Edmonton Real Estate BlogRecently posted or modified blog posts in the category - Edmonton Real Estate Selling Tipshttps://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/Copyright BestEdmontonRealEstate.com2022-03-19T00:59:52-07:00tag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:298010 Budget-Friendly Home Improvements to Try TodayLooking for ways to improve your home without breaking the bank? Whether you're getting ready to sell your home or want to give your home a fresh new look for your own enjoyment, we've got ten simple ideas for home improvements on a budget to get you started!
Keep this in Mind When it Comes to Home Improvements on a Budget
The best way to improve home values on a budget is to do what needs doing–and nothing more. Why buy a new ceiling fan when replacing the blades will do? Why paint the entire interior of your home when a feature wall works just fine. This approach allows you to make several small improvements instead of taking several larger projects.
In short: Know your buyers. Choose projects carefully. Know when to quit.
The actual cost and payback for each project can vary, depending on both your home's condition and the overall real estate market. But here are ten ideas that can make your home look and feel that much better!
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/quick_home_improvements_1800.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_center" width="600" height="1700" />
10 Home Improvements on a Budget
Spruce up your yard
Your yard is often the first impression people (including prospective buyers) get of your home. Spruce up your yard to make sure it's a good one! This includes staying on top of picking weeds, mowing your lawn, and removing any debris or unsightly additions.
Give your walls a fresh coat of paint
Talk about an instant facelift! The power of a fresh coat of paint is enough to make your home look dramatically better, which makes it one of the most popular home improvements you can make on a budget.
(Are you considering adding a man cave to your home? Find out if it boosts resale value in this post)
Add new handles to your cabinet doors
As simple as it seems, upgrading the hardware on your cabinet doors can make a big impact on the overall look of your home. Even without breaking the bank, you can find elegant options that make your home look thoughtfully and tastefully designed.
Re-caulk your sinks and tubs
It might not be the most exciting of our home improvements on a budget, but re-caulking your sinks and tubs is a step that pays off in spades! Not only does it freshen up the look of your bathroom, but it's also important for preventing the growth of mould and mildew in damp spaces.
Matching front panels for appliances
With matching front panels for your appliances, they can seamlessly blend with the rest of your cabinetry. It's amazing the effect can have on kitchens and laundry rooms. This is also something that offers you a lasting impact that improves the value of your home for years to come.
Deep clean
This option doesn't technically require adding anything to your home, but it could mean taking some things away. Performing a deep clean and decluttering might not be fun, but it does profoundly affect your home. Your home will instantly look more valuable, and keeping it clean helps preserve its value for years to come.
New shades for old lamps
No need to buy all new lighting for your home! Instead, upgrade your existing lamps with new and improved lampshades that are modern and on-trend.
(Are you looking for ways to upgrade your home's efficiency along with its value? Here are some tips for doing just that)
Upgrade your faucets
Those leaky, outdated faucets that came with your home are dragging your property down! Consider upgrading the faucets in your kitchen and/or bathrooms for your next home improvement on a budget task.
Protect your home with warranties
A home warranty can offer you some financial coverage for repairs in your home. That way, if issues arise over time, you aren't left covering all of the repair costs on your own. Often, this means the difference between letting things sit broken in your home or improving them right away.
(Rather than performing these home improvements on a budget, you might be considering a full-blown remodel. But before you take this step, find out whether these upgrades add resale value or not in this post)
Upgrade your carpeting
It's time to upgrade from that old dingy carpet to a modern, luxurious option! If you're working with a tight budget, consider starting with one room and saving for different rooms to complete over time. Bonus: new carpet can be a great incentive for prospective home buyers to choose your property!
Did you enjoy reading about making these home improvements on a budget? Here are three more posts to read next:
Concrete Countertops: Are they worth the investment?
How to Turn a House into a Rental Property: Ask These Questions First
3 Signs You are Overpaying for a House
This post was first published in 2016, but it was updated in 2021 just for you.<br /><br />Related Links
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/" target="_blank">Edmonton Real Estate Blog</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/ne-edmonton/" target="_blank">Northeast Edmonton Homes & Real Estate</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/sitemap/" target="_blank">Edmonton Real Estate</a>
2021-12-17T08:48:00-07:002022-01-23T23:04:40-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:12398Why You Should Use A Realtor To Sell Your Home<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/Selling_Your_Home_in_Edmonton.jpg" alt="Selling Your Home In Edmonton" style="margin: 2px; border: 2px solid black;" width="450" height="299" />
Why You Should Use a Realtor to Sell Your Home
A can-do attitude is an admirable trait. Maybe you apply this attitude to learning a new hobby, mastering a new skill, or perhaps you're even thinking of trying to sell your home by yourself.
While this attitude serves you well in many cases, this isn't always true for real estate. Instead, the benefits of using a realtor far outweigh the benefits of going it alone. And today, we're going to tell you all about why you should use a realtor to sell your home.
The Benefits When You Use a Realtor to Sell Your Home
Of course, you won't be surprised to hear an Edmonton real estate company suggest that you should use a realtor. But we think once you read through these benefits, you'll be just as convinced!
Access to the MLS®
MLS® stands for multiple listing services. As for why access to this service is beneficial? This database of property listings across Canada is the central registry through which most homes are sold in Canada. But if you sell your home yourself rather than use a realtor to do so, you don't have access to list your property on it.
You must be a realtor to list a property on this database. Then, once you do so, the property can be found by real-estate agents and buyers far easier than listing it elsewhere.
(Read more about the <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/the-mls-advantage/" target="_blank">MLS® advantage here</a>)
FSBO homes can be viewed as a red flag
Many home buyers and real estate agents are reluctant to look into FSBO homes (for sale by owner). Real estate transactions become a lot trickier without an experienced real estate agent guiding them.
So, many home buyers avoid looking into these properties in general because they aren't worth the headache that comes with buying them.
Marketing vs. listing
Listing your home by yourself is one thing. But marketing it? That's a whole different ball game.
Not to mention, it's a game for which realtors have a very special set of expertise. This expertise and the marketing resources they have at their disposal are invaluable in the home buying/selling journey.
So, even if you're convinced you could list your home by yourself, you'll often realize some of the bigger challenges come with marketing it and getting eyes on your property.
(When you use a realtor, they can help you navigate the world of real estate closing costs, so there are no nasty surprises down the road. Read more about those costs <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/what-are-real-estate-closing-costs-for-home-buyers/" target="_blank">in this post</a>)
One word: paperwork
Unless paperwork is your favourite hobby and you have endless time to spend on it, this is one benefit that applies when you use a realtor you can't miss. With a realtor handling most of the paperwork for you, you save yourself countless hours and a lot of confusion spent on pages of complicated paperwork.
Not only is real estate paperwork time-consuming, but it's also highly technical and complicated.
That means it leaves you vulnerable to errors and omissions that can lead to more trouble down the road… including costly mistakes!
Use a realtor to keep emotion out of the process
Your home is your pride and joy. You've created incredible memories there and spent copious amounts of time and money on making it just right.
(Speaking of, read about the <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/5-remodeling-upgrades-that-might-not-add-resale-value/" target="_blank">home upgrades that might not boost its resale value here</a>)
As such, you have an emotional attachment to this property. The problem is, emotions and real estate don't mix well. So, if you're selling your home yourself, you risk potential issues because of this emotion.
For example? Listing the property for more than it's worth because of the sentimental value it holds.
We're Here to Help
Now you know more about the reasons you should use a realtor to sell your home. As for your next steps? Call the Best Edmonton Real Estate Team! We'll help you reap the greatest reward from the real estate journey and support you every step of the way.
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/contact/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to contact us today.
Did you learn a lot about why to use a realtor to sell your home in this post? Here are three more posts to read next:
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/tips-for-buying-and-selling-a-home-at-the-same-time/" target="_blank">Tips For Buying and Selling a Home at the Same Time</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/buying-or-selling-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">Buying or Selling During the COVID-19 Pandemic</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/buying-or-selling-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">Real Estate Supply And Demand</a>
2021-11-26T09:52:00-07:002022-03-19T00:59:52-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:4562Can a Man Cave Really Boost Resale Value?<img src="/blogphotos/thumb/573/4562-edmonton-man-caves.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" />
Basement builders are seeing rising popularity in “the man cave.” In fact, more basement renovations in Edmonton include transforming the home’s lower level into a room custom-built for recreation than ever before. And although it’s named for "the man" in the house, it’s typically used by the whole family. After all, a man cave can provide prime space for entertaining, socializing, relaxation, and personal time. It can certainly make your home more enjoyable for yourself while you’re living in it.
But can a man cave increase property value? What happens if you decide to sell your house?
That's what we're going to talk about in today's post. Not only will we talk about what a man cave will or won't do to your home's resale value, but we'll also share some tips for making your man cave more enjoyable and more valuable.
The Truth About Man Caves & Resale Value
Basement renovations do have value and a decent return on investment. But a man cave that's too personal or too specific to an individual’s or family’s taste can turn off some buyers.
For example, if you’re a passionate sports fan and do a custom renovation dedicated to one team. In that case, someone who isn’t into sports, or a fan of that team, will not be a fan of your man cave.
(Speaking of resale value, take a look at this post next: <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/tips-to-save-energy-and-add-value/" target="_blank">Tips for Energy Efficiency & Adding Value to Your Home</a>)
There is a market for a man cave and having a space for entertaining and relaxing is an attractive selling feature. Just don’t go overboard with it.
How to Create a Man Cave That's Enjoyable & Boosts Resale Value
If you’re not too personal, bold, and specific, there is a resale market for man caves. So, how can you create the man cave of your dreams without diminishing your home’s resale value?
(Here are five other upgrades to consider carefully during home renovations: <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/5-remodeling-upgrades-that-might-not-add-resale-value/" target="_blank">Remodeling a House? 5 Upgrades That Might Not Add Resale Value</a>)
If you want to cover your man cave with eccentric or you-specific décor, make sure it's all something that can be removed if you choose to list your house for sale.
For example, maybe don’t paint your team’s logo on the wall or have it embossed on the floor.
Instead, put up banners, posters and décor that can be removed. When buyers come to look at your home, they can see what the place looks like with that type of décor but won’t have to worry about repainting the wall if it doesn’t match their taste.
(Are you considering adding concrete countertops in your home? Perhaps for the bar in your man cave? <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/concrete-countertops-are-they-worth-the-investment/" target="_blank">Read this first</a> to find out if they are worth the investment)
Remember: an extravagant man cave is a luxury.
So, make sure your basement renovations are within an acceptable budget. Some luxury items won’t recoup costs at resale, so only splurge if you can afford it. Going overboard on your man cave renovation might create a stressful financial burden, and this reno is supposed to be enjoyable and relaxing. Not to mention, if you go too far out of your budget creating your man cave, anything you might gain in resale value will be lost!
Are you looking for more inspiration for your man cave? <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/sammy815/man-cave-inspiration-and-essentials/?lp=true" target="_blank">Start here</a>.
