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REAL ESTATE

3 Ways Your Home Could be Leaking Money

September 15, 2019

Creating an efficient home for yourself and your family to live in won’t just help you to be more eco-friendly, it can also knock a fair amount of money off of your utility bills. People usually look for the easy tasks to begin with like turning the thermostat down 1 degree or putting the heating on for an hour less. However, there are some more substantial changes you could make which will help you to see real differences.

#1 Windows and Doors

One of the most common areas people seem to neglect when they are looking for ways to save money off their utility bills is around the doors and windows. These places can cost you hundreds every year if they are not looked after and maintained properly.

Gaps around doors and windows let the cold air in and the warm air out. You don’t want to be heating the street on a cold winter’s days. Luckily, the fix for this common problem is quite easy, and there are a number of ways you can go about it. If the holes are substantial you can fill them with quick setting cement or mortar. If they are smaller you may be able to use some silicone and a caulking gun to reseal the edges.

Doors may be more difficult, especially if the gap is underneath. One very cost-effective solution is to buy a draft excluder. These are usually very cheap and will ensure that the warm air stays in, and the cold air stays out.

#2 Leaky Air Ducts

Air ducts that transfer the air around your home are usually installed in the attic so it can be difficult to know whether they are working effectively or not. People rarely check them because it’s an awkward job. Air duct specialists, Attic Projects Services suggest that some of the most common ways in which air ducts can be operating ineffectively include damage from wear and tear and poor installation.

The knock-on effect of this damage or poor installation is that the air escapes which makes your air conditioning unit work harder. It will then overwork itself to achieve the desired temperature causing your energy bills to skyrocket.

#3 Old Lightbulbs

You may be surprised to find out that using halogen or old filament lightbulbs around your house could be costing you more money than they need to be in two different ways compared to using LED alternatives.

Firstly, old filament light bulbs are very inefficient when it comes to how they consume energy. Halogen bulbs are even worse. That’s because halogen light bulbs give off heat, so a lot of the energy that should be used for light is lost as heat whereas, LED bulbs are much more energy-efficient.

Secondly, the lifespan of LED bulbs is much greater than that of traditional filament bulbs. They are slightly more expensive to purchase, but when you compare the hours of use you get from an LED bulb compared to a filament bulb it’s well worth making the switch.

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How to Increase Curb Appeal when selling your home

July 18, 2019

When it comes to selling your home do not over look curb appeal! It is so important to make a WOW first impression and the exterior of your home is just that – the first impression. When potential buyers arrive to your home make sure it looks like a dream home – an upkept home in need to repairs is starting off the viewing on the wrong foot!

If the exterior isn’t it’s best that what does that say for the interior? If buyers arrive to a home and it isn’t up to par – that will have buyers questioning the rest of the home … The first impression of your home for sale is typically online. Buyers are looking online to see what is available – the online impression is very important so your photos need to be their best! In the online listing – the exterior photo is the first one they see – so it is so important to pay attention to those outside details.

Of course, the inside of the home is an important area of focus – the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, paint, lighting and yes, home staging! But if the exterior doesn’t make a good first impression – buyers might move along and not both looking inside. Yes, buyers do judge a book by it’s cover!

How To Increase Curb Appeal When Selling Your Home from First Fence Company

When it comes to selling your home, every aspect of your home needs to be spot on! The above graphic is a great guide to help you make sure the exterior of your home is picture perfect!

So when it comes to selling your home, be sure to follow this helpful guide – so that you can get that house sold for profit and quickly, too!

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Guest Bloggers, Uncategorized

6 mistakes to avoid as a first-time home buyer

December 21, 2018

Buying a home for the first time is a big deal.

To help you get ahead, we’ve outlined some first-time homebuyer tips by calling out six of the biggest mistakes that you should avoid going into the purchase of your first home that could end up saving you a lot of time, money, and frustration.

Mistake #1: not getting pre-approved

Many first-time buyers make the mistake of thinking that they don’t need to get approved for a mortgage until they’ve found their dream home.

Unfortunately, that often ends up being too late.

These days, most sellers require that pre-approvals be submitted along with any offer, and, since your finances need to be vetted before the lender will agree to grant you a loan, this process can take days or even weeks.

