Spruce Up Your Kitchen

Here’s another post taken from my ‘News You Can Use’ Preferred Client publication. ____________________________________________________________________________________

Home is where the heart is, and everyone knows the heart of a home is the kitchen. It should come as no surprise the kitchen is one of the most important considerations prospective buyers have in mind when evaluating a new home.

Lighten Up Older homes frequently suffer from low-light conditions, outdated or just plain ugly light fixtures, and power-hungry appliances. Replace unappealing bulbs and fixtures with energy-efficient bulbs and modern fixtures for an instant update that looks great and saves money. Invest in up-to-date appliances that improve performance and save money with energy-efficient settings, antibacterial wash modes, and enhanced water filtration.

Counter-Offer Replacing countertops and re-facing cabinets can be a relatively low-cost (compared to a complete kitchen overhaul) way to update your kitchen. If you don’t want to go that far, many hardwood cabinets can be easily restored with a coat of paint or a quick clean and varnish. Combine this with new countertops and you can achieve a totally refreshed appearance without the high price of a total kitchen renovation. Add some stylish knobs, pulls, and hinges to complete the look.

Don’t Throw Money Down The Drain Here’s a quick and easy do-it-yourself job that just about anyone can tackle. Replace that outdated and worn-out faucet with a shiny new fixture to instantly update your kitchen. It takes very little time, ensures a sleek new look, and eliminates drips, leaks, and other water-wasting problems.

Can You See Me Now? You shouldn’t be able to see your reflection staring back at you while you’re standing in your kitchen on a bright sunny day; that is unless of course you have tinted windows. Cleaning the inside and outside of your windows will let the natural light pour into your kitchen while improving the overall cleanliness and appearance of the room. Don’t forget to clean out the tracks and sills and vacuum the screens while you’re at it.

///…CP

Storage Ideas For A Less Stressful Move

Here’s another post taken from my ‘News You Can Use’ Preferred Client publication. ____________________________________________________________________________________

Few things are more dreaded than moving day, but new storage solutions can ease some of the stress.

Flexible Timeline If you have a flexible schedule for your next move, a POD (or portable on-demand storage) might be the perfect choice for you. PODs are large shipping-like containers that allow you to pack and unpack at your own pace.  The company will drop the container on your driveway, you load it, and they will pick it up and deliver it to your next location, or store it until you’re ready. PODs are closer to the ground – often at ground level – so they tend to be easier to load and unload than traditional storage methods like moving vans or trailers.

Storage As An Option If you are relocating for a job, downsizing, or planning to move into your new home after vacating your previous home, longer-term on-site storage might make the most sense. Shop around for a local self-storage facility within a short distance of your new home. You may have to ‘move twice’, but it’s a great way to clear the clutter without sacrificing cost.

Ask About Insurance Don’t assume your homeowner’s insurance policy covers belongings in storage. Verify it in advance and/ or inquire about available insurance riders to cover your belongings while they are in storage.
Evaluate Security Always verify the security measures in place at a facility before making a decision on where to store your belongings. Cheaper isn’t always better. Are there security gates that control access to the facility? Are there security cameras? Will anyone else have access to your storage area?

Climate Control If you intend to store valuable antiques, expensive electronics, or other items that may be sensitive to humidity or temperature extremes, consider opting for a climate-controlled unit. It may cost a little more, but do you really want to replace your items after you move?

///…CP

Easy Touch-Ups To Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Here’s another post taken from my ‘News You Can Use’ Preferred Client publication. ____________________________________________________________________________________

Spruce up your yard and the exterior of your home in time for summer entertainment with these quick and affordable fixes for the most common curb appeal complaints.

Pressure Wash And Spray Start at the roof and work your way down to remove stains and dirt from walkways, driveways, and even fences. Whiten and brighten the concrete, crevices, and other corners of your home and yard to brighten up the entire area. Don’t forget to pull weeds from your driveway and sidewalk expansion joints.

