Question:
We have been looking at house with a REALTOR® over the past few weeks here. We have not been successful as of yet but I am concerned regarding the state of some of the homes I have looked at. When we sold our last home in British Columbia our REALTOR® advised us to clean our home and keep it clean while people were looking, and I am appalled at the condition that I am finding some of these houses in. I asked our REALTOR® about this and she said that she recommends to her clients exactly what we were told to do, but not all sellers follow that advice. I am astonished to find that sellers do not seem to care about the condition their home is in when others look at it. My question is will a clean home sell better than one that isn’t?

Mrs. W. T.

Answer:
Dear Mrs. W. T.

It is a given fact that a clean home will be sold faster than one that is not. Buyers want to see the home they are planning to buy in it’s best light, and that they will not be required to outlay time and money to get it to those standards. A well appointed, uncluttered CLEAN home will definitely sell faster and closer to its asking price than one that is not. Often the REALTOR® listing a property for sale will make suggestions to the seller regarding the state of their property, but it is up to the seller to make sure that they do those suggestions. Problem areas in homes foe sale are:

1. Kitchens and bathrooms should be clean and in good order
2. Windows should be cleaned to let the natural light in
3. bedrooms should have no clutter on floors and beds made
4. all closets should be cleaned and in order so Buyers can see in to them
5. Living rooms should be clean, bright and inviting
6. in summer windows should be open with screens on or if very warm central air should be going
7. in winter heat should be on and at good room temperature
8. grass should be cut in summer, sidewalks and driveways cleared in winter
9. PETS are a problem and each seller must deal with it as they see fit, but pet odors and temperamental pets can be a deterrent to many buyers.

There are many ways a seller can ensure that they get the best price for their property, but in the long run it is their decision to see that these happen. So thank you Mrs. W. T. for your observations as you look for a home in our community and I am sure the right property is out there.

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S6H 2E9