Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Curb Appeal - First Impressions Really Do Count
With the number of decorating and home renovation programs on television these days, the words curb apeal have become common decorating jargon. For anyone considering listing their home for sale this spring, preparing the outside is just as crucial as preparing the inside.
HGTV.CA has some great before and after curb appeal slide presentations. Curb appeal in real estate terms refers to the exterior look of a property from the street curb. Curb appeal is a pleasing look upon drive-up.
In order to sell your home you have to get buyers in the door. It's very important for a seller to see the front of their property with "buyer's eyes". What is the first thing you notice when you drive up? How does it compare to other homes in the neighbourhood? Are you attracted enough to want to see inside the home? Here are some tips for some "exterior staging".
1. Take a good look at the property from the street. Look at it from 3 different angles. Can you see the house? Trees and shrubs should be trimmed if not.
2.Is the paint on the home or window frames in good shape? Is the colour neutral? The same goes for eaves and soffits. How about the front door and garage door? If the garage door can't take another coat of paint, replace it with a modern door in a neutral colour. A new front door can make all the difference also.
3. Zero in on the front of the house. Simple items such as a new mailbox and new house numbers and exterior lights can add a huge return for little investment.
4. Look at the driveway and walkway. Are there oil stains or cracks? Is the walkway clear of weeds or overgrown branches. Are the tiles or cement cracked? Make sure garbage cans, basketball nets, woodpiles, etc. are moved elsewhere.
5. Is there a fence, deck or front porch in need of repair? Call a professional in if you don't have time to tackle these items.
6. How do the gardens look? The lawn? Are they healthy and green and free of weeds? Add more plants to the garden or in containers or pots. Add some solar lighting for ambiance in the evening.
7. Is the front door well defined? Is there a porch or deck? Make a cosy outdoor sitting area. A couple of welcoming chairs. And don't forget the welcome mat.
8. Make sure the doorbell works and there are no broken window panes. Don't forget you don't have a second chance to make a first impression.
Curb apeal is all about first impressions. If you follow these steps and make your property inviting to buyers you are well on your way to a SALE. Does Your Home Have Curb Appeal? Here is a fun quiz from Style At Home Magazine for you to take to see how your curb appeal is.
http://www.styleathome.com/homes/exteriors/quiz-does-your-home-have-curb-appeal/q/26/
HGTV.CA has some great before and after curb appeal slide presentations. Curb appeal in real estate terms refers to the exterior look of a property from the street curb. Curb appeal is a pleasing look upon drive-up.
In order to sell your home you have to get buyers in the door. It's very important for a seller to see the front of their property with "buyer's eyes". What is the first thing you notice when you drive up? How does it compare to other homes in the neighbourhood? Are you attracted enough to want to see inside the home? Here are some tips for some "exterior staging".
1. Take a good look at the property from the street. Look at it from 3 different angles. Can you see the house? Trees and shrubs should be trimmed if not.
2.Is the paint on the home or window frames in good shape? Is the colour neutral? The same goes for eaves and soffits. How about the front door and garage door? If the garage door can't take another coat of paint, replace it with a modern door in a neutral colour. A new front door can make all the difference also.
3. Zero in on the front of the house. Simple items such as a new mailbox and new house numbers and exterior lights can add a huge return for little investment.
4. Look at the driveway and walkway. Are there oil stains or cracks? Is the walkway clear of weeds or overgrown branches. Are the tiles or cement cracked? Make sure garbage cans, basketball nets, woodpiles, etc. are moved elsewhere.
5. Is there a fence, deck or front porch in need of repair? Call a professional in if you don't have time to tackle these items.
6. How do the gardens look? The lawn? Are they healthy and green and free of weeds? Add more plants to the garden or in containers or pots. Add some solar lighting for ambiance in the evening.
7. Is the front door well defined? Is there a porch or deck? Make a cosy outdoor sitting area. A couple of welcoming chairs. And don't forget the welcome mat.
8. Make sure the doorbell works and there are no broken window panes. Don't forget you don't have a second chance to make a first impression.
Curb apeal is all about first impressions. If you follow these steps and make your property inviting to buyers you are well on your way to a SALE. Does Your Home Have Curb Appeal? Here is a fun quiz from Style At Home Magazine for you to take to see how your curb appeal is.
http://www.styleathome.com/homes/exteriors/quiz-does-your-home-have-curb-appeal/q/26/
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Jenny's List of 17 Reasons Why People Move
Also this is a good time to buy if you want to be moved in to enjoy the summer in the new house. Here is a list of many of the top reasons why a For Sale sign goes on the front lawn.
1.Home is too small --- an increase in family size can cause the "starter home" to shrink especially with the size of baby toys and apparatus these days.
2. Downsizing --- the opposite of number 1. Empty nesters need less space. Some DON'T want to have extra rooms for the "kids" to come back home.
3. Aging systems and decor --- A home gets to a certain age when you must replace the roof, windows, furnace, air conditioner, kitchen, bathrooms, etc. Some people prefer to move to a new house before these large ticket items need replacing.
4. Purchase a new build-- In communities of large growth and development, new subdivisions offer homes with all the bells and whistles and the buyer gets to go shopping to pick out their upgrades, colours, etc.
5. New home build wasn't as expected --- Many people who buy from house plans and move in to the newly built homes find that when the fences go up, the lot sizes are too small, the driveways aren't big enough, there is too much vehicle congestion on the street and nowhere for children to play.
