In today’s highly competitive homebuyer market, it’s crucial to have your house stand out from all the rest. The key is creating a space where potential buyers can picture themselves living — can they see themselves winding down at the end of a long day in your cozy living room? Do they envision long, summer nights barbecuing with the family and relaxing outside?

Staging, landscaping and decorating are three under-utilized techniques proven to increase appeal in your home and speed up the buyer process.

Staging involves cleaning and organizing your space to appeal to the widest demographic of buyers possible — basically, transforming an average home into a show home. Redesigning your home takes time, but is extremely helpful when it comes to marketing. A staged home allows for beautiful photography, which amps up the quality and interest of those browsing your listing online. With staging, less is more. You don’t want to cram the space full of things — it’s important the buyer has room to envision his/her things around the home.

Especially when it comes to houses, landscaping is very important to the selling process. How your home looks on the outside is the first thing a buyer will notice — great landscaping is critical in increasing your property’s curb appeal. Keep your lawn trim and your sidewalks free of debris in the summer, and make sure snow is shovelled in the winter. Even adding finishing touches like a vibrant flowerbed can go a long way in garnering appeal for your home.

Decorating is a great way to create ambience in your home. You want your home to look attractive, comfortable and clean as well as researching current market trends so you have a better idea of what aesthetics might appeal to a prospective buyer. Here are some decorating tips to consider before showing your home:

• Neutral colour pallets are best. Combined with subtle pops of colour, this juxtaposition can bring life and style into any room of the house.
• Combining textures helps to give a room depth. Keep this in mind when hanging paintings and decorating countertops.
• Furniture should reflect the room size. If your couch is too large for a space, it can make a room seem much smaller and more cluttered than it actually is.

Remember: staging, landscaping and decorating are all key investments to make when putting your home on the market. Here are a few helpful decorating websites to get you started on staging process:

• Trends
• On a budget
• Limited space

Between packing, moving and assessing your assets, relocating your home can be time-consuming and confusing. But with the right real estate agent, the process can actually be something to look forward to.

There are a million reasons to relocate: family, work, upsizing, downsizing…you name it. First things first, it’s important for you to pinpoint what your needs are. Those needs will be dependent on your family size, life circumstances and the qualities you’re looking for in a home.

New parents
High on the priority list for new parents, is finding a home close to schools and other families. A big part of your home search will depend on what school you are hoping to have your child enrolled in, as well as proximity to sports, leisure, recreation and afterschool care facilities. Number of bedrooms, baths and even the backyard layout are critical for new parents.

A retiree can either be looking to downsize, or move into a quieter environment. After a lifetime of work, it’s not unusual for a retiree to think about relocating to an adult-only building. Because many parents have raised grown children who’ve moved out on their own, retirees may consider downsizing to a more affordable place with room for just one or two people.

First time homeowners may be considering relocating from an apartment to a home. Accustomed to renting, this demographic is often looking into how to get mortgage approvals and develop strategies for building future equity.

Here are some general relocation questions all potential homeowners should ask themselves before purchasing:

• What will my commute be like?
• How close are amenities (i.e. grocery store, gym, gas station)?
• Do I want to purchase a new or older home?

Relocating can be tricky, but bringing the right questions forward can help your agent save time and resources by focusing on the properties that best fit your finances and needs.