Say you’re shopping for a new home. Your goal is to find the ideal property, in a neighbourhood that is just right for you, within a price range that you can afford.

What do you need — at a minimum — to get started?

If you’re looking for ways to get your ducks in a row, here are some things to prepare:

 

  1. A property wish list. What does your ideal home look like? How many bedrooms does it need to have? Do you require a spacious recreational room? A large deck? A pool? A nice view? Get your wish list down on paper.
  2. A neighbourhood wish list. Where you live is just as important as what you live in. What qualities are you looking for in a neighbourhood? A nearby park? Walking distance to a good school? Hiking trails? A shorter drive…

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It’s interesting to note how so many things have their “season.” Hockey in the winter. Vacations in the summer. Gardening in the spring. Even retirement reportedly occurs more often in the fall than any other time of year.

To some extent, even real estate seems to have a season. The spring is traditionally an active time for home sales. But, does that mean you should wait until spring to list your home?

Here’s the reality...

Properties sell all year round. There are buyers actively looking for homes at all times of the year. In fact, there are bound to be buyers that would be interested in your home if you were to list it this month. While it’s true that the market may fluctuate throughout the year, with some months featuring higher or lower…

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 Seven Master Bedroom Staging Ideas

As you may know, staging involves setting up the furniture, art and accessories of each room so that, overall, your home looks as appealing as possible to buyers. It’s similar to what furniture stores do when they create displays of model bedrooms, kitchens, etc.

When you’re staging your home, the master bedroom is particularly important. Here are some simple staging tips worth trying:

1) Consider using mirrors to make the bedroom seem larger and more comfortable.

2) Put a new comforter on the bed.

3) Update the wattage or add a lamp if the lighting is dim. (Make sure lights are turned on during a viewing.)

4) Be ruthless when removing clutter from the room, particularly the closet. Don’t have anything stored under the bed.

…

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Places Buyers Look When Viewing your Home

You might be surprised to know which spaces in a home most buyers look at when viewing a property. If you’re preparing your home for sale, make sure to consider the following places that are likely to be checked out:

1) Inside closets. Buyers want to get a sense of the size and capacity of all your closets. Make sure they’re clean and well organized. Avoid the “overstuffed” look.

2) Basement. Do you think buyers will stick to the main room of your basement? Think again. Some interested buyers will also check out the furnace room, cold room, electrical box, and even crawl spaces.

3) Under the sinks. Buyers will definitely look under the kitchen sink. You can expect some buyers to open the doors of bathroom vanities as well. Make sure…

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 Pulling Together the Records you Need when Selling

Imagine you’re viewing a home for sale. You venture to the basement, check out the furnace room, and notice the water heater. Is it owned or rented? As a potential buyer, you’d want to know.

Now imagine a property you’re viewing has a brand-new gas fireplace. Nice! Is it under warranty? Is that warranty transferrable to you if you buy the home? Again, you’d want to know.

So, when you’re selling, it’s important to pull together all the necessary records you will need in order to answer these types of buyer questions. After all, if a particular warranty transfers to the new owner, that’s a selling point.

Take the time to find receipts, warranty certificates, and other documents related to:

1) Renovations (e.g., a bathroom…

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Preparing for a Day of Multiple Viewings

When you’re selling your home, several viewings of your property may be scheduled on the same day. That can be a good thing because it can create increased excitement about your listing.

To prepare for a multiple viewings day, follow these tips:

  •          Clean and prepare your home the day before. That way, you’re not scrambling to get things ready in the morning.
  •          Confirm the time of the first appointment. Schedules can change quickly.
  •          Plan to leave your home a half-hour before the viewings begin. Some buyers might feel awkward if they run into you as you’re coming out.
  •          Make a last-minute checklist.
  •          Assume the viewings will go overtime. Plan to be away at least a half-hour after the…

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 The Role of Personal Goals when Deciding to Sell

Many people decide to move for practical reasons. For example, some might be required to move due to work relocation and others may realize that their household has changed and they are ready to downsize or upsize.

But personal goals play an important role too.

In fact, when deciding whether or not to sell your property and find your next dream home, it’s essential to consider personal goals—your own and those of other family members too.

After all, where you live, and the type of home you live in, can greatly impact your goals and dreams.

For example, if you’re active in a particular sport or another hobby (such as hiking), being able to enjoy that activity locally might be an objective. If your goal is to live in a certain…

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Assessing Property's long term potential

You see a home on the market that you like. Should you buy it? Before you make an offer, it’s a good idea to get a sense of the property’s long-term potential. After all, a property is not just a potential home, it’s also an important investment.

Here are some things to look for when viewing homes on the market:

  1. Is the area’s average income increasing? The more affluent a neighbourhood becomes, the higher the property values.
  2. Are employment opportunities growing nearby? If jobs are leaving the area, housing prices will likely decline.
  3. Is there any nearby housing or community developments that will enhance the quality of life in the area? If a park with a quiet walking trail, or a prestigious golf course, is being built nearby, the value…

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Your neighbourhood has a lot of features that can help you sell your home faster. Unfortunately, buyers don’t usually notice those features just by driving around. So, you need to make sure they get all the information they need about your neighbourhood.

For example:

  • Homes don’t go on the market often in your area. That’s an indication that the quality of life in the neighbourhood is so good that no one wants to leave! In real estate, we measure the area’s “turnover rate”, and it’s a handy piece of data to have when listing your home.
  • Demographic data can also be helpful when selling your property. If your neighbourhood has a lot of families, for example, that’s going to be appealing to buyers with kids.

Other types of data that can…

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Estimating Your Selling Costs

When the time comes to sell your house, you’ll want to determine roughly how much you can expect to net after the sale. To figure that out, you’ll not only need to know how much your house will likely sell for, but also the selling costs you are likely to incur in the process.

The costs of selling vary depending on a number of factors. Here’s a general rundown of what to consider:

  1. Repairs. You will want your house to look its best to buyers. That may require you to get any needed repairs done before listing. You don’t want a buyer to see a dent in the wall or a dripping faucet.
  2. Renovations. It might make sense to get a few improvements done to make the house more attractive. For example, you may want to replace old and worn kitchen…

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