Lighting Matters When Selling Your House

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Marina Gavrylyuk

Remember the last time you were in a furniture store or other major home retailer? Remember the fully decorated displays of furniture, appliances and other products? Some of those may have even been organized as model rooms.

What did most of those displays have in common?

Chances are, they were well lit.

In fact, in the retail industry, there are professionals who specialize exclusively in display lighting. It plays such an important role in showcasing and selling home products successfully that the stores are willing to absorb the expense.

And the same holds true for your house.

If you want to show your house well, and sell it quickly and for the best price, make sure every room is well lit.

There are probably some rooms in your house where the lighting is adequate, such as the kitchen and bathrooms, and perhaps the foyer. But there are other areas where the lighting may be mediocre. Take a close look at:

Closets
Storage areas
Bedrooms
Laundry rooms
Hallways
The garage

If there are areas in your house that are dark or shadowy, the solution may be as simple as installing higher wattage bulbs, provided your fixture can accommodate them. Keep in mind that brightness can vary significantly from one type of bulb to another. For example, a 40-watt energy efficient bulb may not give off as much light as a comparable standard bulb. So do some experimenting. Your goal is to make the room feel bright yet comfortable on the eyes.

Also, don’t forget to open drapes and blinds. Often the best and most pleasant source of light for a room is the sun shining through a window.

Want more tips on showing your house well?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
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Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage
1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Preparing Your House for Sale in Less Than a Week

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Marina Gavrylyuk

It’s great when you have lots of time to prepare for something important. But life doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes you have to move quickly, and do the best you can with the time you have.

Say, for example, you had to get your house ready for sale, and you only had a week to do so. What could you do in those few days to make your home as attractive as possible to potential buyers? Here are some ideas:

Clean the house from top to bottom. Make it look “guest ready”.
Get rid of as much clutter as possible. If necessary, put some things in storage. Try to make every room look organized and spacious.
Get all minor repairs done.
Paint. It’s the fastest and cheapest way to dramatically improve the look of any room.
Don’t forget the outdoors. Prune the hedges, sweep the walkways, and deal with any potential eyesores — such as a rusted old bike stowed in the side yard.
Place some fresh flowers in the dining room and outside next to the front door.
Depersonalize your house as much as possible. For example, stow away family pictures. You want buyers to imagine themselves living there, not you.

This is just a partial list of ideas. A good REALTOR® can help you with more tips on preparing your house so that it sells quickly and for the right price.

Want help? Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage
1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Stay or move? How to decide

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Marina Gavrylyuk

Do you sometimes review the real estate ads in your local paper? Do you drive by an open house sign and feel the urge to stop and check it out? Those are common indications that, at least on some level, you’re thinking about the possibility of making a move.

But how do you decide if you should actually move?

The first step is to consider whether there are any practical reasons to consider buying a new home. What’s pushing you in that direction?

Is your current home too small for your needs?
Is the commute to work, for you or your spouse, too long? (Perhaps longer than you expected when you purchased the home?)
Are there property features you would now like to have, such as a larger backyard or a more spacious kitchen?
Has the neighbourhood changed in an undesirable way?
Do you have personal reasons for wanting to move, such as a desire to be closer to relatives in another area?

Carefully consider those things that can’t change unless you move. For example, if a major highway was recently built near you, the ongoing sound of traffic isn’t going to go away. It’s now part of the neighbourhood.

If there are no practical reasons for moving, there may still be other reasons for wanting a new home. You may want to move your family to a better neighbourhood, with better schools or you may simply want a bigger home, with a larger backyard, more rooms, and a wider driveway.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with simply wanting a better place than the one you have now. In fact, that is a common reason why many people make a move.

The point is, if you’ve been thinking about a new home for a while, perhaps now is the time to take the next step. A good REALTOR® can help you understand your options.

Looking for a good REALTOR®?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage
1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

5 Things Home Buyers Don’t Want To See

Posted on February 28, 2016 by Marina Gavrylyuk

When preparing a property for sale, homeowners often focus on the things that will impress buyers, such as clean and uncluttered spaces, well lit rooms, staged furniture designed to maximize appeal, and so forth.

But it’s equally important to pay attention to those things you don’t want buyers to see… those little turn-offs that, although seemingly minor, can distract buyers and cause them to lose interest in your property.

