Selling your home in Vancouver is like being on a roller coaster.

You decide you’re ready to step on the ride. 

You sit down, you strap in, you nervously jiggle the lap bar to make sure it’s going to hold you in.

The attendant presses that big glowing, green button. 

The wheels lurch forward and you’re off.

Your stomach turns and your thoughts race - you really don’t know what you expect. 

Deep down you know you’ll survive, it’s not actually going to kill you, but you hope that the end result is worth the initial anxiety.

You got on the ride in the first place because you were looking for a result. 

In the case of the rollercoaster the result is joy, adrenaline, and fun. 

With selling your house, it’s getting more money than you anticipated, a fast and seamless transaction, and an overall positive experience that sets you up for your next adventure in life. 

In this article, I’m going to share with you 10 steps that you need to take to inrease the sales value of your home in the Vancouver 2023 real estate market. 

But who am I, and why should you listen to me?

My name is Cameron Philips, and I’m a real estate advisor with Engel & Völkers. 

I’ve been selling real estate in Vancouver for years, and have worked in real estate marketing for the past decade. 

Nothing brings me more passion than the thoughtful execution of a property marketing campaign, and seeing the result of a happy seller on the other side.

In addition to listing some of the most iconic homes in Vancouver, I also teach and mentor other agents worldwide on learning digital marketing for their businesses and for their listings. 

In this article, I’m going to share some of the tactics that me and my team take when approaching listings, and how you can use them yourself to increase the sales value of your property in Vancouver.

So let’s get started. 

1. Discover current Vancouver market conditions and how your property compares.
 

I know nobody likes hearing about data (except for us data nerds) - but hear me out, everything starts and ends with data.

Selling your home is no exception.

When you first consider selling your home, you need to get the latest data on the Vancouver real estate market and how your property compares to it.

The easiest way to do this is to get a free home value report that compares the square footage, features, and lot size of your property to the recent sales and listings in your area.

Learning about the comparable properties that have sold in your neighborhood is the first step to understanding the local submarket conditions you're facing.

(Also, it's just fun being a little nosy and seeing what your neighbors' homes have sold for.)

Now, this type of home value estimation report is not the same as a comparative market analysis, where a real estate advisor (like myself) would tour your property, note custom features and upgrades, renovations, accessories, and prepare a comprehensive pricing and marketing strategy.

That is the second step of the listing process and is not covered in this article. (If you’re interested in that, just stop reading now and call me so we can set up an appointment.)

The purpose of the home valuation report is to gather the initial data as a baseline starting point for where your home is positioned in the market. Once you have that data as a baseline, we can move on to the next 9 steps to start working upwards.

(If you’re curious now… enter your details below to generate your free home value estimation report, and I'll email you this baseline data on your property within the next 12 hours.)

2. Discover Cash Opportunities Inside Your Home 

Now that you have the data, take stock of how your home measures up visually. 

There are many small touches you can start making in your home today that add tens of thousands of dollars to the bottom line when it comes to sell. 

But in order to decide what to do, you need to take a serious and objective look at your property. 

Are there chips in the paint around the edges of your doors?

Is there a pile of dead plants on your front entrance way that needs to be replanted? 

Is your backyard hedge so far overgrown that it’s turned into a fully grown tree?

These are all the things that, as a homeowner, sometimes you neglect, but as a buyer, you can’t overlook. 

I have a theory that everyone has at least 10 opportunities for value improvments inside their own home. 

And step 2 is a bit of a challenge. 

Right now, take out a piece of paper, and spend the next 30 minutes walking around your home discovering the areas that have been overlooked and could use a little love.

Just this act of taking the time to discover them will help you check in with the current state of your home, and allow a more thoughtful conversation when it comes to micro-renovations and marketing.

But what should you specifically be looking for when it comes to opportunities? 

Well… 

3. Plan and Complete Micro-Renovations
 

The beauty of micro-renovations is that they usually don’t involve a contractor and don’t have to cost a lot of money. However, from a visual standpoint, they can add thousands to the sale price when you know where to focus your efforts.

Here’s an easy acronym to get you started planning your micro-renovations: The 4 P’s.

Paint.

Polish.

Prune.

Prepare.

