Here are six home improvements that are not only attractive to homebuyers today but that will yield the highest return when you are ready to sell.

1.    Energy Efficient Upgrades. Upgrading your insulation or replacing your doors and windows with more energy efficient equivalents are some of the most valuable renovations you can do. Not only can they add value to your home but will also decrease your monthly utility bills.

2.    Kitchen / Bathroom Remodels. A beautiful kitchen and updated bathroom are on the wish list of many homebuyers. While some kitchens and bathrooms may need a complete overhaul, even minor renovations such as new countertops and taps can be enough to increase the value of your home.
 
3.    Fresh Coat of Paint. There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to liven up a home. A fresh coat of paint in a neutral tone, both inside and outside, is the most inexpensive way to update your home and ensure you attract more buyers.
 
4.    Exterior Improvements. Replacing an old garage door, upgrading your front door, adding low maintenance landscaping, removing old awnings or adding a deck are all high-ROI renovations in the long term.
 
5.    Finished Basement. Finished basements add useable space for things like a home gym, entertainment/bar area, game room or kids’ playroom. Be sure to use water resistant materials, test and repair any water damage while finishing your basement.
 
6.    Home Office. With the current trend toward work-at-home schedules, converting a spare room to a functioning home office will be attractive to many homebuyers today.
 
For a complimentary consult on how to improve your home’s value, please reach out anytime! 

When you’re shopping for a new home, it’s important to be prepared so that when you find a property you like, you can make a good offer. With that in mind, here are some of the most common arrangements you may need to make for your home search. 

• A pre-arranged mortgage. Getting the financing arranged in advance is essential for two reasons. First, it helps to determine how much you can afford for a new home. Second, having a pre-arranged mortgage will make your offers more credible. So, if you’re thinking of moving soon, talk to your lender or mortgage advisor right away. 

• A professional home inspector. Depending on the state of the market in which you’re shopping, it’s usually advisable to have a professional home inspection done on a property you’re interested in buying. You don’t want to buy a home only to discover an issue that requires an expensive repair. 

• A sitter. Whether you have pets, children, or both, it’s a good idea to have a reputable sitter available, especially if you anticipate a long day or two viewing properties. Make those arrangements now, so when you’re ready to search for a new home, the question of “Who will look after the kids?” won’t be an issue. 

• Measurements. Imagine buying a home, moving your furniture, and then finding out the king-sized bed won’t fit into the bedroom or the furniture doesn’t lay out properly in the living room. That’s why it’s important to take measurements, especially of larger items. 

The more prepared you are, the more successful your home search will be. 

Are you thinking of selling your home this year? If so, you might be paying extra attention to housing market news covered by the regional and national media. 

While that news can be helpful information, it can sometimes say little about what’s happening in your particular neighbourhood. In fact, it’s possible for there to be a balanced market nationally or regionally, while at the same time your street may be experiencing a hot seller’s market! 

That’s why it’s important to understand what’s happening in your local “micro” housing market when you’re selling your home. 

What do you need to know about your local real estate scene? Here are a few questions to ask yourself: 
•    Is our neighbourhood a seller’s, buyer’s, or balanced market right now? 
•    If we list our home now, will there be any competing listings in our area? If so, how many? 
•    How long is the average listing in our area taking to sell? A week? A month? 
•    How much are properties like ours in the neighbourhood selling for? 
•    How desirable is our neighbourhood? How many buyers are actively looking to move here? Are there currently buyers eager to purchase a home like ours? 
•    What are the demographics of buyers looking to buy in our neighbourhood? 
•    How important is it to fixup and stage my home if I decide to sell? 

Getting these local insights will be far more helpful than the national news when you put your property on the market. So, find out what’s happening right here, in your neighbourhood. 

How do you do that? Call me today. 

When preparing your property for sale, you want to make it as attractive as possible to buyers. After all, the more buyers like what they see, the higher the probability you’ll get good offers. 

That’s why it’s advisable to clean, declutter, decorate, fix, and improve as much as possible. 

But, how far should you go with fixing and improving? For example, should you tear down the old deck and build a new one? Or, should you leave it as is? 

Should you paint the main floor? Or is it okay to leave the faded finish and few wall dents just as they are? 

