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selling my home

home renovation, HOME REPAIRS + MAINTENANCE, REAL ESTATE

How to add value to your property without overspending

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Whether you are moving home or have been living in your property for a while, there will come a time that you will need and want to update your home. This may just be to freshen the look and design of it but you should make sure that everything you do not only makes you happier but that it adds value to your property. 

The process of taking on home redecoration can be fraught with potential anxiety as well as lots and lots of costs. With all home improvements, planning is essential. One in four projects goes over budget. Even on the TV home improvement shows reveal that the homeowners always overspend. It is worth doing the extra planning work upfront to avoid this. 

Follow these tips and tricks to make sure that you can boost your home’s value without breaking your bank. 

Flooring 

Considering that this is something that you constantly walk upon and probably rarely look at, flooring can really affect how your home looks and feels. If you have had a carpet for a while, you may want to think about changing to wooden flooring. If you already have wooden flooring, you could try a natural wood stain to change the color and make sure the floor remains sealed and looked after. These little ideas can really improve your home for a little cost.

Recent trends have shown that the wooden floor aesthetic is incredibly popular right now. Full true wood can be expensive and difficult to install. However, you can invest in vinyl flooring or laminate flooring in order to rejuvenate your home without having to spend loads of money. Also, they are really easy to install without the cost of hiring a fitter. 

Budget

Speaking of spending money, knowing what your budget is, is essential when it comes to redecorating your home. As well as this, you need to know what estate agents call the ‘ceiling price’ of your home. This is the maximum price you can expect to achieve based on similar properties in your area.

Even if you were to turn your house into a palace there will still be a limit on how much people will pay when it comes to the area that you live in. It is worth speaking to local estate agents before committing to any major plans as they can guide you when deciding how much money you can spend on your improvements and still recoup your money when selling your property.

Converting your garage

If you have off-road parking and depending on the area in which you live, you may find converting a garage can significantly increase the value of your home. In some cases, this can be as much as 10 to 15 percent. Getting extra living space that you don’t need to add an extension for is an invaluable asset in such a crowded property market.

If your garage is attached to your house, then you should be able to convert it into another room between $10,000 to $20,000. This can grant you extra square footage. However, your options are not limited to another bedroom. You could convert the garage into something that you need or want such as a home office, a gym, a playroom, or a bar that you can invite your friends around. Quirky ideas like these will increase the value of your home exponentially.

Knocking down walls

If you find that you have lots of smaller rooms divided by walls that are not load-bearing, then you could knock one or more of them down to increase the flow through your home. If you have a little bit of technical knowledge how then you can even do this yourself.

The modern market shows that most people prefer to have a large kitchen or dining room rather than a small kitchen with a separate dining room. Additionally, if you have multiple living spaces adjacent to each other then you may be better off knocking down the walls to create one luxurious and large space. This is a minimal cost to double the amount of space you have in these rooms.

Updating your kitchen

The popularity of open kitchens and dining spaces has transformed the kitchen into the focal point of many homes. They can provide everything from the dinner table to the place where people do homework. Basic makeovers like changing fixtures and fittings like the door and drawer handles and adding energy-efficient appliances can make a huge difference without a large cost.

Fitting a completely new kitchen can increase a home price by up to 10 percent and as such is one of the more lucrative ways to increase the value of your home. Though it will cost you upfront.

Adding bathrooms

Adding an extra bathroom or an ensuite onto one of the bedrooms can not only make your life easier in the long run especially if you have a family but also increase the value of your home. It is a huge selling point for any home if it has bathrooms upstairs and downstairs as well as if they are joined to bedrooms.

One thing that you should be aware of though is what room to make into a bathroom. If you have dead space or extra unused storage space, then they are ideal for conversion. However, you should never give up a bedroom for a bathroom. Instead, you should look at carving space from the larger rooms like the master bedroom to make sure for an extra bathroom.

Improving the value of your home

There are plenty of options out there to improve your home. Some will be much more expensive than others. These are often dependent on your own ability to do things yourself without outside help and what space you have available.

