People decide to sell their homes for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s a job relocation. For others, it’s the need to upsize or downsize.  There are numerous other motivations too. However, one of the toughest for many homeowners to deal with is the idea of selling simply because they want a change. Why is that so difficult to understand?

It may be that homeowners feel “a change” isn’t a good enough reason to make such a significant decision. It may even seem impulsive or selfish to sell your home and find another one for no other reason than your desire to move.

However, desiring a change in surroundings is actually a very good reason to sell. In fact, it may be one of the best.

Why? Your home is the foundation of your daily lifestyle. It’s where you live, relax, spend time with your family, entertain guests, celebrate special occasions, and more. It makes sense to maximize the enjoyment of those experiences as much as possible. If that means finding a new home, then it’s likely going to be worth the move!

If you own a stock, you can probably go online and quickly look up its current value.

What about your home? That, too, is an important investment and probably your most valuable one. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could “look up” its current value in just a few minutes?

Well, despite all the real estate data available on the internet these days, there is no site that will calculate your home’s true market value – at least not accurately. So, if you were to put your home up for sale tomorrow, how would you determine what it would likely sell for?

Your home’s probable selling price is influenced by the following factors:

• The type and style of your home.

• The condition of your home. (Is it “move in” ready?)

• How well your home shows? (Is it staged?)

• The desirability of the neighbourhood.

• Recent selling prices of similar homes in the area.

• The current demand for a home like yours.

All these factors, especially recent solds in the area, need to be considered in order to come up with the price range within which your property will likely sell.

Why is this information important? If you plan on listing soon, the benefits of knowing the probable selling price is obvious. But even if your plans to move are far down the road, it’s still a good idea to know what your home is worth – today. That information enables you to plan ahead and make better decisions. It’s something worth thinking about.

Traditionally, the real estate market picks up in the spring and summer. Why? Because many people want to buy a home and get into it by September. So, if you’re thinking of selling this year, you might consider taking advantage of this demand. 

There are basically three steps you need in your “sell by September” game plan. 

1. Find out the current market value of your home. 
2. Prepare your home for buyer viewings.
3. Get the right professionals to help you. 

Let’s look at each step in a little more detail. 

Knowing your home’s current market value will help you determime your asking price. That value is calculated using a variety of methods, the most common being a review of what similar homes have sold for recently. Chances are, your home will sell at or near that value. That’s helpful information to know, especially if you’re also buying another home. 

Preparing your home is all about making it look great to buyers. When a buyer views your home, you want them to say “Wow”. It’s a little like a first date! So, you’ll want to clean, declutter and stage your home so it looks its best. 

Finally, it’s important to get the right professionals to work with you. Choosing the best real estate agent is crucial, of course, but you may also need a contractor, cleaning company, real estate lawyer, mortgage advisor and more. Using the best professionals will help ensure your sale goes smoothly and successfully. 

There’s another important component to your game plan: start now. If you want to sell your house and be in a new home by September, this is the ideal month to begin the process.  Need help finding professionals?  I can probably recommend reputable contractors & service providers from my network.

If you’re going to be out-of-town but need to sell your home, you might be concerned about listing your property while you’re away. After all, you won’t be around to show your property, schedule viewings, consider offers, etc.

While it’s ideal that you be close to home when you’re selling, there’s no reason why you can’t list your property, even if you’re going to be out-of-town.

When it comes to communications and document sharing, technology is a wonderful thing! While you’re away, you can utilize phone, email, file sharing apps (such as Dropbox), e-signing apps (such as DocuSign) and, online meeting apps (such as Zoom).

For viewing appointments, a secure lock box (with your key inside) can be installed so buyers can be shown your property and viewings can be confirmed right from the palm of your/our hands.

Even services such as staging, painting, repair work, and cleaning can be done while you’re away. We're here to help you arrange them.

Sure, the selling process can become a little more challenging if you’re going to be out-of-town, but certainly not impossible. In fact, we have sold homes under these circumstances more than once.

So, if you’re thinking of selling but worried about being away, give me a call. I’ll show you how we make it work.

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!

