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"A Sellers' Guide" --- for Real Estate in Victoria, BC
 The one factor that speaks the loudest to your potential purchasers is price. The condition and location of your property will also attract buyers but the right pricing will be the most influential factor in determining the length of time it will take to sell your home.  If your house is listed and has had a number of showings but no offers, then it may be time to consider a price adjustment.
If you feel your house isn't selling as fast as it should, it is time to sit down with your Realtor® and re-examine your pricing. Your Realtor® can provide you with the selling prices of comparable properties in your area. There is no point in looking at what properties are LISTED at - the market is determined by what homes are actually SELLING for.
Your Realtor® will also be able to tell you how long these properties were listed before they sold. This information needs to be current, as the present market may be very different from what it was 6 months or a year ago. While you may be able to check listing prices in your area, only your Realtor® will have easy access to the actual sales prices through the Multiple Listing Service.
A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted – or at least freshly scrubbed – front door. If it is autumn, rake the leaves. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better.
Here is your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the  living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to your property. If you’re worried about time, hire professional cleaners or painters to get your house ready.
Remember, prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look "with a little work."
Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home. Find a plumber, electrician or general contractor to help.
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospect’s mind. Do not try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a closing.
 Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, extension cords, kids' toys, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your residence as non-perilous as possible for uninitiated visitors.
Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.
The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now is the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats, and shower curtains.
Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must.
Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is.
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside - when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: Keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.
If the wood floor in the dining room is rotten in the middle and you plop a rug and the big table over it - and you don't tell your listing Realtor® - the next big table you look over may be in a courtroom!
When your Realtor® asks you for a list of any defects that's in your house, they are not just using fair business practices; they are also obeying the law. No longer is it "buyer beware" in our country. There are laws in place specifically governing the disclosure of defects by the seller of a home.
Your Realtor® will ask you for written and signed disclosure of any defects. Failing to do this, can not only result in the loss of a sale if the buyer discovers the defect before the deal is closed, it can also leave you open to litigation. The buyer may sue you when the defect is discovered and the court will not be sympathetic to you. Claiming ignorance is not likely to be any more effective than telling the Police Officer who is writing you a ticket that you didn't know what the speed limit was!
We all want the best "bang" for our buck. After all, we've worked so hard to get what we have. Sometimes when an offer is made on a home, the seller is offended. Try to remember that this is a business deal and the buyer is just trying to get the best deal he or she can. Think negotiate.
A good real estate agent is your best candidate for this task. A professional Realtor® is skilled in negotiating offers and counter-offers between buyers and sellers. They can act as a mediator and advise both parties. Sometimes these negotiations can go on for weeks! If the negotiations are happening, the buyer wants your property. Remember a successful deal is one where everyone comes away happy.
So take heart and rely on your Realtor® advice. If an offer is too low, don't be discouraged: counter offer! Your Realtor® will be the mediator for offers and counter offers and will advise you all the way through the process.
Wayne Glazier
Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
#110 - 4460 Chatterton Way
Victoria, BC
Canada V8X 5J2
Tel: 250.477.5353 Fax: 250.477.3328
Toll Free: 800.461.5353 E mail: rwglazier@soldbc.com
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