6. Change in family circumstances -- Family separation or divorce, blending of families, just married, mother-in-law moving in.
7. Retirement --- Time to choose an alternate lifestyle --- condos, moving to a warmer climate or to their recreational property, moving closer to their children.
8. Moving closer to elderly parents --- The younger generation is moving to be closer to their elderly parents to help care for them.
9. Seniors moving to retirement homes and nursing homes --- many have been in their homes for 40+ years. This is a large adjustment and requires much care and understanding from their REALTOR.
10. Health Reasons --- Another sector of people must move due to physical ailments. Knee or back problems can force the need to move from a two storey or split level home to a bungalow to reduce the number of stairs.
11. Neighbourhood changes --- Anticipating highway construction, new home or condo development, changes to school boundaries, are some reasons that people decide to leave a neighbourhood before the situations arise, often because they feel the value of their homes may decrease with these changes.
12. Commute to work --- Many people are relocating closer to their place of employment because of the long commute.
13. Corporate transfer --- Job relocations often take homeowners to a different province or out of the country. 
14.Renovating and Flipping ---- There are a percentage of homeowners who enjoy buying fixer uppers and renovating them only to turn around and try to sell them to see a monetary return on their investment. This type of buyer must be very careful to know what is happening with house values and know whether the market is favouring the buyer or the seller everytime they start a new project.
15. Cashing out --- Some homeowners decide that the time is right for them to take advantage of the equity that is in their home and sell so that they can buy a motorhome and travel, purchase recreational property up north or abroad or just rent in the city..
16. Financial Stress ---Some homeowners must sell if they become unemployed or are finding the mortgage payments too difficult to make.
17. Difficult Neighbours --- Many people end up selling if they cannot get along with their neighbours. Often this is due to shared driveways, issues with children, pets, fences, etc.
If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in the Oakville, Ontario area, please check out my websites below for information and advice. Then contact me for professional help with all your real estate needs.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Flipping Homes - Not For The Faint Of Heart
Flipping homes is not for the faint of heart. You have to know your marketplace intimately.
1. Is it a buyers market? Sellers market? Balanced market?
2. Is listing inventory high or low? What is your competition? What is the average number of days on market to sell?
3. What are buyers looking for? Three or four bedrooms? Garages? Fireplaces? Fenced yards? Finished basements? You have to renovate to appeal to the masses.
4. Is the property in a desirable neighbourhood? You have to know your renovating costs intimately. 1. Are you doing the work yourself or hiring contractors? How much time can you afford to spend doing the renovations over and above your day to day job and family life. How much time do you have to supervise contractors? 2. Do you know what buyers are looking for in today’s market in flooring, fixtures, paint colours, cabinetry, etc? 3. Does the property require system updates such as furnace, air conditioning, roof, windows? Potential buyers will expect these to be updated in a renovation flip. 4. Do you know your pricing and timelines for ordering and installation?
You have to know your financing intimately. 1. Do you have the additional funds if the renovation project goes over budget? And it will. 2. Are you prepared for the surprises you might find during renovations? Old wiring, plumbing, electrical? Don’t forget necessary permits or surveys. 3. How long can you comfortably carry the house while it is on the market? The longer it sits, the more any profit gets eaten up.
You have to know yourself and your family intimately. 1. Do you plan to live in the house during renovations? Not a great idea. If you are using contractors they do not like having you underfoot. If you have children there are safety issues. There is the noise factor to consider. Are you willing to be without water, lack of food preparation space, lack of privacy? 2. If you don’t move into the house are you able to sleep at night carrying a second property for an unknown length of time? 3. Are your contractors and subs reliable and dependable? Make sure you have written contracts for pricing, wages, etc.
You have to know the professionals intimately. 1. Have you consulted with a REALTOR® to get an idea of what the potential return on your investment will be? Do you know what similar homes are selling for and if they are selling? Did you ask your REALTOR® when you bought the property if there is anything you need to know about the neighbourhood. Is there anything happening that may affect the price you will get on resale? Upcoming power plants? Thirty story condo to be built behind? Road widening? Go in eyes wide open. If you back on to open space call your City’s planning department to check the zoning. 2. Have you consulted with an interior designer or decorator to know what is in style? You must stay away from “trendy” fixtures and fittings, colours, flooring, etc. You want the home to appeal to the broadest spectrum of buyers. You may like blue cabinets and green tiles but this isn’t going to be your home. Stay neutral and get advice from those who do this for a lliving.
Flipping homes is not an easy task. It tends to require a lot of up front preparation and hard work. All of this on a budget and tight timeline. Flipping homes can be a risky venture. There are no guarantees how much the home will sell for and how long it will take to sell. I applaud those people who take on a project with all the hassles that ensue, to enhance and beautify a property. Updated homes will only increase the value of a neighbourhood.
Do I think home flippers deserve to make a profit? Absolutely. Like any home sale it should be a win-win situation. If someone puts a lot of love, labour, sweat and money into a house renovation project why shouldn’t they make a profit?
Many buyers today do not have the time or knowledge to buy fixer uppers and have them renovated. They also do not want to be inconvenienced while the work is being done. Buyers will tend to pay top dollar for an updated turn key home that they just have to move into and enjoy.
Indeed flipping is not for the faint of heart but for those who are willing to take the risk, it can be very satisfying and profitable
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