Expert Advice: How to Prep Your Home for Resale

Realtor Todd Talbot shows us 5 simple ways you can make your home even more attractive to potential buyers.

Homes speak to us—through decor, furnishings, art, lighting, design and more. Have you ever wondered what your house is saying to potential buyers on the walkthrough?Love It or List It Vancouver host and Realtor Todd Talbot knows all about these subtle messages, and according to him there are five main bases to cover if you want to make your home look its best for the resale process. 

Two words: Curb appeal. “It takes about 15 seconds for people to make a snap decision about whether they like or dislike a house and that happens before they even walk through the door,” says Talbot. “It’s a first date and that first impression lasts.” What you can do? Make small repairs, add lighting, clean—powerwash if you can—get rid of signs of moisture, and incorporate something living in planters or in the garden. 

Don’t forget the 5 senses. “Everyone focuses on the look, but people are evaluating with all senses; they just might not articulate it,” explains Talbot. “Smell, hearing, and even touch, are equally important. Not often do people ‘taste’ a house, but they should want to!”

Keep things bright. “Clean windows, open blinds, replace bulbs,” says the Realtor. “Nobody ever complained about a space being too light.” 

Can’t beat a neutral palette. “It’s a bit cliche, but nothing replaces a clean neutral paint colour,” admits the Love It or List It Vancouver star. “It’s bright and inviting and inoffensive. There is nothing people comment on more than ‘ugly’ colour.” 

Don’t de-personalize too much. “There was a past school of thought that you needed to take out most—if not all—personal touches of photos, kids’ art, etc., but I think a home needs a bit of soul and that comes from the people who live there,” says Talbot. “Keeping a sense of family in a family home is an asset.”