You have probably heard how important first impressions can be. But did you know that within 15 seconds a buyer has developed an opinion of your property? This is why establishing the right first impression is critical to achieving a successful sale.

In addition to the items below, think about how you may have personalized your home over the years and if your presonal touches may have a negative impression on a potential buyer. A buyer must be able to visualize themselves living in your home – too many personal statements throughout your home may not allow a potential buyer to see how their family will settle in.

A little preparation may bring you a higher sale price and a quicker sale! Is your home ready? Use this handy checklist to make sure your home is ready to show!

Clean and Store

Store all bikes, toys and equipment out of sight.
Get rid of unnecessary furniture.
Clean closets and clear off countertops.
Scrub all tile floors.
Clean all carpets.
Clean all windows and mirrors.
Clean stains in all sinks and tubs.

Fix-It

Fix leaky faucets.
Replace missing door or cabinet handles.
Fix or replace broken appliances.
Replace broken tiles in bathroom or kitchen.
Paint if necessary.
Discuss major repairs with your Realtor®.

Freshen Up

Stop smoking in the house.
Bathe pets and clean out litter boxes.
Empty all trash, recycle bins, etc.
Dry-clean drapes and shampoo carpets.
Use baking soda boxes in smell-prone areas.
Place flowers, potpourri or air fresheners around the house.

Ask a “buyer”

Invite a friend to walk through your home like a buyer would. Get their opinion on whether or not it’s inviting, clean and well-maintained. Make any changes they suggest.

Who sells their home during the winter? The temperatures are freezing, so no buyer wants to shiver as they look for houses. The days are shorter, so there’s no time to view properties during daylight hours. And the weather is terrible, so nobody wants to deal with the ice and snow. No wonder sellers pull their offerings from the market…But you don’t have to be one of those people!

If you want to enjoy two advantages of selling your home during cold weather, read on:

First, you have almost no competition. Secondly, many  potential customers appear during the holiday season. These are the folks coming back to visit family and friends, or to attend school reunions. Maybe they long for a permanent return. Also many corporate relocation buyers appear at this time of year. You can fulfill your desires if your property is available for sale to them. Remember, most of the buyers searching for homes at this time of year are serious buyers.

Of course, you need to prepare your home differently for cold-weather selling. First, make sure the path to your front door is free of any weather-related obstructions, such as large mounds of snow or thick ice. You want potential buyers to be able to get inside. If you want them to visit special outdoor areas, such as decks or storage areas, make sure those places are clear as well.

Make sure that buyers cannot feel any drafts while inside. If you don’t weatherstrip sufficiently around doors, windows, or vents, any cold air will force visitors to wonder if your insulation is inadequate. Keep the interiors bright and cheery by turning on all the lights, getting a fire going, and setting out holiday decorations. Bake a pie, gingerbread cookies, or other treats to offer potential buyers.

For more ways to sell your house during cold weather, or if you want to put your house on the market, please contact us, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have!

I remember that phone call I received at work one afternoon. The voice on the other end saying “Hello, I live in your Grandmother’s building, she is in my apartment and I’ve made her a cup of tea. I found your Grandmother in her pajamas in our courtyard. She does not know where she is, and does not have her keys with her”.

That was the final sign.

In hindsight, there was a slow deterioration of memory issues she had successfully kept hidden for some time. It was easy to overlook. “Oh she’s just getting older”. The diagnosis was actually Dementia.

Waiting to meet me at the wrong door at the shopping mall, forgetting names, putting plasticware in the oven to reheat food or forgetting to eat completely, hallucinations, asking questions that you know they know the answer to, and getting the response, “Don’t you know?”. All warning signs. All signs you want to ignore and explain away because you didn’t think it could happen to them. Your loved one may no longer be safe to live alone in his or her home.

When it was time to make the decision to place our Grandmother in a care facility, it was a very difficult one, but it was the best for her. She made friends, ate well, had lots of daily activities, was well monitored, and seemed very content with her new life. The daily visits from us were just a small part of her very busy life. Sometimes the hardest decisions, the best decisions, are the ones that protect the people you love the most.

In addition to the emotional stress of receiving the diagnosis and having to finding the best place for her to live, we had to arrange for the sale of her home. Thankfully, there are resources for us to use to help our senior loved ones make this lifestyle transition.

Visit our Seniors Real Estate Specialist® page for helpful links and to learn more about how an SRES Professional can assist with real estate needs for seniors.

Across the country ordinary Canadians are building wealth with investment property. An investment property is being increasingly viewed as a pension plan for the future, particularly since so many Canadians are not covered by workplace plans.  Over the long term, an investment property that is fully paid for can be a great source of income for retirement. Rental income typically pays for most or all operating expenses (ie mortgage payment, property taxes, upkeep) while property appreciation has often out performed stocks and bonds over the long term.

A revenue property is not just an investment for well-established business people or experienced homebuyers. Savvy first-time buyers are often jumping in with both feet: purchasing a duplex or triplex, living in one of the units and renting the additional units to help offset the mortgage costs while they build equity which converts to wealth. Many parents who add up the cost of accommodation for their college-bound children are often deciding to be landlords themselves, seeing an opportunity to offset the cost of housing with a sound investment.

There are many reasons to consider investing in property. If you are thinking about building your wealth this way please consult with a professional who will help you determine your down payment options and run the financial calculations that you will want to see for cash flow and capital appreciation.

Cam Brown
Accredited Mortgage Professional
(403) 650-5509
INVIS “Canada’s Mortgage Experts”
www.mortgagealberta.ca
cambrown@invis.ca