Those can be difficult questions to answer because many factors come into play. 

• What is the traditional return on investment for that home improvement? (In other words, how much will you get back when you sell?) 

• To what degree will the fix or improvement help sell your home faster and/or for a higher price? 

• If you don’t make the fix or improvement, will those deficiencies be likely to dissuade buyers who would otherwise be interested in buying your property? 

• What are the current market conditions? Are there other listings in the area competing with yours? 

• How much will the fix or improvement cost? Is it affordable, given the benefits of having a listing that’s more attractive and move-in ready? 

Once you have answers to those questions, you’ll have a clearer idea of whether to fix it or leave it as is. 

I can help you get those answers. Call today. 

If you’ve been thinking about selling this year, one question that might be top-of-mind is, “Should we list now?” You may be wondering whether you should wait until the summer or fall — or even next year — in the hopes that you’ll be able to get a little more for your home.

That “now or later” question is common and can be tough to answer.  On the one hand, there might be a time in the future when the stars align and conditions are perfect for selling your property. On the other hand, those stars may never align so idyllically. 

To determine if you should sell now or later, you’ll need answers to the following questions:

• Is my home ready to sell? If we were to list in a few weeks from today, would we be able to get the property ready?

• What are the advantages of waiting until later to sell? 

• How much would we likely get for our home if we were to sell today?

• If conditions are predicted to become better later in the year, how much more could we get for our home? Is the extra money worth the risk of waiting?

• Are there other reasons for delaying listing our home?

Once you have those answers, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision regarding whether to sell now or later.  Need help? Call today.

These days, people are more environmentally conscious. When it comes to their homes, that often starts with being more thoughtful about heating and cooling so they’re consuming less energy. With that in mind, here are some tips for making your home more eco-friendly:

1. Install a smart thermostat. Modern thermostats come with various features that help you manage heating and cooling, so you use less energy. For example, you can program a thermostat to adjust temperature during the workday and then turn on heating or cooling an hour before you get home.

2. Take advantage of non-peak times.  Many utilities (electricity, water, etc.) offer price breaks at non-peak periods. For example, washing your clothes later in the evening might reduce your water bill. Ask your utility providers about available price-saving programs.

3. Buy energy-saving products.  A wide range of products are available to help you lower energy consumption, from shower faucets to kitchen ranges. The next time you’re shopping for an appliance or fixture, ensure it has eco-friendly features.

4. Replace worn insulation. A one-inch crack in window insulation can cause your home’s HVAC system to work harder. That’s why experts advise that you check the insulation around doors and windows once a year and repair or replace it where necessary.

5. Manage passive heat. It’s no surprise that a window letting in the sun will make a room warmer. So, take advantage of this free energy source. Let sun into rooms on cool days, so your furnace doesn’t have to come on as often. Do the opposite on hot days.

I’m well-connected in the local home industry. If you need any advice or recommendations, call today!

Imagine you’re shopping for a new car and you have a specific budget in mind. Do you think you’ll consider vehicles that fall below that price range? Probably not. In fact, they might not even come up in your searches. 

On the other hand, would you consider buying a car that’s priced above your budget? You might, as long as it’s not too much more expensive and has features that make the purchase worthwhile. 

As you can see from that simple example, the list price plays an important role in major purchases, including homes. 

That’s why you want to be strategic about setting the list price of your property when you sell. 

Just like that car, pricing your property significantly lower than its actual market value can be troublesome. Sure, a temptingly low price might bring in more buyers looking for homes in that price range, but it also might send the wrong message to the marketplace about your home. 

Also, if the list price is well below market value, your listing might not come up on the radar screens of some buyers because they’re seeking homes at a higher price bracket.

On the other hand, if you set the list price too high, many otherwise qualified buyers won’t even bother to see it. They’ll wonder why your home is so much more expensive than comparable properties that have sold recently in your neighbourhood. 

Ideally, you want a list price that’s going to send this message to the market: “Here’s a property that’s in your price range, has some wonderful features, and is worth seeing.” 

Setting the right price can be tricky, but when you do, it will help bring in the right type of buyers. 

Want more advice on selling your home? Call today. 