If you’re thinking of selling your home this year, you might be asking yourself, “Now or later?” Here are three factors to consider that can make your choice easier:

1. Market conditions.
If the market is such that it benefits you to sell now, that’s a factor that is tough to ignore.

For instance, in a seller’s market, you can expect to sell for a good price. Keep in mind that you may also need to pay top dollar to get into your next home if your new neighbourhood is also experiencing a seller’s market. So, the advantage from the selling price and disadvantage from the purchase price may cancel each other out.

2. Certainty.
If you need to sell, and it’s just a matter of when, selling now has a big advantage: certainty. You know what the market is doing; you know what your current situation is; and, you know what you can afford.

The longer you wait, the more uncertain things become. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wait. There may be other reasons for delaying your listing, such as personal circumstances, employment changes, etc.

3. Lifestyle.
A home is more than a financial investment. It’s at the core of your lifestyle.

You may be in a situation where you’re tired of where you live and want to move. Or, you may be eyeing a neighbourhood you’d love to get into, and don’t want to wait any longer to go for it. There could be other lifestyle factors as well.

Ultimately, if you feel “ready” to move, even if you’re also feeling some trepidation (which is normal), it might make sense to list now.

If you’re thinking about selling in the spring, don’t wait until the spring to start planning. In fact, you’ll save yourself a lot of work and get ahead of the game if you start planning now.

What’s that old saying? The early bird gets the worm! In this case, by starting the process this month, you’ll be in excellent shape when you’re ready to list in the spring.

Here are just a few examples of what you can do in January to get the process started:

• Walk your property and note any maintenance issues that need attention.

• Decide which items to stow or sell to declutter your home.

• Determine what improvements you’ll need to make in order for your home to look great to buyers (i.e. painting, updating light fixtures)

• Find out approximately how much your property will likely sell for in the spring market.

• Clarify the kind of new home you’d like to move into, including ideal neighbourhoods.

• Look into your financing options, so you’ll know the price range you’ll be shopping within.

• Connect with any professionals you may need, such as contractors, a mover, and a real estate lawyer.

As you can see, the more prepared you are this month, the more stress-free and successful the home selling process will be for you in the spring.

And one more tip: contact me to get the conversation started about selling your home in the spring. It’s coming fast!

There’s no doubt about it. The more “move in” ready your property is, the more attractive it will be to buyers. That’s because buyers will be able to imagine living in the home without having to make any major repairs or improvements — at least for the short term.

But, does that mean you need to get every big issue dealt with before you sell? Not necessarily.

Say, for example, your flooring needs replacing soon. Some will say sure, that may influence the interest-level some buyers have in your property, yet, homes sell every day with these kinds of issues.

What it comes down to is cost-versus-benefit. Painting, for example, costs little (compared to other types of improvements), yet can make a big difference in how your home appears. So, the benefit is high compared to the cost.

On the other hand, redoing your kitchen is an expensive undertaking. Although you’re likely to add value to your home as a result of the renovation, you might not get your entire investment back when you sell.

So, consider each improvement your thinking of making based on its cost, how much more you’ll get for your home, and how much more quickly you anticipate your property will sell.

Did you know that 65% of potential buyers will do a drive-by prior to a formal viewing to decide if they like a home?

Curb appeal is key and we take pride in helping our clients prep their home for the market. Check out part one of our video series where we walk you through a soon-to-be-listed home and all the work we're doing with our seller to get it ready.  

Now, let me show you around the inside of this gorgeous ranch style bungalow. We'll first take you through the main floor and then, we'll do a quick tour of the finished lower level.

MAIN FLOOR:

LOWER LEVEL:

Last stop: the backyard! A backyard can be an outdoor sanctuary where people enjoy some R&R or share a great meal with family & friends. When potential buyers step into your backyard, they are looking for an inviting & comfortable outdoor space. Tons of elements can be incorporated in your design in order to create a sanctuary but carving out dedicated space and creating privacy are the first steps into that direction.

And here it is! The finished product. Months of careful planning, energy efficiency considerations, luxury selections and here we are: a home that only a builder could dream up!

