If you’re riding a bike and want to get to your destination sooner, you need to bear down and pedal faster. And, of course, you need to make sure you’re doing that safely! So how do you “pedal faster” when you need to sell your home quickly and still make sure you get a good price?

First of all, make your home look its best. That means more than just getting it clean and tidy. You need to make sure repairs are up-to-date, even if that just means fixing a dripping faucet you’ve lived with for years. You may also need to make some tough choices when it comes to decluttering.

Secondly, it’s important to set the right list price. That takes a lot of expertise, market data and old-fashioned sales savvy. If your list price is too high, buyers won’t be interested. If it’s too low, you’ll leave money on the table.

The next thing you need to do is be flexible when it comes to viewings. If you’re too restrictive as to when buyers can see your home – say, only Saturdays from four to six – then you may miss opportunities for a quick sale. A buyer might end up buying a home during the week before they even get a chance to see yours on Saturday.

Finally, don’t be too firm with your desired closing date. If you’ve purchased a property that closes in three months, and then receive an offer with a four-month closing, consider it. There are options, such as bridge financing, that can make it work for you.

The bottom line is, these tips take a little more “pedaling”, but they’ll help you get to your destination – a sale – sooner.

What’s great about your home? Is it the spacious foyer and generous main floor closet space? Is it the beautiful washroom? Is it the playground that is only a short walking distance away?

Although some properties may look similar at first glance, every home is unique – with features and characteristics that make it special. If you’re considering putting your home on the market, make a list of all the great things about your property that potential buyers will want to know.

Start by thinking about the most desirable features of your home. Write down what you really love about the house and the surrounding area.

Next, think about what friends and other visitors to your home think is great about it. Have you ever heard anyone say something like, “I really love your kitchen!” or, “This is such a quiet street”? Those are indications that potential buyers will like those features and characteristics too.

Then, we should talk. Together, we will determine all the great things about your home and area, and how to market them.

If you want to sell your current property and purchase your next dream home, you might be concerned that the closing dates need to be on the same day.

You might be worried that you’ll lose a property if the closing dates overlap, or you’ll be put out on the street if the dates are far apart!

For the most part, these concerns are unfounded. Thousands of properties change hands every day and usually everything works out just fine. In fact, it’s amazing how often closing dates actually do match!

But what happens if the closing date of the home you want to buy is days or weeks earlier than the closing date of your own property?

Most lenders anticipate this situation and offer something called “Bridge Financing.” This is a special loan that allows you to purchase the property with the earlier closing date. When your current property closes, the bridge financing ends and your new mortgage – if you need one – begins on the new home.

Alternatively, if the home you want has a later closing date, we will work together to explore options, such as a short-term rental.  Or it might just be the perfect opportunity for you to go away on a vacation!

Is your home office the dining room table? Is it anywhere you can sit down undisturbed with your laptop? If so, you might be interested in converting a room or nook into a dedicated home office. Depending on what you do for a living, there could be a tax advantage to creating this space too.

The first step is to pick a spot. Ideally, you want an area where you can work without too many distractions. Next, make sure the spot you’ve chosen can accommodate a desk and any other furnishings you’ll need. Think about what you want within easy reach of your work area. Will you need a place for books and other papers? An extra chair for client meetings? A flipchart? A filing cabinet? Think about all of the options in advance.

Then, you’ll want to make sure the spot you picked has the electrical outlets you need, especially if you’re going to have a printer, special lighting, a computer and other items that need power.

Finally, you’ll want your home office to be a place where you can enjoy working. So decorate it with that in mind. If you like plants, get plants. If you enjoy golf, have your golf trip pictures hanging on the wall.

With a little work, you can quickly create a home office space that is comfortable, functional and enjoyable. It sure beats the dining room!

When you think about looking for a new home, one of the first questions that probably comes to mind is: "What type of property can I afford?" That's an important question because your price range is a major determining factor in the types and sizes of homes you should be viewing.

You don't want to waste time looking at properties that are beyond your price range. At the same time, you don't want to purchase a less-than-ideal home, only to realize later on that you could have afforded more.

So how do you determine what type of new home you are qualified to purchase?

The first step is to find out what your current property would likely sell for in today's market. I make that calculation for clients all the time. It involves reviewing what homes similar to yours have sold for recently, as well as other data — such as special features your home may have that are likely to boost the selling price.

Once you know the current market value of your home, subtract any outstanding mortgages and estimated selling expenses, and you’ll end up with an amount that can be applied to the purchase of your next home. (You may also have other funds you want to use.)

The next step is to talk to a lender or mortgage broker to see how much of a new mortgage you qualify for. (Call me if you need a recommendation.) It's important to get a Pre-Qualification or Pre-Approval. That makes the offer you make on a new home more credible.

If you want to find out the types and sizes of homes you can get into, give me a call. I'd be happy to show you the possibilities!