Paint is the easiest way to elevate a home and provide the ultimate freshen up. This can be as simple as repainting a chipped door frame, a stained wall, or as comprehensive as repainting an entire house. Cleaning is one thing, but nothing beats fresh paint when it comes to allowing a buyer to view your home as a blank canvas where they can envision living their new life.

Polish refers to hardware, windows, light fixtures, and other elements that may require additional cleaning attention than your usual Sunday afternoon clean. Additionally, looking for opportunities to change dated light fixtures, update old hardware, and other small elements around the home is the pro-tip to take this to the next level.

Prune speaks to landscaping, curb appeal, and backyard enjoyment. Selling in the spring and summer months in Vancouver is prime for allowing buyers to envision themselves enjoying all the spaces inside and outside your home. Make sure that vegetation is trimmed, pathways and stones are cleaned, and that the exterior of your home feels as fresh as the inside.

Prepare is when I come in. As a real estate advisor, I can help you determine where you’ll get the most bang for your buck when it comes to these micro-renovations. Once they are complete, I specialize in helping my clients declutter and determine whether staging is appropriate to best prepare the house for marketing.

Before we get to the 4th step, I want to jump back to our roller coaster analogy.

So picture yourself sitting back on the roller coaster. Now you’re going up the hill. You’ve done the initial prep and the thought work about listing your home. But now the wheels are clicking as you riding straight up at a 60-degree angle.

You’re thinking, “Okay, here we go.” “Do I trust this piece of metal?” “Do I trust this amusement park?” “This better be worth it.”

With that, let’s cover step 4.

4. Work with an Advisor to Prepare a Comprehensive Listing Plan
 

Nothing quells fear like a thoughtfully prepared plan.

Having a plan and procedure takes a situation from chaotic to controlled.

From overwhelming and unpredictable to systematized and optimized.

The same is true when you are bringing your house on the market to sell.

In order to maximize the sale value of your property, spending time creating a plan and timeline is essential.

Why? It sets your expectations. It allows you to choose your own adventure with your advisor and plan accordingly for the results you're looking to achieve.

Your end goal in selling your home is specific to you. Maybe it's downsizing because your kids are off to college. Maybe it's upsizing and moving up the property ladder. Maybe it's a situation where you've closed on another property and you need to transact quickly.

Different situations require different strategies, and taking the time to create a plan and execute it will ultimately ensure you don't leave money on the table.

5. Created a Targeted Marketing Campaign

Real estate sales are not what they once were.

There were times in history when you could put your property on the MLS and get five offers the next week.

We are not in those times.

And the Vancouver housing market continues to surprise us.

How do we shift from overwhelming and unpredictable to systematized and optimized? (We just covered this.)

We make a plan.

In this case, you need to find a real estate advisor who can create a targeted marketing plan and strategy.

But to ensure that you improve the sale price, you need to make sure that this marketing strategy isn’t just “email blasting” every realtor in a 100-mile radius.

No, everything in 2023 is about targeting.

You need a plan to get your home in front of the people - buyers and agents - who matter.

(P.S. - Nobody in Vancouver is better at Targeted Direct Response Real Estate marketing than me. I mean that. Call me, and I’ll prove it to you when we create the custom marketing strategy for your property.)

6. Make a Plan for Your Next Move
 

How does this impact the sale price of your home?

Because when you know your next move, you'll think more clearly and more strategically.

You'll know your end goal, think about the big picture, trust your advisors, and execute the transaction.

When people are confused, they don't act. This is human psychology 101, and it applies to you as a home seller as well.

Sitting down with your real estate advisor, your financial advisor, and your life advisor (your spouse, best friends, parents, kids, etc.) and making sure you've received the best advice possible is critical to making great decisions during the sale process that ultimately impact the final sales price of your property.

So now we've reached the top of the incline, and this roller coaster is about to go over the edge.

Strangely, the nerves have gone away. Partly because you're strapped in and there is literally no turning back at this point, but also because you've done your due diligence.

You've learned to trust the lap bar, you've made your plans, reviewed the strategy and the physics behind how the roller coaster works and what you can expect to happen, and now there's nothing left but to actually experience it.

As in the roller coaster, the same is true in your real estate transaction.