Instead, we recommend applying for a pre-approval before you even start looking at a available properties.

Doing so will give you extra time to work on your finances, if needed, and will ensure that you’re ready to submit an offer ASAP once you’ve found your perfect match.

2. Borrowing the maximum amount

Once you have your pre-approval in hand, it’s time to decide how much you can afford to spend.

Many buyers mistakenly believe that the figure they’re given on their pre-approval letter should serve as their target sale price. However, make sure that this move won’t leave you feeling “house poor.”

Instead, it’s better to think of loan amounts as a range. You have the ability to borrow up to the amount on your pre-approval, but you don’t necessarily have to go that far.

The better move is to do some budgeting of your own.

First, look at your income and expenses to determine how much money you’d feel comfortable putting towards a mortgage payment each month. Then, using that number, play around with a mortgage calculator until you land on a price of how much house you can really afford.

3. Overestimating your abilities

Sometimes buyers are willing to take on any number of repairs and remodelling projects in exchange for for a low sale price.

Unfortunately, though, what ends up happening in many of these scenarios is that they end up finding that these properties were steals for a reason.

Often, the repairs require more time, money, and skills than the buyers can afford.

If you’re looking at fixer upper properties that require a lot of TLC — especially foreclosures, short sales, or auctions — you need to be honest with yourself about your abilities.

Do you have any previous remodeling experience? Can you afford to hire professional help? Are you prepared to cope with unforeseen problems and expenses?

Though some of these things may be hard to admit, doing so can end up saving you a lot of frustration in the long run.

4. Skipping the fine print

Yes, you should always read every contract you sign in full.

But, as anyone who’s ever sped through a “Terms & Conditions” agreement can tell you, that’s easier said than done.

While it might be tempting to simply skim your Agreement of Sale (and any addendums), resist the urge. This mistake could end up costing you.

Successful real estate transactions depend on each party fulfilling their respective contingencies by the deadlines specified in the agreement.

By signing, you’ve agreed to fulfill your end of the bargain. If you fail to meet those obligations, the seller may be entitled to take your deposit monies in reparations.

When you’re negotiating your offer, make sure you know exactly what you’re agreeing to before you sign on the dotted line.

5. Bypassing your inspections

Conventional wisdom states that skipping your inspections will put you in a better bargaining position. While this is true, the reality is inspections are for the buyer’s benefit.

They give you a realistic picture of what’s wrong with the property, so that you can either choose to buy it with eyes-wide-open and negotiate on repairs or walk away and find a more suitable option.

In contrast, when you choose to waive your inspections, you’ve agreed to take financial responsibility for any repairs that may come up, even if the problems pre-date your ownership of the property. Weigh your options carefully before deciding whether or not this risk is worth it to you. In some cases, just shortening your inspection contingency might be enough to make your offer more competitive.

6. Forgetting about closing costs

Budgeting to buy a home isn’t just about figuring out how you’ll swing a downpayment and monthly mortgage amount.

There are also closing costs to consider.

Your closing costs will be paid at settlement. They will include any fees needed to facilitate the transaction such as deed-recording fees, title insurance, and appraisal costs.

The exact amount you’ll pay will depend on the specific services needed to close on your property. Realistically, however, you can expect to pay between 2%-5% of the home’s purchase price, and that needs to be factored into your overall cost of buying a place.

This article originally appeared on OpenListings.

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Guest Bloggers

Open House Tips For First-Time Buyers

November 27, 2018

While open houses seem pretty casual, savvy buyers know that checking out a home isn’t just about aesthetics or a quick view. In today’s hot market, you might not get another look before making an offer. If you’re seriously interested in a home, get a feel for the things you can’t change: the neighborhood & ongoing home maintenance needs. You should also get critical details such as when offers are due.

If you aren’t totally sure about how the open-house process works, you aren’t alone. Sometimes home buyers visit an open house to window shop instead of taking full advantage of the opportunity to get important details about the home. When you visit an open house, you should have several questions prepared for the seller’s agent and you should have already conducted some research, too. You want to leave this process feeling that you have enough information to make a well-informed decision.

