Selling your home is never a simple task. But with the right intentions, goals and help, you can get an edge on navigating the real estate landscape and yield a higher return on your investment.

With that in mind, here are 10 New Year's resolutions to put on your list for 2017!

1. Purge and clear the way for the new year

Let’s take this moment to let go of everything we’ve been holding onto that no longer serves us. Now is the time to examine the whole house and decide what stays and what goes.

Break down your home into rooms and tackle them one-by-one. De-clutter and simplify ruthlessly.

• Empty closets
• Clear bookcases
• Spruce up the kitchen & clean off counters
• Make bathrooms spotless
• Flush out basements, attics, and garages

De-cluttering and tidying up your home will be one of the best thing can do in 2017. Not only will you feel much better, but it will increase your homes appeal and perceived value when buyers view it.

2. Increase your homes value

Knowing where to put your time and energy is essential to keep costs down while increasing your homes value for 2017. We’ve broken down our top tips here to help you discover where to put in the work to help you get the most out of your home for sale this year. We would also suggest reaching out to an agent that you trust for their advice. When making improvements to your home you want to be sure that you are going to get a return on that added investment. An agent will be able to advise you whether or not they think it's going to be worth it to redo those cabinets, replace that carpet, or whatever it is you're considering doing.

3. Stage your home effectively

Once you’ve effectively purged and cleaned your home you can devote more time in improving its appearance. Effective home staging can dramatically increase your homes perceived value and overall vibe. Attracting the right kind of buyers and getting you more value on your investment.

If you’re looking for new ideas or inspiration for your home right now, checkout our recent blog post on The Hottest Home Trends of 2016 According to Pinterest.

4. Don’t neglect minor repairs

It’s a good idea to set aside some time over a few weekends in 2017 to fix those pesky leaks, drips and cracks around the home. Take care of the issues now so they won’t crop up later in a report when you go to sell your home. You may even want to consider getting a home inspection before listing your home to see what a buyer might find, and to make sure that you're not blindsided by costly repairs that you were unaware of.

Go the distance and invite a friend over, and get their opinion on what they think really needs to be modified or repaired to give off a good appeal. Better yet, get your agents opinion!

5. Avoid over-spending on renovations

We all want to add value to our homes but sometimes our good intentions can end up costing us a lot more than we can handle, not only in monetary means, but in time and energy spent as well.

Tread carefully when it comes to big and risky renovations and ensure you take care of all the simple ways to increase your homes value without getting into a big mess if it isn’t necessary.

Check out our post on "How To Increase Your Home's Value" for a detailed look at ways to increase your homes value on a budget.

6. Interview and hire professionals

Start with an excellent real estate agent. Interview many and make sure you do your homework!

A professional will save you time, money and headaches down the road. They’ll also connect you with other pro’s in the industry that can synergistically help you get more value out of your home and make you more money.

If you want to learn exactly what to look for when hiring an agent (or any professional) to help you sell and market your home effectively, checkout this post from our archive: 7 Things To Keep In Mind When Choosing A Real Estate Agent.

7. Assess the costs of selling

It’s important to assess the cost of selling your home so you're not hit with hidden fees and unexpected costs. Do your research and get the final quotes on the cost for repairs, home appraisals and inspections and legal and realtor fees, so that you can budget and save for them without financially stressing yourself out.

8. Speak with a financial expert

A financial expert will help you crunch the numbers on that home sale and will ensure your home’s earnings covers your next home purchase and will help you plan for and meet your financial goals effectively. They know things we don’t and they can help you save a lot of time and money stress-free based on your unique situation and life-style.

9. Assess the competition

Research and compare homes in your neighbourhood a few months before you put your home on the market. Market conditions can change quickly so it’s important to time it correctly.

A real estate agent will have their pulse on the market and will mention this to you before you put your home up for sale, but incase they forget, it’s good to mention that timing is key.

10. Always be a step ahead

"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
-Mike Tyson

It’s important you don’t let your vision of selling your home and buying your dream home blind you from other options that may be available to you.

It’s always best to be prepared for where you want to go and what you want to do with your proceeds once your home sells quickly… but It’s also important to prepare yourself with a backup plan incase your home doesn’t sell quite as quickly as you anticipated to avoid frustration. To help you out, we've compiled everything you need to know in our Home Seller's Checklist!

We hope you found this list of New Year’s resolutions helpful. If you have any real estate related questions or would like more information on any of the above, please give us a contact. We’re always happy to help!

Here’s to a New Year and a New You!

~John & Melissa Steele