With so many other houses for sale, how can you make yours appealing and attractive? Here are a few tips to help you attract potential buyers! 

First, in order to optimize your approach, you have to ask yourself: who is your property for? Be specific! Would it be perfect for a small family or for a professional couple without children? With their knowledge of the market, a real estate broker can help the seller to better target the ideal buyer. “Pleasing everyone is not the most efficient way to find a buyer,” says Guillaume Boily, real estate broker at RE/MAX, and team member of Andréa Côté. Then establish the strengths and weaknesses of your home, putting an emphasis on the former. For example, your street is busy, but your property is very attractive. So, focus on the interior finish without dwelling on the location. Bring out the best in your home…

What’s your category? 

You also need to know what category your home falls into to better present it to buyers. According to Boily, there are three main categories. The first is for renovation projects. This could be a house from the 80s that hasn’t had any renovations or much maintenance. The second is a home that needs upgrades: “It’s a house in good condition, there has been a lot of maintenance over the years, but the bathroom is original and the floors are still parquet,” explains Boily.

Finally, the turnkey house. It’s not necessarily a new construction, but it won’t require maintenance or renovation. Once your category is determined, the buyer has a better idea of what to expect: will they need to undertake major renovations, or just make small additions? It could be the turnkey aspect that interests them… You have to present your type of house well.

Both neutral and alive!

As soon as they set foot into your home, the potential buyer must be able to make it their own: “They have to imagine themselves living in your home when they visit it,” reminds Boily. He adds that it has to be depersonalized while still maintaining a lively appeal. We don’t want to be in a place that seems uninhabited either… Here are some subtle things you can do easily: First, put away your display of family photos. The interior should be neutral, allowing the person to visualize themselves better, as if they were already at home! Put the dog’s bowl in a cupboard and don’t leave the kids’ toys lying around. Also remove busy, flashy decorations or massive, overstuffed furniture, such as your china cabinet filled with various, bright colors. “When you have too many elements, you can take away the imagination of the buyers who visit the house,” says Boily.

One little coat of paint 

Changing the paint is the least expensive and most beneficial modification. Do you have a kitchen with beautiful wood cabinets? Unfortunately, the faded yellow or old pale green on the walls don’t really do justice to the room… Choose a colour that will highlight the attention-grabbing elements. “With whites and light grays, you can’t go wrong,” says Boily. 

For the buyer, the first contact is usually made on the internet via photos of your house. A simple glance will determine if they want to visit it or not… Sometimes all it takes is a fresh coat of paint on the walls to get some beautiful images!

A clean and accessible yard

People also come to view the property before an official visit. They want to see what it really looks like, and more importantly, if it is well maintained. In the summer, if you need to wash siding, windows, and gutters, don’t wait to do it! Carefully mow your lawn, pamper your flower bed, and pick up any bikes blocking the driveway. During the winter, clear the snow and the entrance properly: the buyer should not slip on icy steps. They also should not sink into the snow trying to get to the house. “A well-maintained exterior suggests that the interior will be well maintained as well,” explains Boily. Now you can attract buyers to your home!

NADIA BERGERON