Did you enjoy this post? Here are three more to read next:
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/tips-on-buying-a-home-in-edmonton/" target="_blank">Tips For Buying A Home In Edmonton</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/tips-on-buying-a-home-in-edmonton/" target="_blank">The Only Moving Checklist You Need in Edmonton</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/moving-checklist/" target="_blank">3 Signs You are Overpaying for a House</a>
This post was first published in 2015, but it was updated in 2021 just for you.<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/moving-checklist/" target="_blank"></a><br /><br />Related Links
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/property-search/results/?searchtype=3">Edmonton Homes Map Search</a>
2021-10-15T08:39:00-07:002021-10-24T03:45:20-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2979How to Turn a House into a Rental Property: Ask These Questions First<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/pexels-kindel-media-7766930.jpg" width="1280" height="720" alt="How to Turn a House into a Rental Property: Ask These Questions First" />
Have you been preparing to move into a new home but aren’t sure what to do with your old property? You have three options: sell, keep, or rent. In this post, we're going to focus on that last option: how to turn your house into a rental property.
How to Turn a House into a Rental Property
The key to making the right decision about your best option is researching and being well-informed. So take a look at a few of the tips and guidelines below. We hope this information will help you figure out whether renting is the best solution for you!
Down Payment
Want to get into your new home but don’t quite have that down payment saved up?
You can go the same avenues as first-time home buyers. These include borrowing money from a family member or applying for an unsecured line of credit. Or, if you’d like to keep or rent your current property, you can leverage the equity in the home by borrowing against it through refinancing.
Qualifying
If you do decide renting is for you, your rental property will figure into qualifying for your next mortgage.
Existing property carrying costs will be bundled in with your debt ratios. But, if you already have a tenant, you’ll also be able to declare this income. This increases your chances of qualifying at a competitive rate.
Keep in mind that qualifying calculations, especially those pertaining to rental properties and income, vary wildly from lending institution to institution.
So if you don’t qualify with one company, shop around.
Essential Factors to Help You Turn a House into a Rental Property
If you’ve done any research on rental ownership at all, you’ve probably been told that owning rental properties isn’t as easy as beginners first assume.
Real estate can either be a money-printing machine or a money, time, and energy suck. Unfortunately, it’s sometimes difficult for inexperienced investors to understand the differences between these two outcomes.
However, the good news is that many of the headaches associated with renting can be avoided by correctly making a few critical decisions as you begin your renting project.
So, do your research and learn how to manage your property responsibly and efficiently.
Below, we’ve included a list of questions you should research and address to help you figure out how to turn a house into a rental property. At the same time, these questions help you determine if that's the best course of action in the first place.
(Are you working on improving your property to prepare it for renting? Take a look at this post next: <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/how-to-paint-over-ceramic-tile-in-a-bathroom/" target="_blank">Top Tips for How to Paint Over Ceramic Tile in a Bathroom</a>)
Who will manage the property and the tenants?
This is, perhaps, the most under-considered factor that is often overlooked by first-time rental owners when they're figuring out how to turn a house into a rental property.
All perhaps rental income management options aim to maximize monthly cash flow. Management costs and property maintenance are the most important (and potentially dangerous) part of the cash flow equation.
If you’ve always embraced a do-it-yourself attitude and don’t think you’ll mind the occasional 3 AM, “my water and furnace have both imploded” service call, then managing the property yourself may be the most cost-effective solution.
But, what about those among us that enjoy rest and can’t tell the difference between the furnace and water heater? Then outsourcing basic property management tasks, such as repairs, rent collection, and key making is another option.
Property managers typically charge a present of the rent paid. This fee varies based on the number of properties you recent and your current research market, so research the services available in your location and ask around.
Are there going to be significant tax implications?
As with property managers, the tax implications for a specific property and situation will vary wildly, so I highly recommend that you consult a knowledgeable tax professional (instead of just some guy on the internet).
That being said, there are several general rules we can discuss here.
First, the bad news—your surplus rental income will be taxed.
However, since you’ll be running a business, the rental property expenses that come up will be tax-deductible. These include property taxes, costs that are the result of renting, and mortgage interest. And they can help cut that tax bill by knocking you down to a lower bracket!
Tax-wise, rental owners almost always come out ahead in the end. But let's say you decide to only rent for a short time and plan to sell or flip the property soon. Then you should consider the tax costs when deciding whether renting is worth your time.
If you decide to sell the property, the profit will also generally be taxable (although there may be some capital gains exemptions you can evoke). Contact your accountant for further details.
Insurance
The best place to find rental property insurance is probably your current homeowner insurance policyholder, as they are already familiar with you and with the property. While new tenants can purchase renter’s insurance, their policy will only cover their personal belongings, not the physical property itself.
How much does my property cost per month?
This is, perhaps, the most important factor in determining positive cash flow and renting are feasible. And the most significant component of this monthly cost will likely be your mortgage rate and term.
Fixed-rate mortgages are an obvious advantage for rental owners. That's because they remain consistent! This makes it much easier to calculate the monthly rent you will need to charge to cover your expenses and make a little profit on the side. Figuring all this out on a property with a variable rate is a bit more complicated. But it can still be done.
When deciding on a rent price, make sure to consider all potentially negative scenarios. This includes an interest rate hike. Property taxes and home insurance costs can also change with the market as your property increases and decreases in value.
Finally, expect that your property will be vacant occasionally. When doing the math, it’s generally a good idea to assume that you will only receive 11 instead of 12 rent payments a year. The extra cushion created will help with unexpected expenses and prolonged vacancies, should either occur.
What amount of rent should I charge?
Location is probably the most critical factor in determining how much you should charge for rent.
Are you close to downtown? Schools? Parks? These factors are important to renters and should be considered in your calculation in conjunction with the property’s condition. With a bit of luck and favourable conditions, you can command a higher rent amount while still being picky with tenants.
Alberta does currently have excellent rental rates when compared to property values. But the market will always be subject to change and uncertainty. And your property doesn’t, and won’t, exist in a bubble.
So, check to see what <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/edmonton-neighbourhoods/" target="_blank">other properties in the neighborhood</a> are renting for. And if the rent you need to charge is higher than your area’s average? Then you should definitely consider whether converting your owner-occupied property into a rental is a sound financial decision.
If you're looking for more guidance with renting, selling or buying homes in Edmonton, we're here to help! <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/contact/" target="_blank">Contact us today</a> so we can help you with all of your real estate needs.
<br /><br />Did you learn a lot about how to turn your house into a rental property in this post?
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/sellers-checklist/">The Ultimate Real Estate Seller's Checklist</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/buying-or-selling-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">Buying or Selling During the COVID-19 Pandemic</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/real-estate-supply-and-demand/" target="_blank">Real Estate Supply And Demand</a>
This post was first published in 2016, and was updated in 2021.2021-06-15T05:20:00-07:002021-06-20T21:12:28-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:11393How to Sell Your Home Fast: 5 Tricks You Can’t-Miss<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/pexels-pixabay-210617.jpg" width="1280" height="857" alt="How to Sell Your Home Fast: 5 Tricks You Can’t-Miss" />
More often than not, homeowners come to us wanting to know, "How can I sell my home fast?" Of course, they also want to get a great deal, but the speed of this deal matters to them as well. As real estate experts in Edmonton, we have seen and done it all. That includes insider knowledge of the most successful strategies for selling your home fast.
How to Sell Your Home Fast
In today's post, we'll cover five tricks for selling your home faster you won't want to miss. Let's get started!
Price it right
One of the first things we look at if a home isn't selling fast is its pricing. Overpricing is a common culprit of slow-moving homes. If you really want to sell your home fast, you need to price it competitively. Otherwise, you risk scaring off buyers who aren't even willing to view the property because the price is entirely too high.
Optimal staging
Don't overlook the importance of strategic staging when it comes to selling your house fast! The proper staging helps you attract more potential buyers. Not only does this help it look its best in listing photos, but it also makes your home look more welcoming and warm during showings. Cleanliness is essential, of course, but optimal staging puts the cherry on top and can make a world of difference for selling your house quickly.
(We share more tips for preparing for an open house <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/tips-for-preparing-for-an-open-house/" target="_blank">in this post</a>)
Be open to negotiation
If you go into the home selling process with a close-minded view of what you will accept for your home, keep in mind this will limit how quickly your house sells. To sell your home faster, be open to negotiating with buyers. Sometimes, accepting a slightly lower rate from a buyer who is easy to work with and eager to close the deal pays off in other ways!
(While you're here, don't miss this post next: <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/7-ways-we-help-you-sell-your-home/" target="_blank">7 Ways We Help You Sell Your Home</a>)
Comprehensive marketing strategy
In this modern world, buying and selling houses tends to take a lot more than good old-fashioned word of mouth. Now, social media posts, blogs, website listings, print ads, commercials, and several other marketing tactics are used to sell properties.<br /> <br />To sell your home fast, be sure to consider a comprehensive marketing strategy that implements a number of advertising tactics. Not only does this help you compete with other sellers, but it also gets more eyes on your home! And the more people who see your home, the more likely it is to sell.
Work with expert agents
We understand why some homeowners are interested in selling their homes by themselves. If this is the path you choose, just note that more often than not, it means a slower and more complicated selling process. When you work with experienced real estate agents in Edmonton, you'll benefit in a number of ways.
First, your home is likely to sell faster. But it also means a lot less work and stress for you. REALTOR®S® know the buying and selling process like the back of their hands, and they put this knowledge to work for their clients so they can get the best deal in the shortest time possible.
Trust the Best Edmonton Real Estate Team to Sell Your Home Fast
Are you ready to take advantage of the hot real estate market in Edmonton? The Best Edmonton Real Estate Team is here to help. We will put our extensive knowledge, network, and resources to work for you to get you the best results.
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/contact/" target="_blank">Get in touch</a> with us to tell us about your goals, and we'll provide all the help you need. Our website even has a special section dedicated to sellers where you can find a multitude of valuable free resources. <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/selling/" target="_blank">Click here to access it</a>.
Did you learn a lot about how to sell your home fast in this post?
Here are three more posts to read next:
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/what-is-the-best-season-to-sell-a-home-in-edmonton/" target="_blank">What Is The Best Season To Sell A Home In Edmonton?</a><br /><a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/sellers-checklist/" target="_blank">The Ultimate Real Estate Seller's Checklist</a><br /><a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/buying-or-selling-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">Buying or Selling During the COVID-19 Pandemic</a>2021-06-04T07:18:00-07:002021-09-16T05:35:19-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2936Better Than Purplebricks: A Flat Fee Listing<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/pexels-mart-production-7414922.jpg" width="1280" height="853" alt=" Better Than Purplebricks: A Flat Fee Listing" />
When you’re selling your home, it’s obvious the first priority is that you keep as much of your equity as possible.<br /> <br />Sometimes the high commissions paid to REALTOR®S® might seem a bit much for you. Although without doubt, the commissions are pretty fair, and REALTOR®S® work hard for what they do, not to mention their high cost of doing business, licensing fees, real estate board fees, and the list goes on and on. That being said, it’s still understandable that sellers would like to keep as much as possible.
That's why, in addition to companies like Purplebricks, clients are curious about what a flat fee listing could look like for them.
Low-Cost Listing Fees
Commission-free listing services flourish in a seller's market. When there are fewer properties available than buyers, it’s a bit easier to sell your home. With the sheer numbers of buyers looking for homes, the chances of you selling your home yourself or with a company like Purplebricks that operates with a flat fee listing commission structure are much higher.