Things like converting dead space are really easy ways to increase value to your home. You need to take stock and plan your home with care but also boldly. Don’t be afraid to go outside the box. Speak to local builders and architects who may be able to inspire your new home.

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HOME STAGING

5 Easy Fixes to Make your Home ‘Buyer-Ready’

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A home buyer can be picky so when it comes to selling your home you always want to have your best foot forward and if it is a tough market you really cannot afford to be anything less than showcase perfect!

One of the secrets in catching the eye of potential buyers is to highlight the features of a home that are important to them. Showing buyers that you have what they need, will help sell your home fast and get the best price.

But of course, not every home is perfect. You might not have the best location, neighborhood, space and other factors that are important in choosing a home. But those imperfections, especially the ones you have control over, should not hinder you from having a great showing.

 

We listed 5 tips that will make your home appeal to a home buyer:

 

 

#1 Style according to location advantages:

There is little you can do about your property’s location. Instead of masking location disadvantages with adjectives in your listing, you can factor the location to your marketing plan. Is your address in a hip, urban location? You might want to stage your house in a way that it will appear attractive to young professionals. If your home is located near a high school, designing your home in a way that it will reflect the style that would appeal to a growing family is important. In short, visualize the needs and characteristics of a buyer and set up the property accordingly.

#2 Fix and repair before the showing

Before your first showing, make sure that everything is in working condition. Do you have leaking faucets or clogged pipes? Fix anything and everything that is broken because those become a major turn off. Prospective buyers wouldn’t want to figure out those repair needs on their own and they will just look at the listing down the road instead. If you are working with a realtor, ask them if they have a list of preferred professionals that they could recommend to fix those repairs around the home, or you can check out a recommendation website like Angie’s List

 

#3 Make scents!

First of all, if there’s unpleasant odor in the property, get to the root of the problem and fix it! No one wants to live in a smelly house. Secondly, don’t overdo it with air fresheners. Most people like the look and freshness of lemons, so a bowl of lemons pierced with a fork will do the trick. Lightly scented candles are good as well; scents like fresh linen or clean laundry are usually safe bets.  For cooler months, try baked cookies or even just a bowl of water with cinnamon and sugar in the oven at a low temperature

 

#4 Sufficient lighting for every room

 

Buyers find bright rooms really attractive. Draw back the curtains, open the shades, and make use of artificial lighting if you need to.

A tried-and-tested technique to achieve the most balanced room lighting is to place three lighting sources in a triangular configuration. For example: a floor lamp, table lamp and ceiling light fixture are three sources of light in a room. Another tip is to replace dated lighting fixtures; an inexpensive and quick upgrade that can have significant impact on the look of a property. Remember when you are preparing for an open house have all of your lights turned on – the house will look and feel bigger and brighter!

 

#5 Declutter

When home buyers tour your house, you don’t want them to focus on the clutter. If you have personal belongings on display, like family pictures or collection, or just anything that will distract potential buyers, tuck these away. Think of it as a ‘pre-pack’, you will want to have those items with you at your next home, won’t you? A second benefit to a properly decluttered space is that is makes the place look larger. Bigger is always better for buyers. A bigger space encourages them to imagine how they will add their own personal touch to the property and without your personal belongings; they can start to mentally move in with their things.

 

Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start when it comes to prepping your home for the resale market.  But we hope these 5 steps help you get it ready and sold!

 

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HOME STAGING

Selling Your Home? 9 Tips to Increase the Value of Your Home

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If you are considering selling your home in the near future – start prepping now! Don’t leave it to the last minute….to get your home in tip top shape that buyers are looking for – is a lot of work! It really is best to get a head start so that there isn’t as much to do closer to the time when you want to list your property.

It can be confusing to know where to spend you money, time and energy but here are the top tips to increase to value of your home

1 – Fix ALL repairs.

Not sure what’s wrong with your home? Perhaps hire a home inspector to inspect your home and take a look at his report.  Leaky pipes, the roof, electrical panels etc…are the types of repairs that scare of buyers.  But be sure to take acre of cosmetic repairs too like cracked tiles.

2 – Add a fresh coat of paint.