For example, you don’t want buyers to see these things:

Pets. Although many people love pets, some don’t. Others are allergic to them. Dogs, in particular, can take a keen interest in new visitors, jumping and barking excitedly. It’s best to take pets for a walk during viewings.

Unfinished repairs. Dripping taps. Gouges and marks on walls. Broken tiles. Squeaking gates. Home buyers will notice, and may mistakenly think there are other deficiencies lurking in your home. Do as many repairs as you can. Then be upfront about those that are in progress.

Clutter. It’s common for main rooms, like livingrooms and kitchens, to be clean and uncluttered during a viewing. But buyers who become interested in your property will take a closer look, and check out the garage, cupboards, backyard shed and other places where things tend to accumulate. The more you de-clutter, the better your property will show.

Smells. Obviously not something a buyer will see, but he or she will definitely notice lingering odours associated with pets, garbage, exotic cooking, and smoking. Scents have a strong influence on emotions. That’s why perfume companies do so well! So make sure your home is as scent-free as possible.

You. Nothing personal. When buyers view your home, they want to visualize themselves living there, not you. So let your REALTOR® be the host. Remove as many personal items, such as family pictures and trophies, as possible.

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage
1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Getting A Handle On The Home Selling Process

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Marina Gavrylyuk

You probably know there’s more to selling a home than putting up a FOR SALE sign. But if you don’t understand the process in detail, you might feel intimidated and stressed when it comes time to put your property on the market.

Fortunately, the home selling process isn’t that difficult to understand. There are basically six steps.

Step one is selecting the right REALTOR®. You need a knowledgeable, trusted expert who can guide you through the process, take care of all the details, and help sell your home quickly and for the best price.

Step two is preparation. You need to ensure your home is clean and uncluttered. It’s also important that you take care of any needed repairs, even minor ones like wall dents. You may also need to consider a home improvement, such as replacing worn carpeting.

Step three is the listing price. You need to select a listing price at or near the fair market value of your property.

Step four is promotion. How will buyers find out about your property? Will they see it on MLS? Will they come across an ad in the newspaper or on the internet? Will they receive an invitation to an open house? An effective promotion plan is critical.

Step five is dealing with offers. Ideally, you’ll get several. But the best offer is not necessarily the highest one. An offer can fall through for many reasons, so dealing effectively with offers is, perhaps, the most important part of the home selling process.

Step six is the transaction. Once the sale is made, you want to know that you have the right professionals in place – your lawyer, mover, etc. – to make sure all the after-sale details are taken care of properly.

Want more ideas for making sure the home selling process goes smoothly for you?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage
1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Be Sensible When it Comes to Scents

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Marina Gavrylyuk

Sniff, sniff. “What is that smell?”

That is definitely not the reaction you want a potential buyer to have when they view your house.

The problem with common household scents – from family pets, preferred cooking styles, smoking, or even hobbies such as model-making – is that we get accustomed to them. However, someone who enters the house for the first time will notice these aromas right away.

So, before a viewing appointment or open house, be sure household scents are under control. A good airing usually does the trick.

Reposted from http://www.marina.realtor/ixact-be-sensible-when-it-comes-to-scents/

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage
1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

The Benefits of a Pre-Sale Inspection

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Marina Gavrylyuk

Your home probably has dozens of great features that are going to help it stand out and sell faster. Perhaps it has a cozy sunken living room? Or an equipped and smartly decorated kitchen that Rachel Ray would envy? Or a location in a desirable neighbourhood?

All these things will help.

But there’s another selling feature you should consider adding: a pre-sale inspection.

A professional home inspection is usually done on behalf of the buyer before the deal to purchase a property is finalized. In fact, you can expect any offers to purchase your home to be “conditional upon satisfactory home inspection.” However, there are two good reasons why you, as the seller, should get the home inspection done:

Reason #1

A professional inspection can identify problems that might otherwise thwart the sale.

Say, for example, you get a great offer but the buyer’s home inspector discovers a minor leak in the foundation. That might be enough to jeopardize the deal. However, if you had a professional inspection done, you would have had the opportunity to get that problem fixed in advance of the offer.

Reason #2

Informing potential buyers that a professional inspection has been done is a great selling feature. It demonstrates to buyers that there are no hidden problems with the property, which gives them more confidence to make an offer.

A certificate of home inspection can be as enticing a feature to home buyers as a wrap-around deck!

Need more ideas for selling your home faster and for a better price?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage
1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Is Your Home Market Ready?

