You've probably heard about "home staging". As the name implies, it's all
about arranging each room in your home in a way that will make the best
impression on buyers. Here's what you need to know about staging if you're
thinking of listing your property.
1. Staging can get you a higher price.
On average, a fully-staged home tends to sell for 17% more than an
unstaged home of the same type in the same local market.
Depending on the current market value of your property, doing some
staging in your home could put thousands of extra dollars in your pocket,
post-sale.
2. It can speed up the sale.
A study by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) showed that fullystaged
homes spend an average of 90% less time on the market. So, if
you need to sell quickly – without dropping your price – or you just want
the comfort of having offers come in sooner, staging will definitely help.
3. You don't have to go crazy.
Completely staging every room in your home is going to give you the full
benefits of this strategy. However, you don't have to go that far. In fact,
just implementing a few simple staging techniques to some key rooms
can make a big difference.
4. Get professional help or advice.
When it comes to home staging, don't guess at it. Get professional help
or advice. As a REALTOR®, I have a lot of expertise in this area and
often provide clients with proven, do-it-yourself staging tips and
suggestions. If necessary, I can also recommend a professional stager.

Contact The Dion-Ivans Real Estate Team anytime for more info...

When you think about looking for a new home, one of the first questions that
probably comes to mind is: "What type of property can I afford?" That's an
important question because your price range is a major determining factor in
the types and sizes of homes you should be viewing.
You don't want to waste time looking at properties that are beyond your
price range. At the same time, you don't want to purchase a less-than-ideal
home, only to realize later on that you could have afforded more.
So how do you determine what type of new home you are qualified to
purchase?
The first step is to find out what your current property would likely sell for in
today's market. I make that calculation for clients all the time. It involves
reviewing what homes similar to yours have sold for recently, as well as
other data — such as special features your home may have that are likely to
boost the selling price.
Once you know the current market value of your home, subtract any
outstanding mortgages and estimated selling expenses, and you’ll end up
with an amount that can be applied to the purchase of your next home. (You
may also have other funds you want to use.)
The next step is to talk to a lender or mortgage broker to see how much of a
new mortgage you qualify for. (Call me if you need a recommendation.) It's
important to get a Pre-Qualification or Pre-Approval. That makes the offer
you make on a new home more credible.
If you want to find out the types and sizes of homes you can get into, give
me a call. I'd be happy to show you the possibilities!

Contact The Dion-Ivans Real Estate Team for more info...

Buying a new pair of shoes is relatively easy. Once you find the style
you like, all you need to do is try them on and see if they fit. If they do,
you go to the cash register and pay.
When it comes to size, buying a new home can be trickier! Whether
your intention is to upsize or downsize, figuring out the right size can
be especially challenging.
Say for example, you’re downsizing from a large two-story home to a
smaller bungalow. You don’t want to underestimate the space you need
and end up in a place that feels tight. If you’re going the other way and
upsizing, you don’t want to end up sinking extra money into a property
that’s larger than you really need.
So how do you avoid these scenarios?
One of the best ways is to start by considering your current home. Do
you use all the rooms in your home regularly? Is there a bedroom that’s
rarely occupied? Has the recreation room become simply a storage
area? If you’re downsizing, subtracting rooms you scarcely use can give
you a better idea of what you need in a new home.
Upsizing is a bit more challenging because you have to anticipate what you
will need in the future. For example, if you have young children, and your
place is feeling cramped, then a home with a recreation room or separate
family and living rooms may be a good idea. You may also need a bigger
kitchen with a spacious eating area (in addition to a separate dining room.)
Think about the extra room you’ll need and how you’ll use that space.
When I work with a client, I typically sit down with them and discuss the type
of home they want in detail — and, based on needs and circumstance, I
make expert recommendations. Bottom line, I help clients find the perfect fit
in a new home. Contact me if you’d like to learn more.

Want more tips? Contact The Dion-Ivans Real Estate Team today!!

Is your home office the dining room table? Is it anywhere you can sit
down undisturbed with your laptop? If so, you might be interested in
converting a room or nook into a dedicated home office. Depending
on what you do for a living, there could be a tax advantage to
creating this space too.
The first step is to pick a spot. Ideally, you want an area where you
can work without too many distractions.
Next, make sure the spot you’ve chosen can accommodate a desk
and any other furnishings you’ll need. Think about what you want
within easy reach of your work area. Will you need a place for books
and other papers? An extra chair for client meetings? A flipchart? A
filing cabinet? Think about all of the options in advance.
Then, you’ll want to make sure the spot you picked has the electrical
outlets you need, especially if you’re going to have a printer, special
lighting, a computer and other items that need power.
Finally, you’ll want your home office to be a place where you can enjoy
working. So decorate it with that in mind. If you like plants, get plants.
If you enjoy golf, have your golf trip pictures hanging on the wall.
With a little work, you can quickly create a home office space that is
comfortable, functional and enjoyable. It sure beats the dining room!

