Since your home only gets one chance to make a first impression that will make potential buyer’s say, “I want to call that place home,” nailing your home’s curb appeal is at the top of mind for many Toronto & GTA home sellers.
Most potential homebuyers are going to see your home’s facade first – whether it’s in photography, from the street, or the Toronto & GTA MLS listings – so sprucing up the exterior is the best place to start when staging your home for sale in Toronto or The GTA.
In fact, an analysis of the Real Estate Staging Association found that homes which were properly presented when they were put on the market were likely to sell 79% faster than homes which weren’t staged.
Prepare Your Home For Buyers, Not For Open Houses
Open houses don’t do much to sell homes. They simply aren’t as effective at getting your home sold for a great price as more sophisticated forms of real estate advertising. Many agents hold open houses to try and find potential clients not really expecting to sell the property.
The best Toronto & GTA real estate agents for selling homes will use their own proprietary marketing methods to reach qualified buyers who are likely to be interested in a given home.
Instead of preparing for the purposes of open houses, you and your real estate agent will do far better to prepare your home’s exterior and interior in a way that maximizes the home’s appeal and your chances of getting top dollar value.
Frank Leo & Associates use this “no-open-houses” approach and it’s made us the #1 RE/MAX Team in Canada led by the #1 Individual RE/MAX agent in the world.
How To Improve Curb Appeal When Selling Your Home in Toronto or The GTA
Before buyers enter your property they have already formed an opinion. If the initial perception is positive it can make the sale or even help you get more than asking price for the home.
If you are working with a Toronto/GTA real estate agent it’s best to start by strategizing together about how to best prepare your home and what are the costs if any.
Start With Any Major Repairs
Any repairs or glaring problems like broken eavestroughs or cracked walls and siding should be tackled immediately as they could affect the home’s viability on the market.
The most prominent features of a home’s exterior which may need repairs include:
- The roof
- Eavestroughs
- Siding
- Windows & doors
- Driveway/garage
- Porches or decks
If you are handy and have trades experience yourself there’s no reason you can’t handle some of the repairs yourself, provided your able to do a great job. You can ask your real estate agent for a recommendation if you want to hire a contractor to do the job.
Bear in mind that your home will have to undergo an inspection before the sale closes so any major issues which aren’t immediately visible must be addressed as well. Handling them before bringing buyers to look at the home sets the precedent as honest and inspires confidence in the rest of the home.
You can use our Complete Toronto & GTA Home Seller’s Checklist to keep track of all the work that needs to be done at each step of the home-selling process.
Give The Home A Makeover
A little work can go a long way when it comes to making your home look its best. Small accents like the colour, quality, and condition of the paint and other finishes collectively make a big impression on potential buyers.
Giving the home a makeover is more a question of making sure all of the aesthetic qualities are in pristine condition than redesigning the facade.
Start With The Paint
Is all of the paint fresh and consistent? Any flaking or cracked paint can be a major turnoff. It makes the house look as though it isn’t well cared for and indicate that other aspects of the home haven’t been well maintained.
Although it doesn’t stand in for making more significant repairs, you would be surprised how effective a new coat of paint can be at improving a home’s appeal.
Home sellers who have a higher budget can explore other home-improvements like window trim or a garage door, but the best place to start is with the paint.
Landscaping Is Important
You can have the most breathtaking house on the block, but if the surrounding landscaping is underdone or non-existent it will detract from the home’s appeal.
Glaring issues like patchy grass or dead weeds should be addressed first. As long as the landscape looks well-cared for it won’t detract from the appeal of the home. The landscaping doesn’t need to be fancy to help get the home sold.
It’s more important to have consistent maintenance for homes with more elaborate landscaping.
If you are working with a bigger budget it may be worthwhile to hire some professional landscapers to do some touch-ups on the home’s landscape to make sure the home is looking its best.
Consistency Is Key
Keep in mind that all of your property’s features must work together visually. Disjointed styles or colours can give the home an uncanny appearance and turn off buyers even if they can’t place their fingers on exactly why.
For example, a striking bright colour on a home which has a predominantly darker palette draws attention in the right way. Similarly, a home which is designed with an understated style won’t benefit from a large and ornate new front door.
Keep it simple, consistent, and consult your real estate agent before making final aesthetic staging decisions. The best Toronto & GTA real estate agents offer complimentary home preparation consultation services as part of their work, so don’t be afraid to ask.
More Than A Pretty Face
Remember that curb appeal doesn’t just come down to your home’s appearance. Different features of the home which figure prominently can show buyers that your home is energy-efficient and make it seem like a better investment. If they see modern, high-efficiency windows they are more likely to have a positive perception of the house than if the windows are older or worn out.
You also shouldn’t ignore the backyard and sides of the house. Serious buyers will want to see everything your home has to offer looking its best.
Working With The Best Toronto & GTA Real Estate Agents When Improving Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Thinking of selling your home in Toronto & The GTA? Frank Leo & Associates have helped 1000’s of homeowners in the area sell their homes for top dollar value. We start with a free confidential home evaluation to give you an idea of how much your home could be worth on the market then maximize the home’s appeal to get you more for your property.
You can contact us at any time with your real estate questions.