Thinking about selling your home?

Standard costs you can expect to pay include:

• legal costs for services, including a statement of adjustment
• a mortgage discharge fee to remove the collateral hold on your home

Other potential costs include:

• realtor or real estate agent fees
• moving costs
• staging fees
• cleaning fees
• mortgage prepayment penalties, if you sell your home before the end of your mortgage term

Ask your realtor for further details.

When getting your home ready to sell, you need to look at your house in a new way. Think of your house as a product about to go on the market where it is probably competing with brand new housing. It needs to show well – which means clutter-free and well kept.

Check your house’s curb appeal. This is where the prospective buyer initially will see your house. This forms the all-important first impression.

• Remove any clutter in your yard.
• Repair cracked or uneven driveway or walkway surfaces.
• If your lawn has bald spots, apply some top dressing and re-seed. Prune trees and shrubs of dead wood. Weed and mulch flower beds, if you have them. If it is the right time of year, consider buying some flower-filled planters to enhance the eye appeal of your property. Make sure your lawn is mowed regularly. Ensure that the composter area is tidy.
• Are your windows and walls clean?
• Does your front door need paint?
• Ensure your eaves and downspouts are clear of debris and in good repair.
• Are your backyard deck and walkways clean? If not, use a power washer and do any necessary painting, staining or sealing.
• If you have a swimming pool, are the deck and pool clean (when in season)?
• Do all outside lights work? Replace any burned out bulbs, and clean fixtures of dirt and cobwebs.
• Is there a shed? Does it look presentable?
• Do windows and exterior doors need re-caulking? Even at 6-7 years of age, the caulking may be dried out and in need of replacement.

These are just some examples but make due-diligence as this has an impact on your buyer’s evaluation.

A prospective buyer will usually enter through your front door; so, that is where you should begin your interior inspection. You want your buyer to see a neat, clean, well-lit interior.

• Get clutter out of sight; ensure that carpets are clean and floors are scrubbed and polished. 
• Walls and trim should have fresh paint, preferably neutral or light colors.
• Are there any unpleasant odours in your home? If so, track them down and eliminate them.
• Ensure all your lights work and are free of cobwebs. You want your home to look spacious, bright and fresh.
• If you have considerable family memorabilia, consider thinning it out. Your objective is to help potential buyers feel as if they could live in your home. That mental leap becomes more difficult for them if your house resembles a shrine your family.
• Professional real estate agents and decorators say the most important areas of your home to upgrade and modernize are the kitchen and bathrooms. Buyers also want to see new or recently installed floor coverings throughout.

There are tons of other things you could do. But the important thing to keep in mind throughout all this is to ensure you do your diligence in keeping your things tidy and clean to increase your house’s appeal to potential buyers.

The first step towards making a property sale involves quoting a Listing Price. The listing price is the value at which you want to sell your property. To make a profitable sale, devising an ideal listing price is crucial. Your real estate agent can provide you with the current market evaluation. This makes it easier for you to compare and contrast properties with similar values and estimate the right listing price for your land.

Real Property Report: In Alberta, unless the buyer agrees otherwise, the seller must provide a Real Property Report (RPR) with evidence of municipal compliance to the buyer prior to the deal closing. An RPR is a legal document prepared by an Alberta Land Surveyor that shows property boundaries and improvements (structures) relative to the property’s boundaries. Evidence of municipal compliance confirms that property improvements comply with the municipality’s Bylaws and Regulations. It does not mean the building’s use complies with their Land Use Bylaws, easements, covenants, legislation, or other requirements affecting land or buildings. Contact an Alberta Land Surveyor if you need to update your RPR or obtain a new one.

Outstanding Insurance Claims: If you have any outstanding insurance claims, deductibles, pay-outs or work to be completed contact your insurance company as this may influence you or the purchaser.

Permits on Construction: You are required to the City/town/etc…  ask them if you have a final building permit for all development on the property. If there is any part of the property that does not have a permit this will result in complications upon closing. This may influence the purchaser to not buy the property.