Today marks the longest day of the year and the official start of summer here in Fort McMurray, and we know you’re all excited to enjoy the long, warm days. But if you’re trying to sell your Fort McMurray home this summer, you’ve probably got other things on your mind besides camping trips and BBQs.

Selling a home in the summer can be a tricky affair for exactly the same reasons most people love summer so much: it’s warm, we’ve got vacation plans on the brain, our kids are out of school, and buying real estate is often the last thing on people’s To Do list. Fort McMurray home sellers often have fewer showings when they put their home on the market in the summer, and it’s vitally important to make the most of the showings you do get. Buyers are out there looking, and if you want your home to get noticed you’ll need to spend some extra time getting your home – and your yard – in tip-top summer shape.

Outdoor Appeal

Curb appeal and outdoor spaces are never more important than during the summer months, and sellers should make sure they keep their front and back yards impeccable to capitalize on a home buyer’s natural inclination to notice these spaces more this season.

• Mow your lawns regular: at least once a week, and when the grass is growing fast twice a week is a must. Reseed and sod any patchy bits of lawn, and water regularly to ensure it stays a rich, health green colour.
• Trim any trees, bushes or shrubs to make sure they’re neat and tidy.
• Plant colourful flowers in gardens, boxes and hanging baskets. It’s summer time, and your yard planters should look the part and be in full bloom. Make sure you weed and water regularly.
• Decks and patios should be cleaned and looking their best. Use a power washer to get off must and caked-on dirt, and if your deck has been stained it might be time for a fresh coat. If you have patio furniture make sure it’s clean and appropriately sized for your space. Staging is just as important for outside spaces as it is for indoor ones!
• If you have a pet who roams your back yard, make sure you clean up after it regularly: the last thing you want is for one of your buyers to step in something your dog has left behind!

Indoor Details

Make sure the inside of your house looks great and is kept clean all the time: you don’t always get much warning when it comes to showings, so it’s best to be prepared and accommodating to anyone willing to view your home.

• Pay attention to the temperature and adjust accordingly. If it’s been hot and you don’t have air conditioning, you may need to bring out a few fans to keep the indoor temperature down. When it comes to fans, remember to turn them down just before you leave for a showing: a gentle breeze is fine, but a fan on high can be noisy and annoying to prospective buyers.
• Pack away all your winter boots and clothing. In the heart of summer, the last thing a prospective buyer wants to think about is winter!
• Fresh flowers add a lovely summer quality to your rooms. Make sure they’re colourful and in good condition: wilting flowers should be tossed immediately.
• Open the windows. Unless it’s raining, it’s better to keep air moving and prevent rooms from getting musty. Keep blinds up and window treatments pulled neatly back to showcase your home’s summer views. Keep your winds clean and free of fingerprints and streaks.

Time to Show

When it comes time for potential buyers to view your home, it’s important to make sure they feel comfortable and can focus on the task at hand: falling in love with your home!

• Leave your home while buyers are viewing to ensure they feel comfortable in the space and don’t feel like they’re being watched.
• Take your pets with you. Take your dog to the park or for a drive while your home is being shown. Your pet might be adorable and friendly, but it’s best if buyers don’t have to navigate around pets or worry about accidentally letting them escape while they’re viewing your property. If your cat or dog must be at home during the showing, crate them or put them in a closed room and leave a note letting the agent and buyers know there is a pet in the house and where it can be found.
• Provide cool beverages for prospective buyers. A jug of ice water or lemonade on particularly hot and muggy days is always greatly appreciated and leaves a positive impression.

Home renovations come in two flavours: either homeowners are upgrading homes they plan to live in and enjoy for years to come, or they’re thinking about selling and want to improve their home’s market value.

If you’re renovating to sell your Fort McMurray home, your primary focus should be the return on investment (ROI) of these enhancements. Any upgrades you make while planning to sell should always be done with the bottom line in mind: if major changes, repairs or renovations don’t result in a significantly higher selling price, then you may loose money in the end.

Paint

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a home’s resale value. Consider having your home painted just before you put it on the market and make sure not to forget the baseboards and trims.

It’s important to choose neutral colours when painting to sell; you may love bright orange or lime green, but when prospective buyers are walking through your rooms you want them to easily see their own life against the backdrop of your walls. What’s more, unusual colours or wild wallpaper may actually dissuade buyers and force you to lower your price since they will factor the cost of repainting when writing an offer.