Better Than Purplebricks:
But what if you could have a flat fee commission and still have a full-service REALTOR®?
That means a REALTOR® would show your home, field all the calls, do all the paperwork, negotiate the offers on your behalf, provide the signage, hold an open house, brochures, etc. and put your home on the MLS®, all for a flat fee listing. That would indeed be the ideal situation.
Home sellers are many things, but salespeople typically are not. Even the best salesperson is too emotionally close to the deal to sell their own home effectively. Professional salespeople are emotionally detached and able to show and discuss the property to lead the buyer to view the home.
Since REALTOR®S® are in the business of selling homes, they also usually have an extensive database of buyers looking for homes. Often someone who thought they wanted to live in the <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/north-central-edmonton/" target="_blank">North End of Edmonton</a> will not look at homes on the Southside on their own. However, REALTOR®S® have been known to sell a home in a completely different part of the city than the buyer was initially looking for.
What About Open Houses?
You can hold all the open houses you want as a buyer. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than selling your house from people who come to your open house. Most REALTOR®S® work open houses all over the city, not just one house in one area. This means from an open house in the southeast, they may find a buyer actually looking in the southwest where your home is. That buyer may never see your home if it weren’t for coming in contact with a REALTOR®.
(Do you want to learn more about buying and selling specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic? <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/buying-or-selling-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">Take a look at this post next</a>)
What Happens In A Buyers Market?
In a buyer's market, when there are more homes for sale than there are buyers, buyers have the pick of many homes.
(We talk more about real estate supply and demand <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/real-estate-supply-and-demand/" target="_blank">in this post</a>)
This usually drives prices down, and as the market shifts from seller to buyer market, buyers will sit on the fence waiting for prices to come down because they know that ultimately they will.
Sellers might not be aware of this, and most certainly, they will not like it, but that is the nature of the real estate market over time. It is in constant fluctuation and can and will be swayed by the economy of your region.
If there are many jobs and jobs are secure, buyers feel more confident to buy, then when jobs are being reduced, the economy is in a downswing, and they aren’t secure in the jobs they currently have.
Few sellers consider this on their own.
When the market switches to a buyer’s market, home prices naturally go down. However, if you’re putting your home on the market during this switch and base your pricing on what homes sold for in the past six months, you will be in for a sad reawakening. Your home will sit on the market without offers for months.
How We Beat Purplebricks In Any Market: A Flat Fee Listing Basis
Firstly Best Edmonton Real Estate Team takes listings on a flat fee basis. You can select the amount of service you want from our team, and we price the listing fee accordingly. We also advise you with proper, honest <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/comparative-market-analysis-when-buying-selling-home/" target="_blank">Comparative Market Analysis</a> and value of homes either increasing or decreasing over the next 90 days.<br /> <br />Any home priced right for the market should sell in 30 days. Anything priced too high for the market or its condition and location will not sell quickly and will usually sell for less, regardless of it it’s the seller selling it on his own or via conventional real estate.
If you want to sell your home fast for the highest dollar, give us a call. We can provide you competitive fees and superior service. Why do all the work yourself when you can have someone else do it and still retain your equity?
Did you like learning about why a flat fee listing can be better than Purplebricks?
Read these posts next:
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/sellers-checklist/" target="_blank">The Ultimate Real Estate Seller's Checklist</a><br /><a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/tips-on-buying-a-home-in-edmonton/" target="_blank">Tips For Buying A Home In Edmonton</a><br /><a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/mortgage-approval-process/" target="_blank">The Mortgage Approval Process for Home Buying in Edmonton</a>
This post was first published in 2015, but we updated it in 2021 just for you.
Call us today for a free home evaluation and to discuss our Flat Fee Listing Fees.
587-803-0444
2021-05-26T09:54:00-07:002021-05-28T10:34:05-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:11090The Ultimate Real Estate Seller's Checklist<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/The_Ultimate_Sellers_Checklist.jpg" width="600" height="784" alt="The Ultimate Seller's Checklist" title="The Ultimate Seller's Checklist" style="vertical-align: middle;" />
In a perfect world, the home selling process should be as smooth as listing your home, getting a buyer, finalizing the paperwork, getting paid, handing over the keys, and you’re on your way. But you’ll soon realize that it’s not that smooth, and the home-selling process can drag on for months or even years.
Along the way, you’ll likely make mistakes, and it’s part of the trade. However, you can avoid these pitfalls of a first-time home seller and get the best value for your home by using a checklist.
We’ve compiled a checklist and broken it down into a 12-week plan that can help your property shine.
Jump to:
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/#week-1">Week 1</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/#week-2">Week 2</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/#week-3">Week 3</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/#week-4-6">Week 4-6</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/#week-7">Week 7</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/#week-8-9">Week 8-9</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/#week-10">Week 10</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/#week-11">Week 11</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/#week-12">Week 12</a>
Your 12-Week Home Seller’s Checklist
Week 1: Declutter
Clear out your possessions to maximize space.
Give away or store the items you don’t need.
Ensure that all doors, cupboards, etc., are easy to open.
Week 2: Hire A Real Estate Agent
Learn the agent’s history, look at reviews.
Interview several real estate agents.
Talk numbers and cost.
Week 3: Home Inspection
Consult your REALTOR® on whether you should schedule a home inspection or not.
If you do, use their home inspection report as a home repair checklist.
Week 4–6: Home Improvement
Work on repairs but don’t overspend.
Week 7: Learn from your competitors
Scope out similar properties on the market.
Analyze real estate performance in your area.
Week 8–9: Curb Appeal is Key to Selling your home
Resuscitate your garden and lawn.
Clean your exterior and driveway.
Add a fresh coat of paint.
Week 10: Get professional photos
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/preparing-your-home/">Stage your home</a> for a professional photoshoot.
Week 11: Deep Clean
Take out any unnecessary furniture.
Clean the house.
Week 12: REALTOR® Listing
Compile the necessary documents as you get ready to join thousands of home sellers on the listing sites.
Once the listing is complete, you wait.
Weekly Preparation for a Sale
Let’s break down everything you need to do when selling a home.
Week 1: Declutter
This is the first step to letting go of your home, both physically and emotionally.
Take photos of your entire home, sit down and look at each photo from a buyer’s perspective. What stands out in each photo?
The chances are that your belongings are getting in the way. So, that’s where you start. Clean everything out to maximize space and layout.
Remember: potential buyers are looking for a home to make their own and not one that’s lived in.
A potential buyer will want to access all the rooms and spaces in your home. If there’s a door or a cupboard, buyers will want to open it. Therefore, clear everything out, donate what you don't need and put the rest in a storage locker.
If you’re living in the home, decluttering means less cleaning up when a potential buyer schedules a viewing.
Week 2: Hire a Real Estate Agent
There are two types of real estate agents. You can hire a buyer’s agent or seller’s agent. Since you’re selling your home, you’ll need a seller’s agent.
The agent will help you put your property on the market at a reasonable price and secure a placing on different platforms to improve visibility.
With that out of the way, how do you engage a real estate agent?
Do your research just as you would when hiring a contractor. Ask for their resumes, references, and experience..
This is essentially a job interview, so don’t shy away from asking questions that will help you understand if they’re knowledgeable or not. Choose an agent that you’re comfortable working with.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/bestedmontonrealestate-essentially-a-job-interview.jpg" alt="Person signature" width="700" height="400" /><br />Source: <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/sale-sold-hand-signature-house-3701777/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a>
Ask about their experience and if they have dealt with property in your area. Ask about how properties in the area perform. How long does a property spend on the market?
Don’t forget to ask about the agent’s performance. How many houses has the agent listed in the area, and how many sold?
Week 3: Home Inspection
There’s no perfect property.
However, buyers need to know that they’re not buying a home that needs expensive repairs to become habitable. You, as the seller, need to know the areas that need fixing before you can put your home up for sale.
The home inspector will focus on the following areas: structural issues, damaged floors, ceilings, walls, foundation, roof, air conditioning, heating, water damage, plumbing problems, and pest infestation.
A pre-listing inspection isn’t mandatory, and typically, the cost falls on the buyer. However, it’s a good idea to have it done before listing your house.
Get your house inspected and use the inspection report to fix the areas that need fixing. Keep receipts and provide them together with the inspection report to interested buyers. It will give your buyers more confidence in you and your home, as it’s visible that you care.
Week 4–6: Home Improvement
Now that you have an inspection report, it’s time to start fixing the areas that need improvements. You can do it yourself or line up contractors to handle the different home repairs.
Remember that you’re trying to impress the buyers, so let the professionals do most of the repairs.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/bestedmontonrealestate-home-improvement.jpg" alt="housebuilding craftsmen" width="700" height="400" /><br />Source: <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/housebuilding-craftsmen-site-3102356/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a>
Also, you don't want to overspend on home improvements. Focus on the most important repairs and let the others be.
If the house is in poor condition, you can either put it on the market as is or hire contractors to fix it. If you choose the former, most of the offers will come from contractors and flippers themselves. You can expect that their offers won’t be mouth-watering.
The second option is to fix up the house and sell it for a markup. However, the repairs will be expensive and will significantly reduce your return on investment.
Even if the house is in decent condition, here are some repairs or improvements you may need to make:
Update your kitchen; it doesn’t need to be a full makeover. Instead, focus on <a href="https://www.thisoldhouse.com/kitchens/21019090/remodeling-your-kitchen-read-this" target="_blank">less expensive updates</a> such as installing new countertops or painting wood cabinets, etc.
Fix damaged floors.
Fix plumbing and drainage.
Fix water stains.
Repair pet damage.
Hire a lawn care service to improve your lawn
Week 7: Learn From Your Competitors
Check out other home sellers and similar properties up for sale in your neighbourhood. Similar homes will have similar features such as the number of bathrooms, bedrooms, style, square footage, etc.
With the help of your REALTOR®, identify the number of homes likely to compete with your home in the near future. The real estate agent can search to see how many homes have come onto the market in the last 6–36 months.
This will help you estimate the number of properties likely to come on sale during the same period as yours.
Also, analyze how similar properties have performed in the last three years. It’s not scientific, but it will help you understand if there is an oversupply of homes in your area.
If there’s an oversupply, you’ll have to develop a different marketing strategy to help your property stand out.
Week 8–9: Curb Appeal Is Key to Selling Your Home
Most home sellers understand that the checklist is incomplete without <a href="https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/exteriors/curb-appeal/ways-to-add-curb-appeal/" target="_blank">curb appeal</a>, and so should you.
The first thing any interested buyers will see as they approach your home is the exterior and landscaping.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/bestedmontonrealestate-curb-appeal-key-selling-home.jpg" alt="Beautiful home garden" width="700" height="400" /><br />Source: <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/beautiful-home-garden-1680789/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a>
If your home’s curb isn’t pleasant, it will set the tone of the tour. The interested buyers will form an impression based on what they see. You can avoid this by doing the following:
Tidy your garden by trimming any overgrown shrubs and wild weeds.
Clean your house. Get rid of the dirt, cobwebs, downspouts, chipped paint, etc.
Apply a fresh coat of paint.
