Guest Contributor
By Caroline Inman
One of the many constants we have as military families is the knowledge that there will always be another posting for us, and invariably, just as we’re getting settled and enjoying our current one. If this is true for you in 2020, read on to find out what tips and trends could set you apart from others as your home hits the market.
Interview Realtors
According to Jan Ayres, from Ottawa Military Relocations, a former CAF member and Broker with Innovation Realty in Ottawa, you can never be too prepared. “Even if you don’t have your posting message in hand, you can still proactively plan ahead, so there is far less to juggle at the time,” she says. “Start by interviewing a few realtors to see who you like and what services they offer. Make sure they’re an approved BGRS supplier but also make sure you ask probing questions, as, unfortunately, BGRS doesn’t screen realtors,” she adds.
Ayres suggests asking how many years they’ve been in real estate and, how many relocations they’ve completed with positive results, as well as how many homes they’ve sold in the past year. Do they provide additional services to you at no cost, like staging, professional photos and video, a quality brochure, an interactive guide, and extensive marketing?
“Also, be sure that they comply with BGRS’ commission guidelines (which are different in each province), meaning they agree to charge the member a flat commission rate and will not look to increase their margin at a cost to you.”
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is something professional stager Lucie Meloche, owner of Total Refresh Home Staging, also advocates and says the most significant things you can do before anything else is declutter and clean! “It’s a huge factor in any space, making the square footage of your home visible by having less ‘stuff’ and then having that area sparkle; that’s more than half the battle,” she says.
Meloche, who is regularly featured in home and lifestyle magazines for her transformative work, adds you don’t have to spend much money, but you do have to shift your mindset. “Your home now needs to show like a model home. We know that no one lives like that, but any potential buyer walking in has to want to see more and be able to see themselves living there,” notes Meloche.
She continues, “You have one chance to showcase your property, so attention to detail is important. There has to be a flow to all spaces. Pay the most attention to the main floor and the master bedroom. By the time anyone gets upstairs, they’re either sold or walking away.”
Tips for Staging
Calming colours are still very much in – think oat, pale grey, off-white, and cream. ‘Calm’ by Benjamin Moore is Meloche’s go-to right now.
- Accent colours like silver frost, bright red, or turquoise all work
- Don’t overthink things. Simple, clean, and a flow to each room – let the space do the talking.
- Big pictures on big walls; little pictures on little walls! Don’t drown a small print on a vast area; keep it at eye level.
- Scatter cushions and throws are the easiest and cheapest way to modernize or freshen a room. Make sure there are rectangular cushions on chairs and only a few of any size, pattern or shape on a sofa or sectional.
For more information on approved BGRS suppliers and commission guidelines, visit here.
