Staging
Staging is included in my services. Statistics show that homes that are staged sell quicker and for more money than homes that are not staged. Staging is a vital component to producing great photographs and to ensuring that potential buyers are excited when they view your property. How a home looks during day to day living is very different from how it must look to sell.
My staging partner, Karen Hest, from Engaging Staging will meet with you to walk through your home. During this consultation, Karen will determine what needs to be done to prepare your home for listing and will provide you with a list of tasks that you can do to get your home ready. In most cases, that consists of putting away unnecessary furnishings and accessories to open up the space in your home. Once those items are completed, Karen will come back to your home and complete her staging work.
Professional Photographs
Once the staging process has been completed, my professional photographers will come to your home to take a series of photos of the exterior and interior of your home. Great photos, for both on-line viewing and print advertising, are a key element to inviting potential buyers to book an appointment to view your home. Over 85% of all home buyers choose the homes they go to view by what they see on-line.
My MLS listings include up to 24 photos and my listings appear on many different websites. The final choice of photos to be used is made by me. For unique properties that might take a little longer to sell, photos are updated to coordinate with the season and outdoor weather.
Advertising – Print and Digital
My choice for print advertising is Homes and Land magazine. This attractive, coffee table suitable magazine is published and distributed every four weeks. Over 32,000 copies are available through-out Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton, Dundas, Milton and surrounding areas each month. Homes and Land magazine not only has its own website, but is also connected to many other real estate websites. When I advertise your property in Homes and Land magazine your home listing is linked to websites including globeandmail.com, The New York Times, zoocasa, househunting.ca, houselocator.com, my own website and many others.
I am a member of three different real estate boards: The Hamilton-Burlington Real Estate Board, The Oakville-Milton and District Real Estate Board and The Toronto Real Estate Board. This gives your listing maximum exposure to people living in areas from east of Toronto to Niagara and everywhere in between.
Open Houses
Agent Open Houses – An agent open house is held soon after your listing commences. Especially for unique properties, this is an opportunity to show your home to realtors that may have buyers looking in your area. Agent open houses are generally held, depending on the area in which you live, in the morning from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Public Open Houses – My experience shows me that open houses are more important than ever. I recently heard that the average buyer spends 16 weeks looking at homes on their own before they go out with their realtor. This can be through on-line searches, MLS and by going to open houses. I have sold many properties as a result of public open houses. Open houses are generally held on a Sunday, but can also be on a Saturday, from 2:00 to 4:00. I advertise all of my open houses on openhouses.ca.