The house looks great and you’re ready to make an offer, but have you inspected those items that could be costly down the road? Make sure you’re aware of the how soon the following items may need to be addressed:
* The roof,
* Foundation concerns (e.g. cracks, incorrect grading causing water pooling and flooding),
* Household mechanicals (e.g. furnace, air conditioner, water heater), and
* Appliances (e.g. stove, cooking range, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher).

Use Home Financial Modeler to organize your house hunting. Build financial models. Include photos, and notes. Rate neighbourhood amenities, and compare the properties you viewed to determine the best fit for your family.

Selecting the right real estate agent is a critical step. The right agent can help ensure your home sells quickly, and gets the best price. Consider the following steps when selecting your listing agent:
* Get referrals from trusted people,
* Research their online presence (e.g. website, social media posts),
* Look for complaints on the Better Business Bureau’s website, and
* Review their recent listings from the candidate to compare list versus sell price.

Once you have your shortlist, interview a minimum of 3 candidates.

Use Home Financial Modeler to understand selling costs, determine target and minimum sale prices, forecast your equity, and reap the financial rewards you deserve.

It takes work, but it’s important to stay show ready at all times, or be ready to grab your kids and dog to get out for 30 minutes. Buyers can be time constrained and if you turn them away, they will probably just move on to another home in your area. Remember, this inconvenience and hard work is temporary, but the sacrifices made now will pay off later when the sold sign goes up.

Use Home Financial Modeler to understand selling costs, determine target and minimum sale prices, forecast your equity, and reap the financial rewards you deserve.

A home inspection will highlight major and minor concerns, including safety concerns with your home. As a seller you can use the inspection report to address issues prior to putting your home on the market. When you do list your home, a report from a certified property inspector will provide peace of mind to potential buyers, while providing you the opportunity to feature the major items you’ve addressed.

Use Home Financial Modeler to understand selling costs, determine target and minimum sale prices, forecast your equity, and reap the financial rewards you deserve.

People remember bathrooms and kitchens. Ensure these two rooms get extra attention. Small upgrades can make big differences. For example, change the look of your kitchen by adding the right backsplash. Also consider removing outdated window treatments, using closet systems to organize messy closets, highlighting wood floors and removing old worn carpet, and painting using neutral colours. Make it easy for potential buyers to picture themselves in your home.

Use Home Financial Modeler to understand selling costs, determine target and minimum sale prices, forecast your equity, and reap the financial rewards you deserve.

You’ve arranged your furniture the way that best suits your family’s lifestyle, but now you need to use your furniture as a marketing tool. Make rooms look spacious and inviting. Avoid long lines of furniture along walls. This may require removing some of the furniture. Buyers should be able to picture themselves living in your home with the feeling they can move right in.

Use Home Financial Modeler to understand selling costs, determine target and minimum sale prices, forecast your equity, and reap the financial rewards you deserve.

Have you ever been immediately disappointed when arriving at a candidate home? You can only make a first impression once, so make it count. When buyers come to view your home, start their experience with a positive feeling through curb appeal. Homes with well-kept lawns and professional landscaping can sell for 7% more than similar homes with exterior blemishes or unattractive front yards.

Use Home Financial Modeler to understand selling costs, determine target and minimum sale prices, forecast your equity, and reap the financial rewards you deserve.

Does something smell funny? Air fresheners, baking, and open windows can clear out certain scents. Pay attention to suspicious odours. For example, a damp smell could mean the home has poor ventilation or problems with mold. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, insist on a property inspection or walk away.

Use Home Financial Modeler to organize your house hunting. Build financial models. Include photos, and notes. Rate neighbourhood amenities, and compare the properties you viewed to determine the best fit for your family.

Sunlight light and seasonal characteristics like winter snow may impact your ability to see all the important aspects of the property and home. Schedule your viewing times when lighting is optimal and all the property features are viewable. In addition, sunlight also has multiple benefits including, boosting vitamin D, warding off seasonal depression, and improved sleeping. Consider the importance of sunlight to your family when viewing the home, and look for features that help meet your family’s need such as window coverage, sunrooms, and skylights.

Use Home Financial Modeler to organize your house hunting. Build financial models. Include photos, and notes. Rate neighbourhood amenities, and compare the properties you viewed to determine the best fit for your family.

A lack of parking can be frustrating and inconvenient. Parking comes in multiple ways. For example:
* On your property,
* Permit street parking, and
* Parking spot rental.

Friends may need permits to park when they visit, and then only find parking blocks away from your home. Ensure your next home has sufficient parking for your family’s lifestyle and needs.

Use Home Financial Modeler to organize your house hunting. Build financial models. Include photos, and notes. Rate neighbourhood amenities, and compare the properties you viewed to determine the best fit for your family.