Fix your roof
Clear the driveway, and prepare the porch or steps for potential viewers.
Maintain a clean landscape
Remember, don’t underestimate the importance of curb appeal, as it could be the reason you’re struggling to sell your home or getting low offers.
Week 10: Get Professional Photos
Although the idea of phone photography sounds enticing, don't do it. You’re looking to sell your home, and the last thing you need is low-quality photos getting in the way of your sale.
The photos will be grainy, blurry, and unedited. Avoid this by working with a professional real estate photographer. The photographer will understand the following:
How to prepare your home for a shoot
Which camera to use.
Home staging.
Best time to take the photos.
Shooting angles.
Whether to shoot in portrait mode or landscape.
A professional photographer also understands the importance of a quick turnaround time, especially in a competitive market.
Photos will attract buyers’ attention and ultimately prompt the initial contact with your REALTOR®. Therefore, you’ll need photos that resonate with your target market. Your REALTOR® should have connections with professional photographers who can produce high-quality images for home buyers.
Keep in mind that one or two photos won’t cut it. The more photos you have, the easier it is for buyers to view your home from different angles. If possible, you can also add a video or a <a href="https://magazine.REALTOR®/technology/feature/article/2020/11/a-step-by-step-guide-to-creating-a-virtual-home-tour" target="_blank">3D virtual tour</a> of your home.
Week 11: Deep Clean
By now, you’ve checked almost everything off your checklist, and the only thing remaining is to list your property.
Before you do so, there’s one more item on the checklist. You’ll need to deep clean your home.
Why? Because It’s time to leave your property and prepare it for viewing. This means that anything that doesn’t add value to the property needs to go with you. Ask your REALTOR® if you should leave the furniture as is or take it with you.
Don’t forget to clean all traces of pets, as some buyers might be allergic to dogs, cats, etc.
Once you’ve cleaned, don’t let your pets or little kids back inside the house.
With that out of the way, gather all the necessary documents and prepare for listing.
Week 12: REALTOR® Listing
Eleven weeks of preparation have led up to this moment.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/bestedmontonrealestate-REALTOR®-listing.jpg" alt="Remember to compile your documents" width="700" height="400" /><br />Source: <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/real-estate-agents-house-sell-funny-1180176/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">pixabay</a>
You’ve ticked off everything on your checklist except listing. So, where do you list your property?
How about with us, <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/contact/">The Best Edmonton Real Estate Team</a>?
We’re here to ensure that your property gets exposure through the MLS® system. We’ll also prioritize marketing and ensure that the sale and closing are as smooth as possible.
All this for a percentage that we’ll agree upon before listing.
<br />Featured Image: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/architects-discussing-construction-plan-drawings_3955604.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Freepik</a> by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/yanalya" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">yanalya</a>2021-05-03T10:19:00-07:002021-05-03T10:28:29-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2926Top Tips for How to Paint Over Ceramic Tile in a Bathroom<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/Painting-tile.jpg" width="1280" height="853" alt="Top Tips for How to Paint Over Ceramic Tile in a Bathroom" />
It seems a shame to tear out perfectly good tile from a bathroom just because you don't like the colour, doesn't it? So, what's the alternative? Can you paint over ceramic tile?
Painting Over Ceramic Tile
You can paint over ceramic tile walls in a bathroom, but you will lose some of the interesting characteristics of tile since the grout lines will be the same colour as the tile.
First, let's talk about what you can and cannot paint. I would not recommend that you paint any tile surface that gets wet repeatedly.
If you try to paint your shower surround or even your tub itself, you will be cleaning paint chips out of the bottom of your tub within a matter of weeks. It just won't stick.
There are professional services available that will paint your ceramic appliances and fixtures. Things like your antique claw foot tub, your toilet, and shower stall can be painted with a highly specialized product that requires a good deal of skill to use.
But in this post, what we're talking about is painting wall tile or countertops that see everyday use but don't get drenched all the time.
Preparation is Key
As with most painting projects, preparation is an essential part. The goal is to create a surface that the paint will stick to. Since we have already established that most paints will not stick directly to the slippery tile surface, we need to get rid of that shine. The first step is to clean the tile vigorously with a commercial tile cleaner. Make sure you use one with a mild abrasive. Not only will this remove all of the buildups from the tile and make it nice and clean, but the abrasives will begin to break down the shiny surface.
Preparing the Ceramic Tile for Paint
At this time, also make sure that anything that might deteriorate underneath your paint job is addressed. Crumbling grout, mildew stains, and cracked tiles should all be taken care of now. You can't go back and fix them after you paint unless you want to repaint the entire thing.
Once you are confident that the surface is clean, you need to get a little more aggressive about taking that slippery shine off the tile. The best way to do this is with a handheld orbital sander. Use a 220 grit sandpaper. This is course enough to remove the gloss but still fine enough to prevent you from leaving any marks that may show later through your paint. If you don't have an orbital sander, you could do it by hand - it will just take a little longer.
After every surface that is going to be painted has been sanded, including the corners, ensure that all of the dust is thoroughly removed. I know sanding is tedious and is generally not very much fun. But I can't overemphasize how important this step is! If you skip the sanding or only do it half-heartedly, the paint simply will not stick.
(Is painting the ceramic tile in your Edmonton condo just part of your plan to rejuvenate the space? Check out these <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/how-to-declutter-your-edmonton-condo/" target="_blank">tips for decluttering</a> your condo next)
Prime and Paint Ceramic Tile
Now you have a freshly sanded surface that is dry and free of dust. This means you have the perfect foundation for a good paint job.
Using high-quality and high adhesion primer, continue to build the base that you will apply your paint over. This is not the project where you want to skimp on paint costs. Don't buy the cheap primer - you need a strong bond for this to stick to the tile. Use an oil-based product, as you will be using oil-based paint for the finished coats.
Apply the primer using a brush to cut in the corners and then a short napped roller (1/8") to apply the primer to the flat surface. Go slowly and be sure you don't leave any lines due to paint squeezing out of the edge of the roller cover. These will show through later when you apply your finish coats. Allow the first coat of primer to dry for the amount of time recommended on the can, and then apply a second coat.
Once the primer is dry, take a fresh sheet of 220 sandpaper and make very light passes over the primed surface. Don't forget; you aren't trying to remove the primer; you simply want to remove any small burrs that may have risen out of your roller cover and make sure that the surface is perfectly prepared to receive paint.
(If you're planning changes to other surfaces in your home, you might want to take a look at this post next: <a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/quartz-or-granite-whats-the-difference/" target="_blank">Quartz or Granite: What’s the difference?</a>)
Top Coat
Some people suggest that you can use latex paint for your topcoat. But oil is usually a better choice. While it is messier and takes longer to apply and longer to dry, it provides a very durable finish when it dries. Latex paint often dries with a reasonably soft, rubbery feel. If you were to hit it with something hard, the chances that it could peel right off are pretty good.
Use an oil-based semi-gloss or high gloss alkyd for your topcoats. Apply multiple thin coats instead of trying to do one thick one. You want to build up the strength of the paint adhesion by adding multiple lightweight layers, not one heavy one.
Make sure you have paint thinner on hand to clean up the oil-based primer and paint, as well as a pretty good-sized supply of rags. Though it may be a little extra work, using the oil-based product on your tiles will give you a much higher quality finish, and in the long run, you will be glad that you did.
This post was inspired by an article published on DoItYourself. <a href="https://www.doityourself.com/stry/paintceramictile#ixzz3SstEFW00" target="_blank">Read the full article here.</a><br /><br />Did you enjoy this post about painting over ceramic tile in a bathroom? Here are three more to read next:
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/buying/">Buying A Home</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/real-estate-investing/">Real Estate Investing</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/strathearn/" target="_blank">Strathearn Homes and Condos</a>
This post about painting over ceramic tile was first published in 2015, but it was updated in 2021 just for you.2021-04-27T07:24:00-07:002021-04-27T07:35:47-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2948Small Renovations Equal Big PayoffsBefore you go ahead with the high end, spare no expense kitchen and give your contractor the green light, you might want to consider what the return on that investment might be. Too many times home owners do renovations that are far beyond the value that their home in their neighborhood will return on their investment. In some cases it may even make it more difficult to sell your home. If you're making the renovations because it's what you want and how you want your home to look and feel, that's fine, just don't expect the next buyer to place the same value on it.
I once listed a house that had installed copper tiles on the ceiling. Granted they were beautiful and the home owner loved them. The problem was, no one else did. What prospective buyers saw was a ceiling that made the room appear much smaller and the high cost of removing all those tiles and refinishing the ceiling. Needless to say the seller was incensed and it took months to sell that house. When it did finally sell, it was far below what the owner had anticipated and even below market due to all the changes a new owner would need to make.
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/realestate/small-projects-big-payoff.html?WT.mc_id=2015-2NDQTR-KWP-INTL_AUD_DEV-0330-0628&WT.mc_ev=click&ad-keywords=IntlAudDev&kwp_0=15014&kwp_4=99493&kwp_1=140723&_r=0">Source: Read more : </a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/realestate/small-projects-big-payoff.html?WT.mc_id=2015-2NDQTR-KWP-INTL_AUD_DEV-0330-0628&WT.mc_ev=click&ad-keywords=IntlAudDev&kwp_0=15014&kwp_4=99493&kwp_1=140723&_r=0">NYTimes.com</a>
Smaller projects, though, like replacing cabinet fronts in the kitchen or refinishing hardwood floors can increase your sales price significantly. Several real estate organizations have warned homeowners in recent months that not all renovati<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/bathroom_reno_1000.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="666" class="img_box_right" />ons are created equal, and you can’t always count on recouping what you spend, especially if you decide to splurge.
The National Association of REALTOR®S® issued a statement at the beginning of the year saying that small and exterior-focused improvements offer better value than more ambitious renovations. Then last month, the Appraisal Institute, an association of real estate appraisers, urged homeowners to “choose upgrades instead of major remodeling projects to see the greatest potential return on investment.”
Both groups cited findings from Remodeling magazine’s 2015 Cost vs. Value Report, an annual survey comparing the cost and resale value of remodeling projects, ranging from window replacement to major additions. Top performers in this national survey included a steel replacement entry door, estimated to recoup nearly 102 percent of its cost; replacing exterior siding with stone veneer, a 92 percent return on investment; and minor kitchen remodeling that includes new cabinet fronts, laminate countertops and appliances, with a 79 percent return.
The survey also found that the more you spend on a project, the more you stand to lose. In the New York metropolitan area, the report found that a minor kitchen remodel recouped 84.2 percent of its cost, on average. But a major kitchen remodel, including new semicustom cabinets and an island, recouped only 75.8 percent. And a more upscale major kitchen remodel with custom cabinets, stone countertops and a commercial range did even worse, returning just 69.1 percent.
“The point is that the more expensive the work you do on a property, the higher the risk is that the buyer is not going to be willing to pay for it,” said Jonathan J. Miller, the president of Miller Samuel, a New York appraisal company. “If your kitchen is old and dated and you completely renovate it, you’re gambling that the buyer is going to like your taste.”
Faye Cone, an interior designer who is selling her duplex penthouse condominium at 157 East 74th Street, had gut renovated her home when she bought it in 2001. But, over time, a few problems had developed. The wood floors on the main living level had buckled. And, after she temporarily rented the place out while she was in Italy, the granite countertops had become chipped.