You've found the baseline value of your property through your FREE Home Price Evaluation Report.

You've determined and executed your micro-renovations.

You've paired up with an expert real estate advisor who has created a plan and strategy with you.

And now it's time to let the roller coaster go over the hill and enjoy the thrill of the ride.

7. Invest in Expertly Crafted, Artful Media
 

In today’s digital age, it's essential to have phenomenal visuals for your property. This includes photography, videography, 3D mapping, and graphic design content.

As an advisor, I always invest my personal money into creating exceptional visual media for every property I list.

Every. Single. Property.

I simply will not list a property without exceptional visual media.

Coming from my marketing background, I know the value of high-quality media and how it ultimately impacts the quality of leads and the sale price of the home.

When you have stunning visual media of your property, not only does it increase psychological desirability, but it also increases our human tendency to share. 

This manifests as your family, friends, and community sharing the photos, sharing the video, and ultimately expanding the digital reach of your property to buyers and agents alike.

Spending time discovering opportunities, making micro renovations, and preparing for sale through the development of a marketing plan has laid the groundwork to create this beautiful media.

8. "Hands-On Trust"
 

Now that you're riding the roller coaster down steep descents, around twists and turns, and the occasional flip upside down, you're fully immersed in the experience.

My clients who've had the most success in sales price and in the ease of the selling experience have practiced what I like to call "Hands-On Trust."

Hands-On Trust is where the seller is actively participating and cooperating in the sales process, while simultaneously fully trusting their advisor to deliver their expertise in getting qualified leads to the property and executing the marketing plan.

Hands-On Trust means establishing a communication plan with the advisor to ensure you, as the client, are getting all the information you need on a frequency that works for you.

Some people want to know everything that's going on with a listing at all times, others don't. And both options are fine. It's about finding the right balance for each individual client.

That's why it's critical that you, as the client, establish this Hands-On Trust with your advisor and create a plan for being involved in the process while maintaining trust with your advisor.

Have this conversation early and frequently with your advisor. It will make everything more efficient.

You've ridden through the highest G-forces of the roller coaster, and now you're tick-tick-ticking up the final hill for one last run. The end is in sight.

In real estate, this is now equivalent to when offers are on the table and it's time to close this transaction out.

9. Follow Through:
 

Nobody wants to get stuck on top of a roller coaster. Everyone wants to follow through and end up at the finish line so they can leave the ride and move on to their next destination.

As offers come in, and the negotiation phase heats up, it’s important to remain present, focused, and remember that initial plan of the 360 view of your life.

Like I mentioned previously, the most satisfied sellers are the ones who look at the big picture of their life and keep that in focus throughout the transaction.

The most unsatisfied sellers are the ones who throw the entire plan away right before the roller coaster is coming back into the station, usually at the receiving offers part of the transaction.

In order for you to maximize your sale price and your satisfaction, stay focused, stay grounded, and continue practicing Hands-On Trust with your advisor.

10. Demand Excellence.
 

The last tip that you need to understand when it comes to selling your home for top-dollar is that excellence is required at every step of the way.

Working with a trusted advisor is the best way to ensure that every part of the sale of your home is handled with care, skill, and precision.

When I first began my career in real estate, I had spent close to a decade shadowing some of the top producing real estate professionals, so I understood what excellence was.

Being able to learn from the greatest and then enter the business with my own skills, background, and expertise has allowed me to craft a formula for financial and emotional success throughout the home selling process with my clients.

I say emotional because selling a home is so much more than wiring funds and signing papers.

As the roller coaster has now pulled back into the station, you can reflect on the anxiety, the thrill, and then the fun that came along the journey.

Homes are where we craft our memories.

Where we laugh, cry, and celebrate.

Selling a home requires care and skill at every step of the process.

I’m ready to bring that care, skill, and excellence to the sale of your home.

And it would be my privilege and honor to work together when the time is right for you to sell your home.

Regardless of whether you’re looking to sell your home next week or next year, I strongly recommend you get your FREE home price valuation report today so you can at least understand where your home sits in the current market.

Knowing this information is valuable regardless of your intent to sell, and it’s my pleasure to offer that report to you for free.

Simply enter your information below, and I’ll email you your report in the next 12 hours.

Fill out the form below now.