Gary Sims Victoria Homes Blog

We are Gary Sims, a Realtor®, and Rosemary Tulett, a past Realtor® and now a Registered Unlicensed Assistant, (and a happily married couple) work together as "Gary Sims Victoria Homes" in Beautiful Victoria, British Columbia on southern Vancouver Island, Canada with a well-respected local brokerage, DFH Real Estate Ltd. located at #202-3795 Carey Road, Victoria B.C. Canada V8Z 6T8.

We provide residential real estate services to buyers and sellers alike, with a special interest in helping those relocating to Victoria from elsewhere, as well as local people downsizing and retiring so that our clients have the opportunity to enjoy their retirement in this wonderful city and surrounding areas on Vancouver Island.

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Are you moving or downsizing your home and need to sell your home quickly? Are you wondering where to get started and really wish you had a plan? Then what you need is a comprehensive checklist! So step right up and learn these great tips and then get your 5 page "Free Printable Home Selling Checklist To Help Downsize Your Home" when you downsize or relocate to Beautiful Victoria, BC Canada. (Watch the Video for the music introduction)

Watch this on our YouTube Channel Video: 

or read the following blog for the full details:

If you want to chat to find out more about buying or selling in Victoria, finding out the value of your home, or any other real estate topic then simply book a Phone or Zoom call at this link: https://calendly.com/gary_sims

To subscribe to receive notifications of our YouTube video releases and newsletters please use this link: https://randg.video/subscribe-video-newsletter

Enjoy!
Gary and Rosemary

"We love people and we love homes!"

Beginning of Written Blog Starts Here:

When you decide to downsize and sell your home you are very excited! But then you remember. Ah, years of collecting and now you have every room packed and don't have any idea about how to get your home ready for the sale happening real soon. If that is you then you are in the right place. keep reading for all the details and  how to get your free 5 page "Printable Home Selling Checklist".

Hi, I am Gary and I live with my wife Rosemary in Beautiful Greater Victoria on southern Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. We are Realtors with DFH Real Estate Ltd. here in Victoria BC, Canada.

We believe this is the best place in Canada to live and to retire to. Come and check it out!

If you want to know more about Victoria and would like to talk to me then you can find my online schedule below where you can book a Discovery phone or Zoom call with me.

Book a phone or Zoom call with Gary at this link: https://calendly.com/gary_sims

or

Email: homes@garyvictoriahomes.ca

Please note that I have not included every tip in this blog but this will give you a good overview. Read this blog to the end to find out how to download my "Free Printable Home Selling Checklist" which has the full details.

The best place to start is at the beginning.

Number 1: Clean and Replace

You want your home to look amazing. Here are some general things to do first. The best way to start is to clean your home fully. Not just the floors but really everything. A lot of people do not realize that the small stuff really matters to potential buyers. Things to consider are:

• Light Switch Covers
• The fireplace
• Replace burned out light bulbs. I changed 18 bulbs in a recent sale while helping a seller. I am not sure how they were able to see anything. 
• Carpets and blinds should be washed
• The front door could be washed or even painted to be freshened
• Look at both the interior and exterior paint. I believe paint gives the best bang for the buck versus most other home improvements. It is relatively inexpensive, quick to do, and makes your house look amazing. So, consider this!
• And more…

Number 2: Dust Everything

Everything must be dusted. Then a day or two before your house goes live for sale you should have a good dusting and go through again.
Look at:

• Walls
• Blinds
• Ceilings
• Baseboards 
• and 2 more…

Number 3: Make It Inviting

When the prospective buyer comes to view your home, they want to feel like the home could be very comfortable and will try to imagine what it could be like. Therefore, you can do a lot of things to make your home inviting. Some things are:

• Rearrange furniture to maximize visual floor space
• Pack up all knick-knacks and figurines and put them away. 
• Prune and nurture all house plants
• Remove any furniture that you can live without. Leave space for the buyers to imagine their own things in the home
• And 7 more…

Now let's focus a bit more on specific rooms within your home.

Living Rooms and Family Rooms are often the first rooms viewed and set the tone for the viewing.

• Keep coffee tables clear
• Remove any ashtrays
  If you smoke consider renting an Ozone Machine to remove smoke odor
• Keep furniture at a minimum
• And 2 more…

Dining Room when properly staged can give the home a touch of elegance.

• Bottom of Chandelier should be at a minimum of 60 inches (1.5m) from the floor
• Keep dining table clear except for one nice centrepiece
• Remove extra chairs from the table and dining room
• And 2 more…

Bedrooms should be tidy and inviting. Who does not love their bed?

• Make beds daily, invest in new bedspreads if necessary
• Clear off bedside tables, dressers, etc.
• Store daily necessities in drawers or closets
• Organize closets to be nice and keep closet doors closed
• And 3 more…

Kitchens are the centre of the home where we like to gather while food is being prepared.

• Clear all items from kitchen countertops
• Clean tile grout; bleach if needed
• Clean the stove, oven, and microwave
• Clear the refrigerator of magnets, pictures, and messages
• Repair broken or loose corners on Formica countertops 
• Replace burner pans on the stove if worn
• And 6 more…

Let's keep the Laundry spiffy clean.

• Put soap and supplies in cupboards
• Keep all surfaces and sink clean and empty
• Use high watt bulbs to make it look brighter 
• And 3 more…

Bathrooms, Tubs, and Showers must be spotless. 

• Clear and clean ALL surfaces
• Display a bottle of hand soap or a clean bar of soap
• Purchase new towels if necessary
• Coordinate all linens in one or two colours
• Fold towels in thirds on towel rack
• Remove all unnecessary items out of shower stalls and tubs 
• And 6 more…

Garages should be organized and not a place to hide junk.

• Clean and sweep out the garage
• Keep storage nice and neat
• Repaint dirty areas
• And 2 more…

Exterior of Your Home is important as curb appeal will bring buyers into your property.
Look at your house objectively from your neighbour's yard.

• Clean or repaint the front door if needed
• Repaint the exterior and trim if needed
• Replace any rotten wood on the exterior 
• Sweep all walkways, patios, porches, and decks 
• Pressure wash any dirty/stained concrete 
• And 5 more…

The Yard and Garden are very important to families with kids. 

• Prune bushes and plants to look healthy
• Do not allow shrubs or plants to block windows 
• Weed all planting areas
• Put down fresh mulch to restore colour contrast 
• And 3 more…

Preparation may seem daunting at first. However, with a proper plan and this handy checklist you will be able to rapidly get your home perfectly ready for that sale coming soon.

I have not included every tip here so grab the Free Printable Home Selling Checklist to get the full details.

Get Your Checklist Here: https://randg.video/get-home-seller-checklist

(Note you will need to put in your name, email, and phone#. The guide will come into your email mailbox in a minute or two for download. Also let us know if you are planning to sell or buy in the next 12 months).

If you would like to talk to me about downsizing, retirement, the Victoria market or anything else real estate related, then you can find my online booking schedule below for booking either a phone or Zoom call or send me an email with your phone number and I will call you. I would be glad to chat with you.

Book a phone or Zoom call with Gary at this link: https://calendly.com/gary_sims

or

Email: homes@garyvictoriahomes.ca

If you liked this blog then please come back soon for my next weekly blog. I would also love to hear your comments about this blog or any other real estate topic.

And checkout my YouTube weekly videos with lots of useful content on the current real estate market, new listings, things to see and do in Greater Victoria. Press the Subscribe Button and touch the Notification Bell to be notified of my new weekly video releases.

Our YouTube Video Site: https://youtube.com/@garysimsvictoriahomes

Thank you for reading this blog and I will see you next time!

Gary Sims