if it reveals no major problems.
• Ask for at least 3 submissions and verify that the inspector is a member in good standing of theQuebec Association of Building Inspectors.

3. Conduct targeted work

If your inspection report reveals problems, it is a priority to resolve them, as they are more likely to discourage potential buyers or reduce the resale value of your property.

When was the last time you redecorated your house? Rest assured: if you have given time to give a charm of yesteryear to your home, it is not the end of the world. You have every interest in refreshing the decor, but you do not have to renovate everything to seduce buyers.

The AppraisalInstitute of Canada recommends that homeowners give priority to kitchen and bath upgrades, as this generally provides the best return on the amount invested. They are also the most used parts of the house and buyers will be attentive to their smallest details.

Tips

• Use a home staging expert to advise you at this stage. Home staging is an interior design service optimized for the sale of properties.
• Painting is a great way to rejuvenate the look of a low-cost room. Favor clear, neutral colors; bright colors could put some buyers off.
• Depersonalize the rooms. Store posters, family photos and collectibles. A clean room allows buyers to visualize their own life in your home.
• Choose classic, durable and easy-care materials.

Beware of empty houses!

You must sell quickly because of health problems or an estate?Make sure that the house gives the impression of being inhabited. An empty house will put the chip in the ear of buyers, who will suspect that you are in a hurry to sell. They could therefore offer you a lower price than expected.

To guide you, a real estate expert will make a huge difference

With Eric Boissonneault, you can count on a professional broker to sell your property successfully and accompany you in this great stage of your life!