Six simple steps to successfully sell your home
It pays to be well prepared when the time comes to sell your home.  By following these six simple steps, you can help ensure that your home will sell quickly, and for the price you want.

Step 1: Create a Marketing Plan
A marketing plan will significantly help to attract buyers and distinguish your home in a competitive market.  A good plan will include a range of marketing activity from newspaper ads and open houses to an Internet listing.  Century 21 Classic’s Local Experts use the Century 21 Customized Marketing System to create a personalized selling program for our clients. It’s designed to sell your home at the best price possible in the shortest amount of time.

Step 2: Set the Price
The list price is crucial in selling your home.  If a home is priced too low, it may cost you money; if it is too high, potential buyers may be scared away. The best way to set your price is to check the cost of recently sold homes in your neighbourhood, study market trends, and check out the competition.  Century 21 Classic Local Experts are trained to use this information to help you set the right asking price.  Your price should also include your conditions, such as timing and any items that will be included in the sale price because these can make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Step 3: Get set for Showtime
If you want the best price, your home should appeal to potential buyers.  Start with a good cleaning, then eliminate any clutter, add a fresh coat of paint and tidy up the yard. Your real estate agent will be able to offer other tips to help you boost your home's curb appeal and impress potential buyers once they're in the door.  Finally, make sure you are aware of any federal, provincial or local disclosure laws; information on these laws can be obtained from local and federal governments, or from your Century 21 Classic Local Expert. 

Step 4: Protect Yourself
A home sale can be an invitation for danger for buyers, and for you; here’s how you can protect yourself and make the process safer.

• Ask for identification
• Ask for pre-approval letters 
• Lock up and hide collectibles and valuables 
• Remember "For Sale" signs bring in buyers. Do not allow your children to open doors to strangers. 
• If you have pets, make sure they are controlled
• Remove any dangerous items 
• Talk to your Century 21 Classic Local Expert about additional safety tips to help protect you and your family.

Step 5: Make the Deal
When it is time to negotiate, trust your real estate agent to guide you through this process. He or she will help you achieve the price, terms and conditions that you want. Once you have accepted an offer, be sure that you meet all deadlines and criteria, including home inspections, appropriate buyer visits and scheduled deposits so it is completed successfully. 

Be prepared for possible renegotiations of the accepted offer price based on these inspections and visits. As the closing nears, you may need to perform repairs or do additional work to the house as agreed upon in your contract. Additionally, you will need to have the house fully clean prior to the closing so that the buyer can complete a final walk-through.

At the closing, be sure to bring all of the certificates and approvals as required by your town, county or province. Your Century 21 Classic Local Expert can provide you with a list.  Once the money has changed hands, and the papers are signed, it's time to hand over the keys and concentrate on your next big project - getting YOUR new home in order.

Step 6: Prepare for Your Move
Once you have concluded your transaction and your date of sale has been confirmed, it is time to start planning your move. Our Century 21 Classic Local Experts can be of great assistance. They are knowledgeable about Century 21 Connections, our exclusive AIR MILES programs and of course our own Real Estate Mall soon to open at our Wyse Road head office. We recommend that you sit down with one of our sales associates today to discuss how our network of service partners can make your move a more pleasant and profitable experience.