Let's face it. Planning events, even exciting ones like an overseas vacation, can be stressful. So, it's not surprising that some homeowners — even those thrilled about moving — can slip into "worry mode" when putting their property up for sale.

Unfortunately, this anxiety can make the process of selling an unpleasant experience. Who wants that? So here are some things you can do to reduce selling stress and enjoy the adventure.

• Understand the selling process. The more you know about the steps involved in selling your home, the less mysterious — and, therefore, less stressful — it will be.

• Give yourself the time you need. Feeling rushed and stressed comes from trying to do too much in too little time. Even if you're selling quickly, it's important to block off sufficient time in your calendar for the things you need to do.

• Take care of yourself. As television psychologist Dr. Phil often points out, you can't give what you don't have. When it comes to selling your home, that means you need to eat well and stay healthy, so you have the energy you need throughout the process.

• Make your home attractive to buyers. That not only means tidying up and doing a little home staging, it also means setting the right listing price. Nothing eliminates the stress of selling more than having flocks of qualified buyers interested in your home.

• Get the help you need. You don't have to do everything on your own. That's why working with me is so advantageous. I take care of the many details for my clients so that they can enjoy the journey.

Sure, there are going to be a few stressful moments. However, the process of listing and selling your property, while looking for your next dream home, can be an exciting experience.

Let me help you. Call today.

If you're thinking of listing your property, one thing that might be holding you back is concern about preparing your home for sale. You may be wondering how much work there will be. Is it going to take a couple of months? A couple of weeks? A few days?
That, of course, depends on the state of your property.

However, regardless of how close your home is to “show time” ready, there is plenty you can do to reduce how long that preparation takes. Consider these ideas:

• Sell stuff online. The less cluttered your home seems to buyers, the better it will show. So, make a list of items you want to sell, and then list them on one of the many local online market websites. Price items fairly and, chances are, you'll get rid of everything in a day or two.

• Have a repair day. Go through your home and make a list of everything that needs to be fixed. Then, schedule repair people to all come on the same day. Voila! In one day, all needed repairs (or, at least, most of them) are done.

• Get staging advice. Instead of guessing at what changes you need to make around your home to make it look its best, get expert staging advice. You’ll find out exactly what the experts suggest you do, and you'll save a lot of time and money. (By the way, I can provide you with that advice too.)

• Ask before making big improvements. Are you planning to convert a wood burning fireplace into a gas unit to help sell your home? Before doing any big improvements or renovations like that, talk to me. You don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on an unnecessary project.

• Hire help. You don't have to do everything on your own. Get the help you need. For example, hire a painter, a cleaner, and/or a junk removal service. Those will significantly shorten the time it takes to prepare your home for sale and save you a lot of work. Also, the costs of those professionals may be off-set by the increase in the sale price of your home.

Bottomline: Preparing your home doesn't need to be overwhelming and time- consuming. Contact me for more ideas to help get your home ready for sale.

I hope this message finds you and your family well!  Finances, health, job change, divorce, estate sale are only a few of the reasons someone might have to sell or buy a home. Our goal, during this crucial time, is to provide you with the tools you need to limit your exposure, and to continue to provide the 5-star service we are known to give. Here is how we do it:
 
Virtual Home Consultation
We communicate via video conference & screen sharing to answer all of your home sale questions
 
Virtual Staging
We integrate highly realistic furniture, decor and accent pieces into an image of a vacant room.
 
Virtual Reality Home Tour
Using advanced 3D cameras & pre-recorded video tours, we provide buyers with an interactive way of viewing your home online.
 
Digital Marketing Material
We provide digital feature sheets & floor plans.
 
Showing Precautions
Instructing agents to wear gloves and buyers to keep their hands in their pockets, having everyone fill out a COVID-19 pre-showing questionnaire.
 
Electronic Signatures
Using a highly secure & user-friendly application that allows you to sign agreements from wherever you are and with any of your electronic devices.

Our top priotiry is your safety. I'm happy to go over our process in more details. Call to find out more.