Flooring

Hardwood flooring is extremely popular and becomes an instant selling feature of the home for most potential buyers, but beware expensive hardwood. New flooring does add value to your home, but you’ll barely break even if you pick high end floors or granite tile. Quality mid-grade hardwood in a medium tone at a reasonable price is the best option, but a nice, neutral coloured carpet or simple linoleum installed properly can also boost your resale price.

Kitchens & Bathrooms

Giving your kitchen or bathroom a face lift can definitely increase the value of your home, but be mindful of doing too much. Sometimes all it takes is new light fixtures, plates and updated hardware to make a big difference and get significant ROI. Before you tear apart your kitchen or gut your bathroom, bring a qualified Fort McMurray REALTOR® in for a consult: they can point you in the right direction and save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars by sharing which improvements will have the biggest impact.

Whatever renovations you choose to do, unless you have the expertise, don’t do them yourself: pay a professional. We’ve seen sellers accidentally lower the value of their home by trying to teach themselves how to tile or lay flooring. It doesn’t matter if the floor is new or the paint is fresh: buyers can spot poor craftsmanship a mile away, and if the work doesn’t measure up the price of redoing the work will ultimately hurt your bottom line, not theirs.

Remember: it’s important to do your homework when hiring professional tradesmen and contractors. Always check references and do price comparisons, even if you’ve been referred. Many people will instantly go with the most inexpensive option when it comes to contracted work, but if you’re hiring a professional it’s because you want a professional job done. Always call and speak to the references yourself and make your choice based on both price and quality.

The snow is melting, the sun is shining, and spring has finally sprung in Fort McMurray. If you’re planning on selling your home this spring you should know that curb appeal is never a more important factor than during the early spring months. Your home’s exterior and yard are the first things a prospective buyer sees, and you never get a second chance to make a first impression. A clean, well-kept yard with spring touches can make a huge difference when selling Fort McMurray real estate.

Spending just a little bit of time and money on your yard this time of year can make a big difference when it comes to how quickly your home will sell and how much you’ll get for it. Here are just a few ways you can give your Fort McMurray home for sale a spring facelift.

7 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for the Spring Fort McMurray Real Estate Market

Take down Christmas and winter-themed decorations

Any holiday or winter decor should come down ASAP if you’re trying to sell your home, including Christmas lights. Many people leave their lights up all year round even if they don’t turn them on: if you’re selling, this is the year to take everything down. You have to pack them anyway, right?

Spread the snow around

After a long winter of shovelling, most of us end up with snow piled high on certain parts of our lawns. Grab your shovel one last time to knock these piles down and spread the snow more evenly across the lawn. This will help those piles melt faster and prevent snow mould.

Get a jump on spring yard work

Get your spring yard work out of the way as early as possible. Pick up garbage and debris that has accumulated in the snow over the winter, and make sure your lawn is raked, fertilized and aerated as soon as possible. If you have active children who like to play outside, remember to keep your front and back yard clutter free. Find an unobtrusive place to store bikes, skateboards and other outdoor toys and equipment.

Wash siding and driveways

If your siding looks dirty, cleaning away months of grime can make a world of difference. Rent or borrow a power washer, or have professionals come and pressure clean your siding. Giving your driveways and sidewalks a good spray is also worthwhile: cleaning accumulated salt, oil spots and stains off your pavement can make your driveway look like new again.

Wash your windows

Nothing makes the the exterior — and interior — of your house shine better in the refreshing spring sunshine than crystal-clean window panes. Washing your windows inside and out can give your home a polished, well-kept look that attracts buyers.

Refresh decks and fences

While you’ve got that power washer out, give your deck and fences a good clean and, if needed, a fresh coat of paint or stain. A little bit of work goes a long way, and outdoor wood that looks well-cared for is an immediate draw.

Spring flowers

Nothing says spring better than blooming flowers, so get your flower beds cleaned and planted as soon as you can. If you’re worried about late frosts, plant in hanging baskets and movable pots that can be placed outside in the sun and easily brought in if temperatures drop.

Selling Fort McMurray real estate during the winter months can be trying: the weather is cold and gloomy, daylight hours are in short supply, and there are less buyers looking. It’s important to remember, however, that even though you may have less showings when selling your home in the winter months, house hunters who are keen enough to brave the cold tend to be serious buyers.

Curb appeal and staging your Fort McMurray home for a showing is never more important than it during the winter. Getting the easily-forgotten details right can make the difference between a sale and another week of waiting in the slower winter market.

6 Tips for Showing Your Home During the Winter

Shovel the snow and scrape the ice

Access is important, and the worst first impression is a driveway or sidewalk that’s still covered with snow: a snow-free walk and drive gives the impression lots of prospective buyers have been looking. Watch for icy spots and make sure to keep slick areas regularly salted or sanded. Ensure decks and pathways to sheds or garages are shovelled, and keep a path cleared from the street to the walk through any piles left by snow plows.

