You’re probably familiar with the term “home staging”. It involves cleaning, de-cluttering, reorganizing, and decorating, specifically in order to make your home more attractive to potential buyers. Furniture stores do something similar when they “stage” a bedroom suite in a showroom.

Most sellers focus their staging efforts on the inside of their homes. But the outside is important too. After all, a property’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers see. So you want to make sure that the first impression is a good one.

Here are some ideas on how to make sure that happens.

When preparing your home for sale, imagine you’re a potential buyer and take a walk around the outside of your property. Do you like what you see? Are there issues that concern you? Try to be as objective as possible.
You may notice, for example, that the deck is faded and worn, some of the border stones around the flower bed are chipped or missing, or the fence gate squeaks. If you notice these things, so will potential buyers. So consider getting these minor problems repaired.

As you inspect your yard, pay particular attention to sheds and other areas where items tend to accumulate. Just as you would unclutter the inside of your home before a showing, you should also make sure the exterior areas of your property are as uncluttered as possible.

Then explore simple ways you can make the exterior of your property look even more attractive. For example, giving your hedges, shrubs and other plants a trimming, can dramatically improve the look of your yard.

Need more tips on preparing your home for sale? Call today.

Household smells can be a problem because we get accustomed to them... when they are in our own homes. However, it takes just a few seconds in a stranger’s home, to know if a smoker lives there. The smell is in the air!

So when you put your home on the market, think about the common smells you might have lingering around your property. Remember, you may no longer notice them, but a prospective buyer will.

These may include:

• A diaper bin in the baby’s room.
• Kitty litter.
• Model making glue.
• Paints, even if the cans or tubes are closed tightly.
• Food. The aroma of a spicy meal can linger for hours.
• Garbage cans. Even empty ones, if they are not clean.
• Strong smelling soaps, perfumes and other cosmetics and toiletries.
• Flowers and other plants.
• Firewood, (especially pine).
• Outdoor shoes.
• Ashtrays.
• Sinks.
• Carpets.
• Door mats are especially prone to stains and smells.

Try to eliminate as many odours as possible. An hour or so before a viewing, open a few windows to give your home a breath of fresh air.

When you’re preparing your home for sale, it’s not unusual to need to fix up a few things around the property. After all, you want your home to look its best to buyers, so that you get good offers, quickly. What do you need to fix?

Here are three categories that will help you create and prioritize your list.

1. Anything that squeaks or creaks.
Is there something in your home that makes a noise it shouldn’t be making? Perhaps it’s a rattling closet door or a creaking floor board? You may be so used to it you no longer notice the sound. But buyers will. Be sure to get those items fixed.

2. Anything that’s unsightly.
You don’t have to make your home look perfect. However, things that are unsightly will likely get buyers’ attention. You want them to focus on the terrific features of your property, not the scuff on the wall. Take a walk through your property, including the yard. Pretend you’re the buyer. Do you notice anything that doesn’t look good? If so, tidy it up, fix it up or replace it.

3. Anything that’s broken.
If there’s anything that needs repair — an outside tap that’s not working, or a sliding door that regularly careens off its runner — call the contractor or fix it yourself.

Getting these items fixed will go a long way toward making your home appealing to buyers.

Want more tips on preparing your home for sale? Call today.

You don’t have to freeze in the winter or start reading by candlelight to reduce your electricity bill. There are many simple ways to use less power with little, if any, impact on your lifestyle.

A good place to start is with your electronics.

According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “Any gizmo that has a clock, digital timer, remote control or standby mode is sucking energy when it's not being used (it's called 'phantom electricity' — and it's scary how much of it there is).” So keep them unplugged as much as possible. Also, unplug charger cords for phone and computers when not in use. Even when not connected to the device, they still suck power.

Another easy change to make involves your lights. Switching to compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED light bulbs can save you a lot of energy. They’re 75% more efficient.

Finally, the old-fashioned method of insulating doors and windows can work wonders for lowering your electricity bill. In fact, some particularly drafty homes can lose up to 40% of their heat. Check for drafts regularly and repair or replace insulation as needed. None of these ideas will impact your day-to-day living. Yet, they could potentially save you a bundle.

Fast forward a few years and imagine that your kids have grown up. They’ve come back to the “old neighbourhood” to reminisce. What will they remember? The playground where they hung out with their friends? The quiet cul-de- sac where they learned to ride their bikes? The park where they picnicked and flew kites?