When buyers come to see your home, the first thing they notice is how your property looks from the curb. That first impression is powerful and lingering. If buyers don't like what they see, it can influence how they judge the rest of your property, regardless of how great it looks on the inside.

You definitely want to do whatever you can to boost curb appeal. Here are six affordable ideas to consider:

1.    Driveway sealing. This makes the pavement look darker and less faded. It also helps cover up some of the cracks. Sealing won't give you the "brand new" look of repaving, but it's close — and significantly less expensive.

2.    Exterior window washing. Washing the front windows makes them look clean and bright. In fact, the effect can be stunning. There are window washing products that connect to your hose to make this job easier. Check your home improvement retailer.

3.    Maintaining shrubs, hedges and flower beds. Trimming the hedges, shrubs and other evergreens can make a big difference in how your property looks from the street. It's like giving them all a haircut! Flowering plants can also brighten up the look.

4.    Front door painting. From the curb, a buyer's eye is naturally drawn to your front door. If your entry system looks old and worn, consider a fresh coat of paint. It can make the entrance look almost new.

5.    Garage door painting. This is abigger project that can take a day or two, but the effort might be worth it. For many homes, the garage door is the biggest item in the curb appeal panorama. Making it look better will have a big impact.

6.    Removing unsightly items. Look at your home from the street. Are there items in your field of vision that take away from the curb appeal? For example, are there garbage cans and other items stowed along the side of the property and visible from the road? If so, move them.

If you have a home that is overdue for a renovation, you might be worried that it will be difficult to sell as a "fixer-upper". In fact, you might delay listing your property for that reason.

The good news is, you don’t need to fix up everything in your home to prepare it for sale. You can be selective and choose only those projects that are most likely to help your home show well and sell quickly.

Here are some projects to consider:

·       Repairs. Few things stand out more during a viewing than something in obvious need of repair. That includes minor issues, like a dripping bathroom faucet, as well as major concerns, such as the central air conditioning unit not working. Get these repairs done.

·       Painting. Painting is one of the easiest and most affordable DIY projects you can do. Yet the impact it can have on your home is stunning. Some rooms are completely transformed by a fresh coat of paint.

·       Light fixtures.  A quick and affordable way to add flair and ambiance to a room is by updating the light fixtures. With all that is available on-line today, it is easy to find budget-friendly options that will completely transform the feel & look of your home.

·       Kitchens & Bathrooms. Buyers love to see great looking kitchens and bathrooms. In fact, there are even magazines devoted just to those rooms! You don't necessarily need to do a major renovation of these spaces, but a makeover can be a good idea. Consider replacing sinks, countertops, and/or cabinet hardware.

·       Floors. If the floors in any of your rooms have become worn and unsightly, look at options for refreshing them. Consider replacing carpeting, refinishing hardwood, and/or getting tiles professionally cleaned and polished.

·       Outdoors. Sometimes you can compensate (a little) for a less-than-ideal interior by sprucing up the outdoor space. Explore ways to improve your deck or patio, walkways, and landscaping.

Even if your home is older, you can make it more attractive to buyers with any one of these projects.

Want more ideas for finding eager buyers for your home? Call today.

Want to make your bathroom look fantastic without having to do a major renovation? There are a lot of projects you can do yourself. In fact, there are some improvements you can get done in less than a day that will transform the look and feel of your bathroom. Check out these ideas:

·       Update the sink. If you have some basic plumbing knowledge, this is a project you should be able to do on your own. A new sink can make the entire vanity look like new.

·       Buy new decor. New shower curtains, towels, window coverings, mats, etc. can transform the look of a bathroom.

·       Install new hardware. Replacing cabinet hardware may not seem like much of a change. However, it can have a surprisingly big impact. Shiny new hardware is like jewelry. It stands out.

·       Replace the vanity mirror. Even if there are no scratches, an older mirror is like an old pair of glasses. It can become foggy. No amount of cleaning will make it any clearer. When ordering a replacement mirror, be sure that your measurements are exact.

·       Paint. There's no doubt about it. A fresh coat of paint makes any room look better.

These bathroom improvement projects can make a huge impact on the look of your bathroom. And, they can all be done affordably and in just a day or two.