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Marina Gavrylyuk

Putting your home on the market may be the last thing you have on your mind.

But as you know, life happens. Things change. You might unexpectedly find yourself in the position of wanting or having to quickly sell your home.

It happens more often than you might think. In fact, according to studies into why people sell their homes, more than a third are due to relatively quick and unexpected changes. Something happens – a job relocation, a lifestyle change – and the homeowner finds him or herself making a move.

In these situations, the biggest source of stress is caused by the need to prepare the current home for sale.

If you’ve lived in your house for a few years, or even just a few months, you know how quickly things can pile up. The garage and basement get filled with stored items. Things needing minor repairs get put on hold.

That’s why it’s a good idea, every so often, to inspect your property and ask yourself, “If I had to put my home on the market this month, what would I need to do?” Then plan to get those things done. That way, if you suddenly find yourself wanting to sell your home quickly and for the best price, you’ll be ready.

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage
1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Open House Tips That Turn Viewers Into Buyers

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Marina Gavrylyuk

What do you want from an open house? Obviously, you want to attract a lot of potential buyers — and have at least a few of them become seriously interested in your property.

So how do you make your open house as successful as possible?

You probably already know the basics: make sure your house is clean, bright and uncluttered.

However, there are some other open house success tips you may not know…

Get minor repairs done. A dripping faucet, a squeaky fence door, or a scuff on the wall may seem minor to you, but these problems can stand out like a sore thumb to a potential buyer.

Brighten things up. Make sure all areas of your home are well lit. Natural light has the most appealing effect. Open all the curtains.

Put away personal items. Trophies, pictures, mementos — all remind potential home buyers that they’re strangers in someone else’s home. Make each room look as impersonal yet inviting as possible. Stage your rooms as though they were in an attractive furniture store display.

Sniff around. There are probably smells around your home that you’ve become used to, or even like, such as lingering perfume scents in the bathroom or remnant odours from cooking an exotic meal. Try to make your home as scent-free as possible.

Take your pet for a long walk. Don’t leave them in the house during the event, no matter how friendly and well-behaved they may be. Some people just don’t like pets. Others may be allergic to them.

Make sure everything works. Check for burnt out light bulbs, run-on toilets, and derailed closet doors.

A final tip: Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t be at the open house yourself. Your presence can be intimidating to potential home buyers, no matter how cordial and helpful you try to be.

Need more tips on selling your home quickly and for the best price?
Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage
1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Three Lists To Make When Selling Your Home

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Marina Gavrylyuk

When you put your property up for sale, you want to make sure that potential buyers get all the information they need on the features of your home and its surrounding area. If, for example, a buyer doesn’t realize there is a great school just a couple of blocks away, he might cross your property off his shortlist. An effective way to make sure something like that doesn’t happen is to create three lists.

#1: The “I’ll miss it” list.

Chances are, there are things about your home that you’re really going to miss when you move. It may be the spacious living room, ideal for entertaining. Or the nearby park with scenic trails, perfect for walking and biking. Or the large deck that has just the right combination of shade and sun to make spending time on it pleasant.

Whatever you’ll miss put it on the list! Chances are, those are features that will also interest buyers.

#2: The “Just the facts” list.

What are the facts about your property that a buyer needs to know in order to consider purchasing it? This may be a very long list including such items as total square footage, number of bedrooms, number of washrooms, property taxes, size of yard, and more. This list should also include special features such as finished basement, upgraded kitchen features, and local golf course.

#3: The “repairs and improvements” list.

Buyers are interested in the state of repair of your home, and in any improvements you have made to it. On this list, include all repairs you have done during the past three years and, if possible, attach receipts. It’s especially important to include anything that has been replaced, such as a furnace or roof shingles.

If you’ve done any major remodelling or renovations, include the details on those, too.

Want more tips on selling your home quickly and for the best price? Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage
1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Happy Houses for Happy Families

Real Estate Broker Marina Gavrylyuk

Tag Archives: home

Lighting Matters When Selling Your House

Preparing Your House for Sale in Less Than a Week

Stay or move? How to decide

5 Things Home Buyers Don’t Want To See

Getting A Handle On The Home Selling Process

Be Sensible When it Comes to Scents

The Benefits of a Pre-Sale Inspection

Is Your Home Market Ready?

Open House Tips That Turn Viewers Into Buyers

Three Lists To Make When Selling Your Home