Archive for the ‘Home Staging’ Category

Dealing with Stress when Selling Your Home

Friday, June 12th, 2020

Let’s face it. Planning events, even exciting ones like an overseas vacation, can be stressful. So, it’s not surprising that some homeowners — even those thrilled about moving — can slip into “worry mode” when putting their property up for sale. Unfortunately, this anxiety can make the process of selling an unpleasant experience. Who wants that? So here are some things you can do to reduce selling stress and enjoy the adventure.

• Understand the selling process. The more you know about the steps involved in selling your home, the less mysterious — and, therefore, less stressful — it will be.

• Give yourself the time you need. Feeling rushed and stressed comes from trying to do too much in too little time. Even if you’re selling quickly, it’s important to block off sufficient time in your calendar for the things you need to do.

• Take care of yourself. As television psychologist Dr. Phil often points out, you can’t give what you don’t have. When it comes to selling your home, that means you need to eat well and stay healthy, so you have the energy you need throughout the process.

• Make your home attractive to buyers. That not only means tidying up and doing a little home staging, it also means setting the right listing price. Nothing eliminates the stress of selling more than having flocks of qualified buyers interested in your home.

• Get the help you need. You don’t have to do everything on your own. That’s why working with us is so advantageous. We take care of the many details for our clients so that they can enjoy the journey. Sure, there are going to be a few stressful moments. However, the process of listing and selling your property, while looking for your next dream home, can be an exciting experience. Let me help you.  Contact us Today.

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Affordable Ways to Boost your Home’s Curb Appeal

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

When buyers come to see your home, the first thing they notice is how your property looks from the curb. That first impression is powerful and lingering. If buyers don’t like what they see, it can influence how they judge the rest of your property, regardless of how great it looks on the inside. You definitely want to do whatever you can to boost curb appeal. Here are six affordable ideas to consider:

1. Driveway sealing. This makes the pavement look darker and less faded. It also helps cover up some of the cracks. Sealing won’t give you the “brand new” look of repaving, but it’s close — and significantly less expensive.

2. Exterior window washing. Washing the front windows makes them look clean and bright. In fact, the effect can be stunning. There are window washing products that connect to your hose to make this job easier. Check your home improvement retailer.

3. Maintaining shrubs, hedges and flower beds. Trimming the hedges, shrubs and other evergreens can make a big difference in how your property looks from the street. It’s like giving them all a haircut! Flowering plants can also brighten up the look.

4. Front door painting. From the curb, a buyer’s eye is naturally drawn to your front door. If your entry system looks old and worn, consider a fresh coat of paint. It can make the entrance look almost new.

5. Garage door painting. This is a bigger project that can take a day or two, but the effort might be worth it. For many homes, the garage door is the biggest item in the curb appeal panorama. Making it look better will have a big impact.

6. Removing unsightly items. Look at your home from the street. Are there items in your field of vision that take away from the curb appeal? For example, are there garbage cans and other items stowed along the side of the property and visible from the road? If so, move them.  You don’t want buyers to  drive by (and they still do) and eliminate your home simply because they don’t like what they see from the outside. Use these tips to boost your home’s curb appeal.

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What to Fix Up in your Home before You Sell?

Sunday, April 5th, 2020

If you have a home that is overdue for a renovation, you might be worried that it will be difficult to sell as a “fixer-upper”. In fact, you might delay listing your property for that reason. The good news is, you don’t need to fix up everything in your home to prepare it for sale. You can be selective and choose only those projects that are most likely to help your home show well and sell quickly. Here are some projects to consider:

• Repairs. Few things stand out more during a viewing than something in obvious need of repair. That includes minor issues, like a dripping bathroom faucet, as well as major concerns, such as the central air conditioning unit not working. Get these repairs done.

• Painting. Painting is one of the easiest and most affordable DIY projects you can do. Yet the impact it can have on your home is stunning. Some rooms are completely transformed by a fresh coat of paint.

• Kitchens & Bathrooms. Buyers love to see great looking kitchens and bathrooms. In fact, there are even magazines devoted just to those rooms! You don’t necessarily need to do a major renovation of these spaces, but a makeover can be a good idea. Consider replacing sinks, countertops, and/or cabinet hardware.

• Floors. If the floors in any of your rooms have become worn and unsightly, look at options for refreshing them. Consider replacing carpeting, refinishing hardwood, and/or getting tiles professionally cleaned and polished.