Where do buyers form the most lasting impression of a home for sale that they visit? On the main floor! 
When buyers view a property, they often spend a lot of time on the main floor, thinking and imagining. They visualize cooking in the kitchen, having family dinners in the dining room, and entertaining guests in the living room. They even mentally calculate how their furniture will fit! 

So, making the main floor look great to buyers is crucial when selling your property. How do you do that? 
An effective technique is to walk your main floor the way a buyer would. Start at your front entrance. Stand there for a moment and look around. Get a sense of the impression a buyer is likely to get from that perspective. 

Next, walk to the kitchen area, because that’s where buyers often venture next. Again, linger a while and look around. Does the kitchen look clean and seem as spacious as possible (given its size)? 
Finally, check out the other rooms on the main floor, including the washroom, if there is one. Gauge how you feel and the impression you form as you visit these spaces. 

Once you’ve done that mock tour, write down ideas that jumped out at you for improvements. Those may include uncluttering some areas, rearranging the furniture, adding or taking away items, etc. 
This is a simple but powerful technique for improving how your main floor looks to buyers. 

Call today for more staging ideas that will make your home sell faster and for a good price. 

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than 160 people are injured each year in BBQ mishaps. That doesn't sound like a lot considering the thousands of people who flip burgers on their backyard grills each year. But, you certainly don't want to be one of those injured!

The best way to prevent fire and injury is maintenance. Remarkably, few people are even aware that BBQ maintenance is necessary. But, it is.

Every spring, experts say you should clean out the venturi tubes. Those are the little metal pipes that carry propane or natural gas. Pipe cleaners work well, although hardware stores also carry specialized tools for this purpose. The goal is to clean out any built- up dirt and debris. Don't be surprised if you find spider webs inside a venturi tube!

Your BBQ grills should also be cleaned with soap and water each year. Just scraping them before barbequing isn’t enough. Fat and oils from cooking can build up on grills and harden. If you're getting a lot of flare-ups, this may be the cause.

Finally, make sure nuts and bolts are tightened regularly, and replace any rusty hardware. Regular use, heat and weather can loosen or weaken bolts, particularly on the frame. Several fires each year are caused by BBQs tipping over or collapsing.

Lifestyle is a very important criterion when shopping for a new home. After all, a home and its surrounding neighbourhood are the places where much of your lifestyle is going to be experienced.

So when considering a new home, think about the lifestyle to which the property is going to lend itself. Ask yourself:

• How much entertaining do we do?
• How important is it to have good schools located nearby?
• How long will the commute to work be?
• How big of a backyard do we require?
• Do we need a rec room?
• How easy will it be to get to golfing, dance lessons, baseball practices, movies and other activities my family and I enjoy?
• How important is it to be in a quiet area?
• Do we want a local park nearby for jogging, playing with the kids, and walking the dog?

This list is just an example. Ideally, you’ll create your own list of questions to ask yourself when considering a particular home.

You’re probably aware that there’s more to the cost of a new home than its purchase price. So to help you make an informed decision based on all of the expected costs, ask yourself the following questions:

• How much do you expect to pay for moving expenses? Don’t forget to include packing materials in your calculations.

• “Closing costs” are the extra charges you will have to pay at closing. How much do you expect your closing costs to be?

• Estimate how much you’ll pay for activating your phone, internet service, cable television, and so forth, at your new home. These little costs can add up.

• Will your new property require painting, repairs, and other preparations once you move in? How much will they likely cost?

• Will you need to purchase new furnishings, decor, and other items for your new home? What’s your budget for those items?

The more aware you are of the true costs of purchasing a home, the better your decision making will be. And, if you decide to buy, you’ll be able to do so with much more confidence.

When you’re looking for a new home, you want to find one in a great neighbourhood – or, at least, in a neighbourhood that is on the upswing. How can you tell if a particular area is improving? Here are some common indicators:

• Pride of ownership. Take a walk around the neighbourhood. Do you get a sense that people take good care of their homes? Are the lawns mowed? Is the landscaping trimmed? Are flowers planted? Homeowners are more likely to look after their properties when they like where they are living.

• Real estate sales activity. Do homes tend to sell quickly in the area? Do they sell for a good price? If so, the neighbourhood is probably in demand. If people want to live there, it’s a desirable area.

