The Kelowna real estate market is heating up and becoming more competitive. Home buyers are not your standard house guests. These people are looking to make a serious investment, which means that they will be opening cupboard doors, checking light switches, and peeking in nooks that you’ve long since forgotten. Selling your home here can be next to impossible if you make these common mistakes.

1. Think your personal items are a nice touch? Nobody really wants to see or think about who lived there before. They only want to think of the house as their own.    

2. Don’t forget about your curb appeal. It’s a home buyer’s first and last impression, so your curb appeal is essential.     

3. Don’t leave a mess. It’s a no brainer to clean up before a showing, and we recommend getting a second opinion because sometimes we get so used to our own homes they we overlook small bits of built-up dirt and grime.    

4. Don’t forget about your walls. A simple wipe down and patching up holes or cracks     on your walls can go a long way.    

5. Don’t let your pets greet potential buyers. Pet smells and hints of their presence can turn off many potential buyers.     

6. Don’t be a dust bunny. Light fixtures, blinds, and decorations are mischievous dust magnets and often get overlooked in regular cleaning regimen.         

7. Don’t leave unfinished DIY jobs for “another day”. Unfinished projects make buyers wonder, “what else did they leave unfinished”         

8. Don’t let yourself believe that designs from ten or more years ago are still in style. Some homes will always be classic, but most homes need regular updates. By updating your home you can increase the property value and get a better return on your investment. If redecorating is a reason for selling your home, be sure that your selling price reflects that.    

9. Don’t be afraid of beige. Beige and other neutral colors have the huge advantage of being right for just about anyone’s taste. At the very least, most people find beige to be tolerable until they can paint their own colours onto the walls. Neutrals also have the added benefit of bringing calmness to a room and allow potential buyers to create their own perception about the space.    

10. Don’t use your countertops as storage space. It’s nice to have kitchen tools and small appliances out for easy access, but they won’t help sell your house and can actually deter buyers because of too much clutter. It also gives the impression that there isn’t enough storage space in your cupboards which can be a deal breaker for many buyers.

Check over this list during the process of selling your home in our beautiful Kelowna real estate market– you’ll be glad you did.