Here’s what you need to know about the open-house process:

Open house etiquette

It may not be a fashion show, but it’s important to leave a good impression on the listing agent. Bringing your business casual A-game will help you look like a serious buyer. Don’t rush – make sure you get a chance to visit each room and get a feel for the look and smell of the place. Be courteous to the agent and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

What to look for at an Open House

If allowed, you should take pictures of the inside and outside of the house. On the interior of the home, you should be looking for uneven floors, water stains, signs of cracks in the ceilings or walls, and mold. On the exterior, you’ll want to see if there’s any damage to outer walls, or if the roof has any tiles missing. If you can easily spot damage to the home, then it might not be worth your time. it’s important to consider that there may be repairs you’ll need to factor into your budget if you decide to make an offer on the home.

How to take the pulse of the competition

Are other prospective home buyers at the open house? How serious do they seem about the process? Are they asking questions? Do they have a checklist? Be on the lookout when you enter the home. These are potential home buyers who might also make an offer on the property.

Make sure you are memorable

You want to try and ensure that the agent remembers you. Building a good relationship with the agent can be key if you decide to make an offer on the home. Tell a short story about yourself, or ask the agent about their family or how they got started in the real estate business. Make a genuine effort to get to know them in the short period of time you spend at the home. Agents are people too, and people remember those who make an effort.

Know which questions to ask

By now, you know that an open house isn’t just a casual gathering of interested buyers, sellers and real estate agents. It is a major opportunity for you to feel out the home while also getting critical information.

You are probably still wondering what to ask at an open house. You should have several questions prepared, as the open house might be the only chance you get to ask them. If the home is a hot commodity, then other potential buyers might be looking to put in an offer soon. You want to get as much information as possible during the open house so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not you want to go forward with an offer of your own.

Here is a helpful checklist of questions to get answered on your open house tour:

How many offers have been made?

You should always ask the real estate agent if any offers have already been made. If there are multiple offers on the home, it could indicate that the property might sell quickly. If there aren’t any offers yet, then the opposite might be true. Real estate agents hope that multiple offers will push up the sales price of the home. Keep your budget in mind — even if you love the home, you don’t want to get into a bidding war with other prospective buyers if the result is an unaffordable price.

Why are the sellers moving?

The sellers could be moving because one of the owners got a new job across the country. Or they could be moving because the home’s maintenance is unaffordable and the repairs are getting more burdensome. Always make sure to ask the real estate agent why the sellers are moving. If they give a strange or off-putting reason, take note. The last thing you want to do is move into a house the owners sold because of bad neighbors, rising crime or failing schools.

How long has the property been on the market? Why?

Learning how long a property has been on the market will allow you to make a knowledgeable offer. Make sure to ask the agent, but also verify their claim with a listing service. It could have been on the market for a while because a previous buyer’s financing didn’t come through. Or maybe the property just went on the market this month and there are plenty of suitors. The context will provide you with useful information that gives you a better idea of how fast you’ll need to take action and how competitive the offer process might be.

When was the house built? Has it ever gotten any updates?

You want to make sure that you know when the home was built and if there have been any updates or renovations. Check on key features of the home, such as the roof, piping or electrical wiring. If you are purchasing an older home and there have been no recent updates of these features, you should be wary — you might have to make those repairs at significant cost in the near future.

What are the costs of utilities?

Too often, utilities are an afterthought in the home-buying process. But this is a property you are thinking about living in, and that means you’ll need lights, running water, heat, air conditioning and working sewer pipes. Ask the agent if he or she knows a ballpark of what utilities cost. You don’t want to get further into the process just to find out that the utilities on the property will have a significantly adverse effect on your budget.

How eager is the seller to sell the property? Is it an urgent sale or can it happen at any time?

Just as it is important to know why the seller is moving, it is also important to know how eager they are to sell and what their timeline looks like. If the seller needs to offload the house in a hurry, then perhaps they might be willing to consider a lower offer. But if the seller isn’t motivated, then the process might not move very quickly.

What are the neighbors like? Have there ever been any issues?

You aren’t just buying a property. You are also going to be spending the majority of your time in a new neighborhood. Even if you like the property, do you really want to live in a neighborhood you don’t feel comfortable in? Ask the real estate agent about the neighbors and make sure there haven’t been any issues. You’ll also want to check online and look at the local shops and eateries. Visit a few and see if they match your lifestyle and meet your needs.

