Even in a hot market, before you put your home on the market among real estate for sale in Whistler or anywhere else, there’s some work you’ll need to do first. Selling a home requires a lot more than simply putting up a “For Sale” sign in the yard or placing an ad on Craigslist, particularly if you’re hoping to get the maximum dollar possible. And why wouldn’t you?

If you do these five things before your home is listed, you’ll increase the odds of getting the offer you’re hoping for, and perhaps several of them.

1. Pack Up Personal Decor and Eliminate Clutter

According to the 2019 National Association of Realtors’ home staging study, cleaning and decluttering was the No. 1 task real estate agents recommended to their clients. The first step is to pack up any of your personal decor, family photographs, children’s drawings, mementos and the like so that buyers see your home as a clean slate that makes it easier to get emotionally attached. If a buyer can walk through and determine your profession, favorite sports team, religious preference, and so on, they’ll be more likely to move on to the next place, especially when your choices conflict with theirs. 

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to declutter, anything else laying around on shelves, counters, tabletops, and even in closets, should be tossed, donated, or stored. You want everything to look well-organized with the less junk the better.

2. Re-Paint or At Least Touch It Up

One of the least expensive ways to make your home look its best is to give it a fresh coat of paint. In fact, certain colors can even boost the selling price of your home, with blue a favorite among buyers, ranging in shades from powder blue to periwinkle in the bathroom, a soft gray-blue in the kitchen and a cadet or ocean blue in bedrooms. Living rooms are best in shades like taupe that create a calming feeling. 

If re-painting isn’t an option, do a touch-up using leftover paint from your last paint job. If you don’t have any, peel off a little and bring it to your local home improvement store to match. Use it to touch up areas with scrapes, nail holes, chips, and handprints.

3. Focus on Curb Appeal

You’ve heard about the importance of curb appeal before, and it really can’t be understated. Ensuring that your lawn is mowed and your landscaping looks well cared for is a must. One of the easiest ways to freshen it up is to add a layer of new mulch. It’s also a good idea to trim overgrown bushes and plants, pull weeds, and perhaps even plant some flowers. Pay attention to your home’s entrance too, you might add potted plants to the porch, perhaps a new door knob or even a fresh coat of paint on the front door. 

4. Hire a Good Agent

One of the secrets to maximizing profits is hiring a good agent. While you might think you can go the FSBO (for sale by owner) route to avoid paying commissions, your property may never make it to the local multiple listing service (MLS) which means it will get a lot less traffic. Odds are if it does sell, it will sell for less. Of course, it’s also important to ensure you get a good agent by checking references from recent clients. Ideally he or she will have a lot of experience in your particular market. 

5. Look at It Like a Buyer

After you’ve thoroughly cleaned, decluttered, and made any necessary fixes, take a look at your home as if you were a buyer. Consider every tiny detail, from the blinds and ceiling fans to baseboards, tile grout, and windows. If you don’t have time to polish everything up it might be worth hiring a professional.