how to: Three Lists To Make When Selling Your Home - 01/02/16 01:33 AM
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 … (5 comments)

how to: Benefits of a “Moving Out” Sale - 01/01/16 06:27 AM
“Stuff” accumulates. It’s a timeless principle in every household. It accumulates. And accumulates!
Chances are, your basement, garage, and closets are filled with things you don’t want to have to pack and haul on moving day.
The solution? Have a “Moving Out” sale!
Expect a crowd. Bargain hunters love a “Moving Out” sale even more than a Garage Sale because they expect that prices will be lower.
Once you realize that you won’t have to deal with all that clutter on moving day, you’ll love it too.
Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor … (2 comments)

how to: Getting Your Home Hunting Ducks in a Row - 12/23/15 01:01 AM
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 minimum — to get started?
If you’re looking for ways to get your ducks in a row, here are some suggestions:
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. A neighbourhood wish … (1 comments)

how to: To Paint or Not to Paint - 12/19/15 11:20 PM
Painting the outside of your home traditionally takes more time and expense than a comparable area on the inside. You have to deal with ladders, more paint and, of course, the weather. So when preparing your house for sale, you don’t want to do any exterior painting unless it is really necessary.
How can you tell? Walk across the street and cast a critical eye on your house. Can you notice areas where the paint is chipped or faded? If so, then so will potential buyers. It’s worth your while to invest in getting a fresh coat of paint on these areas. … (3 comments)

how to: Is It A Mountain? Or A Molehill? - 12/11/15 09:30 PM
There’s an old expression: Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. It refers, of course, to putting a problem or issue in the right perspective. Some things just aren’t worth worrying that much about – the molehills. However, there are other things that you do need to be concerned about – the mountains.
What does all this have to do with buying a home?
It’s difficult to find a property on the market that is absolutely perfect and has no issues what-so-ever. Even if you find a home that you fall in love with and that meets all your requirements, there are … (3 comments)

how to: It’s All About Personal Service - 12/08/15 08:36 PM
In Real Estate, it’s understood that personalized service really makes a difference.
That’s why you are entitled to expect value-added, cost-free information and advice on real estate subjects that interest you. Here are a few examples of topics you might find worthwhile:
Financial and market trends Neighbourhood property activity Renovations and décor ideas Taxation and other municipal issues If you want to be kept “up to speed” on a particular real estate issue, just call to make an appointment to set up a monitoring program that’s right for you. Here’s how it works:
You define the issues that are most meaningful to … (3 comments)

how to: Make Your Home Show Better - 12/07/15 07:54 PM
It’s no secret in the real estate world that the more attractive your home looks to potential buyers, the more likely it will be to sell quickly and for a good price. So, obviously, you want to do everything you can to ensure your home “shows” well.
But before you invest in a major renovation or other costly improvements – which may not be necessary – consider these low-cost tips first.
Paint. This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to make a room or other area of your home look bright and new.
Potted flowers. Flowers always brighten up a space. And if … (0 comments)

how to: Reducing The Stress Of Moving Day - 12/06/15 07:45 PM
Moving day is traditionally such a hectic and emotionally charged experience that there are even reality TV shows about it.
Does it have to be that way? Is it possible to ensure that moving day goes smoothly?
Picking a good moving company, or making similar arrangements to transport your belongings, is the obvious place to start. But here are some other tips you might not have considered:
Put pets in a kennel for the day. Pets may get excited by all the activity and tend to get in the way, or may hide where you can’t find them.
Have healthy snacks available. Vegetables, fruit, nuts, … (0 comments)

how to: The Most Important Room In Your Home - 12/05/15 10:59 PM
When preparing your home for sale, you want to make sure every room looks its best. But pay particularly close attention to the kitchen. Many buyers will spend a lot of time determining whether or not it meets their needs. In fact, some buyers will even form an impression about the entire property based primarily on how they feel about the kitchen!
How do you make it look its best?
Start by making sure your kitchen appears as roomy as possible. Put away all countertop appliances, even the toaster and the coffee machine, so that the counter space is completely clear.
Check that your … (4 comments)

