In today’s seller’s market, it can be challenging to know whether or not you should sell your home. Moving is stressful, time consuming, and costly, so it is important to be sure you are ready to move before you sell your home. We have compiled the top 5 signs you are ready to sell your home in this article for your use. 

The first sign you may be ready to sell your home is that it is not suiting your needs anymore. Perhaps your family has grown and your house no longer has enough space to comfortably fit everyone and their belongings. Or, you could be looking to retire and the house and its associated maintenance is becoming too much to reasonably need. It could be as simple as wanting a larger yard for a family pet, or needing an inlaw suite for family members that may require a higher level of care. We recommend creating a list of all the things you would want in a home, and all the things that you need in a home, and then comparing it to your current housing conditions. Sometimes the emotional and monetary cost to moving is not worth gaining a couple new features of a home, but sometimes it is. It is up to you to decide if your current home can suit your needs enough to stay. 

The second sign that you may be prepared to sell your home is that you have a clear plan going forward. It may be beneficial to consult with a real estate agent to learn what the market value of the homes you would want to move into would be in the area you want. This can help you make a choice whether or not you want to sell your home and move on to new adventures. It may also take many months for you to find your next home depending on how specific your requests are, so planning ahead will make sure that you do not sell your current home before having a move-in date for your next house. You can also speak to a Realtor® about what the average days on market is for your current neighborhood to see how much time you might have during the selling process. 

The third sign that selling your home might be for you is that you are in a financial place where this is feasible. Depending on how much equity you currently have in your house and the current market conditions, you may end up paying out of pocket for some expenses if selling your home does not cover the cost of purchasing a new one. Be sure to check with a financial advisor and real estate agent before starting the home buying process to see what kind of mortgage you would qualify for, as well as adjusting your expectations of what your net profit would be from selling your current home. 

Another sign that selling your home now is a good choice is that the market is favorable to sellers. At the time of this blog’s writing, the Calgary market is still quite “hot” and properties are moving very quickly. Many home listings end in a bidding war, which can increase the profit for the seller of the home. Before making the decision to sell your home or not, it could be useful to have an experienced Realtor® complete a home evaluation of your home for you. This will give you an idea of how much your home would be able to get if you listed it. As well, a real estate agent can help you as a buyer know if the market is at its prime for sellers or not.

The final sign that you may be ready to sell your home is that you are emotionally prepared for the selling and buying process. If you have children and are considering selling the home they grew up in, you could experience some additional emotional turmoil when selling. Not to mention potential pushback from your children. Preparing your home to sell can be a lot of time and energy, and having to accommodate showings can also be stressful for any home seller. Choosing a time where homes stay on the market for less time can be helpful, but it is not always possible. As well, choosing an experienced and helpful real estate agent can of course make this process go smoother, but there will always be stressful points in moving, no matter how good your agent is. Preparing yourself for these situations and changing your expectations can significantly improve this process, and hopefully make selling your home a more pleasant experience! 

Here at YYC Real Estate Advisors, we are always here to help you with any of your real estate needs. If you have any additional questions about this blog post or selling your home in general please feel free to reach out to us. We would be happy to provide additional advice or direction. 

It’s that time of year again. The snow is melting, flowers are blooming, and the weather is getting warmer. But this also means one thing is inevitable: spring cleaning. We know that spring cleaning isn’t exciting for everyone, so we have scoured the internet for the best cleaning lists, tips, and tricks so you don’t have to.  

If you want to go full force into spring cleaning, you can head to Bleach, Pray, Love (the website of the beloved Instagram account @gocleanco) to download their spring cleaning guide which enters you into their spring cleaning challenge where you have the chance to win $5,000 (USD). Before entering, make sure to read the full set of rules on their website.

Also, make sure to visit Today, where they go into full detail on these lists to maximize your cleaning strategies!

For now, here are our picks for spring cleaning lists, tips, & tricks!

