Getting the best value for your home in Calgary

1. Declutter and Depersonalize: Remove personal items, excess furniture, and clutter to make your home appear more spacious and allow potential buyers to envision themselves living there. There is tremendous value in decluttering your home when getting it ready for a sale.  One of our favourite home stagers has said “you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression”.  You can use a short term storage unit to declutter while you are showing your home.
2. Clean and Organize: Deep clean your home, including floors, carpets, windows, and surfaces. Pay attention to details like grout lines, light fixtures, and appliances. A clean and well-maintained home gives a positive impression to buyers. Our favourite local cleaning company is Cactus Cleaning.  Cleaning your home is probably the single most effective way to make a good first impression on prospective buyers
3. Make Repairs: Fix any minor issues such as leaky faucets, squeaky doors, cracked tiles, or chipped paint. Addressing these small repairs can improve the overall appearance and value of your home.
4. Enhance Curb Appeal: First impressions make all the difference to prospective buyers, so make sure the exterior of your home looks great. Trim bushes and trees, plant flowers, and consider adding fresh mulch or a new coat of paint to the front door.
5. Neutralize Colors: Consider repainting walls in neutral tones to appeal to a wider range of buyers and create a neutral canvas for them to imagine their own style.
6. Maximize Light and Space: Open curtains and blinds to let in natural light, and ensure that rooms are well-lit with artificial lighting as needed. Arrange furniture to maximize flow and create a sense of space. By temporarily storing some of your furniture, it gives the prospective buyer an opportunity to imagine their furniture in the home
7. Stage Your Home: Arrange furniture and decor to highlight the best features of each room and create a welcoming atmosphere. Consider hiring a professional stager for expert advice on optimizing your home's presentation. Our favourite home stager is VP Home Staging. 
8. Highlight Key Features: Showcase unique features of your home, such as hardwood floors, a fireplace, or built-in shelving. Make sure these features are clean, well-maintained, and prominently displayed. In some homes it’s the kitchen, others it’s the entry way.  If you can’t do a full paint job on your entire home – try to focus on a room in your home.
9. Address Odors: Eliminate any unpleasant odors by cleaning carpets, upholstery, and pet areas, and using air fresheners or neutralizers. Avoid strong scents that may be off-putting to potential buyers.
10. Consider Professional Photography: Invest in professional photography to showcase your home in its best light online and in marketing materials. High-quality photos can attract more attention from potential buyers. Our favourite photographer is Lisa with Caydence Photography.

We highly recommend using local companies to help you with the daunting process of getting your home ready to list.  Armed with a plan, together with some helpful tips and teaming up with service providers who are experts in their field, you will be ahead of many other prospective sellers.