Clear The Clutter Trim low branches and remove excess clutter to create the look and feel of clear, open space. Consider purchasing plastic partitions or other low-maintenance storage units to hide trash cans and other unsightly items that add to the perception of clutter and detract from the beauty of your home.
Touch Up The Paint Shutters, doors, awnings, and other wooden trim items are prone to excessive wear and tear over the winter months. Make a point of touching up the paint but make sure you take the time to complete proper surface preparations first (e.g. clean, scrape old paint). It’s an easy and affordable way to revitalize the look of your home.

Add A Touch Of Colour Bring in fresh mulch, plant some annuals, and add potted plants and other enhancements throughout the yard. This will brighten up your yard while helping hide those tough trouble spots.

Create A Focal Point The most successful landscapes incorporate a central element that serves as the focal point for the entire area. Use the same strategy in your own yard. Begin with something affordable and small like a garden bench, bird bath, fountain, or other water feature to add elegance and appeal.

///…CP

Do “For Sale By Owner” Listings Really Save Money?

The following has been reprinted with permission from Denise Lones of The Lones Group, Inc.and is copyright of The Lones Group Inc. You can read more articles by Denise and learn more about Denise and her company by visiting the Lones Group blog: The Zebra Blog.
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

You’ve seen the signs “For Sale By Owner.” Many people think they can do better selling their home on their own, supposedly saving the commission they would pay to a REALTOR®.

But the truth is that without the power of a REALTOR® plugged into the MLS®, they are hardly ever successful at getting their home sold. Even the tiny percentage (less than 1%) that do sell their homes “For Sale By Owner” are the ones in a neighborhood that’s usually very desirable and has a waiting list of buyers hoping for a listing to pop up. This prompts the sellers in this exclusive area to proclaim to their friends, “Aha! I sold my home without a real estate agent and saved thousands of dollars!”

But did they? Actually, they likely left thousands of dollars on the table — and never even knew it. With a waiting list of buyers for a particular neighborhood, a REALTOR® would have been able to negotiate a higher price. REALTORS® do this every day. They know how to talk trends, rates, pricing and the current condition of the market. Add in the power of the MLS® and there is just no competition.

While they may think that a lot of people drive by their house every day and may be impressed by the sign they put in their yard, the truth is that they reach a hundred times more people when their home is listed on the MLS®. Also, the only people searching the MLS® are pre-qualified. They’re already looking for a home. The vast majority of people driving by a “For Sale By Owner” sign are NOT in the market for a new home. This is why 99% of FSBO’s don’t sell.

With the MLS® also comes an unbeatable sales force. You could spend all the marketing dollars in the world to publicize a FSBO home, but it wouldn’t even approach the already existing marketing machine your local REALTOR® has in place.

The numbers don’t lie. When a seller decides to sell on their own, they usually end up losing thousands of dollars because:

1. The home sits on the market so long it depreciates in value;
2. The owners still must shell out the maintenance costs of the property during this waiting period;
3. Most sellers are not as adept at negotiation as a professional who negotiates every day of his or her life; and perhaps most importantly
4. Most buyers can’t see the property for sale because 99% of them are looking in the MLS®.

When you add it all up, selling on your own will most likely end up costing money instead of saving it.

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Thanks Denise!!!

///…CP

Areas Where You May Be Able To Add Value To A Home

Here’s another post taken from my ‘News You Can Use’ Preferred Client publication.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Deferred Maintenance Small repairs and the general neglect of a home can make it seem less appealing than it really is. Don’t lose potential buyers – or equity on resale – by deferring maintenance. Instead, perform an inspection to eliminate the risk of serious problems, then fix or repair those ‘little things’. Now you will be able to use the great condition of the home as a negotiating tool.

First Impressions More than one home has suffered from a bad first impression. Overgrown shrubs, faded paint, lack of shutters, and stained concrete walkways make any home look tired and dull. Fortunately, improving first impressions are often fast and affordable projects. Landscaping, pressure washing, and a new doorknob quickly turn a tired entrance into an inviting space.