Tips to Get Started:

1. Work top to bottom, left to right 
2. Pull everything away from the walls & clean behind
3. Schedule in cleaning times so you don’t get overwhelmed 
4. Focus on one room at a time
5. Always clear the clutter

Interesting Cleaning Tricks:

1. Disinfect your keyboard with a toothbrush and some vinegar
2. Use dish detergent to clean your window screens
3. Freshen up your mattress with baking soda
4. Clean bathroom fans with pressurized canned air
5. Vacuum first, then scrub & disinfect

Cleaning Lists:

General Home:

• Dust and spot-clean walls
• Clean ceiling fans
• Use a dry microfiber mop on ceilings
• Wash windows, sills, curtains and blinds
• Dust and clean lamps, light switches and plates
• Dust and polish surfaces
• Sweep, vacuum and mop floors
• Clean carpets, as necessary
• Wash area rugs
• Clear clutter and sort into keep/toss/donate piles
• Dust knicknacks, framed art and decorative objects

Kitchen:

• Clean kitchen sink
• Replace sponges
• Clean dishwasher
• Clean stovetop, oven and range hood
• Clean microwave inside and out
• Clear old items from fridge and freezer
• Clean refrigerator and freezer inside and out
• Clean water and ice dispensers
• Wash and refill ice cube trays
• Clean drip pan, condenser coils and fan
• Wash countertops
• Neaten up counters and shelves
• Clean and organize cabinets and drawers
• Clean coffee maker
• Wipe down exteriors of small appliances
• Clean knife block and wooden cutting block
• Polish silverware and silver servingware
• Season cast iron pans
• Disinfect trash can

Bathroom:

• Clean bathroom fan
• Clean and organize medicine cabinet
• Wash sink and mirror
• Clean cabinets and drawers
• Polish handles and drawer pulls
• Clean or replace toothbrushes
• Scrub shower and tub
• Seal grout, if warn out
• Clean and descale shower head
• Clean toilet brush holder
• Launder all washcloths and towels
• Clean hairbrushes, makeup brushes and makeup bag
• Disinfect trash can

Livingroom:

• Vacuum upholstery on couch and chairs
• Spot-clean any stains
• Clean, polish and touch up wood furniture
• Dust and clean tables and shelves
• Dust and clean the television
• Disinfect the remote control get chimney inspected and cleaned
• Sweep out fireplace
• Dust and clean the mantel
• Remove any wood you don’t plan to use
• Change filter in air purifying device

Bedroom:

• Store out-of-season clothes and shoes
• Get rid of things you don’t want/need
• Clean top of dresser and inside the drawers
• Tackle nightstand clutter
• Put jewelry away
• Wash (or polish) headboard
• Strip bed and launder bedding
• Vacuum mattress with an upholstery attachment
• Spot-clean any stains
• Rotate (or flip) the mattress
• Make the bed with clean bedding

Laundry Room:

• Clean the exterior of the washer
• Wash around the door and gasket
• Scrub detergent dispensers 
• Clean the washer drum
• Wash the exterior of the dryer
• Clear the lint filter
• Clean the dryer drum
• Remove lint from behind the dryer
• Clean any residue off the iron
• Organize laundry products, wipe down containers
• Recycle empty containers
• Empty the lint bin
• Sort and wash dirty laundry

Home Office:

• Sort paperwork: what to keep, what to toss
• File “keeper” paperwork; recycle the rest
• Clean phone, earbuds and headphones
• Disinfect wallet, purse, laptop and tote bags
• Clean computer screen and tablet
• Shake out crumbs and disinfect computer keyboard
• Wipe down cords
• Clean and straighten up desk
• Tackle clutter
• Dust bookshelves

Other Areas:

• Tidy the shoe rack and coat area in foyer
• Organize closets
• Clean the attic and basement 
• Organize sorted items
• Check for mold and mildew, clean as necessary
• Neaten up the porch
• Clean front yard, backyard and gutters
• Spruce up the driveway and sidewalk areas