It’s worth it.  The cost of pain is minimal and it makes every space look clean and bright.  Stick to neutrals and a white trim

3 – Replace carpet.

If you have old wall to wall carpet remove it.  Carpet is a big turn off for a lot of buyers as it get dusty and an old carpet doesn’t usually show well.  Opt for hardwood or laminate (perfect for a family home).  This improvement is what most buyers are looking for and it improves the quality of the air and it’s low maintenance

4 – Low maintenance landscaping.

Add some plants and perhaps some shrubs/trees.  It improves the curb appeal and again, it is something that the buyer won’t have to do.  If you want top dollar for your home, you need to do the work! Plus pull out that patio furniture (make sure to clean it) and set the scene –

5 – Enhance those kitchens and bathrooms.

You don’t need a total overhaul necessarily but pay attention to updating the bathroom.  Make sure it’s clean, has white fixtures like tuns, toilets and sinks and chrome or brushed nickel accents.  A simple and neutral bathroom always presents better than a dated one.  for the kitchen, small updates like a new back splash in a neutral tile, updated hardware and lighting – make a huge differences.  If you have older appliances that you can’t afford to replace make sure they are in good working condition and clean

6 – Other upgrades.

Lighting is huge – look for simple chrome or brushed nickel finishes.  And make sure you are using maximum wattage so the home looks bright! If you can upgrade your cabinets- do it, remember light and neutral, you want mass appeal.

7 – Don’t forget the exterior.

Does your front door need a fresh coat of paint? How about those lights and mailbox, have they seen better days? Do you have an address plate? Does your grip set (door handle and key slot) work smoothly? – Don’t let real estate agents get frustrated by trying to enter your home for showings, not a good first impression!

8 – Let there be light!

Are there dark rooms in your home? Consider hiring an electrician to add some overhead lighting in darker rooms. In older homes, we don’t often see overhead lighting in family rooms, secondary bedrooms and living rooms – so stand out from the crowd.

9 – Stage your home.

Even if you are still living in the space with your furniture and accessories, hire a stager for a consultation.  They can help you will ideas to be present your home, and they can give you some great tips to appeal to buyers. A home staging team can help you in the beginning too – buy selecting the right paint colours, lighting, hardware and other updates to improve the look and value of your home.  they are a great resource for knowing what’s trending in the eyes of the buyer.

You want your home to look it’s best especially when it is up for sale.  Start the process of prepping your home for the real sale market in advance to save your self some time, energy and stick to a budget.

 

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BATHROOMS, HOME STAGING, KITCHENS

Kitchen and Bathroom ‘Facelift’ Ideas

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Kitchens and bathrooms do help sell houses, although they may not be the main deciding factor, they are strong contenders when buyers consider what property they will now call home. Buyers consider these rooms when they are house hunting because of the difficulty of renovating them and the expense that would be required. If you have been diligent in the upkeep and upgrades of your home then this week’s notes will not be as difficult.

 

 

 However, if you have never updated your home or maintained the repairs in the baths and kitchens, then this could be a pricey section! Truth be told, you will pay to do upgrades in these rooms, either when it comes time to sell and you have to reduce the price to reflect the work needed, or over the years while you live there and have been paying to maintain and upgrade.

 

Homeowners typically should be spending 1-3% of their market value every year to upgrade and maintain their property in good condition. So if this has not been done, it will need to be.

 

 

What types of upgrades can you do?

  • Updating Appliances in all the same color, this includes the hood fan. Especially if they are more than 10 years old.
  • Replace or Repair all damaged tiles or flooring
  • Repaint kitchen cabinets (or do touch ups)
  • Consider a kitchen update if older than 7 years. New kitchens price at $5,000 and up, depending on if you are installing them yourself. This is not recommended for beginners no matter how keen you are!
  • Install new counter tops or call a Granite company for a granite looking overlay that is less than the price of real granite
  • Update flooring, even a small bathroom looks like a new world with brand new floors
  • Update light fixtures
  • Paint the ceilings
  • Take off old tiles in the bathtub or shower and add a new surround. A simple do it yourself kit can be purchased for around $300.00
  • Add under cabinet lighting
  • Add new shower faucets and shower rods
  • Re-grout your existing tile if it is still in good shape, adding a new grout color can go far
  • Fresh paint colors in warm neutrals make a room look 100 x better for a small investment of time and money
  • Update faucets to the latest trends
  • Tighten all knobs, or replace for a modest cost. Knobs range from $3.00 to over $10.00 per piece, so it is a small investment for a great improvement
  • Replace toilet seats, especially if they are cracked, wooden or themed
  • Add new blinds or window coverings
  • New sinks, curtain rods and towel bars also make a great first impression

