Thinking about listing your property on the Toronto market? We’ve got advice for you.

Real estate in Toronto is competitive. Even when the market is hot, it’s important that your home stands out from other listings. We’ve got the know-how to help you do just that.

Here are 10 must-know tips to sell your house fast and for top dollar.

1. Declutter

Over the years, most people accumulate clothes, furniture, and items without really noticing them. Decluttering is a simple, yet effective step that can make a home look larger and more spacious.

You want your prospective buyers to be able to visualize themselves in your home with their furniture and it is much easier to do that with fewer items lying around.

• Create a checklist. It’s easier to declutter when you’re organized and have a visual reference.
• Declutter 5 minutes at a time. Starting slow reduces overwhelm, and before you know it, you’ll have a whole new space!
• Give away one item each day. This reduces waste and helps clear your space quickly.
• Donate clothes. If you haven’t worn it in the last six months, it’s probably safe to get rid of.
• Employ the 4-box method. Label four boxes: “trash”, “giveaway”, “relocate”, and “keep”. This will provide you with an organized system for decluttering easily.

Pro-tip have a custom decluttering & selling recommendation list made for you upon getting your free home evaluation with Stephanie De Souza!

2. Create An Accent Wall

Make your house pop with an easy DIY accent wall for under $100! Accent walls are a unique feature and leave the prospective buyer remembering your property over other similar plain ones. In Toronto’s fast-paced market, it is all about making your property tastefully stand out to buyers who see several properties a week!

All you need to get started is paint, painter’s tape, measuring tape, level/ruler (optional), and a drip sheet (which can just be an old bed sheet).

• Start by measuring the wall.
• Apply the painter’s tape, pressing down with your hand to eliminate creases.
• Apply the paint.
• Remove all the tape before the paint is completely dry, to avoid smudging or chipping.

3. Smells & Aromas

People are very moved by what we smell. That’s because scents take a quick and direct route to your brain’s sensory system that relates to memory and emotion. So, good smells create good memories! Stephanie has noticed that entering a pleasant-smelling home sets the tone for the rest of the showing and keeps buyers interested and intrigued. Here are some options you can choose from:

• Choose neutral scents. Fresh linen, vanilla, baked cookies, etc.
• Opt for a warmer. Warmers heat concentrated scents for hours and spread the smell throughout the home.
• Large candles.
• Plug-in air fresheners.
• Incense sticks.

4. Create Curb Appeal

When it comes to the exterior of a property, most people think it is expensive to improve, and as a result, will sometimes avoid it altogether. However, a small budget and a little elbow grease can go a long way!

• Cut the grass.
• Paint the exterior (including the door).
• Paint the railings and handles.
• Install potted plants.

5. Paint The Interior

Never underestimate the power of a fresh coat of paint! It will rejuvenate the room with a fresh clean look, but be careful not to use overpowering colours and designs. Appeal to the largest number of people by choosing neutral colours for your walls. Remember, you don’t know who will want to buy your home, so you need to appeal to the majority of people.

• Use light colours to create the feel of more space, like beige, white, and light greys.
• Incorporate no more than one accent wall per room.
• Avoid strong colours, complex patterns, or designs that are too culturally specific.

6. Create A Connection

Show buyers what they can do with your space once it’s theirs! Highlight the special spots or unique ways you have utilized your space to allow the buyers to envision themselves and their families enjoying their potential new home. Here are some ways you can do that:

• Cozy family rooms with a reading nook.
• Morning coffee station with natural light.
• A patio with a grill for summer BBQs.

7. Remove Personal Photos

In order to make buyers feel comfortable and “at home” when viewing your place, allow them to picture themselves living in your home. Having a lot of personal pictures of you and your family would make that a little challenging. Potential buyers want to feel inspired, and be able to picture how their day-to-day life would look like in your space. Removing some of your personal pictures helps future owners imagine less of you and more of them in your home. Here are some better options:

• Abstract art.
• Scenic images.
• Geometric wall art.
• Choose decor pieces that represent your property and location, while remaining neutral (e.g. if you have a home by the water, select nautical-themed decor options).

8. Make The Beds

Making all the beds in your home is an easy and free trick to make every bedroom appear tidy and orderly. Beds are usually the largest furniture piece in each bedroom, and a messy bed can easily make a clean room look dishevelled. Make sure that all the beds are made whenever you have any scheduled showings for the day.

• Change out old bedding for new sets that match the overall colour scheme in each room.
• Add accent pillows for a pop.

9. Lighting

Lighting is everything! Ever notice how poor lighting creates a bad photo? Well, houses are no different! Homes don’t show well in poor & dim lighting. That’s why retailers always have their products in well-lit areas, sometimes even in bright showcases. Make sure that your home is well-lit to highlight its strong features.

• Ensure all the lights work properly.
• Replace old fixtures with new, modern ones.

10. Be Free For Showings

Simply put, the higher number of people that view your home, the higher the chances are that it will be sold fast, and for the most money. A house can only sell for its maximum potential if it has had full exposure and everyone that wanted to see it had a chance to view it. Therefore, an important factor when selling is being flexible with showing times!

• Ensure you’re out of the house during showings so buyers feel comfortable.
• Prioritize weekday evenings and weekdays for showings, as these are the most popular times for buyers.