Through both the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their subsequent lockdown measures put in place by the government of Ontario, Real Estate has remained essential. While some people may have held off on listing their homes last spring, the Ottawa Real Estate market remained consistent and stronger than ever. December 2020 saw a 32.4% increase in sales in comparison to 2019, marking an amazing end to an active year in Real Estate. 

 

As the pandemic continues, the needs of homeowners and renters everywhere are changing rapidly: More people are looking to change their space up to make room for remote work, virtual learning, and increased outdoor space to enjoy some exercise, sunlight, and fresh air; first time home buyers are looking to take advantage of low-interest rates; and buyers are flocking to Ottawa as it is one of the top destinations for millennials looking to relocate. For these reasons, there is no denying that now is the time to sell. Here are some things that you can do to get your house ready for the virtual market:

 

Lighting: Ensure to keep windows open, lamps on and house as well lit as possible. Ensuring the home is well let will allow it to appear more inviting and show up well on camera.  

 

Clean and Declutter: Just as with any regular open house, ensuring your home is clean and free of clutter is essential to showcase the space. You want viewers to be able to picture their stuff in your home. This is much easier to do while the home looks tidy and untouched. 

 

Highlight The Best: If there are upgraded rooms or interesting features of your home, let your REALTOR ® know so that they can be highlighted in any photographs and displayed in any virtual tours or open houses. 

 

Wireless Connection: If you have a strong wireless connection available for your REALTOR® to use, ensure you communicate that with them. If this is not the case, please allow your REALTOR® to know ahead of time so that they can arrange to have a connection that will support a live-streamed open house if you plan to have one. 

We expect the spring 2021 market to be booming, making it more important than ever to get your home ready to present to eager buyers. For more tips on how to ensure your home is ready to list, see what you can do now in our blog Preparing to List Your Home For Spring. For more information, contact me today. As an experienced REALTOR® in Ottawa, I am confident that we can work together to ensure your home is sold as safely as possible during these unprecedented times.

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