Lasting memories are built in neighbourhoods where amenities match lifestyles. When shopping for a new home, evaluate a prospective new neighbourhood against the following 3 E’s:

Education: What resources are available in the neighbourhood to help with your child’s education? Are there schools and other services, such as libraries or art studios? How do they rate?

Environment: Is it safe? Do your kids need to cross busy streets to go to parks or to school? Are there other families with kids the same age?

Entertainment: Swimmers need pools, hockey players need rinks, and soccer players need a field. Are the right facilities, programs, and leagues available for your kids? Where will you play as a family?

Keep the 3 E’s in mind when choosing your next neighbourhood. You’ll start a lifetime of wonderful memories for you – and your kids.

If you’re thinking about refreshing your balcony decor this spring or summer, why not think beyond furnishings and accessories?

Thanks to removable materials that are designed to comply with various condo balcony regulations, you can achieve a dramatic makeover with artificial floor surfaces that look surprisingly natural.

For example, some decking packages come in workable squares made of wood- like slats that are held in position by spacers, and can be laid in a linear or checkerboard pattern. relatively easy to install, they can be cut to align with corners, railing posts or odd angles.

Best of all, they require no fasteners or adhesives, so they can be removed for exterior maintenance or other building requirements.

Say you’re trying to sell a used car. imagine that it’s a desirable make and model. the mileage is low. overall, it’s in great condition... except, that is, for the body. unfortunately, there are a few areas where the paint is scratched and there are a couple of dents and rust spots too.

Are you going to have trouble selling that car? Probably. many potential buyers will have trouble seeing past the condition of the body and appreciating the true value of the vehicle.

The same thing can happen when you’re trying to sell your home.

Everything about it could be wonderful, but if the paint on the walls is faded in spots, and there are dents, scuffs and holes, buyers may notice those things more than the other more important features of your property.

So it’s a good idea to inspect your walls to make sure they look great. There are numerous products available at your local home improvement centre for repairing gouges and holes. it’s a relatively easy do-it-yourself job.

Want more tips on how to sell your home quickly? Call today.

When you put your property up for sale, you want to make sure that potential buyers get all the information they need on the features of your home and its surrounding area. If, for example, a buyer doesn’t realize there is a great school just a couple of blocks away, he might cross your property off his shortlist. An effective way to make sure something like that doesn’t happen is to create three lists.

#1: The “I’ll miss it” list. Chances are, there are things about your home that you’re really going to miss when you move. It may be the spacious living room, ideal for entertaining or the nearby park with scenic trails, perfect for walking and biking. Whatever you’ll miss, put it on the list! Chances are, those are features that will also interest buyers.

#2: The “Just the facts” list. What are the facts about your property that a buyer needs to know in order to consider purchasing it? This may be a very long list including such items as total square footage, number of bedrooms, number of washrooms, property taxes, size of yard, and more.

#3: The “repairs and improvements” list. Buyers are interested in the state of repair of your home, and in any improvements you have made to it. On this list, include all repairs you have done during the past three years and, if possible, attach receipts. It’s especially important to include anything that has been replaced, such as a furnace or roof shingles.

Call today for a complimentary, no obligation Real Estate Check-up. We’ll review up-to-date market trends in your immediate area, the current resale value of your home, and tips on improving the value of your home.

If you’re thinking about making a move in the coming year (or you’re just mildly curious about the possibility), you could be well-served by being prepared in advance. Here are a few basic steps you can follow, in order to put yourself in a more advantageous position to respond when opportunity knocks.

1. Minimize household clutter on an ongoing basis so your home will be organized and ready to list on the market without hesitation.

2. Take care of your current real estate investment by completing necessary maintenance repairs and renovation improvements.

3. Keep up with national trends, local market conditions and available opportunities.

4. Secure a pre-approved mortgage.

You don’t have to try to figure this stuff out on your own! Even if you’re just at the “thinking about it” stage, I recommend getting the information you need now. That way, you’ll be prepared to make the best decision when you’re ready.

Call today for a complimentary, no obligation Real Estate Check-up. We’ll review up-to-date market trends in your immediate area, the current resale value of your home, and tips on improving the value of your home.

You’ve probably seen signs around the area for "Open House". You may have even attended a few. These are open invitations for potential buyers to drop by on a certain day and time, to check out the property and get more information.

When you’re listing your home for sale, you might wonder whether you’ll need to have an Open House. To answer that question, you’ll need to consider the pros and cons.