“Nothing was in terrible disrepair, but my standards are really high,” Ms. Cone said. “When I was thinking about selling it, I wanted it to be perfect.”
So she spent about $75,000 replacing the buckled wood floors with honed black granite flooring in a herringbone pattern, and installing new granite countertops with a leathered texture.<a title="kitchen_reno_1125" onclick="window.open('/backend/inc/lib/tiny_mce/plugins/ibrowser/scripts/popup.php?url=/images/kitchen_reno_1125.jpg&clTxt=Click on image to close window','Image', 'width=500, height=300, scrollbars=no, toolbar=no, location=no, status=no, resizable=yes, screenX=100, screenY=100'); return false;" href="javascript:void(0)">#</a>
The apartment is now on the market with an asking price of $5.3 million. Ms. Cone’s changes “helped tremendously,” said her agent, Chris Kann of Brown Harris Stevens, who shares the listing with Robby Browne. Mr. Kann estimates the improvements give the home “a 10 percent bump in pricing,” or an increase of about $500,000, compared with selling it as it was.
“Everything is perception, and people start to discount when they see something needs renovation,” he said. “When you see floors that need to be replaced or re-sanded, you start to look for other things as well.”
Nationally, projects that improve a home’s curb appeal tend to score high as well. Even though apartment owners probably won’t be doing work on the exterior of their homes, Mr. Miller suggested this is similar to thinking about an apartment’s most visible elements.
“These are just the visceral things people see,” like floors, paint, and countertops, he said. “Refinishing hardwood floors — that’s huge,” he noted, for increasing value.
Considering the short period of time buyers have to tour a property, Mr. Miller added, “it makes sense that the best returns are on things that are very visible.”
By comparison, projects involving expensive plumbing and electrical work might not do as well, because these changes remain largely hidden from view.
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/realestate/small-projects-big-payoff.html?WT.mc_id=2015-2NDQTR-KWP-INTL_AUD_DEV-0330-0628&WT.mc_ev=click&ad-keywords=IntlAudDev&kwp_0=15014&kwp_4=99493&kwp_1=140723&_r=0">Source: Read more : </a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/realestate/small-projects-big-payoff.html?WT.mc_id=2015-2NDQTR-KWP-INTL_AUD_DEV-0330-0628&WT.mc_ev=click&ad-keywords=IntlAudDev&kwp_0=15014&kwp_4=99493&kwp_1=140723&_r=0">NYTimes.com</a><br /><br />Related Links
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/summerside/" target="_blank">Summerside Homes</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/st-albert/" target="_blank">St. Albert Homes</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/glenora/" target="_blank">Glenora Homes</a>
2015-05-04T11:13:00-07:002019-08-16T13:57:29-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2940Bring In More Buyers With These Spring Home Staging TipsWith the warmer weather and sunny days of spring, you also get rain showers and spring flowers blooming everywhere. To make the most of the season, and of course the fact that there are more buyers out looking for homes this time of year, especially in Edmonton where warm weather is a real treat, we've collected some useful tips for maximizing your visibility for your spring home sale.
#1. Whip your yard into shape. You absolutely need to get your yard in shape as quickly as possible when you're selling in the spring. Get rid of any yard debris and plant frost-resistant plants that won't be affected if there is a late cold spell. If that's too big a concern, you can cheat and invest in some silk flowers to add a touch of color that you don't need to water.
Do some spring cleaning, both inside and out. It's natural to want to put an added sparkle on everything. Now with the sunshine streaming through the windows...any streaks or dust on them shows up. Clean the windows and the sills for sure, then get the rest of the house in sparkly selling form
#2. Box up your winter wardrobe. You probably won't be wearing those heavy winter coats, boots and sweaters again until next winter so why leave them in the closets adding clutter? Box them up and put them into storage. Take anything you won't be wearing again at all to the local thrift store. This leaves your home uncluttered and gives help to those in the community who need it
#3. Spruce up the entryway. The front door is the first contact your buyers have with your home. Even though it's early spring and perhaps plants aren't blooming just yet, you can cheat here too by placing silk plants in pots by the doorway. This adds a welcoming, cheery burst of color and sets the stage for what buyers can expect behind the door. A good thing to note is to make sure the outside of the doors are clean and dirt free. Often the inside is remembered but the outside is forgotten. Remember, visitors see the outside of the door first.
#4. Bring spring aromas indoors. With all the flowers blooming outdoors, spring is more than just a burst of color and sunshine; it's also a burst of beautiful scents. There is nothing like walking past a lilac bush in full bloom in spring. It fills the air, and you with a sense of well being. Bring some of those scents indoors. Rather than artificial scents, place lilacs and other blooming plants in strategic locations where your visitors will notice them, stop to pause a moment and enjoy the aroma, and of course, more of your home.
#5. Bring out the bright colors. Spring is a burst of vibrant and bright colors, not just flowers. Tuck away all the warm colors of fall and winter and toss around some bright spring colors. Change the sofa cushions to something more "springy" as well as the throws. If possible, change the draperies to reflect a more cheerful brightness. Even something as simple as a bright colored candle collection or a table scarf in a spring print can change the feel of a room.
Remember, color and smell leave lasting impressions and evoke the senses with intense reminders of home, comfort and family.2015-04-09T12:47:00-07:002019-08-16T14:03:06-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:29377 Ways We Help You Sell Your Home
As a seller, your primary objective when selling your home is to retain as much of your equity as possible. Few sellers realize that by pricing their home properly and according to the condition and location of the home as well as the market results in a faster sale which also means a higher price at selling.
If a home is priced to high, there may be few viewings, and typically no offers. The longer a home sits on the market, the less value it holds to the buyer. Buyers are not just looking at your property. They are looking at numerous properties in their price range. That means your property is competing in every way with every other property on the market that it is comparable to. It is important that the MLS® does not sell houses. The MLS® is only a listing service and all it can do is expose your property to active REALTOR®S® working with buyers. REALTOR®S® work for a living just like everyone else does. If your home is listed on the MLS®, even for free, that does not mean that a REALTOR® is forced to sell it any more than if you walk into Sears, the appliance sales man is forced to show you ever appliance on the show room floor. It simply means your property is listed with all the other properties that are for sale at that given time. How you decide to incentivize the buyers agent REALTOR® is entirely up to you.
We at Best Edmonton Real Estate can list your property at varying price levels depending on what level of service you would like us to provide. With us, you get more than just a listing on the MLS®. You get to choose home much you're comfortable doing on your own and how much you'd like us to do. The advantage is, you get a whole team of REALTOR®S® rather than just one to work on selling your home.
For a no obligation copy of our Flat Fee Listing Price sheet - click here: <a href="mailto:info@bestedmontonrealestate.com?subject=Please%20Send%20Me%20the%20Flat%20Fee%20Listing%20Price%20Sheet">Flat Fee Listing Price Sheet</a> 2015-03-24T15:15:00-07:002019-08-16T14:30:15-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2932How Can I Sell My Home Fast?Now that you’ve told the world “I’m selling my house and I want to do it fast, you’ve got some work ahead of you to ensure that you meet your goal and look good to all their audience. Here are a few tips that will help sell your home fast in Edmonton and surrounding areas. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 587-803-0444.
Prepare your home
The first thing to look at are the colours. Colours play an important part in how your home “feels” to prospective buyer. Neutral or muted colours on the walls work best. There is less of a chance that someone will just not like vanilla than there is that they will not care for bright orange right? While you’re living in your home, whatever colours suit your décor are fine, but when you’re selling, it’s a different story. You may want to consider painting the walls with something more neutral before you list the house. A fresh coat of paint is a huge selling feature and not a great expense. The buyer needs to be able to imagine his or her furniture in your house and do a mental move in in order to consider making an offer. Neutral colors help create that atmosphere.
Show that your serious about selling.
It may seem simplistic, but a buyer will expect to see some signs that you’re planning on moving around the house. Otherwise,they may think you’re just testing the water and not make an offer. Leave some boxes stacked in the garage or even a corner of the living room as a sure sign that you’re planning a move.
Do some quickie upgrades<br /> Depending on the age of your home, your faucets and fixtures may seriously date your home. Putting new faucets in the kitchen, all the sinks, showers and baths sometimes can update the whole room. This small investment can add a lot of appeal and help your home sell faster. Make sure your lighting fixtures are new and up to date as well. Old light fixtures tend to turn buyers off. Remember, your home is competing with new homes and show homes that are all slick and modern. Dated fixtures make a home look old and tired. The idea is to modernize the look of your home.
Clear and minimalize
<br /> Remove any unnecessary or worn items and furniture from all the rooms. Less is more when you’re trying to sell your home. Rooms cluttered with furniture and unnecessary items tend to look smaller. Keep your décor as plain and simple as possible. Messy, cluttered piles of “stuff” are negatives for buyers. Even if their homes are in the same condition, when they are shopping, you want them to see your home, not your collection of clutter, right?.
Show off the rooms as they are intended. <br /> Show off rooms the way they were originally designed. If you converted a bedroom into an office or if it’s being used for storage, it’s best to convert it back into a bedroom. Stage it the way it was intended to be used. It might be best to Show off the rooms in your property as they were originally designed. It may be slightly inconvenient but the sooner you get an offer the sooner you’ll be packing to move.
Take pets out of the equation<br /> If you have pets, make sure they aren’t in the house when it’s being shown. Pets can be a negative as some of your prospective buyers may be allergic to dander or simply not like animals in the house. Some sellers might be offended by this as their pets are part of the family. However it’s a miner concession if it means selling your home in weeks instead of months right, don’t you think?
Have your renter co-operate
Renters need to be instructed and prepared when you’re selling a rental property. Introdcue them to the real estate agent and let them know that they will the agent will give them 24 hours advance notice before showing the property. Ask them to vacate the premises before a showing if at all possible. Some renters will be very co-operative and others will not. This may effect how fast your property sells.
Clean up freshen up<br /> As much as possible, make sure your home is clean and odor free. Especially if there are pet odors, litter boxes etc. Natural homey scents are fine so if you’ve a mind to, bake an apple cinnamon pie or cookies to create a homey feel.
