The The hustle and bustle of summer is simmering down as the Okanagan trades in it's hot, beachy days for sweaters and pumpkin spice! The tourists are leaving, the kids are in school, and the streets have become quieter.

If you're trying to sell your home, that may sound more like a nightmare than a scenic picture of a serene city like Kelowna. Your probably thinking, Quieter? Who wants quieter? I need those people to stay here and look at my home!!!

Don't Panic! The year may be coming to an end, but your dreams of selling your home are not! In fact, well the rest of Kelowna is cooling down, the real estate market is heating up!

Let The Dion-Ivans Real Estate Team put your worries to rest with these.

Reason #1: Browsers Be Gone
Yes, it's true that the spring housing market is filled with potential buyers, however, over half these buyers may hold off on making an offer. Springtime is a convenient time to move and make home renovations, so not only does it mean more buyers, but it also means more sellers, and with more sellers comes more options, and the temptation to be extremely picky.  With more homes to choose from, they can afford to be critical of each house, and that could easily extend their search by months. However, the goal is still to find a home, and come September and October, all those serious buyers will be feeling the pressure to make their move before the added stress of the holiday season or bad weather hits. That’s where you come in my friend!

Reason #2: Less Competition, More Opportunity
Autumn home buyers not only have the stress of kids back to school, holidays coming, and bad weather, but now their options are shrinking as many sellers rush to close by September. You may be feeling the stress of closing  a sale yourself, but here is the silver lining: Now that so many other sellers have settled, you are competing in a much smaller pool, fortunately for you, that means your home is bound to stand out, and you can use this scarcity to your advantage.


Reason #3: More Pressure To Buy
If you're looking to sell your condo, we have an added bonus for you! While it's true that families are more likely to make their move in the spring, millennials, and single buyers usually splash into the pool a bit later in the year. Have a larger, family home? No worries!  To avoid higher “on season” real estate rates, many families who need to relocate for work often wait for the fall to save themselves and their employer's money. These out-of-towners usually have a stringent timeline and are more likely to settle quickly and be forgiving of maintenance issues.


Reason #4: Cheaper Renovations
As mentioned above, some buyers are in need of a home quickly, and may not be as concerned about home improvements as others, However, either way, you should probably make sure your home is in tip-top shape in order to get the best return possible. Luckily, home improvements tend to die down during the autumn months as well, which means cheaper building supplies, lawn care equipment, and contractors!

So, whether you live Downtown, Glenmore, Mission, Rutland, Black Mountain, or West Kelowna, you can now you can quit panicking and enjoy a glass of award-winning Okanagan wine knowing that you have created a smart selling tactic, and there is still plenty of time to get your home sold!

Haven't placed your home on the market yet? We've got you!

Click here to get in touch with the Dion-Ivan Real Estate team and get the process started!

As you probably know, it's easy to lower the costs of a renovation. Just hire
an inexpensive, fly-by-night contractor — and hope for the best!
Chances are, you won't want to take that risk. So how do you ensure you get
quality work while keeping your budget in check?
Here are some tips:
• Get estimates from at least three contractors. Often prices can vary
widely, even amongst contractors with similar reputations and
experience.
• Narrow the project focus. If you're getting a bathroom renovated, for
example, decide whether you need the contractor to paint the new
walls. Can you do that yourself?
• Shop around for the building materials. Yes, contractors often have
access to wholesale prices. Still, you might be able to find a bathtub
and vanity at a lower cost or at least avoid any markup the contractor
may charge.
• Negotiate. Sometimes a contractor is willing to lower the price for
concessions, such as quick payments or more time to complete the job.
• Schedule the renovation during a low-demand season. For example,
deck contractors charge more in the spring than the fall. It's supply and
demand. More people want their decks done in the spring.
Keep in mind that spending a little more for a skilled and reputable contractor
can save you money in the long run. The renovation will have fewer, if any,
"issues" (that may require an expensive fix) and will last longer.

For more information including some recommendations of contractors,

contact The Dion-Ivans Real Estate Team!