For more info contact The Dion-Ivans Real Estate Team today!!

For some homeowners, the process of listing, showing and selling
their home can be stressful. Fortunately, there is plenty you can do to
make it much less nerve-racking—and even exciting and enjoyable.
Here are some ideas:
1. Make a plan. Decide when you’re going to show your property,
search for a new home, view listings, etc. Block out these times in an
agenda book or calendar. That way, you and your family can see
what’s coming up.
2. Be flexible. Few things go exactly as planned! So, it’s important to
build in flexibility. For example, you may plan to see homes for sale
on Saturdays, but if an opportunity comes up on a weeknight, give
yourself room in your schedule to jump on it.
3. Eat well. There are numerous studies that connect poor nutrition with
increased stress. When people are selling and moving, there’s a
tendency to rely on quick fixes, such as hot dogs and pizza! Try to
plan more nutritious meals that will keep everyone healthy and
energized.
4. Get stuff done early. Doing things last minute, such as finding a real
estate lawyer or getting rid of clutter, can quickly lead to stress and
frustration. Whenever possible, get tasks done early. That way, you
won’t have to worry about them.
5. Hire the right professionals. By far, the surest way to a stress-free
move is to get the right professionals working for you: everyone from
contractors to mortgage brokers to movers.
By the way, a big part of what I do for clients is help make every
aspect of buying, selling and moving go smoothly.

Contact us to learn how we can help you!!

Watch any TV cooking show, and you’ll notice that a chef’s kitchen looks
quite a bit different than what you’d find in most homes. But, that doesn’t
mean you can’t have one just like it in your home! With a little remodeling,
and splurging on some new items, you too can have a kitchen worthy of
Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver, or Rachel Ray.
Chefs love counter space. So, when remodeling, plan to create as much as
possible. If you have an existing island, for example, you can replace the
countertop with a larger one. Just adding eight inches in both directions will
make a big difference.
Most chefs have more than one oven. If that’s impractical for you, consider
buying a double-oven stove. Also, chefs prefer gas burners for quicker heatup
times and exacting control of cooking temperature.
One thing you’ll notice about chefs is they love stainless steel.
That’s because it’s easy-to-clean, hygienic and durable (assuming you take
care of it).
Finally, because chefs spend so much time in the kitchen, they want the
space to be attractive and comfortable. So, when remodeling, keep decor
in mind.
Even if you’re just an amateur chef, creating a chef-worthy kitchen will make
the foodie in you smile.

Sometimes the reason for putting your home on the market is crystal clear.
For example, you might have a job relocation and need to move. Or, you
might have decided to downsize because the kids have left the nest.
However, there are many other motivations to list your home that are not as
obvious, and yet are still good reasons to make a move. Here are just a few
examples...
• You’re bored with your home and are looking for a change.
• There’s something you’ve always wanted in a home that your current
property doesn’t have, such as a wooded backyard.
• You want to be closer to work, or to activities you enjoy, such as golf.
• You want to be closer to family.
• The neighbourhood is changing in a way that no longer fits the
lifestyle you want.
• There’s another neighbourhood you’ve always dreamed of living in.
• Your tastes have changed and you want to live in a different type of
home.
None of these reasons makes it an absolute necessity to list your property
and find a new home. Yet, they’re all worth considering, especially if moving
will make you and your family happier, and provide you with a more
desirable lifestyle.
Want to talk about the possibilities? Call today The Dion-Ivans Real Estate Team today!!

Have you ever considered renting out a room to a student or renovating
your basement into a self-contained rental apartment?
It’s a big decision. There are many pros and cons to consider.
On the pro side, renting can provide you with additional income. An extra
few hundred dollars a month can go a long way towards paying down your
mortgage or splurging on an exotic summer vacation.
Creating rentable living space in your home — for example, an “in-law suite”
featuring a kitchenette and bathroom — may also increase your property’s
market value.
On the con side, you’ll have more costs and responsibilities as a landlord.
For example, you might need to purchase extra insurance because basic
home insurance policies typically do not cover rental units, even if you’re
just renting out a room. You’ll also be responsible for dealing with repairs
sometimes in the middle of the night.
Also, if you’re not careful about the renter you choose, you might end up
with a “problem tenant”. For example, you could have a tenant who is
consistently late on rent payments or simply stops paying. That can be
stressful.
If you’re deciding whether or not to rent, be sure to check local laws and
regulations. Many jurisdictions have very strict rules regarding renting out
space in a residential property, and those rules change frequently. Make
sure you get the latest information.