Take your personality out of the house
Once you’ve listed your house, it is no longer your home, it’s a property that is for sale. Do your best to remove yourself emotionally from the transaction. Take out any items that make your home “yours”. Thinks like family portraits, pictures, trophy’s etc. should be removed. As much as possible it’s important that your buyers do not feel like there in “someone elses” house. The objective is to have them move their “stuff” in so that they feel like it is their home.2015-03-09T13:52:00-07:002019-08-16T14:34:04-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2931Tips For Preparing For An Open House<img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/openhouse/open-house.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_left" width="316" height="185" />
Buyers generally make their decision to buy a home within the first 5 seconds of entering the house. This is something few sellers realize. Yet, it this is the fact.<br /><br /> This should clearly point out how important that curb appeal, the front door and that first glimpse of the inside of the house is to prospective buyers. Everything is taken in within that first 5 seconds. From the colors, the atmosphere, the cleanliness, it’s “hominess” and with the five senses in play, emotions are ignited. <br /> <br /> So what should you, as a seller pay attention to when you’re preparing your home for sale and an open house? Color and light are usually the first thing people notice when entering a room. Since painting is an inexpensive update can make a dramatic impact on your home, if your walls haven’t been painted in the past 5 years, a new coat of paint will make a lot of difference. Colour and light are usually the first things people <img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/openhouse/painting.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_right" width="280" height="187" />become aware of upon entering a room. Try to stick to light tones when choosing your paint colors. Painting with lighter tones make a room appear larger and brigher. Select colors on the walls that highlight those in your furniture, rugs or accessories. Since you want people to mentally move their furniture in, and you have no way of knowing what their furniture taste is, sticking to white, taupes, vanilla, pale greys and blues is much wiser than painting a wall bright orange. Yet, having said that, depending on which part of the country you are in, the bright dramatic colors might work better. It’s best that you think of how bright the sun is outdoors before you start painting bright vibrant colors indoors. What works in the hot Florida sunshine simply won’t pass in Northern Canada.<br /><br /> <img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/openhouse/bouquet.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_left" width="93" height="117" />Add some flowers for an easy way to make a room seem more appealing. Investing $20 or $20 dollares in a few bouquets can add a cheery, well attended appeal to the prospective buyers. Even greens or a bouquet from your garden in a rustic container or even a jar with a bow around the top or pop cans inside a deep basket then covered with florist's moss work well. We suggest a large bouquet in the dining room or living room with smaller, delicate bouquets in the bedrooms.<img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/openhouse/bouquet1.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_right" width="233" height="119" />
Be very objective when you’re looking at your furniture and decide if you have too much in any room. If you do, it will appear cluttered and smaller. If you have furniture you don’t plan on moving, now is a good time to get rid of it. That ratty chair that the dog sleeps on for instance might be best removed or at least covered so it doesn’t give the room uncared for appearance.
Look at your walls, are they bare and blank or cluttered with family photos? Remember that photo’s of your family, leave the impression in a <img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/openhouse/jpictures.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_left" width="153" height="155" />buyers mind that this is “your” home and they are intruders. It’s best to remove them and replace them with general pictures or even rent some artwork. If you have a large blank wall, a captivating painting can infuse the entire room with new energy. Call around to your local gallaries, they typically rent artwork for 4% of the retail value per month with a minimum two month rental. It doesn’t have to be a $5,000 painting. In fact, if it should fit within the price range of your home. No one expects to see a Picasso original on a starter home bungalow. <br /> <br /> It only takes a few small changes might not turn your home into something you’d find in the celebrity pages, but they can make a huge impact on buyers.
Print out this tip sheet and mark off each item as it's done
1. Eliminate half of your belongings. Clutter can cost a sale. Rent a storage unit or portable pod for extraneous pieces of furniture or knickknacks. Another idea is to ask a friend if you can borrow some space in his or her garage.<br /><br /> 2. Use "home wash" (hose attachment available at home improvement stores) to clean the outside of the house.<br /><br /> 3. Clean rain gutters as well as outside windows and screens.<br /><br /> 4. Make sure the front door is inviting. Paint the door if needed. Also, replace any outdated outdoor lighting fixtures.<br /><br /> 5. Buy new house numbers if the old ones are dated or faded. Be sure buyers can see the new ones from the curb.<br /><br /> 6. Buy a new welcome mat.
7. Organize all closets and drawers. Buyers might look there.<br /><br /> 8. Make any necessary repairs so that buyers don't have to add that to their list of expenses.<br /><br /> 9. Rearrange furniture to make rooms appear as large as possible<br /><br /> 10. Make every surface shine, from ceiling fans to baseboards. Don't forget interior windows, mirrors and floors.<br /><br /> 11. Scrub every inch of the kitchen and bathrooms.<br /><br /> 12. Depersonalize each room, removing photo frames and posters or artwork.<br /><br /> 13. Buy new linens and pillows if necessary. Be certain they are a neutral color.<br /><br /> 14. Buy air neutralizer and spray it often.<br /><br /> 15. Let go emotionally of your home, and get ready for an offer!2015-03-06T13:57:00-07:002019-08-20T18:08:56-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2930Is An Open House Really Worth Your Time?It's a never ending debate...Does holding an open house work? REALTOR®S® and home owners alike are evenly divided on this strategy which has been used for a long time. In the days where people actually drove around looking for houses to purchase, this was a very strong selling feature. Statistics show that the number of times the actual home that the open house is being held in is sold from holding that open house are very low. For a REALTOR® this isn't necessarily a negative, since anyone attending the open house is a potential buyer; if not of this house, or another home similar. For a Home Owner, selling their own home, It might not be the most effective strategy, but you can't say for sure that the buyer of that home won't attend your open house either.
It’s a never-ending debate that has become more heated in recent years. Do open houses provide any real value as buyers spend more of their house hunting time online?
Some practitioners dismiss the open house, saying it’s an outdated custom that’s carried on mainly to placate home sellers. Other real estate pros remain devoted to the method. Their track records show that open houses can, and often do, get the property sold.
Even when a Sunday afternoon buyer doesn’t emerge, the open house serves as a prospecting opportunity, a way to fill their pipeline with future business.
"I treat Sunday as the most important day of the week," says Wendy Cutrufelli, a sales associate at Alain Pinel, REALTOR®S®®, in Walnut Creek, Calif. "When else will you be in a room full of buyers and sellers? You spend a lot of marketing dollars to reach these people, and open houses put you right in front of them."
As Cutrufelli and other open-house enthusiasts can attest, orchestrating a great event isn’t easy. From getting people to show up to following up after the event, every open house requires careful prep work, excellent conversational skills, and a positive attitude.
"It’s not a two-hour picnic," says Rita Burke, e-PRO®, broker associate at Kenna Real Estate in Denver. Burke estimates that she and her husband Brian Burke, e-PRO®, the company’s managing broker, spend about 12 hours on every open house. That includes online marketing, printing and assembling packets of information for attendees, placing signs around the house, and hosting the actual event. "It’s a full day of work," she says, "but we do it because we believe in it and we have success with it."
Read More at <a href="http://REALTOR®mag.REALTOR®.org/sales-and-marketing/selling/article/2010/05/open-houses-work">REALTOR®mag.REALTOR®.org</a>2015-03-05T14:52:00-07:002019-08-16T14:47:48-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2929How to Get People to Your Open House<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/Edmonton_Open_House.jpg" width="700" height="466" alt="Edmonton Open House" style="vertical-align: top;" />
As a REALTOR®, one of the questions sellers always ask is, "will you hold an open house?"
Some REALTOR®S® feel open houses don't sell homes, others will go out of their way to "sit" an open house. Sitting at an open house most assuredly will not help sell that house. There's a lot of preparation that needs to go into holding an Open House in order to make it successful. Advertising that means something to the buyers that you're trying to attract is primary, but there's a skill to advertising that goes beyond having your "open house" appear in The Real Estate Weekly, (does anyone read those anymore?) or on a google map with a pin and an address. Going the extra mile is what makes an open house successful.
At BestEdmontonRealEstate.com we specialize in Buyers Agents. That means that when our REALTOR®S® list your home for sale, they know exactly what buyers are looking for and how to get them there because they work with buyers every single day.
If you're trying to sell your home on your own, an open house may not get the type of buyers you want, and you likely aren't well versed in holding an open house in the first place, since, well, lets face it, how many homes do you sell in a year or a lifetime? This likely isn't your area of expertise
We found this article<a href="http://www.idiotsguides.com/"> http://www.idiotsguides.com/</a> that might help you get an idea of what it takes to hold a productive open house. If you feel you can't do this on your own, Call us and ask us about our discount Listing program. We can do everything and more than Comfree will, and we'll be competitive!
Read the <a href="http://www.idiotsguides.com/work/job-advice/being-real-estate-agent-how-to-hold-an-open-house-for-public/">Open House Checklist Here....</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/edmonton-open-houses/">View Edmonton Open Houses</a>2015-03-04T13:45:00-07:002019-08-16T14:47:22-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2927How to Fix Scratches on Hardwood Floors
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/Hardwood_Scratches.jpg" width="650" height="450" alt="Hardwood Scratches" style="vertical-align: middle;" />If you have hardwood floors in your home, scratches are inevitable, even if you are careful. The majority of wood floor scratching is caused by pushing something heavy, like an appliance, over the floor. Scratches can also be caused by pet's toenails, and by small pieces of stones or dirt that people track into the house. Follow manufacturer instructions and schedules on refinishing your floor to get the longest life and beauty out of your hardwood floors.
When you're planning on selling your home, the perfect gleam of hardwood is a fantastic selling feature. Here is a 6 step method for removing minor scratches and putting a beautiful polish back on your floor.
If a scratch has penetrated deep enough to expose bare wood, there’s a low-effort way to conceal the imperfection: Simply fill it in with a stain that matches the floor color. Stain markers and blending pencils are commonly available in a range of tones; check your local hardware stores or home improvement retail chain store. But traditional <a title="How to Stain Wood" href="http://www.bobvila.com/articles/44273-how-to-stain-wood-furniture/" target="_blank">wood stain</a> works equally well. Apply it with a small brush or even a cotton swab—just be sure to wipe away any excess before it has the chance to dry.
To address a deep, wide gouge, opt for a precolored latex wood filler, one that closely matches the color of your hardwood. Apply the filler with a plastic putty knife, which is the tool least likely to cause any further damage to the floor. Once the filler has dried completely, use fine-grit <a title="Choosing Sandpaper" href="http://www.bobvila.com/articles/2145-quick-tip-choosing-sandpaper/" target="_blank">sandpaper</a> to level the surface so that no difference in elevation exists between the patch and its surrounding area. Finally, coat varnish (thinned with 10 or 20 percent turpentine) over the repair.
Whether from pets or children, boots or rolling furniture, unprotected wood floors are virtually certain to get scratched. If you’re committed to keeping your hardwoods in tip-top shape, consider the following tried-and-true methods of safeguarding wood against the most common threats to its flawlessness:<br /><br />
1. Position fiber <a title="Outdoor Doormats" href="http://www.bobvila.com/articles/outdoor-doormats/" target="_blank">doormats</a> near all exterior doors, as tracked-in dirt and grit are the enemy of beautiful, pristine hardwood floors.
2. Encourage friends and family to remove their shoes upon entering the house—especially women in high heels!
3. Sweep often in order to contain any dirt or grit that manages to sneak in despite your best attempts at barring its entry.
4. If you are going to slide <a title="Furniture" href="http://www.bobvila.com/tags/furniture" target="_blank">furniture</a> across a wood floor, always place felt protective pads under its legs (or use a piece of leftover carpeting, soft side down).
