Tips for Selling a Home in Saskatoon

When it comes to selling a house in Saskatoon, the first thing that comes to mind is the question "who would do the best job of selling our home?".  There are many more items to consider when it comes to this very important life transition. The following tips for selling a home in Saskatoon should aid in preparing you for such a delicate and   significant event.

1)  SELECT THE RIGHT REALTOR®: This is a decision that must be considered carefully and will play an important role in how your sale transpires. Some qualities to look for in an agent are marketing techniques used, presence on social media/website, knowledge of the market and neighbourhood, real reviews, quality & timeliness of communications, transparency, and what they actually offer for the fee you will be paying them. Like any industry, there are honest employees who hold integrity and there are others who give the industry a bad name. Go with your gut and don't be afraid to ask questions and interview, and make sure your agent practise real estate full time.

2)  PREPARE: This is quite possibly the most important item when it comes to selling your home. There are many considerations to make and details to attend to before even thinking about going to the market (unless of course you really don't care about how much your home sells for). Refer to the Sellers Guide for detailed instructions, but consider the following items when deciding if it's the right time to sell: curb appeal, repairs required, updates/renovations, paint, cleaning, organizing, decluttering, depersonalizing, staging, pets, kids, landscaping and light.

3)  PRESENT: When buyers are searching for their future home, the first place they're looking is on their computers and smart phones.  That means that the photos of your listing should be standing out and looking like show-home quality if you want to attract an in-person viewing. Make sure your Realtor isn't taking iPhone photos with the toilet seat up. Along with the photos should be a beautifully written description highlighting all of the qualities of your home and painting a picture for the potential buyer.

4)  PRICE PROPERLY: This is one of the biggest mistakes home-owners make and it can cause more harm than one would think (especially in a declining market). Market Value is defined as "the price a buyer is willing to pay" for any item.  Before you make this decision, you should be armed with comparable sales, current market information, and advice from your Realtor®. It doesn't matter that you spent $50,000 on renovations last year (though that does help), or that you need to get X amount of dollars out of the proceeds, or that your neighbours house sold for X, or that you bought it for X, or that you think you should "just see what happens". There are certain factors that contribute to pricing like size, location, utility, state of repair, upgrades, and how the home presents that all affect price. Listen to your Realtor® and review the data and information they provide to you.

5)  VIEWINGS: In conjunction with being prepared, it's imperative to keep up with the state of the home as in the photos.  This is probably the most difficult task of selling and showing your home.  Make sure viewers are seeing your home at its best; keep it clean, organized, and smelling good (natural smell is best - and don't cook something like fish or curry before a showing). Make sure you put anything of value in a safe place (most agents will stay with their clients, but just in case). Take pets out of the home with you when you leave, and make sure all of the blinds are open and lights are on. Keep sidewalks clear of debris/snow, and ensure the yard-work is kept up. Stow the items you use daily in decorative boxes to tuck away in cupboards or drawers for the showings.

6)  OFFERS: Your Realtor® will guide you through the process when you receive an offer.  Be open to negotiations, possession date and which items you might be willing to leave behind. Ask your agent for a copy of the offer and any subsequent documents if they do not provide one to you. You can accept, reject or counter an offer; a counter offer is most common. Don't be offended by a lowball; this is not usually a reflection of the agent on the other end. It can be a cultural way of negotiating, or a buyer who isn't serious. You can rely on the guidance of your Realtor® for any situation.

Again, selling your most valuable possession is a task that must be handled with care, consideration, and expertise. You want to know you're in the hands of someone you can trust with your life and who will get the job done professionally, quickly, and with the goal of the highest possible return.