Take the Christmas decorations down early

Don’t keep your lights and Christmas decor up for long after the holidays have passed. If you usually keep your lights up but off all year round, take them down this year. You’re selling anyway, so consider it a jump-start on packing! We do encourage clients to keep up any winter-themed decorations they have such as welcoming winter door wreaths or table centrepieces. Think seasonal touches rather than holiday ones.

Mind the wet boots and jackets

Remember every agent and buyer that comes into your home will have thick winter jackets and snow-covered boots. Provide a convenient place to remove wet footwear and hang coats immediately when buyers enter your home: additional thoughtful touches include slippers, a basket for scarves and gloves, and a chair or bench to sit on when taking off or putting on boots. Buyers will appreciate you protecting the floor of their prospective investment.

Keep your home warm

Make sure your home is warm when you know your agent is scheduling showings. In particular be mindful of the temperature of your floors: cold hardwood or tiles on the feet is an immediate turn off. If you’re leaving town for the weekend while your agent is showing your home, make sure to keep the thermostat up: buyers who aren’t comfortable won’t stay long. Keeping the temperature low might mean savings on your utility bill but will affect your final selling price.

Pay attention to the light

Encourage showings during daylight hours and keep your blinds and curtains open to showcase your home in natural light. Make sure your windows are spotlessly clean: the angles of winter sunlight highlight grim on glass. If you’re showing at night turn on every light so agents and buyers aren’t spending time looking for switches, and clean lamps and fixtures to make sure everything looks its best. Set up timers to turn outdoor and select indoor lights on when you aren’t home for prospective buyers doing drive-bys in the evening.

Think cozy

Create an inviting and cozy atmosphere and make your home a retreat from the cold weather. Turn on gas fireplaces and place warm throw-blankets on couches or chairs. Provide warm cocoa or fresh brewed coffee and tea. If you enjoy baking the aroma of cookies complete with a plate of fresh baking to snack on can endear you to potential buyers and make your home a welcome haven from the sub-zero temperatures.

Many real estate agents will discourage you from trying to sell your home during the Christmas holidays, but if you’re committed to having your home on the market there are some advantages to the season. Buyers continuing to view homes through December and January tend to be more serious, usually driven by impending life changes or relocation requirements. Since most sellers take their homes off the market over the holidays, there are fewer homes and the competition is less fierce.

If you’re continuing to market and show Fort McMurray real estate over the holidays, here are some tips to help give you an edge at Christmas.

Price your home right
Making sure you have the optimal price is most important during the holidays. With less buyers on the market you’ll want an experienced agent specializing in Fort McMurray homes with the ability to analyze current trends and statistics to make sure your home is priced competitively.

Go easy on the decorations
When you’re selling your home there is such a thing as too much Christmas cheer. If you’re home typically bursts with decorations during the holidays, scale things back as much as possible. Choose a smaller tree and keep the seasonal decor to a strategic minimum.

Pick decorations with broad appeal
Remember not everyone celebrates the same way this time of year, and you want potential buyers to be able to envision their own holiday traditions in your space. Go for winter and nature-themed decorations such as garlands instead of items that are linked to specific religious holidays.

Keep your space clutter free
Instead of a pile of gifts spilling out from under a tree, consider keeping wrapped presents out of sight in a closet until Christmas Eve or stacked neatly and unobtrusively in a corner. Prospective buyers are trying to get a feel for the size and space in your home: the more items you have on display the more cramped and small the space will appear.

Curb appeal over the holidays
Make sure your home looks its absolute best from the outside. Bare trees means more of your home is exposed to the street, so exterior maintenance is key. Scale back the scope of your outdoor holiday decorations: a few strings of lights can make your home look great this time of year, but large inflatable lawn ornaments are a distraction. Also consider safety: make sure to keep the walks and driveways shovelled and ice-free.

Use seasonal ambiance to your advantage
Create a cozy and inviting atmosphere when showing your home over the holidays. Turn on the fireplace, play soft music, and create pleasing aromas with greenery, holiday baking or warm ciders. Set a plate of cookies out for buyers to enjoy while viewing your space.

Be as flexible as possible with show times
Keep your schedule open during the holidays and be extra flexible when it comes to showing your home: Christmas is a busy time of year for everyone, and both buyers and sellers are trying to work around holiday events. The more willing you are to accommodate the buyer’s schedule the more likely you’ll garner goodwill and a good offer.