• Outdoors. Sometimes you can compensate (a little) for a less-than-ideal interior by sprucing up the outdoor space. Explore ways to improve your deck or patio, walkways, and landscaping. Even if your home is older, you can make it more attractive to buyers with any one of these projects. Want more ideas for finding eager buyers for your home? We offer a free – no obligation home walk through where we will make suggestion on minor improvements you can do to sell your home for the most money in the least amount of time.  Free walk through 

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Four Things You Should Know About Staging

Tuesday, August 28th, 2018

You’ve probably heard about “home staging”. As the name implies, it’s all about arranging each room in your home in a way that will make the best impression on buyers. Here’s what you need to know about staging if you’re thinking of listing your property.                                                                                                                                                                         1. Staging can get you a higher price. On average, a fully-staged home tends to sell for 17% more than an unstaged home of the same type in the same local market. Depending on the current market value of your property, doing some staging in your home could put thousands of extra dollars in your pocket, post-sale.                                                    2. It can speed up the sale. A study by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) showed that fullystaged homes spend an average of 90% less time on the market. So, if you need to sell quickly – without dropping your price – or you just want the comfort of having offers come in sooner, staging will definitely help.                                                        3. You don’t have to go crazy. Completely staging every room in your home is going to give you the full benefits of this strategy. However, you don’t have to go that far. In fact, just implementing a few simple staging techniques to some key rooms can make a big difference.                                                                                                                                                4. Get professional help or advice. When it comes to home staging, don’t guess at it. Get professional help or advice. As a REALTOR®, I have a lot of expertise in this area and always offer sellers a free Staging Consultation.

Contact me anytime.

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Important Things to “Fix Up” before Selling

Friday, March 10th, 2017

Why is this critical?

Home buyers do not typically know anything about repair costs so they pull a number out of the air making sure that number is high enough – their estimate is always high and usually extremely high.  An Example, and I see this everyday is – the carpet in your living room is badly worn, cost to replace might be $2000.00, many buyers will use a number like $10,000 and will deduct that from your list price. So it’s your choice invest $2000 up front for lose $10,000 off the sales price.

When you’re preparing your Calgary home for sale, it’s not unusual to need to fix up a few things around the property. After all, you want your home to look its best to buyers, so that you get good offers, quickly. The longer your home sits on the market the less it will sell for.

What do you need to fix?

Here are three categories that will help you create and prioritize your list

Anything that squeaks or creaks – Is there something in your home that makes a noise it shouldn’t be making? Perhaps it’s a rattling closet door or a creaking floor board? You may be so used to it you no longer notice the sound. But buyers will. Be sure to get those items fixed.

Anything that’s unsightly- You don’t have to make your home look perfect. However, things that are unsightly will likely get buyers’ attention. You want them to focus on the terrific features of your property, not the scuff on the wall.  Take a walk through your property, including the yard. Pretend you’re the buyer. Do you notice anything that doesn’t look good? If so, tidy it up, fix it up or replace it.

Anything that’s broken-  If there’s anything that needs repair — an outside tap that’s not working, or a sliding door that regularly careens off its runner — call the contractor or fix it yourself.

Getting these items fixed will go a long way toward making your home appealing to buyers.

If you are in need of some professional help we are happy to connect you with Calgary contractors our clients have been happy with. Contact us!

Want more tips on preparing your home for sale? Contact us today.

 

 

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Your Home at a glance

Friday, January 2nd, 2015

Have you ever driven up to a restaurant and your first impression was
disappointing? Perhaps the windows looked dark and gloomy, the façade
was worn and unattractive or for some other reason it just didn’t look like a
tempting place to eat.
It could still be a fantastic restaurant – a real gem. But, your first impression
has soured your anticipation. If you still walk through the front door, it will
likely be with the expectation of being disappointed.
This scenario often plays out in the real estate market as well.
A buyer drives up to a home for sale and quickly forms an impression based
on what he sees “from the curb”. That’s why you’ll hear real estate experts
talk about the importance of “curb appeal”. It’s one of the most important
selling points of a property.
If you plan to put your home on the market, you obviously want your home
to look as attractive as possible from the street. Fortunately, there are many
simple things you can do to improve curb appeal.
For example, you can trim shrubs and hedges, plant flowers, clean the
walkway and driveway, paint the front door and garage door, and clean the
exteriors of the windows. All these projects are relatively easy and
inexpensive. Yet, each can make a dramatic improvement to how your
home looks at first glance.
Don’t be like the great restaurant that’s hidden behind an unkept façade.
Make sure your curb appeal reflects the overall value of your property.
Looking for more advice on selling your home quickly and for the best price?
Call today

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How to make your home appear larger

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

When selling your home or condo in Calgary you want to show off the space your have.  Most of us accumulate  stuff and our living spaces get full.  Make any room bigger by simply taking things out of the room,however finding storage space in the home can be challenging.

These days, we all just seem to have more stuff!

