When prospective buyers visit a home, the room they tend to check out most closely is the kitchen. So, it pays to ensure it looks its best.

No matter how tidy, clean, and well-adorned you’ve made your kitchen, there are going to be some issues — which can seem minor — that can distract a buyer from appreciating those positive qualities.

1. Stained sink

Use a specialized cleaner for the type of sink you have.

2. Garbage

Garbage in the garbage bin. Buyers don’t mind seeing the bin, just not the garbage inside. Don’t forget to also empty the organic waste bin.

3. Cooking scents

Avoid cooking anything prior to a viewing that may create lingering odours. Not everyone appreciates the aroma of spaghetti sauce.

4. Kitchen Mat

That old or worn mat in front of the sink. Replace it.

5. Countertops

You want the countertops to look spacious to buyers. So remove any items that don’t absolutely need to be there.

6. Cupboards

Cluttered or disorganized cupboards. Declutter and organize your cupboards. Buyers are most likely to open upper cabinets.

7. Lighting

Poor lighting. You want the lighting in your kitchen to be bright (but not blinding) and evenly distributed.

8. Damage & Stains

Damaged or stained kitchen surfaces. Professional cleaning or replacement of your countertops can improve your kitchens look considerably, and might be worth the investment.

Say you’ve found a house for sale in an area that’s unfamiliar to you. How do you figure out if it’s going to be the ideal neighbourhood.

Take a Walk

The first step is to take a walk! Stroll the neighbourhood and explore. If you get the chance, chat with homeowners and get their opinions of the area. Ask what they love about it. Ask what they don’t like.

Lifestyle Needs

Next determine how the neighbourhood is going to fit with your lifestyle. You’ll want to consider things like commuting routes, local amenities, schools, parks, shopping, etc. Google Maps is a great tool for this. Just turn on satellite view and get a bird’s eye view of the areas features.

Neighbourhood Data

Get the latest data on neighbourhood characteristics such as noise, demographics, crime rates, and more. You’ll be surprised by how much data is available, and the valuable insights you can gain about what it’s going to be like to live there.

Explore the Options

Now that you’ve determined your ideal neighbourhood it’s time to explore your options! Using DK Group's website you can search for your dream home by neighbourhood. You’ll be able to see specific location information for each individual listing such as exact distance to transit, schools, parks, and so much more! Make informed decisions about your new home’s location, ensuring it aligns perfectly with your lifestyle and preferences.

There are several ways to make the selling process easy and relatively stress free. One way is to create a selling timeline that fits your needs, lifestyle, and capabilities.

Say you’d like to list your home in four weeks and expect it to be on the market for an additional four weeks. That’s an eight-week timeline. How do you create a manageable schedule that works for you? Try these steps: 

1. Determine what you need to do to get your home ready for sale. 

2. Assign who will be doing what. For example, if you need to paint, will you hire a contractor? Do it yourself? Make a family day out of it? 

3. Estimate the time it will take to do those tasks. Then add 50% as a buffer. (It’s easy to underestimate time on tasks.) 

4. Look at your current schedule and block out times on your calendar so you can complete those tasks at a comfortable pace. Go through these same steps for other selling activities, such as finding and meeting with a real estate lawyer, having buyers come to see your property, etc. 

When you create a manageable — and realistic — schedule, you may find that most of the stress and worry of selling evaporates. A manageable schedule also ensures you won’t miss anything and then have to scramble.

There is a reason why “The early-bird gets the worm” is such a popular expression. Real Estate is one of many examples in life when being early, or even first in line, gives you an advantage.

When shopping for a new home, being among the first to learn about a new listing benefits you in several ways:

You have more time to see the property and make a decision. 

You have the ability to submit an early offer. 

You’re under less pressure to make a decision quickly.

Overall, by finding out about a new listing early, you improve your chances of getting the property.

How do you get the early-bird advantage?

If you scour the internet for new listings, you can still miss opportunities. For example, “Coming soon” listings may not yet be published on the MLS. A better strategy is to arrange to be alerted to new listings and coming-soon opportunities the moment they come up. That way, you’re always the early-bird and your likelihood of finding and buying your next dream home increases.

If you’re thinking of selling this fall, this is the ideal time to start the process. The earlier you get ready, the more successful your sale will be. It will likely go a lot smoother too!

1. Financials

Understanding your home's value is the first and most critical step in the Real Estate process. If you'd like to know the value of your home in today's market and how quickly you can expect it to sell, let us know! 

2. Decluttering

The more neat and spacious your home looks to buyers, the more appealing it will be to them. Be relentless when decluttering.

3. Fixing

If anything needs to be repaired or replaced, this is the best time to get that work done. You don’t want to have to scramble to find a contractor later on.

4. Scheduling

When you list in the fall, you want to make it as convenient for buyers as possible to book appointments to see your home. Be sure that you have flexibility when it comes to time you need to be in your home.

5. Targeting

Are you also buying a new home? If so, start the process now! Decide the type of home and neighbourhood you’re interested in and narrow your focus. Our new website makes searching for the homes you want in the places you like easier than ever with our neighbourhood search!