• Business investment. Are businesses investing in the surrounding area? Is there an increase in the number of upscale shops, health clubs, restaurants, and other commercial enterprises that often locate near desirable neighbourhoods?

• City plans. Find out what plans the city has for the area. Will there be road improvements done in the near future? Are there any major construction projects on the schedule, such as a new school or community centre? Although such projects can be disruptive in the short term, they may improve the neighbourhood – and, as a result, boost the value of any home you buy – in the long-term.

If you need help finding this information, call today!

There are many good reasons to put your property on the market. Some examples include a relocation, the kids leaving the nest, the need for something bigger or smaller, and the list goes on and on. However, there are also some less-than-obvious indicators that it may be time to sell. Consider the following:

Your Property is no longer a Good “Fit” - Your home may have been perfect for you when you bought it. But things change. Families grow. Needs evolve. For any number of reasons, your property may no longer be a good fit for you. If that’s the case, it makes sense to at least take a look at what’s available on the market. Who knows? Your next “perfect” home may be for sale right now — within your price range!

The Neighbourhood is Changing - You may have been in love with the neighbourhood when you first moved in. But, over time, the characteristics of any area can change. Those changes don’t necessarily mean the neighbourhood is getting worse. In fact, it may be changing in a positive way; perhaps becoming more urban. But, “more urban” may not be what you want. So take a look at the direction your neighbourhood is heading. Ask yourself, “Do I still want to be living here in two years?”

You’re Ready for Your Dream Home - Remember when you purchased your current property? Did it have every feature you wanted? Was it your dream home? Or, did you have to compromise on a few things, such as the size of the kitchen? If you had to make some tough choices back then, it might be time for you to finally get the home of your dreams. Those are just three indicators it may be time for you to make a move. Of course, there are many others.

If you’ve been entertaining the idea of selling your property and finding your next dream home, give me a call. I can show you what’s available on the market, and keep you informed of new listings that match what you’re looking for. Contact me anytime.

Is your home feeling a little cramped? If so, there are many relatively inexpensive ways to free up more space. Here are some ideas:

Convert traditional into non- traditional space. We’re all familiar with converting a spare bedroom into a home office or kids’ playroom. You can also create space by finding other uses for pantries and walk-in closets.

Explore smart storage solutions. There are many products on the market that revolutionize how you store things. For example, there are closet organizers available that double storage capacity. Check out the options at your local home improvement store.

Get rid of unneeded furnishings. Is there a chair no one ever uses? Is there a side table that takes up a lot of space, with nothing but a few knick-knacks on it? Consider selling these items to free up some space.

Think high. Install storage shelves, hangers or baskets high up in the kitchen and laundry room. Use that storage for items you only access infrequently.

Consider storage rental. If you have furnishings and other items that you don’t want to get rid of, consider renting a storage unit. There may be economical options in your area.

With a little creative thinking, you’ll be amazed by how much space you can create within your existing rooms.

Whether you need to upsize or you’re simply ready for a change, it’s tempting to consider a major renovation. After all, renovating means you don’t have to go through the process of selling your property and buying another more suitable home. You just fix up the one you’ve got!

However, you need to carefully consider the pros and cons of renovating before going this route. You don’t want to invest in a costly renovation only to end up with a home that still doesn’t meet your needs.

Say, for example, your current property doesn’t have a home office. Since all the bedrooms are taken, you decide to renovate a portion of the basement. Building that new home office may seem like a simple project, but once you consider new electrical, flooring, lighting, etc., it really isn’t. Like most renovations, it will probably cost more than you think. Plus, you’ll need to consider whether you’ll really want to work in the basement.

In this case, it might make more sense to find a new home with an extra bedroom that can be converted, or, better still, a dedicated home office space — with windows!

Of course, there are many circumstances in which a renovation may be the best way to go. If you don’t like your kitchen, for example, upgrading it may not only get you the kitchen you want, but also add value to your property. Basically, you need to ask yourself: “Which is more likely to get me the home I really want – a renovation or a new home?”

If your answer is a new home, then there is probably a property on the market right now that would meet your needs. Let’s talk.