 

 

Remember you are giving the buyers every reason to buy your house, so carefully consider the first impression and ask yourself what do you look for when you are the buyer? How do you compare houses when you are the buyer? Then create a property that will attract buyers. It’s as simple as that.

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HOME STAGING

Do NOT Try This At home!! 8 Biggest Home Staging Mistakes

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Take a look at these 8 home staging mistakes home owners make before putting their homes on the market.

A staged home spends less time on the market so take this advice and although some tips may seem expensive or time consuming, it won’t be too long and it will be worth your while.

 

8 Home staging mistakes (to avoid):

 

1 –Just because you love it does not mean that everyone else will too.

Ensure your property appeals to a broad market of buyers. In other words, keep it neutral, a bright colour reflects your personality and style which can be too much for buyers to get past.

This room looks great but the dark paint colour on the wall is a bit personalize and may turn off some buyers.  If thiese walls were painted in a lighter and neutral tone the room would look bigger and brighter.

2 –Edit your storage places too.

Buyers will poke around, opening kitchen and bathroom cabinets and closets spaces too. Be sure to spend some time organizing those area too. A cramped spaces sends the message to buyers that there is a lack of storage.

This room doesn’t present well.  It would be very challenging for buyers to see past this mess.  even though the furniture doesn’t come with the house – this much clutter says to buyers that there isn’t enough space.  Be sure to clean, declutter and organize!

 

3 –Scale and size of furniture.

Be sure that items such as furniture, plants and other decor pieces are in proportion with the room. You are selling the house (the space) not the items in it. Even if the rooms look somewhat empty, that is way better than over stuffed rooms. Story your larger pieces in a temporary storage locker or ask friends and family if they have some storage space you could borrow.

You need to make sure that a room has good flow.  The buyers (during the showings) need to be able to walk around freely without obstacles.  There is a lot of furniture is this room and although very attractive it’s too much for when you are selling your home.  

4 — Clean, clean, clean.

I know this means something different to everyone so keep your self and your home on a regular cleaning schedule – if you have to contact a professional to help you out – do it, it will be worth the extra cost. Be sure your home is in ‘showing condition’ at all times. You may receive a call from your realtor about a showing while you are at work and your dishes from breakfast are still in the sink – that leaves a very bad impression.

You really need to be on top of your house work while you are selling.  No one wants to come to view a property with dirty rooms, dishes all over the place etc…This leaves a really bad first impression.

5 — Your pet may be your best friends but he isn’t every one’s.

Some buyers are immediately turned off by any signs of animals in a home so keep pet hair to a minimum by vacuuming everyday, crating your furry friends or keeping them outside of the home while it is up for sale. When we were selling our home a few years ago, I went as far as paying my younger brother to “babysit” them during my open house.

6 — Pay attention to the details.

Don’t hide your flaws , either repair them before you go on market or have your price reflect that there is some work to be done. It is tough for a realtor to justify selling a house for top dollar when it is not in top condition.

7 — Upgrade periodically.

Change up your light fixtures, hardware, taps, faucets and drapery. You will likely get a better reaction from buyers plus it shows that the house has been maintained and cared for. Plus buyers are willing to pay more for a property that has already been updated.  Not sure where to update or what to do? This is where your real estate agent and home stager can really come into play.

A new light fixture can make a huge difference in a house.  It gives the whole home a fresh feel and look – opt for a style that is transitional (that means it works with different decor styles and this way this will work for most people).

8 — Don’t rush.