What/where are the schools? How are they rated?

Schools are a huge issue for home buyers. You can check how the local school district is rated online, but nothing beats asking people in person. How do they feel the local schools are serving the students? Even if kids aren’t in your near future, the quality of your school district will eventually impact your home’s resell value.

What other homes should you check out in the neighborhood? Why?

Real estate agents aren’t just selling one home. There are likely other sellers in the area that they represent as well. If you aren’t totally sold on the home you are visiting during the open house, ask the agent if there are any other homes nearby that you should check out. You’d be surprised how often buyers find helpful information this way.

This article originally appeared on OpenListings.

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HOME STAGING, WE ANSWER WEDNESDAY

Home Staging Advice

March 29, 2017

“I’m in need of some Home Staging Advice. I know I need to stage my home but where do I start and what do I need to do?”

Home Staging Advice is my speciality! I love staging homes and I love helping sellers get their home ready for the resale market. It’s amazing to hear everyone’s Home Staging success stories!

When it comes to home staging every property has different needs but the basics that you need to address are the same. Your relationship with your real estate agent (if you are using one) is also really important. You want to make sure that your agent understands your competition in the market place and that your home is positioned in a competitive way.

My Home Staging Advice is to address theses 7 basics:

CLEAN AND DECLUTTER
MAINTAIN
REPAIR
DE-PERSONALIZE
NEUTRAL
UPDATE
STYLE

Start at the top of this list and work your way down.

Let’s start with Clean and Declutter –

Give the house a really good up and down thorough cleaning. This is a good start. A clean house feels amazing and everyone loves the feeling of a clean house. You can do this yourself or hire a professional. But this is a must! Go through all of your junk – old clothes, old boxes of random things, books and more….unload what you no longer need – this will lighten up the feeling in your space (and your mind, too – clutter is a source of stress), make moving easier and less expensive and the overall look of your home and storage spaces will improve (buyers are looking for storage so you don’t want the closets to be chaotic!)

Maintain

This is important because a maintained house is a house that has been cared for. When a house is cared for buyers sense that and they have some real peace of mind. So start with small things like leaky faucets, loose door knobs, burnt out light bulbs….Go through your house (or ask a close friend or a professional home stager) with a fine tooth comb and tackle those details!

Repair

So this falls under the same umbrella as ‘maintain’ but this is for larger issues like a broken appliance, a cracked floor tile, electrical outlets that don’t work. A home in disrepair tells buyers that this home is a mess and needs attention (and if there is an offer, it won’t be a good one). So be sure to take on those repairs before hitting the real estate market!

De-personalize

By removing your personal items, memorabilia and style from the house – this really allows buyers to ‘mentally move in’. You will be taking your personal items like family photos, religious pieces and collectables with you anyway…so think of this as a pre-pack. You don’t want buyers to feel like visitors during a private viewing or open house, you want them to feel at home.

Neutral

This is closely connected to De-personalizing the space. When we move into our home we get creative with colours, wall paper and other decorative elements but when it comes to home staging you really need to tone that all down and go neutral. Especially on the walls! Paint makes a huge impact on the look (and feel of a house) so a fresh paint job in a neutral tone is a great idea (and a good investment).

Update

Please don’t be thrown off by this….update doesn’t mean renovate. Small updates can make a whole home feel fresh and new again. How many updates and what you update- well that’s a conversation to have with your real estate agent. Remember what we said about being competitive? Your real estate agent can let you know what your competition is offering in the price point, so certain updates may or may not being worth it. Changing up light fixtures can make a huge difference in a home, new hardware in the kitchen and bathrooms, new carpet (or professionally cleaned carpet), stone counter tops….be sure to have a chat with your agent so you are competitive!

Style

This is a the pretty part and it makes a huge difference it how the house present in your photos. A house without any style or decoration just looks sad. You want your buyers to feel happy when they are walking in the property. So proper scale and positioning of furniture is important and then add a little something. For some of my favourite Home Staging props, Click here. But add some accent pillows to the sofa (new ones that you can use at your new place!), a few decor items on coffee tables and/ or fireplace mantle, art and fresh flowers and/ or bowl of fruit. And be sure to always make the bed. You don’t need all new furniture or decorative accents to make your home look it’s best, just follow our home staging advice.

