Jun 21, 2017 | Real Estate 101
When you suffer damage to, (or the loss of ), your home or its contents, you expect your insurance company to help you out. And, most do a good job of doing just that.
Still, it’s a good idea to review your policy with your insurance advisor and find out what’s covered and what isn’t. You don’t want to discover that your policy will not cover the cost of repairing the damage caused by a flood in your laundry room.
Pay particular attention to coverage in the case of water damage. Some insurance policies don’t cover floods and sewer backup unless an additional rider is purchased.
Also, check liability limits. Ask your advisor to recommend an appropriate level. Finally, make sure you know exactly how much your home is insured for. Are you covered for the full replacement cost? Are you comfortable with that coverage or the actual cash value?
Having the right insurance gives you peace-of-mind and is an important part of enjoying your home.
Keep in mind that experts advise you to review your insurance with your advisor. Ask lots of questions. Make sure you understand your coverage fully.
By the way, if you’re looking for an insurance advisor, I’m well-connected in the local “home” industry. I may be able to give you a couple of names of good, reputable professionals.
Email Beth for more information
Jun 19, 2017 | Real Estate 101
You probably know there’s more to selling a home than putting up a For Sale sign. But, if you don’t understand the process in detail, you might feel intimidated and stressed when it comes time to put your property on the market.
Fortunately, the home selling process isn’t that difficult to understand. There are basically six steps.
Step one is selecting the right REALTOR®. You need a knowledgeable, trusted expert who can guide you through the process, take care of all the details, and help sell your home quickly and for the best price.
Step two is preparation. You need to ensure your home is clean and uncluttered. It’s also important that you take care of any needed repairs, even minor ones like wall dents.
Step three is the listing price. You need to select a listing price at or near the fair market value of your property.
Step four is promotion. How will buyers find out about your property? An effective promotion plan is critical.
Step five is dealing with offers. Ideally, you’ll get several. But the best offer is not necessarily the highest one. An offer can fall through for many reasons, so dealing effectively with offers is, perhaps, the most important part of the home selling process.
Step six is the transaction. Once the sale is made, you want to know that you have the right professionals in place – your lawyer, mover, etc. – to make sure all the after-sale details are taken care of properly.
Want more ideas for making sure the home selling process goes smoothly for you? Contact me today.
Email Beth for more information
Jun 14, 2017 | Real Estate 101
There’s a famous saying in the real estate business: “Location, location, location”. It simply means that where your home is located — the neighbourhood — is just as important to potential buyers as the features of the property itself.
Sellers often make the mistake of creating a long list of home features while ignoring neighbourhood features. They tout the spacious kitchen, and the newly renovated bathrooms, but say little about the area.
So, when you’re ready to sell your home, sit down and create two lists: home features and neighbourhood features. Buyers want to know both.
On the neighbourhood features list, include:
- Location of schools and daycare centres.
- Major retailers and shopping centres.
- Proximity to major commuting routes.
- Theatres, night clubs and other entertainment.
- Rinks, gyms and other sporting facilities.
- Green space, walking trails, ponds.
When buyers have their eyes on two properties which are comparable in features, the neighbourhood is often the deciding factor.
Jun 7, 2017 | Real Estate 101
When preparing a property for sale, homeowners often focus on the things that will impress buyers, such as clean and uncluttered spaces, and well lit rooms.
But, it’s equally important to pay attention to those things you don’t want buyers to see… those little turn-offs that, although seemingly minor, can distract buyers and cause them to lose interest in your property.
For example, you don’t want buyers to see these things:
Pets. Although many people love pets, some don’t. Others are allergic to them. It’s best to take pets for a walk during viewings.
Unfinished repairs. Dripping taps. Gouges and marks on walls. Broken tiles. Home buyers will notice, and may mistakenly think there are other deficiencies lurking in your home. Do as many repairs as you can.
Clutter. It’s common for main rooms, like livingrooms and kitchens, to be clean and uncluttered during a viewing. But buyers who become interested in your property will take a closer look, and check out the cupboards, drawers and other places where things tend to accumulate. The more you de-clutter, the better your property will show.
Smells. Obviously not something a buyer will see, but he or she will definitely notice lingering odours associated with pets, garbage, exotic cooking, and smoking. Scents have a strong influence on emotions. That’s why perfume companies do so well! Make sure your home is as scent-free as possible.
You. Nothing personal. When buyers view your home, they want to visualize themselves living there, not you. Remove as many personal items, such as family pictures and trophies, as possible
May 29, 2017 | Real Estate 101
What do you want from an showing on your house? Obviously, you want to attract potential buyers — and have at least a few of them become seriously interested in your property. So how do you make your showings as successful as possible?
Get minor repairs done. A dripping faucet, a squeaky fence door, or a scuff on the wall may seem minor to you, but these problems can stand out like a sore thumb to a potential buyer.
Brighten things up. Make sure all areas of your home are well lit. Natural light has the most appealing effect. Open all the curtains.
Put away personal items. Trophies, pictures, mementos — all remind potential home buyers that they’re strangers in someone else’s home. Make each room look as impersonal yet inviting as possible. Stage your rooms as though they were in an attractive furniture store display.
Sniff around. There are probably smells around your home that you’ve become used to, or even like, such as lingering perfume scents in the bathroom or remnant odours from cooking an exotic meal. Try to make your home as scent-free as possible.
Make sure everything works. Check for burnt out light bulbs, running toilets, and derailed closet doors.
A final tip: Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t be at the open house yourself. Your presence can be intimidating to potential home buyers, no matter how cordial and helpful you try to be.
Need more tips on selling your home quickly and for the best price? Contact me today!
Email Beth for more information
May 10, 2017 | Real Estate 101
You’re probably familiar with the term “home staging”. It involves cleaning, de-cluttering, reorganizing, and decorating, specifically in order to make your home more attractive to potential buyers. Furniture stores do something similar when they “stage” a bedroom suite in a showroom.
Most sellers focus their staging efforts on the inside of their homes. But the outside is important too. After all, a property’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers see. So you want to make sure that the first impression is a good one.
Here are some ideas on how to make sure that happens:
- When preparing your home for sale, imagine you’re a potential buyer and take a walk around the outside of your property. Do you like what you see? Are there issues that concern you? Try to be as objective as possible.
- You may notice, for example, that the deck is faded and worn, some of the border stones around the flower bed are chipped or missing, or the fence gate squeaks. If you notice these things, so will potential buyers. So consider getting these minor problems repaired.
- As you inspect your yard, pay particular attention to sheds and other areas where items tend to accumulate. Just as you would unclutter the inside of your home before a showing, you should also make sure the exterior areas of your property are as uncluttered as possible.
- Then explore simple ways you can make the exterior of your property look even more attractive. For example, giving your hedges, shrubs and other plants a trimming, can dramatically improve the look of your yard.
Need more tips on preparing your home for sale? Contact me today!
Email Beth for more information