5. Restrict medium- and large-size dogs from all rooms with hardwood flooring, or be sure to always keep their nails neatly trimmed.<br /><br /><br /><br />Related Links
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/blog/15-best-tips-for-selling-your-home-in-the-spring/" target="_blank">Selling Your Home In The Spring</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/market-value/" target="_blank">Market Value</a>
<a href="https://www.bestedmontonrealestate.com/baturyn/" target="_blank">Baturyn Homes and Condos</a>
2015-02-27T13:47:00-07:002019-08-16T14:56:27-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:292515 Best Tips For Selling Your Home in the Spring<img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/spring-selling-tips/spring1.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_center" width="600" height="400" /><br />Spring is the optimum time to sell a home. Regardless of whether it's a <a href="http://homebuying.about.com/od/glossaryb/g/BuyersMarkets.htm">buyer's market</a> or a <a href="http://homebuying.about.com/od/glossarys/g/sellersmarket.htm">seller's market</a> , inventory almost always rises in the spring. Why? Because the largest number of buyers are actively searching for a new home during the months of April, May and June.
Tip: If your home has been languishing on the market since the holidays, take it off the market. Give it a chance to "cool down" for a few weeks before putting it back on the market. Nobody is going to look at your home in the spring if the days on the market show it's been on the market for several months. Buyers gravitate toward fresh, new listings!
Here are 15 things you can do to improve the odds that your home will stand out among the sea of new listings flooding the spring-time real estate market:
1) Clean all your windows and mirrors<br /><br />
Shining things up with a sparkle is free, and it sells houses. Potential buyers may not realize why your home seems so inviting but they will feel more drawn to it if the windows and mirrors are clean and reflect sunlight. Cleaning is the least costly and should be the first step for putting your home on the market.
2) Trim bushes, rake leaves and clean spring debris
Clean out dead leaves and debris in your lawn gives the outside of your home a cared for feeling. Trim any overgrown vegetation so it doesn’t block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting and removing wayward tree limbs lets the sun inside and showcases the exterior of your home.
3) Edge the lawn along sidewalks and driveways and mow diagonally
Diagonal mowing makes your yard appear larger. Clean edged driveways and sidewalks five the artful appearance and tells buyers you pay attention to even the smallest details. Diagonally mowed lawns make your yard appear larger.
4) Plant Daffodils and Tulips or buy potted plants.
<img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/spring-selling-tips/daffs.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_left" width="259" height="194" />Yellow, as well as being a bright sunny spring color, stimulates buying urges. Everyone is anxious to see the frist signs of spring after enduring a long winter. Daffodils and tulips in bright vibrant yellows give the feeling of happiness and contentment. If you prefer, purchase potted plants and place them in groups of three by the front door.
5) Throw the windows open, clean the drapes and all window coverings
Wash, dry and press your window coverings and drapes, or send them to the dry cleaners. Wash your blinds with warm soapy water. An easy way is to toss them into a soapy bathtub for a quick wash. Dust away any accumulated spider webs and dust from the corners and ceilings. A spring time breeze coming through an open window invites the fresh spring season indoors. Add clean, bright linens for an added spring touch.
6) Have fresh cut flowers, peonies or lilacs in vases or pots around the house.
If your yard isn’t overflowing with flowers, ask your neighbors if you can borrow flowers from their yards. Lilacs provide a beautiful aroma as well as color. The natural scents of flowers is far more appealing than artificial scents and triggers fewer allergie. Peony vases are designed to hold peonies upright, but be sure to wash the flowers first to avoid carrying any ants inside. wash the flowers first to avoid carrying ants inside. It’s the clever home staging expert that brings color and scents indoors, simply copy their methods.
7) Put a high gloss shine on your floors
<img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/spring-selling-tips/flowers.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_left" width="350" height="147" />If your hardwood is dull, refinish it to a high gloss gleam if necessary. Ceramic tile may need the grout cleaned, or even painted. Kits for this are available at most hardware and home supply stores. Make your ceramic tile and linoleum shine as much as possible. Don’t forget to wash all area rugs and air them if necessary.
8) Use pillows, throws and towels in light colors, like pinks, blues, lavenders and yellows
It it means replacing towels and linens, throws and sofa pillows, it’s an inexpensive accent you can buy. They will light up any room, so choose soft spring colors. Layer towels in the bathroom racks and roll place rolled wash clothes in a basket<img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/spring-selling-tips/towels2.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_right" width="176" height="176" /> on the bathroom counter or in fashionable pyramid.
9) Place a clean mat outside for cleaning shoes and place an umbrella stand at the entrance
Spring weather can often surprise you, o matter where you live. It can be warm in the cool in the morning, warm in the afternoon and raining (or even snowing) later in the day. An umbrella stand gives buyers a place to stash their umbrella and the mat will allow them to wipe their feet before coming into your home. It might be a good idea to lay down plastic runners across the floor to protect the, but remember that might ruin the effect of the glittering polish job you just applied.
10) Put a few bright helium balloons on your open house sign
<img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/spring-selling-tips/forsale.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_left" width="380" height="186" />You can buy helium balloons for about a dollar each at most party supply and dollar stores. They are so inexpensive there’s no reason to not tie a few to your open house sign. Balloons attract attention and build excitement. This will help get your home noticed by home shoppers.
11) Put out some four color flyers and financing options
Never skimp on marketing materials. You want your buyers to select your flyers from among the dozens they pick up. Color and quality printing sets them apart from the bland black<img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/spring-selling-tips/flyer.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_left" width="200" height="215" /> and white and it sells much better. Showing home buyers how easily they can afford your home with financing options. The first thing buyers consider when buying a home are options for purchasing and monthly mortgage payments. It’s best to not make them guess.
12) Always use a color photo for display advertising
If you’re advertising in the newspaper or using online advertising, use color photographs in your ad. Remember, a picture is work 1,000 words, and online more pictures is better. Look for seasonal pictures of your home so buyers can see what it looks like in different seasons.
13) Send out four-color postcards with UV coating.
Obtain a free direct-mail list of your surrounding neighborhood. You can usually get these from local title companies. Pring oversized, four color postcards and add UV coating to add more oomph. And, of course, always mail it first class.
14) Chill a sink full of bottled water in the sink on ice for guests
Having a dozen or two chilled bottles of water in a sink full of ice for buyers. If you have room in your fridge for them, remove the label and print off some color labels of your house and address and attach them to the bottles instead.
15) Have some treats wrapped in plastic wrap and tied with ribbons <img src="http://kayozconsulting.com/bestedimages/spring-selling-tips/treats.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_right" width="340" height="189" />
Being thoughtful of your guests will make your home more memorable and help it stand out. Buyers get hungry and thirsty on a day of touring homes. Give them a bit of a snack. It gives them a reason to linger in your kitchen, where families tend to gather, and marvel at it’s elegance, ask you more questions and develop a keener interest in your home2015-02-25T14:01:00-07:002019-08-16T15:13:34-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:291210 Tips for Selling Your Home During the Christmas SeasonYou can attract home buyers even during the Christmas Season!
From November through January is sometimes considered the worst time to put a home on the market. You might be thinking that selling your home the <a href="http://www.frontdoor.com/winter">winter </a>months might put a kink in your holiday celebrations but, the season does have its advantages: buyers looking at homes over the holiday season tend to be more serious and they know the competition is less since fewer homes are being actively marketed. You should first decide if you really want to sell. If you’ve decided you do, then don your holiday apparel and follow these tips from TheBestEdmontonRealEstate.com .
1. Don’t Overdo the Décor!
Home owners tend to deck their homes out to the nines during the holiday season, but sellers should take care to not overdo the décor. Decorations and adronments that are too large or too many will make your home look crowded and distract buyers. In order to not offend any buyers, make an effort to keep your holiday décor general, with winter decorations and not a specific, or any religious theme.
2. Be Sure To Hire a Reliable REALTOR®.
Many REALTOR®S® kick back from November to January. They too have the idea that no one is going to buy a house over the holiday season. But we know that’s not true. Many homes are sold during that time, but they are sold by hard working, conscientious REALTOR®S®. Be sure find someone who doesn’t take the holiday season off. The easiest question to ask and get the answer you want when you’re interviewing your REALTOR®S® is “What are you doing over Christmas?” That will tell you exactly what their attitude is. Having a REALTOR® that keeps working over the season will reduce your stress and give your home a higher chance of being sold.<br />
3. Target motivated buyers.
You can bet that anyone house hunting during the holidays has a very good reason for doing so and is likely very motivated. There are many who will have to relocate to a new job in the new year, or investors that are on a tax deadline, college students and staff or military personnel. There are numerous reasons, but the fact remains that anyone shopping for a house is under some pressure to buy and with fewer REALTOR®S® working and less homes for sale, that makes your home sale much easier.
4. Be Sure to Price To Sell<br />Regardless of when you put your home on the market, homes priced low for the market will make buyers quicker to offer closer to asking, if not full price. Making gradual price reductions just means your home will be on the market that much longer. Any good REALTOR® will tell you that the first two weeks is when you get the best buyers. They won’t often come back and look at your home again when you reduce the price.
5. Curb appeal is a priority
Autumn might mean leaves falling and dead branches. Take care to maintain the exterior of your house. This applies all year but even more so during the holiday season. Bare trees mean more of your home is exposed. Touch up paint, clean gutters, sweep sideways, keep walkways and driveways clear of snow.
6. Take lots of quality pictures.
When the temperatures drop, house hunters will start their search from the comfort of their homes. They’ll be looking on line at homes and all they can depend on are your pictures. Try to provide your REALTOR® with pictures of your home in spring and summer but don’t omit winter. A good idea is to try to get a nice dusk shot with all the decoratons lit up outside, if you put them up. This always give the home a nice, warm inviting glow. The pictures in different seasons helps buyers see what the house looks like during the rest of the year as well.
7. Create a video tour of your home for the internet.<br />You won’t get as many people through your house during the holidays, usually because of the weather and vacation plans. That’s why it’s wise to shoot a video tour and post it in many locations on the internet. This will do more to attract buyers who don’t have time to physically come to your house or would rather not drive in a snowstorm. Video is a powerful tool, use it!<br />8. Make your home a cozy escape from the cold for buyers. <br /> Turn the heat up just slightly before a showing. Remember buyers have been out in the cold and the burst of warm air will be very welcoming. Play some soft classical music and offer them home made holiday treats as if they were guests in your home. If you encourage buyers to spend more time in your home, you give them more time to see all the features which will help them make a decision.<br />9. Offer financing as a form of holiday cheer.<br /> Lenders are Scrooges these days, but if you have the means and can do it, then why wouldn’t you offer a home loan to the most serious buyers? You would get a good rate of return on your money and sell your home that much faster..<br /><br />
10 Stay Calm – The New Year is just around the corner.<br /> All the gifts to by, dinners to prepare, baking to do, parties to attend and relatives to entertain make the holiday season stressful enough. Calm down, sit down, have a some eggnog and remind yourself that if you don’t sell now, then it will sell in the new year, and that is really only a few days away. Don’t fret! 2014-12-10T01:01:00-07:002019-08-16T15:52:26-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2906Staging Tips: How to Stage Your Edmonton House or Condo for a Successful Autumn Sale<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/staging_tips_-_how_to_stage_your_edmonton_house_or_condo_for_a_successful_autumn_sale_725.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_center" width="725" height="484" />
Staging Tips: How to Stage Your Edmonton House or Condo for a Successful Autumn Sale
Home staging is a valuable tool for the home seller. It gives potential buyers the chance to see how the house or condo could look if they lived there. Some people buy new furniture if their own tastes are too eclectic while others will repaint all the walls a neutral colour so they don’t deter anybody. People who haven’t had any luck on the market may even invest in a professional staging company to give their home its best shot at selling. There are plenty of tips for home staging for every season and here are 5 tricks for staging an Edmonton house or condo for autumn.