Remember that home buying is an emotional experience so make buyers feel at home and at ease. Let them mentally move-in … Home Staging shows off the potential of the home and helps your property stand out from the rest. A staged home never sits for long!

Good luck,

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HOME STAGING, WE ANSWER WEDNESDAY

We Answer Wednesday – 7 Low cost Home Staging Tips

January 9, 2017

we-answer-wednesday-low-cost-home-staging-tips

“We are selling our home and moving to a new city due to a job transfer. I know home staging sets you apart from the competition. We want to sell quickly and make the move to the new city easy. We are on a tight budget, do you have any quick, easy and low budget home staging tips to share?”

You are absolutely right! Home staging sets you apart from the other homes on the market and you want to stand out in the crowd especially if you are in a market with lots of competition. Every style of home can benefit from home staging. Home staging can get you more money and help you sell faster, so the extra work to get the home prepared for the market will be worth it in the end. Less time on the market means you can move forward with your new chapter in life without the extra stress and worry.

There are lots of quick and easy, low cost (and no-cost) staging tips.

Here’s what we suggest:

– Clean.

I’m sure your home is clean but is it spit shine clean? Really get in there and clean that house. Give it a good scrub down. Buyers will notice and the home will feel great. There is nothing like a super clean home. Having said that, pay attention to the scent of the home. You don’t want it to smell like harsh chemicals of bleach – that can be a turn off. Stick with scents like clean laundry, vanilla or cotton.

– Repair.

This may cost a bit, it depends on what needs to be repaired and how handy you are. Any burnt out light bulbs? leaky faucets? cracked tiles? chipped paint? You need to spend a bit of money here to tend to these issues. Has it been a while since you painted the house? You might want to consider a paint job – a fresh paint job goes a long way and make a huge difference! Over look these repairs or just leave it? Buyers will think you maybe left other issues unresolved, bigger issues. If there are too many repairs to pay for and maybe you don’t have the time, consider that when pricing your home with your agent.

– De-clutter.

We all have junk. Since you are moving anyway this is a great opportunity to lose some weight. Go through your stuff and get rid of what you don’t want/need you will be surprised how much you can accumulate in a short period of time. Go through everything – drawers, closets, cabinets etc. Don’t spend the time, money and energy moving to the new place to just to toss it – get rid of it now. The house will feel lighter. Plus when buyers see clutter it is a stresser and it sends a message that there isn’t enough storage (one of the top things buyers are looking for is storage). One area to really pay attention to is above the kitchen cabinets – don’t store anything up there, it’s distracting and looks messy (even decorative items) and bathroom counter tops, we tend to ‘collect’ soap, lotions and more. Clear off surface spaces – kitchen counters, your coffee table, end tables, kitchen table, desk etc…Clear out the clutter!

– Pre-pack and depersonalize.

You know you are moving , so pre-pack certain items that you know are going to come with you. For instance family photos and collections – we don’t want them in the space because they personalize the space – you don’t want buyers to feel like they are visiting, you want them to mentally move in – your memories will block that from happening. Collectibles should also be packed up – again they are personal plus they can clutter up the space depending on the size of the collection. Have a lot of art or books? A few are fine but if you have too many they can add bulk to the room making the space feel cramped, so pre-pack some of those pieces (at least the ones coming with you)

– Let there be light!

Pull back the drapes, clean those windows and be sure to replace burnt out bulbs or up the wattage. Light makes a huge difference in a space. If you have a dark room, add some table or floor lamps. When it is time for your photos, be sure to have your lights on – over head, task lights all of your lights – it looks so much better in photos! Take a look at the two images below – image 1 has all of the lights on – even though they have beautiful natural light streaming in from the patio doors and window. Look how bright the room is. Image 2 – no lights on at all. The light from the window just isn’t enough. Yes, it is a beautiful room but it looks a bit dull without the lights on.

– Curb appeal.

Make sure the exterior is maintained, it’s your home’s first impression. So trim the grass and hedges. Make sure exterior lights are in working order. Is the address plate visible and in good condition? Does the door bell work? Shovel or sweep the porch and walkway/driveway. These details are important.

– Set the scene.