Planning and hosting an open house isn’t as easy as it may seem. There’s a lot of preparation involved. In addition, you’ll likely spend hours making your property look its best and you’ll need to be away from your home for a good part of that day.

That being said, an Open House has many advantages.

• It helps showcase features of your property that may not come across well in advertisements and listing descriptions.
• It attracts potential buyers who, for any number of reasons, might not otherwise call to view the home.
• It generates a buzz and publicity about your listing.
 
By working strategically with your real estate agent to schedule and organize a successful open house, you may just get a jump start on that sale!

Property Surveyors, sometimes referred to as land Surveyors, play a vital role in the real estate world. They are the professionals who determine or confirm the exact boundaries of a property.

Will you need to deal with a Property Surveyor when selling your home? You might.

Sometimes the mortgage lender will ask for a land survey, especially if your property is older and hasn’t changed hands in many years. You might also be asked for one by the buyer if there is any confusion about the size and boundaries of your property – or if significant changes have been made to it in recent years. This is nothing to be concerned about.

A qualified Property Surveyor will do the appropriate inspection and measurements on your property and issue you the survey. (It looks a little like a blueprint.) Property Surveyors are highly trained and licensed. In Canada, Professional Surveyors Canada (PSC) represents the profession nationally, and most provinces have their own professional associations.

Before getting a new land survey, make sure you don’t already have one. Hopefully, you’ve stored the paperwork that relates to the purchase of your home. Look through it. A valid land survey might be right there.

If you have questions about land surveys, call today!

If you’re thinking about making a move in the coming year (or you’re just mildly curious about the possibility), you could be well-served by being prepared in advance. Here are a few basic steps you can follow, in order to put yourself in a more advantageous position to respond when opportunity knocks.

1. minimize household clutter on an ongoing basis so your home will be organized and ready to list on the market without hesitation.

2. take care of your current real estate investment by completing necessary maintenance repairs and renovation improvements.

3. keep up with national trends, local market conditions and available opportunities.

4. secure a pre-approved mortgage.

I can help. All you have to do is give me a call. I can fill you in on what’s happening in the local market, give you some tips on home improvements and help you prepare so you can  make the best decision when you’re ready.

The more time we spend indoors, the more susceptible we are to airborne household allergens such as dust and dust mite residue, human and pet dander (i.e. dead skin), mould spores, and chemical off-gases from cooking, candles, smoking, and synthetic materials that were recently introduced into the home.

To reduce the risk of respiratory discomforts triggered by these irritants, it’s important to control indoor air quality (IAQ) by utilizing HEPA-grade filters in whole-home air circulation systems, as well as in portable air purifiers and vacuum cleaners.

In addition, frequently wiping fixtures and furniture, plus cleaning carpets, throw rugs, mats, drapery, upholstery, cushions and dust covers will make a great contribution to improved IAQ.

If your home is becoming difficult to manage, you may want to consider how downsizing might help:

1. More Financial Freedom: Presuming your next home is smaller and more affordable, you’ll have greater ability to address other monetary interests, whether it’s enjoying travel options or establishing an education fund for grandchildren.

2. Less Housework and Maintenance: A smaller household means less upkeep, both inside and outside.

3. Improved Convenience: With a reduced footprint, there are fewer footsteps required to complete a normal range of day-to-day functions – especially if you move from a multi-level home to a bungalow or condo.

4. Increased Options: By carefully shopping for a home that will accommodate any future needs, you’ll have a unique opportunity to plan long- term arrangements for your senior years, potentially enabling you to remain in your own home for an extended period of time.

Thinking about downsizing? Give me a call; I will gladly help you through this process!

You’re probably going to be inundated with holiday sales this month. While those sales can be fantastic, they aren’t the only opportunities to save money. Here are some less-than-obvious ways to keep more money in your pocket.

• Review all of your subscriptions and online services that are set to auto-renew. Do you still want them? Online subscriptions can easily go unnoticed for months. Cancel those you don’t want.

• Have you received any notices of price increases? That’s common in December as companies hike rates for the new year. If you’re a long-term customer, give the company a call. You may be entitled to a loyalty discount, or at least be able to negotiate your rate.

• Do you have a loan or mortgage? Many lenders allow you to make lump-sum payments on the principal. This can save you a bundle on interest charges.

• Call your insurance company. Ask what riders you have on your policies that are not included in your basic premium. Find out if you still need all of them.