how to: Selling Your House Using the Other Three Senses - 12/03/15 07:43 PM
Most advice on how to prepare your house for sale involves how the property will look to a potential buyer. Appearance is, of course, very important if you want to sell a house quickly and for the best price. But there are three other senses you have to satisfy as well.
Hearing. Check for creaks in the floor, a rattling washer or dryer, or any other unpleasant noise. You may no longer notice these sounds, but potential buyers will.
Smelling. You might love the aroma of exotic cooking, but visitors may not. Also check for other obvious sources of odours: such as ashtrays, … (2 comments)

how to: Buying a Home That Needs Work - 11/30/15 07:43 PM
When you’re shopping for a new home, you may come across properties that require repairs or renovations. Are these houses worth the added expense? Will you get your money back if you decide to sell the house in the future?
According to market studies, certain renovations and repairs do add more value to a home than the repairs typically cost. These include kitchen and bathroom renovations, new or improved landscaping, and electrical and plumbing repairs.
 
Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.com - Condos and Houses for rent
… (0 comments)

how to: Understanding the Home Buying Process - 11/29/15 07:50 PM
The more you know about the best way to reach a goal, the more likely you are to get the result you want. So, whether you’re hunting for a new job, assembling a backyard BBQ, or training for a 3 mile run, you’ll want to use a proven process to help you get there.
That certainly holds true when shopping for a new home. There is a proven process to getting the home you want, in the neighbourhood you want, at a price you can afford. Here are the highlights:
Get ready
There’s a lot you must do before you pack … (0 comments)

how to: Consider Buying a Home With Some “Undesirable” Features - 11/21/15 11:05 PM
When you’re looking for a home, chances are, you have a checklist of things you want. Two bathrooms… a finished basement… a great looking kitchen… an expansive deck…
But what happens when a home you see has a feature that doesn’t quite measure up? Perhaps the basement is poorly renovated. Or the kitchen is small. Or there’s only one bathroom. Should you say “No”?
Here’s something to consider: A home that has a few undesirable features will probably cost less. And, those savings may more than cover the costs of any needed upgrades or renovations.
So don’t pass up on a house simply because … (3 comments)

how to: Not-So-Obvious Home Staging Tips - 11/20/15 05:34 AM
When it comes to “staging” your home for sale – which basically means ensuring it looks clean and uncluttered – you probably already know the basics: clean the counters, vacuum the floors, mow the lawn, etc.
 
But there are some home staging tips that are less obvious, yet can help to sell your property faster and for a higher price. For example…
The Kitchen
Obvious: The stove, sinks and countertops should be spotless.
Not-so-obvious: The contents of your cabinets and refrigerator should be facing face forward.
The Bathrooms
Obvious: They should be clean and uncluttered. Have fresh towels hanging neatly on the rack. (The … (1 comments)

how to: 15 Minutes Before a Viewing - 11/11/15 12:09 AM
When preparing your house for a viewing, you’re obviously going to make sure it’s clean and tidy. After all, you want to make the best impression possible on potential buyers. But in the minutes before the buyers are due to arrive, there are a few final touches you need to do in your house to ensure it looks its best.
Put away coats, hats and shoes. Focus around the foyer. You don’t want clutter to be the first thing a buyer sees.
Turn on all lights and lamps. Don’t forget darker areas like nooks and corners. A house that is bright looks more … (1 comments)

how to: Should You List Your Home for a High Price? - 11/06/15 12:32 AM
If you plan on putting your property on the market, it can be tempting to list it for a very high price in the hope that some buyer will say “yes”. But that rarely happens.
In fact, it is more likely that your property will sit on the market for a long time with no takers, and home buyers and their agents will quickly lose interest in even seeing it.
The fastest way to sell your property for the highest price possible is by listing it as close to its fair market value as possible. That’s the price similar homes in your area … (1 comments)