Lights And Appliances Upgrading lights and appliances might be one of the best ways to add value to any home. Not only do they look better, energy-efficient appliances are quieter, easier to operate, and more dependable than older models. Up-to-date lighting fixtures are a cost-effective way to provide a modern appearance without breaking the bank.

Cosmetically Challenged Some homes simply suffer from poor taste. Dated carpets and shocking personalized paint choices may have been the pride and joy of the original owner but generally don’t translate well for the average buyer. Rather than succumbing to the ’shock and awe’ when encountering a cosmetically challenged home, focus on the structure and surroundings instead. Cosmetic fixes often result in the largest ‘bang for the buck’ when it comes to adding value to the price of a home.

Remember, don’t spend money for the sake of spending money. Not all ‘upgrades’ will necessarily net a return for you – some may just get the home to ‘where it belongs’ in order to warrant a list price that reflects fair market value.

[Side bar: The images above are just good before and after photos of a renovated home and are for illustrative purposes only. I am not suggesting you should undertake the same level of renovations as the owners of this home...]

///…CP

 

Renovations at REALTOR.ca

By now everybody knows the old MLS.ca became REALTOR.ca back in July 2008 and in the roughly six months since the change, I have received a number ‘complaints’ and comments from people unhappy with the new and improved site. Many of the unsatisfied users indicated they did not like the new navigation and missed some of the navigation features of the old system.

Clearly The Canadian Real Estate Association (which operates and maintains the site on behalf of REALTORS® across Canada) got the message from consumers as well. Presumably in an effort to address some of the ‘issues’, the folks at CREA implemented a number of enhancements to REALTOR.ca recently:

• Introduction of Gallery View display This allows users to view up to 12 property photos at a time, covering up the interactive map. The button to use this option appears at the upper right of the map page, above the existing column showing thumbnail information.
• Introduction of Thumbnail View display This view provides 12 property photos at a time with property description and links to other features such as multimedia. It is accessed by a button at the upper right of the map page.
• Enhanced positioning for ‘Save Search’  The ‘Save Search’ was moved to the upper left, above the ‘Refine’ column on the map page. This makes it more evident consumers can save their search criteria, making it easier for returning visitors to search based on their initial criteria.
• Technical and Browser issues Issues where some MLS® number searches would not execute have been fixed. Also, the site is now more compatible for users of Firefox Version 3.

Feel free to let me know what you think or better yet, email CREA. Happy home surfing!

///…CP

Ideas To Help Show Your Home If You Have A Pet

Here’s another post taken from my ‘News You Can Use’ Preferred Client publication.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Selling a home with a pet in the family can be a difficult undertaking. Many home buyers – even those with pets of their own – can be put off by yours.

Pets Can Make Visitors Nervous
No one thinks of their own pet as scary, but even the mildest mannered cat or dog can make a visitor nervous. The most common response from a home seller about the ‘threat’ posed by their pet is denial: “Fluffy is a sweetheart. She wouldn’t hurt anyone.” Realistically, no pet owner can be certain of how their pet will respond or behave when strangers enter the home in their absence and an unexpected reaction by your pet could frighten potential buyers away before they’ve even looked at your home.

Ask Friends for Help
The best course of action is to remove your pet from the home while it is listed for sale. Ask friends or family members to care for your pet, or board it at a nearby facility.

Car Ride
If you can’t have someone pet sit then put your pet into a carrier during showings and alert visitors not to disturb it. Alternatively, take your pet with you when you leave for showings.

Remove Stains and Odors
Buyers frequently take issue with a pet’s impact on the cleanliness and overall condition of a home. Pet stains, odours, and damage are a big turn-off and can significantly decrease your home’s value in the market.

Use Professionals
Remove stains and repair any damage your pet may have caused before you begin showing your home. Consider having your home professionally cleaned and once done, have a friend drop by and verify that your home isn’t blessed with any objectionable odours.