Don’t Go Overboard on Seasonal Decorations
Fall colours can go a long way when selling a house or condo in the autumn months, but it’s important not to go overboard with the decorations. Seasonal foliage or vegetables remind visitors of the season without overshadowing the best aspects of the home.
Use Natural Lighting to Compensate for Shorter Days
With the changing of the seasons come shorter days and less natural light. It can take some time to adjust to this, but people selling their home do not have this luxury. Invest in some lamps to fill in darker areas of the house and make sure to let in as much natural light as possible, even rearranging the furniture if it helps brighten up the room.
Seasonal Scents Can Remind the Buyer of Fall Memories
Smell is the sense most closely associated with memory and this can be used to a seller’s advantage by filling their home with subtle autumn aromas. The scents can trigger positive family memories of the turning of the season. Remind potential buyers of their time pumpkin carving or attending a fall carnival with apple cider or cinnamon sticks.
A Fire is Inviting in the Colder Weather
Everybody wants to come home after a long day to a warm, roaring fire. If a house has a fireplace it should be lit up every time the home is being looked at, showing people what they could be coming home to instead of leaving it up to them to imagine.
Don’t Neglect the Curb Appeal
Although time does need to be spent on the inside of any house or condo, the seller should never forget to focus time on the outside. As the leaves change colours, it can be a very inviting image from the curb, but not if there are piles of unraked leaves or unkempt bushes littered along the yard. Everybody deserves an equal shot at selling their place and home staging provides that opportunity. The most important thing to remember when selling a house or condo in the fall months is to not go overboard. Being reminded of the changing season is nice but being hit over the head with it is very off putting. A hint of a fall aroma and some tasteful accents can go a long way in giving an Edmonton home a successful sale.2014-10-07T11:15:00-07:002019-08-16T16:00:56-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2905Selling Your Edmonton Home? Boost Your Curb Appeal<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/573/image/selling_your_edmonton_home_boost_your_curb_appeal_with_these_three_inexpensive_home_makeovers_725.jpg" alt="" class="img_box_center" width="725" height="483" /> Selling Your Edmonton Home? Boost Your 'Curb Appeal' with These Three Inexpensive Home Makeovers
When somebody is looking to buy a new home their first impression will always be from the photos they are given, which can be easily manipulated to show off the best aspects of a property. So if the photos are intriguing enough what would the next step be? Almost all prospective buyers will drive by the house to see for themselves how it looks in person and if they make an appointment this perspective will be their opening into the home. For sellers to make their chances of closing better they need to make sure their property has ‘curb appeal’ and thankfully there are ways to do that without breaking the bank.
Keep the Lawn and Gardens Well Maintained
Any slight disturbance in the lawn or garden of a home can be a huge turnoff to buyers. As silly as it sounds, one dead plant or patch of brown grass may be the thing that dissuades a couple from making an appointment. If there are any empty garden beds they should be filled in with seasonal perennials to provide colour to the property. The lawn should be landscaped and weeded regularly to give it an appealing look from the road. If there are areas of the yard that are noticeably empty they can be easily filled in with potted plants. This makes the property appear fuller with the added benefit of being able to reuse or relocate the plants.
Focus on an Inviting Front Door
The first piece of advice normally given to increase ‘curb appeal’ is to add a fresh coat of paint or siding to the house to make it look new, but this isn’t very practical advice to somebody on a budget. Instead, the focus should be given to the front door. New paint will hide any blemishes and make it stand out from the street, especially if it’s different from the colour of the home. Some quick maintenance can remove any creaking sounds the first time the door is opened and more luxurious additions (arches, stained glass or frosted windows) are relatively cheap in comparison to ones required for the entire front of the house.
The House Should Look Just as Good at Night
Something easily overlooked by homeowners is that there is no guarantee the buyers will drive by to look at the home during daylight hours. Most people are at work during the peak hours when the house will look its best and will be forced to check out the place during sunset, dusk or even night. Investing in a nice set of torchlights for the path or accent lights for outdoor areas can go a long way in making the place look amazing during all hours of the night. The key take away is that properly using space on the property is the best way to create an attractive visual when selling a home. Most buyers will drive by a house on their own time and the goal is to make them want to see inside. By focusing on the landscape, front door and night lighting, any property’s ‘curb appeal’ can be boosted enough without the seller having to spend a fortune.2014-09-19T09:58:00-07:002019-08-20T16:48:59-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2897It’s All About the Staging – Home Staging That IsWhen you hear the word staging you might think of theatres and how the stage is perfectly set for each scene. Selling you home means getting it out into the spotlight, putting it center stage so to speak. Home staging puts your homes best foot…er…foundation forward, helping you get a quicker sale and a higher sales price.
Start With Curb Appeal
Go out to the front of your home and take a long, critical look. If you’re selling in winter make sure the sidewalks and driveway are clear of snow and ice and a nice clean welcome mat is in place. Most home sales are in the warmer seasons. That means a nicely mowed lawn, trimmed shrubs and well cared for flowers should be part of the picture. You may need to add a fresh coat of paint, power wash the siding and/or give the windows and entryway a good cleaning. Polish up the door hardware to make a lasting impression.
Getting Rid of Excess Clutter
Rooms that have too much stuff look smaller and in most cases are not appealing. You may love a zillion magnets on your fridge, along with the dozen pieces of art crafted by your nearest and dearest but that doesn’t help home sales. Start packing all these family valuables before you put the for sale sign up. Go through each room and sort out the things you want to keep from what you want to sell or give away. The best way is to rent a storage locker until you’re in your new home. It’s also an easier move once you’re cleaned out and organized.
Can You Say Clean?
Clean absolutely everything. That includes the closets that until your recent clear out were barely touched. The kitchen and bathroom floors, counters, appliances and fixtures should sparkle. Use environmentally approved cleaning items to avoid triggering allergies in potential buyers. They also tend to have less invasive scents. Don’t forget the backyard, patio and pool if you have one. Have pets? Be sure and clean up after them. You don’t want a prospective buyer stepping in an organic land mine.
Go For Neutral Colors
New paint on a home can help its resale prospects. Try to use neutral colors such as light tans, ivories or light pastels. Open floor plans should all be painted in the same color. Painting each wall a different color may be sheik but it doesn’t help with sales. Light blues and greens are restful colors and look good in bedrooms. Just don’t make them too bold.
It’s All About the Architecture
If the rooms in your home have special features, highlight them. A fireplace usually takes center stage so place your furnishings to complement it. Open floor plans are sometimes a bit tricky. Figure out what makes the best use of the combined kitchen, dining and living space. Use recessed lighting to accent high or vaulted ceilings. Replace worn light fixtures with something that adds pizzazz to each room.
The Not So Little Things
Window treatments can make or break a sale. If you have shutters make sure they are clean and in good repair. The same goes for window blinds. Try and keep curtains and drapes neutral. Light and airy window treatments let more of the outside in. Make sure your carpets are clean and the hardwood floors polished and in good shape. A spring of flowers and a few candles in the bathroom won’t go amiss. Neither would a nice bouquet or bowl of fruit on the dining room table. Adding just enough of the little things makes a home inviting and can lead to a quicker sale.2014-04-07T10:29:00-07:002019-08-20T16:56:18-07:00Gerard Hagantag:bestedmontonrealestate.com,2012-09-20:2884Six Renovations You'll Want to AvoidThe joke about Canadian roads is that we have two seasons, winter and construction. The same can be said about the real estate market. That extends to homeowners that plot and plan all winter long on how they will improve their living space as soon as it’s warm enough outside to mix cement and swing a hammer. This is an admirable pursuit since maintaining and improving a home can not only make you more comfortable but also increase your home’s value. The trick in achieving the latter is knowing which home renovations to take on.
If you’re modifying your home to your personal taste and are planning on being there a while, go ahead and put in the bathroom with the purple walls and black star-studded ceiling. But if you intent is to put your place on the market in the near future, you might want to be a bit more conservative. The following are some renovation tasks you just might want to take a pass on because they do little to increase the value of your home and might actually deter buyers.
I Want A Pool
If you want a pool and are planning on staying put for a while, go ahead and start digging. It will usually cost you at least $10,000 for a basic pool and you could top the $100,000 mark if you opt for one with all the bells and whistles. Bottom line is that some potential buyers, particularly those with young children, view pools as safety hazards. Others may see nothing but a maintenance issue. Sometimes buyers insist that a pool be torn down or filled in as one of the contingencies of a sale. At the very least you won’t be seeing much, or any, return on your initial investment.
Building Too Much House
Just because you have a gigantic lot doesn’t mean you have to put an equally giant house on it. Suppose you live in a neighborhood filled with smallish single story homes. You decide you need more space so you add another bedroom and/or bathroom to the back of the home. Not a problem, from the street your home appears pretty much the same. You fit in with the rest of your neighbors. But what happens when you build up rather than back? All of a sudden you stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. Not only that when it comes time to sell you probably won’t get your investment money back. Buyers looking for larger homes tend to gravitate towards neighborhoods filled with larger homes.
Overdoing Landscaping
You have a massive green thumb and don’t mind spending hours in the garden trimming the rose bushes, edging pathways or mowing large expanses of lawn. Or, you have a gardener that comes by once a week to maintain your creation. Not all buyers have the luxury of time and money to spend on the upkeep of an elaborate garden, nor will that garden increase the value of the home. Some buyers may walk away; others may underbid your asking price after mentally considering the work involved to keep things looking nice.
Smart Upgrading
Upgrading your kitchen and/or bathroom is one of the best ways to get the best price for your home. That is, if you are consistent with your upgrades. If your kitchen has dated linoleum or laminate counters and you add stainless steel appliances, it’s just going to look odd. Replacing the plumbing in the bathroom without updating the flooring and the cabinets has the same effect. You will most likely get a bit more for you home than if you left the rooms in their original state. But, spending a bit more on the cosmetic side of the renovation could have netted you a lot more. Another thing, if you have a moderately priced home, don’t put in a million dollar home bathroom. All the marble in the world won’t change the fact that your house is a two bedroom starter property in a modest neighborhood.
Do Your Really Want Carpeting?
Once upon a time wall-to-wall carpeting was a plus in a new home. Remember the shag carpet, thick enough to sink your toes in and even lie down and take a comfortable snooze? Those days are gone. Carpets are usually harder to keep clean that the more desirable hardwood or laminate flooring in today’s homes. Besides, your color choice might be a put off for potential buyers even if they aren’t opposed to carpet in at least some of the rooms. Chances are you’ll put in a lot of money installing new carpet, with nothing in return.
Improvements vs. Maintenance
Putting in new plumbing or a new heater or air conditioner is part of keeping a home properly maintained. Don’t expect this to improve the value of your home even if you’ve decided to upgrade to a new no-fuss central vacuum system. Electrical systems, hot water heaters, anything to do with the proper functioning of sinks, showers, bathtubs and toilets are the basics in a home, not window dressing. Without these items in good working order, your home may not sell at all.2013-08-27T09:14:00-07:002019-08-20T17:02:07-07:00Gerard Hagan