If you need to sell your home in the next month or two, you might be worried. After all, aren’t spring and summer the ideal seasons to list your property?

Most people think that if you list during a Pandemic and in November or December, you might have difficulties attracting buyers and getting the best price for your home. Right? No, not at this time!  While it’s true that spring and summer are traditionally busy periods in the real estate market, properties do sell every month of the year. It just so happens that our market is very active at this time and some properties are seeing more than one offer! 

It's actually a sellers market at the moment for detached homes as well as the townhome market is very active!  That would mean there is not as many homes on the market for buyers to choose from, but there are still buyers out looking for homes! Your property will likely sell fairly quickly; perhaps you’ll even get multiple offers.

So, if you’re thinking of selling, you’ll need to know three things:

• What comparable homes are selling for at this time of year.

• How long homes are taking to sell, on average.

• How to maximize your sale price!

If you're looking to get your home marketed effectively, so to attract as many buyers and pique their interest in making an offer, please feel free to contact me for a FREE evaluation of your home!

I'll let you know how I can help you to increase your sales price and get you the very most money for your home!  Call me for more details!  

Leanne 778-840-7211

Whether you're painting your home to prepare it for sale, or simply to make it more attractive for your own enjoyment, choosing the right colour is super important! A colour isn't just a matter of taste, it's also, to a large extent, about the emotions it elicits.

If you're painting your foyer, for example, you may want it to seem warm and welcoming. So, light, warmer tones might be appropriate as that colour is often interpreted as friendly.

In your living room, you may want to create an atmosphere of comfort and relaxation. In that case, consider shades of greens or grays as those colours communicate peacefulness and calm.

Want the rec room to look vibrant and energetic? Brighter colours communicate those emotions, possibly shades of reds.

Where do you find more information about colour psychology? There are plenty of charts available online. Just Google "colour psychology charts". They can help you select just the right colour to convey the feeling you want for a room.

Of course, if all else fails, you can't go wrong with soft beiges, or light gray/beiges especially when selling your home. Neutral colours are often interpreted as reliable and buyers are able to picture their own furniture and items in a more neutral palet.

Have questions about painting and other fix-ups that will help sell your home faster and for the best price? Give me a call!  

Two of the biggest stressors for DIYers (Do it your selfers) are projects that cost too much or take too long.

Unfortunately, there’s no sure way to guarantee that one or the other (or both) won’t happen. But there is a lot you can do to minimize the probability.

When budgeting, a big mistake DIYers make is not considering the little things. For example, you might budget for drywall panels but neglect to include the cost of nails, tape and plaster or the insulation behind the drywall! It's easy to overlook these small items thinking they won't add up to much of an expense. But often they do. In fact, for many renovation projects, the little things account for up to 20% of the cost! 

Another expense that is often overlooked is taxes. When you find a bathtub you like for $399, be sure to budget for what you'll actually pay out-of-pocket. Also, don't forget possible delivery expenses. A budgeting tip many experts recommend is to price everything you need and then add 10%. That gives you a buffer.

Regarding scheduling, consider whether or not you've done this type of project before. If you're laying hardwood floors for the first time, there's a learning curve. You'll likely take two or three times longer than you would if you were more experienced. Even if you have experience with the type of project you’re undertaking, it's human nature to underestimate how long it will take. So, if you feel confident you can install that sink in an hour, give yourself two. A lot of this, of course, is common sense. But if you take a common sense — rather than an optimistic — approach to budgeting and scheduling, you'll stand a much better chance of your DIY project going smoothly and costing what you planned it would cost (or closer to it!). 

If you're thinking of doing a renovation, and are wondering what would be the best return on investment, contact me!

You've likely heard of the term "curb appeal"...

It refers to the initial impression buyers get when they first see your property from the street. If the impression is a good one, it sets the right tone for the rest of the home viewing and can even get you more money on the sale of your home!  

Here are some proven ideas and simple solutions that you can do to your home to help with the first impressions!

• Sweep the walkway leading up to the front entrance. Add a new welcome mat and a flower pot. Also, wash down the front door. 

• Wash both the inside and outside of the front windows. You'll be amazed at the difference that can make.

• If possible, remove cars from the driveway. Let buyers imagine their own cars parked there!

• Mow the lawn. Lightly trim the hedges. Weed flower beds.

• Remove anything from inside window sills that may look unsightly from the outside. Try putting a couple of flowering plants there instead.

• Place any trash bins out-of-sight. For example, put them in the garage or neatly at the side of the house.

• If the entrance door hardware is old and worn, change it. New hardware can make a bigger difference than you might think.

• Make sure the outdoor lights are working, especially if you're showing your home in the evening.

• Add some flowering plants to flower beds, or buy a couple of portable potted plants and place them strategically.

• If you have a power washer, give the walkway, driveway or stair rail a quick blast! 

These simple improvements may seem minor, but anything that helps buyers form a more positive first impression of your home is worth the effort!  

If you would like more ideas, please feel free to contact me!  I'm always here to help!