This is the fun part and the creative part. Use magazines as your inspiration -make the bed and make it look inviting like you would see in a chic hotel. Have a great dining room space? Set the table to help buyers visualize entertaining in the space. Add a touch of colour in the kitchen. Some flowers or a fruit bowl on the island or kitchen table make the room look fresh. Take a look at your furniture or better yet get a friend to help – is there too much? Is there flow? You may need to re-arrange some pieces, so try to find a way to create a comfortable set up that encourages conversation but also shows off the space.

Be sure to keep the ‘creative’ stuff last and follow these steps in this order. Remember, home staging isn’t just about fluffing pillows – it’s a step by step process to make the home look it’s best. Buyers are looking for their new home not your old home, so follow these steps and your house will shine!

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HOME STAGING, WE ANSWER WEDNESDAY

We Answer Wednesday – How home staging helps sell your home

November 9, 2016

“My fiance and I are now living together, and we want to put my place up for sale. Is it worth it to stage the house? It is empty, so doesn’t that make it look bigger and that way a buyer can picture themselves in there? We just want to know what staging will do to help us sell.”

This is something we can definitely help you with. We have staged lots of properties for clients to help get them sold.

Home staging is a great tool to help buyers visualize how to live in the space, it helps to highlight the features of your home and also show off the size of your home. Home staging isn’t just about furniture that’s only one part of it. Selling an empty or vacant property is actually really tough. Empty rooms are cold and emotionless – that means buyers aren’t connecting with the house. Have you ever seen photos of an empty room? It’s really hard to tell if the room is large, small or just the right size…Many people do not have the ability to picture their things and their life when looking at a vacant property. There is no WOW factor with a vacant property so buyers don’t take notice.

A good home stager will come and view the vacant property (usually with you and often with your agent) and he/she will give suggestions on any repairs, cleaning, depersonalizing, decluttering and updates that are needed. A home stager knows what buyers are looking for, your agent can also give you some insight as to what your competition is offering (renovated kitchen, counter tops…) but also what the buyer expectation is at your price point. Buying a home is an emotional connection – it is something the buyer feels when they walk in the door. Home staging helps with setting the scene and connecting with buyers on an emotional level.

Plus buyers are looking to buy their NEW home, they don’t want your old one – so do the

prep work to get it looking it’s best!

Your home stager will work with you and your budget to get the property up to par before moving in any furniture items.

Details are so important when selling:

– A new paint job in a current tone can do wonders for any property.

– Small updates like new cabinet hardware and a tile back splash can totally transform a kitchen

– Brighter light bulbs in existing light fixtures can really help any room

-Fixing up any small repairs will give buyers a good feeling about ‘their new home’

-A good and thorough cleaning feels great! You want to make a fantastic first impression on your potential buyers.

When it comes to the final step of furnishing the home with staging furniture, your stager will have a plan. He/She has figured out how to best show off this property by making it look clean and bright but also large and current. The proper scale and placement of furniture make a big difference in flow plus using the right accents like colour and texture really give your photos a ‘pop’ and set the scene!

So why would staging help you?

Well, having your home professionally staged will set you apart from the competition. Having the right pieces, colours, updates and more will make you stand out from the crowd in any market.

1. Your staged property will always photograph better and in this day and age, your online photos are basically your first showing – when your photos look great, the phone starts ringing and the private viewings are booked! Home staging will increase the amount of showings at your property.

2. Now that you have more showings, the agents start to take notice and that piques everyone’s interest – your property is hot!

3. A hot property means offers – could be a quick offer early into the process because the buyer agent knows this one won’t last long or it could mean you have a number of interested buyers leading to multiple offers.

Home staging helps :

-make your property looks its best and present what buyers want

– by giving you the best online photos to be used in marketing materials and social media

– get more interest in your property and more viewings

– get the property sold for top dollar and quickly

Best wishes on the sale of your home and remember it’s really important for your own stress level and bottom line to work with true professionals who will help you feel good about the presentation and sale of your property.

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HOME STAGING, WE ANSWER WEDNESDAY

We Answer Wednesday – Low cost Home Staging Tips

February 10, 2016

Home staging can get you more money and help you sell faster, so the extra work to get the home prepared for the market will be worth it in the end. Less time on the market means you can move forward with your new chapter in life without the extra stress and worry.