Selling September 9, 2022

Creative Home Staging Tips

 

 

It’s essential to showcase your home in the best way possible to potential home buyers. The more staging the home has, the more people will be interested in viewing the house and then buying it. Here are a few staging tips to consider before taking photos of your home and also opening your home for viewings.

 

Areas of Influence

 

Curb appeal is the first place to start when staging your home, and the first impression people have—think of a nice green lawn, flowers and trimmed trees. Inside the best areas to stage are the most high-traffic rooms, such as the kitchen, living room, main bathroom and primary bedroom. 

 

New Perspective

 

Try rearranging your furniture or removing pieces of furniture to open up the space. We see our homes the same way daily and grow accustomed to the layouts. But what will potential buyers see? Move furniture around to create a nice flow through the house so that viewers can see the space’s potential. If you are unsure how to accomplish this, call in the professionals.

 

Keep it Simple

 

Staging doesn’t have to be expensive. One affordable staging option is to remove personal items and clutter. Simplifying the objects in your house and decorating them with key pieces will appeal to more buyers.

 

Curb Appeal

 

A buyer first sees the front yard and entrance to your home. Ensure your lawn is mowed, trees are trimmed, and walks are swept. No need to re-landscape your whole yard, but having a tidy yard will pay off in dividends. Some other great suggestions include power washing all the siding, eaves, decks and driveways. Paint the front door a bright colour that compliments your home. Replace or paint any diminishing features of the house, and spread out an inviting welcome mat while you’re at it!

 

Kitchens

 

Kitchens are the feature that attracts most home buyers. Create an inviting space by deep cleaning your kitchen, including inside cabinets and behind appliances. Make the handles and appliances sparkle. Remove countertop appliances that aren’t used or kitchen clutter, like paper towel dispensers, to show off the counter space. Stage the kitchen with vibrant fruit bowls or well-appointed objects. Organize and destash your cupboards, so everything looks in order and has the appearance of lots of space. 

 

Furniture Placement

 

Furniture placement can make or break your buyer’s experience. Your space will look cluttered and small if there is too much furniture. Create a mood in each room with the furniture, typical furniture along the walls is dull, adding a bit of life to the house by changing the placement. Clean furniture and crisp bed coverings are a great way to make a home feel inviting. Show off the best features of your house by strategically placing furniture around fireplaces or great architectural details. Lines of sight to the windows will make all the rooms feel bright and more open.

 

Bedroom Makeovers

 

A tremendous primary bedroom adds a lot of value to a home and will bring a sense of comfort to potential buyers. Everyone wants to sleep in an oasis, and it can be effortless to transform your bedroom into one. The bed is the main focal point of any bedroom, so make sure the bedding is tucked in and clean—make it feel like a hotel room. Another nice add-on would be creating symmetry with matching nightstands and lamps.

 

Set the Mood with Light

 

Lighting is so important when selling a home. Before showing the home ensure all the curtains are open to flood the space with light and warmth. Replace all light fixture bulbs with warm ones, so every room has consistent lighting. If possible, have a few types of lighting, ranging from ambient, task and accent lights—having a variety of lights set the perfect mood for night or day showings.

 

Keep Things Fresh

 

You may want to add some greenery to your home to add a bit of coziness and life, however, steer away from plastic plants and flowers. Opting for natural plants and flowers is great for staging and creating life in your home.

 

Finishing Touches

 

The finishing touch on staging your home is removing all your personalized items so that homebuyers can have a blank slate to envision their stuff in it. Replace family photos with generic artwork. If you have decluttered everything, try adding back in some texture pillows and throws. Simple objects staged together in groups of three can showcase features of your home, like the fireplace mantle or built-in bookshelves. Play with scale, colours, shapes and textures of items to engage people’s interest.

 

Taking the time and effort to stage your home will be worth it when you sell it quickly. Following these staging tips will help you show off your home’s best features, and with any luck, you will be able to sell your home for top dollar. The more presentable your home is, the more it will stand out from the competition and elevate the perception of its value.

 

If you are interested in buying or selling your home, contact your local REALTOR® today!

 

August 12, 2022

Down Payment for Buying a New Construction Home

 

A newly constructed home is an excellent option for new home buyers. It allows you to pick the features you want. They are move-in ready with new appliances. You could even pay a little more and add things like a fence. Buying a newly built home is more complicated than purchasing a resale house, but completing your own research and hiring a knowledgeable agent can help you through the process.

 

Benefits of Using a REALTOR®

A REALTOR® might not be your first choice when buying a newly constructed home, but you should seriously consider it. It’s easy to feel like paying an agent isn’t the best deal, but they will bring a wealth of experience to the transaction. However, the buyer doesn’t have to pay a commission when the home is newly built. The builder pays the commission to the REALTOR®. If you are buying a resale or new pre-construction property, this is the same in both cases. An agent would be familiar with the builders in the area and which ones to recommend or avoid. It is also possible to find an agent that specializes in new construction, and they can highlight the best deals on the market.

 

Research the Builder

In the age of technology, many resources are available to the buyer, such as doing your own research about a builder. Many websites offer reviews and allow people to make more precise choices themselves. However, hiring an agent can also be beneficial to cross-check facts and obtain a second opinion. There might be a few “popular” developers, but one should check the number of homes they have completed, if they were on schedule, or if they were cancelled or delayed.

Some builders’ homes might appear perfect, with all the wants a buyer needs on the surface, but read reviews to ensure they don’t cut corners or if previous buyers have had past issues. Another thing to keep in mind is that for the last two years, lumber prices have skyrocketed, and building materials have become scarce, which drives up the costs and adds delays in construction.

 

Higher yet Flexible Deposits

One advantage of buying a new build is to stagger the deposit payments, and you will end up paying up to 20% overall, compared to just 5% of purchasing a resale home. Most builders want a 5% deposit upfront, then the other “15%” payment schedules can vary between 4, 9 and 18 months, depending on the developer and schedule.

 

No Bidding War

The best part about buying new construction is paying a fair price and not going into a bidding war with other buyers. The price on the market is fixed, and the home will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. If the home lacks a few things on your list, it’s relatively easy to make a higher offer to the builder and have those items included in the price, such as a fence, appliances or central air conditioning.

 

Immediate Appreciation of the Property Value

Completing the home will most likely add immediate value to your home, even if the wait to finish it is months away. If you are purchasing a new build townhouse or condo, the value may have decreased by completion. Property values depend on various factors, including location, finishes, size, etc. The finishes of a home will add the most comfort and resale value to your home, plus the added touches will help show off your personality. Be on the lookout for current real estate trends and choose wisely.

 

Better Choices, Fees and 10-day Cooling-Off Period

When purchasing new, there is a 10-day “cooling off period,” which allows the buyer 10 days to decide if they want to back out on their offer with no penalties.

The condo location choices are better, such as which floor you will live on and the location.

Often, the condo fees of a new condo are low because management has yet to see how much it costs to operate and maintain the building. However, be wary and consider those condo fees could rise steeply over the years.

Buying a newly constructed home can be beneficial, but building delays are likely due to supply shortages and changes. Ensure that your down payment and finances are all in order before purchasing a new home. A local REALTOR® can help you find the right solution for you.