Store Accessories Out of Sight
The goal is to create a positive first impression with potential buyers. Visitors don’t need to step on gooey chew toys, food crumbs, or in strewn kitty litter.

We all love our pets and think of them as part of the family, but our fondness for them need not make it harder for us to sell our homes.

///…CP

Staging: An Essential Tool To Selling Your Home

Here’s another post taken from my ‘News You Can Use’ Preferred Client publication.

____________________________________________________________________________________

For some, staging has become commonplace when selling a home. With a downturn in the economy and the potential for sluggish sales in our real estate market, staging is now more important than ever. The following are some of the top reasons home-staging matters and how you may be able to make it work for you.

A picture is worth a thousand words:Over 80% of home buyers begin their search online, so the first impression of your home might be the last. Make sure your home looks its best…but don’t misrepresent it.

Browsers spend more time looking at pretty pictures:Not only are buyers searching online but they tend to spend more time viewing attractive properties than those without pictures or with “ugly” photos. Use plenty of photos to showcase your home or property…again, don’t misrepresent it.

Visualize their space, not your place: Staging becomes even more important when buyers visit in person. Properly performed home staging is essential to allowing prospective buyers to visualize the home as “their space” rather than trying to see through the clutter and belongings in your place. A home should be attractive yet neutral enough to allow buyers an opportunity to get a feel for how their ’stuff’ would fit if they lived in your home.

Not just another pretty picture: Professional staging goes beyond mere looks and typically combines smell, touch, lighting, and other sensory input for a complete viewing experience sure to delight potential buyers of any age and income.

Staging does not have to cost a fortune to be effective but it does require experience (preferably professional) if you want to achieve the best results.

///…CP

You’re Listed — But Do You Really Want To Sell?

Hopefully this post doesn’t come across too rant-like, soap box-ish, or otherwise disjointed…but here goes.

So you want to, need to, have to, or have otherwise chosen to list your home for sale…

You’ve completed those little maintenance things that require attention.
You’ve cleaned/ de-cluttered your home so that it shows it’s best.
You’ve interviewed several REALTORS® to ensure you have the best person on the job.

…right?

Judging by my experience this past weekend, some consumers are still either: a) willing to accept poor service (despite having hired a professional); b) not doing their homework ahead of time (i.e. reading my blog posts); c) feel as though they don’t have a choice; or d) don’t really want to sell.

So what happened this weekend that brought me to write this particular post?

I have Clients looking for their next home. They are looking for a home that is less than ten years old, offers 1,400 to 1,800 square feet, and is priced between $350,000 and $450,000. After wading through the tons of homes that fit their criteria, I narrowed the list of contenders down to fifteen homes to show this weekend.

Here’s where my “fun” begins…

Throughout Friday afternoon and evening I spent time building a showing schedule for the coming weekend, which included contacting home sellers and REALTORS® to schedule my appointments – as per the showing instructions on each listing. [Did you catch that? Contacting the home seller(s) to schedule an appointment -- what the...?]  Of the fifteen homes I wanted to show to my Clients, there were three of them we never did get in to see because either the home seller or the REALTOR® failed to return my repeated calls/ paged requests to show.

[Here's the soap box-ish rant-like part...] Suffice to say I don’t understand this at all. Why on earth would you hire a REALTOR® to sell your home and then personally field the calls from other REALTORS® to show your home? I know under certain circumstances it may (initially) make sense to take the calls yourself (e.g. shift worker, home-based business operator) — but isn’t that why you hired a REALTOR®; instead of going For Sale By Owner? I can’t believe how many of my colleagues have home owner(s) taking phone calls at home, at work, and on their cell phones to schedule appointments to show their own home.

Shouldn’t that be part of the service your REALTOR® provides?

[Back to the purpose of this post...] If 20% of home owners and/ or REALTORS® don’t avail themselves for scheduling viewing appointments (as was the ratio for my Clients and I this weekend), do they really want to sell?

If you really do want to sell your home, don’t you think prospective buyers need to be able to get in and view your home?

///…CP