Fortunately, you don’t necessarily need to rent a storage locker or add a new room to your home to fit everything. One of the things I do annually is look around and if I have not used the item in the last year then I ask myself “Do I really still need this?”

There are many innovative ways to increase the capacity of the storage space you’re already using. For example, there are storage bins you can buy that are designed to fit neatly under a bed. Some have wheels, making the bins easy to pull out and access.

You’ve probably seen closet organizers at your local home improvement centre. These can easily double the storage capacity of a closet, while making the space look neater and more organized.

Finally, there are storage units available that are camouflaged as something else, such as an ottoman.

Visit your local Home Depot. There are many more innovative storage solutions available for your home.

If all else fails, renting a storage pod can be an excellent investment when selling your home.

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How to Discourage Buyers from Buying Your Home

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Selling a home in Calgary is very competitive. If you’re listing your home

for sale, then of course you’ll want to make the best impression possible

for potential home buyers. But, just to have a little fun, say you don’t want

 to sell your property. What could you do to discourage those who view

your home? 

Well, you could have your pets in the home during showings. That will

certainly make it uncomfortable for some buyers – especially those

with pet allergies. 

You could also leave personal items around, such as family pictures

and trophies. That will make it more difficult for a buyer to imagine

himself and his family living there. It might even make him feel a bit

like an intruder! 

Clutter in bedrooms, closets and other areas of the home will make

those spaces feel less spacious than they really are, as well as make

visitors feel uncomfortable. 

If you really want to turn off a buyer, then put off doing any minor

repairs. A dripping tap, torn carpet, flickering lights, dent in the wall,

 or other maintenance issues are certain to gain a buyer’s attention.

 If all that doesn’t shoo away a buyer from your home, then stick

around during a viewing and follow him and his family from room to

room telling them everything you can about your home.  That will

certainly make him feel uneasy.

 Of course, we’re just having a bit of fun here. When you put your

home on the market, you want to sell it!

 It’s easy to avoid all the pitfalls described above and ensure potential

buyers appreciate the full value of your home.

 So when you’re preparing for showings, think of ways you can make

your property appear its best, and make the buyer feel welcomed and

comfortable viewing it.

 

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Successful Home Staging

Monday, November 28th, 2011
On television, online, and in magazines, staging is the word. Real estate experts will tell you that staging your house gives you an edge when trying to sell your house. But what exactly is staging?Staging is organizing and decorating your home so that potential buyers can really see themselves living there. You don’t have to invest major money into a remodel—this is rarely a cost-effective strategy. Staging is all about highlighting your home’s best attributes and minimizing distractions.  With so many houses on the market, simple staging strategies can give your home the little boost it needs to attract more buyers.

Lose the clutter. Box up trinkets and small appliances. Pay special attention in the kitchen and bathrooms. Emphasize counter space by getting rid of the coffee maker, toaster, mixer, and the like. In the bathroom, hide shampoo bottles and other personal care items.

Clear away personal effects. Potential buyers don’t want to see your Christmas cards on the refrigerator, or your kid’s little league trophy. Same goes for framed family photos, your pet’s belongings, or the stack of books on your nightstand. Buyers won’t be able to picture themselves living in your home if your memories are around every corner.

Clean it up. Now is the time to invest in a cleaning service. Consider hiring a professional cleaning crew to give your home a thorough top-to-bottom cleaning. This might include steam cleaning your carpets. Professionals know how to make your house look and smell brand new!

More light and warmth. Make your home welcoming and inviting by opening curtains and blinds and making sure all rooms are well lit. You might be tempted to keep the temperature low, especially if you’ve already moved out. Before an open house, crank the thermostat up to a comfortable temperature and light the fireplace, if you have one. Creating light and warmth is especially important in the winter months.

Take a critical look at your furniture. Make sure that your furniture is doing a good job of highlighting a room’s size. Oversized or too much furniture can make a living room feel cramped. On the other hand, small pieces in a large room can make the space seem cavernous and hard to work with.

Be neutral. You might love the bright tropical colors that you hand-selected for each room in your house, but potential buyers might not feel the same, and could be scared off at the thought of repainting multiple rooms. Consider painting walls a more neutral color to appeal to the masses.

Quick fixes. Buyers notice little things like loose trim work, leaky faucets, and crooked cabinets. Invest a small amount of time and money to fix cosmetic issues.

Small touches. Set the dining room table. Place fresh flowers on a dresser. Add luxurious throw pillows to beds. For inspiration, think of your favorite hotel, or pick up an interior design magazine.

Home staging is an easy and affordable way to give your home a little boost, whether you’re still living in it, or if you’ve already moved out. Ask us for more staging tips.

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