Get your house on the market once it is ready. Meaning get the little jobs done, listen to your realtor and home stager to help you get top dollar, an incomplete house is exactly that and buyers will not respond in a positive way. So take that time to finish up incomplete projects or tackle the to-do list from your stager – painting and small repairs can set up apart. Any time of year is a good time to sell, but when there is a lot of competition on the market (such as the spring season) you must be in peak performance.

Consider a fresh paint job in the home in a neutral tone, this instantly gives the whole home a fresh new feel and it looks clean and bright!

Selling can feel personal but it isn’t – you need to now think of your house as a product that is up for sale.  Like a product in a store you want it to sell so put the time in to make it a product that a buyer will want! Be sure to avoid these home staging mistakes,

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HOME STAGING

Worst upgrades for the resale of your home

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When it comes to selling your home there are some updates that are ‘money makers’ and there are others that are just a waste of money. You really want to spend your money on upgrades that not only look good but ones that will pay off!

Here are the 10 worst upgrades for selling your home.

 

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1.  Wall-to-wall carpet. 

If you are replacing your carpet flooring before you sell, hardwood is a must.  That is what buyers are looking for.  Carpet just doesn’t work for anyone with pets or allergies plus it’s tough to give it a quick clean.  If you have hardwood now, take a close look at it – does it need any repairs? refinishing?

 

 

2.  Whirlpool baths, indoor hot tubs and saunas. 

Once upon a time they were considered desirable but now many buyers find them passe and are afraid of what extra costs will be involved.

 

3.  Colourful bath fixtures. 

If you are updating the toilets, sinks and tubs in your bathrooms to get ready for sale (even if it is years away), keep the fixtures white – not almond, grey, pink etc…White is neutral and clean so it will appeal to everyone.

 

4.  Ornate chandeliers, wall paper, textured walls and bold paint colours. 

No.  Do not do this.  Keep it simple.  Stick with neutral paint colours.  Wall paper is just seen as a big removal project, textured walls were once a big trend but he trend is over and as for big splashy chandeliers – that’s a personal touch that should go with you when you move, so just put in a simple chandelier for the potential new owners.

 

5.  Expensive sound systems and home theaters. 

If you are doing updates for your home as you start to prepare it for sale, do not spend you money on this, it might attract some buyers but most audio/film buffs would rather just install this themselves. If you have a large basement that would really suit a home theater this is something your real estate agent could mention at open houses and showings.

6.  Vinyl Floors

Although it has come a long way in terms of style and it is practical for pets, kids, allergies and easy cleaning – it isn’t a feature that buyers like.  For only a bit more money, opt for ceramic, or hardwood. The new laminate floor that look like hardwood are a good option but at a certain price point, buyers expect to see hardwood so discuss that with your real estate agent.

 

7.  Removing bedrooms, turning a three bedroom into a two bedroom home. 

Even if one or two bedrooms are on the small side – do not eliminate one.  Fewer bedrooms means you will likely get less money on the resale market.  Plus anyone looking for a three bedroom will not see a two bedroom home.  Two bedroom condo apartments are popular but not two bedroom homes. Same goes for 4 bedroom homes – many families are looking for 4 bedrooms so don’t get rid of a bedroom.

8.  Swimming pools. 

There is a lot of discussion among Realtors about pools.  Buyers often love them or hate them – so if you have a big yard that would fit a pool, let your realtor ‘pitch’ that idea a open houses and showings. It’s not an upgrade worth putting in. If you have a pool – make sure it is clean, maintained and functioning.  Buyers will want to know about additional costs so be sure to have that data available.

 

 

9.  Appliance upgrades. 

Stainless steel is certainly the ‘colour’ of choice for buyers but don’t get crazy with professional grade appliances it’s really not necessary.  Plus built-in espresso machines are seen as a concern if they breakdown and wine fridges are a personal item (not everyone drinks wine).

10.  Odd rooms. 

If you are in an older home you probably have some attic space or neat little nook under the stares – do not spend the time, money or effort trying to convert these funky little spots into a room or bathroom.  Show your realtor these spaces and he/she will simply call them ‘storage’ which IS something buyers are all looking for.

 

This mistakes can be costly so be sure to talk with your realtor before making any huge mistakes….

 

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