This document provides 5 things homeowners can do now to prepare their home for sale next year. It recommends putting goals in writing, studying the local real estate market, gathering necessary paperwork, creating a listing plan and timeline, and getting an early home inspection. The plan should specify preparation work, target listing price and date, and other selling details. Buyers are more likely to make offers on homes that are priced right and well-prepared for sale.

1. 5 Things to Do Now to Get Your
Home Sold

2. It’s that time of year when most of us start to
count our blessings, look back at what we’ve
accomplished and think about what we’ll get
done. If selling your home is part of your
resolution list for next year, there’s plenty of
prep work you can do to set yourself up for
home selling success.

3. 1. Put your intentions in writing. The first step
to any real estate transaction - actually, to
anything important in life! - is to get clear on
your goals. Unexpected challenges and
situations might very well come up in the course
of selling your home, so having a clear idea of
your ultimate goals at the outset is a must to
help you make the right decisions along the way
and to remind you when you might need to
course correct.

4. 2. Study the local market. The most successful
home sales are the listings that are priced right
from day one. Ask any agent: even in the
toughest markets, there are listing that sell
quickly, mostly because the one-two punch of
the property and its price look to buyers like a
very strong value.

5. 3. Gather your paperwork. In planning for your
sale, you can get a great head start by pulling
together the necessary paperwork now. Keep in
mind that the specific requirements vary by
province, so this is not an exhaustive list. In
general, you’ll need to have these ready.

6. 4. Prep your listing plan and timeline. After
you’ve done all your pricing homework and have
chosen a listing agent, you can create a plan and
timeline for how all the moving pieces will come
together - including who is responsible for
getting which tasks done. At minimum, your
plan should specify:

7. • prep work you’ll be doing to your property before
it’s listed for sale - including decluttering, staging
and any repairs or cosmetic power-tweaks you
plan to make.
• planned list price (based on current local market
conditions - this could change if you don’t plan to
list your home for several months)
• the target date on which your home will be listed
for sale in the local MLS; and

8. 5. Get a head start on your ‘homework. How much
prep work your home needs really depends on its
current condition. A good starting point for many
sellers is to order an inspection. Most buyers will
get their own inspection before closing a deal, but
getting ahead of them with your own will help you
avoid any unwanted surprises later on in the
transaction. An inspection will give you a reality
check on your home’s condition, enabling you to
decide upfront whether it’s worth it to fix
something now or simply reduce the price in
consideration thereof.

9. What other elements do you encourage sellers
to include in their listing plans?

10. Randy Bett
Investment Realtor/Author/Investor
Real Estate Professionals Inc.
Better Group Real Estate
202-5403 Crowchild Trail NW
Calgary, AB T3B 4Z1
Phone:403-774-7464 Ext:1
Fax:403-208-0082
Toll Free fax:888-711-6801

11. Randy Bett
www.BetterGroupRealEstate.ca