Your neighbourhood has a lot of features that can help sell your home
faster. Unfortunately, buyers don’t usually notice those features just by
driving around. So, you need to make sure they get all the information they
need about your neighbourhood.
For example, say homes don’t go on the market often in your area. That’s
an indication that the quality of life in the neighbourhood is so good that no
one wants to leave! In real estate we measure the area’s “turnover rate”,
and it’s handy data to have when listing your home.
Another bit of data that buyers can’t simply see is the local crime rate. But,
most police departments keep those statistics. If your neighbourhood has a
low crime rate, that’s an obvious plus to sellers.
Demographic data can also be helpful when selling your property. If your
neighbourhood has a lot of families, for example, that’s going to be
appealing to buyers with kids.
Even local development plans can play a role in making your home more
attractive to buyers. If a new ramp to a major highway is in the works
nearby, getting to work is going to be easier. That’s a big benefit to
commuters.
Other types of data that can help sell your home include:
• Planned local construction.
• Proposals for neighbourhood improvements. (For example, a new
playground.)
• Rates at which local property values are increasing.
Any information that shows the advantages of living in your area is going to
be useful when selling.
By the way, this is the kind of information we put together to provide to
prospective buyers when selling your home. Contact us today for more info!!

Imagine you were selling your car, and a prospective buyer was on the way
over to see it. What would you do? You would probably make your vehicle
look as clean and shiny as possible, inside and out.
The same holds true if you’re selling your home and there’s a potential
buyer on the way. You want the buyer to be wow’d by your property. Here’s
a handy checklist to follow:
• Clean every room. Make your entire house look as “guest ready” as
possible.
• As much as is feasible given the time, reduce clutter. Consider
packing some items into boxes and storing them in the basement or
garage.
• Get pets out of the house. You can take them for a walk, have a
neighbour watch them, or take them to a good kennel.
• Turn on the lights, even during the day. You want each room to look
bright.
• If there are any maintenance issues, such as a dripping faucet, let
your Realtor know. Often, it’s best for buyers to be told rather than
discover such issues themselves.
• Open the curtains, except in those rooms where the sun will be
uncomfortably strong during the viewing.
• Move your vehicles from the driveway so the buyer can park there.
(That can help them imagine living there, which is what you want!)
• Make sure your foyer is especially clean and uncluttered. It’s the first
“room” the buyer visits.
• Avoid cooking just before a viewing. Even if the meal is wonderful, the
aroma may linger. (Some people don’t like the smell of certain dishes,
such as fish.)
• Freshen up the outdoor space. Mow the lawn. Sweep the walkway.
This viewing checklist will help you prepare your home quickly, so when the
buyer comes in your front door, there’s a much better chance he or she will
be impressed.

Want more tips? Contact The Dion-Ivans Real Estate Team today!!!

Is selling your property the furthest thing from your mind? Well, here are
some reasons for listing your property that you might not have considered.
1. Your property may be worth more than you think. (It’s difficult to
determine market value on your own. I can calculate it for you. Give
me a call.)
2. You might qualify for a better home than you anticipate.
3. Perhaps you are tired of your current property and want a change.
4. There may be homes on the market in a neighbourhood in which
you’ve always wanted to live.
5. Your current property may no longer meet your needs.
6. Your neighbourhood may have changed in ways you don’t like.
7. You might be ready to downsize or upsize and you no longer want to
put that off.
8. You may want to sell in the fall, so you can have a fresh start in a
new home in the new year.
9. Depending on the type of home you’re considering, you could end up
with lower mortgage payments or no mortgage at all.
10. You might want to move to a home that’s more conveniently
located near work, family and hobbies.
Of course, you may have your own reasons for listing this month. Why not
discuss them with a real estate expert? Us. We can answer your questions
and explain the options available to you.

Imagine this scenario...
You purchase a new home and move in. A few weeks later, you hear a
strange rumbling sound. It’s the furnace. It’s only a year old, yet it’s
sputtering like it’s twenty. You realize you’ll have to call in an HVAC
contractor to get it fixed.
You’re thinking, “Ouch! This is going to be expensive.”
Well, maybe not. You see, since that furnace is relatively new, it might be
covered by its original warranty — even for you, the new owner.
But a warranty is useless if you don’t know it exists.
Recent studies suggest that upwards of 50% of people pay to get items
fixed that were actually covered by a warranty. So, when purchasing a new
home, be sure to ask this simple question: “What warranties do you have for
items, materials or workmanship in this house?”
Warranties are common on new stoves, fridges, washers, dryers and other
big ticket appliances. Some such warranties are transferrable, which means
they are still in force when the items pass from one owner to another.
Even less expensive items, such as electronic thermostats and automatic
garage door openers, may be covered by a transferrable manufacturer’s
warranty.
If the home you’re purchasing is relatively new (say, less than 10 years old),
the builder’s warranty may also still be in force. That can be handy if a
structural problem arises.
Even recent renovations, may have come with a labour and/or installation
warranty of some kind.
As you can see, warranties are everywhere! The more you’re aware of
them, the more you’ll save when something needs repair or replacement.