There are dozens of ways to make your property more enticing to potential buyers. For example, you can invest in getting your home professionally “staged”, which involves making it look a little like a model home. Or, you can do a major renovation to improve your home‘s look and value.

But what if you don’t have a lot of time and are on a limited budget? What can you do today to make your home irresistible to buyers tomorrow? Here are some ideas:

1. Paint

It doesn’t cost much to paint key areas of your home, like the foyer, kitchen or master bedroom. Yet the impression it makes on buyers is significant. In fact, compared to most other types of home improvement projects, painting gives you the highest payback when you sell.

2. Create Space

Homes naturally get cluttered over the years. Even a double car garage can seem claustrophobic if there are a lot of boxes, equipment and other items stored in it. Go through each room of your home and do a major decluttering. It will make your property seem more attractive and, when you sell, make moving easier too!

3. Clean & Tidy

Obviously, you’re going to make sure your home is clean for viewings. But you’d be surprised what a homeowner can miss and a buyer notices. Closets, laundry rooms, side yard, basement furnace room and all other nooks and crannies should be as tidy and clean as possible.

4. Roll Out the Red Carpet

Not an actual red carpet! But you do want the entrance way to your front door and into the foyer to make the best impression possible.  After all, those are the areas that a buyer sees first. Make sure walkways are clear and clean. Ensure that when a buyer opens the front door and walks in, the impression he or she gets is that of a great looking place to live.

These four tips don’t take much time or money to implement. Yet, they can all help make your home even more irresistible to buyers than it is today.

Want more tips on preparing your home for sale? Call the Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group today!!

Buying or selling a home may be one of the biggest financial transactions you will make in your lifetime. It can also be a very complicated and frustrating process.You will need a professional to help you every step of the way. A professional who is highly trained, knowledgeable and has ethics beyond reproach. Your best friend in a real estate transaction is a REALTOR®, a member of your local real estate board and the British Columbia Real Estate Association.You can expect a great deal from a REALTOR® whether you are buying or selling.

When you are selling your home . . .

• The REALTOR® you choose is working for you, the vendor, and not for the people who are the potential buyers of your home.
• The REALTOR® gets paid, usually in the form of a commission, from a percentage of the proceeds of the selling price of your home.
• In line with the strict code of ethics the REALTOR® must follow, he or she will disclose this arrangement to you clearly, fully and in writing.
• The REALTOR® is experienced in the marketplace and can offer you expert advice on what price to set for your house, how you can make your house more attractive to potential buyers and what marketing plan will sell your home quickly, efficiently and smoothly.
• The REALTOR® has contacts among potential buyers currently looking for a home. He or she can quickly separate the merely curious "lookers" from the "buyers".
• As a member of the local real estate board, the REALTOR® can list your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®), which gets the details about your home into the hands of thousands of potential buyers. Only REALTOR®S are able to list homes on MLS®.

When you are buying a home . . .

• The REALTOR® will make it crystal clear to you whether he or she is working for you, the buyer, or the seller.
• Special arrangements can be made so that the REALTOR® becomes your agent for buying a home. The REALTOR® is bound by ethics to disclose this relationship to potential vendors you may deal with.
• With his or her wide experience and contacts, the REALTOR® can direct you to your potential "dream home" much more quickly and efficiently, saving you many hours and lots of frustration checking the ads and driving around.
• A REALTOR® has access to thousands of listings on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®).
• The REALTOR® is usually paid by the vendor; this is the case whether the REALTOR® works for the seller or the buyer. When a REALTOR® working as your agent helps you buy a house, he or she usually is paid from the commission paid to the vendor's REALTOR®.

Whether buying or selling, a professional REALTOR®'s services can be invaluable. Their advice can save you from making bad choices and help make your home buying or selling experience a positive one.

Multiple Listing Service, MLS®, REALTOR® and REALTORS® are registered trademarks of the Canadian Real Estate Association. REALTOR® identifies a real estate practitioner who is a member of the Association.

The Canadian economy grew 0.3 per cent in November, following 0.1 per cent growth in October. Production was higher in most industrial sectors with the main contributions to growth coming from manufacturing, oil and gas and mining. 

Our updated fourth quarter GDP estimate is currently reading just 1.1 per cent growth (at an annual rate), in-line with the Bank of Canada's most recent forecast. We anticipate that growth will continue to be modest through the first half of 2013 before accelerating in the second half of the year and into 2014.

Information provided by www.bcrea.bc.ca 

Why is it so important to know how much you can afford to spend on a home?

Two reasons.

First, you don't want to buy a property and then find out, only after you’ve moved in, that you can't financially maintain it. That would mean having to resell it under stressful conditions.

Second, you don't want to settle for a property that's less than ideal, when you really could have afforded the "dream home" you've always wanted.

So how do you figure out how much you can afford to pay for your next home?

The first step is to talk to a good REALTOR®. He or she will help you gain a clearer understanding of how much your current home will likely sell for in today's market. That amount, together with other financial resources you might have (such as savings), will determine your down payment.

The next thing you’ll need to figure out is your mortgage. Your REALTOR® can help you find a lender who will take a variety of factors into account – income, credit rating, debts, expected down payment, etc. – to calculate the maximum amount of mortgage for which you qualify.

Say, through the proceeds of the sale of your home combined with your savings, your expected down payment is $90,000. If the lender authorizes a mortgage of $270,000, then you can afford a $360,000 home.

Of course, that doesn't mean you'll need to spend that much. In fact, a home that meets your needs in terms of property type, features, and neighbourhood, may in fact cost you less.

One thing is for sure. A good REALTOR® can work with whatever amount you can afford and show you homes on the market that most closely meet your needs.

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Call the Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group today!!

It may be a new year but it is the same story this morning from the Bank of Canada which once again held its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The statement released in support of the interest rate decision noted that the global economic outlook is weaker than the Bank previously projected, though risk of a severe external shock to the economy has diminished. As a result, the slowdown in the Canadian economy in the second half of 2012 was more pronounced than the Bank had anticipated. The Bank has revised its estimate for economic growth in 2012 lower, to 1.9 per cent, and now forecasts 2 per cent growth in 2013 before an acceleration to 2.7 per cent in 2014. Importantly, the Bank has also shifted its expectation that the economy will reach full capacity out to the second half of 2014. On inflation, the Bank expects growth in consumer prices to run significantly below its 2 per cent target for much of 2013 before gradually rising to target in 2014.

Following two years of overly optimistic forecasts, the Bank has struck a slightly more dour tone in its outlook. The gloomier growth forecast and positive signs that households are reigning in household debt have prompted the Bank to revise its language on the gradual withdrawal of monetary stimulus.  In its concluding statement accompanying the rate decision, a key focus of monetary policy watchers over the past year,  the Bank continued to note that a withdrawal of stimulus would likely be required over time, but that the timing of any such withdrawal is less imminent than previously anticipated. This strongly suggests that interest rates will remain constant at 1 per cent for all of 2013.

Information provided by www.bcrea.bc.ca 

 Here are 19 tested tips:

1. FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE LASTING IMPRESSIONS

An inviting exterior insures inspection of the interior. Keep your lawn trimmed and edged, the flower beds cultivated and the yard clear of refuse.

Remove snow and ice from the walks and porch in winter. Exterior siding should be washed to remove algae and environmental residue. Place a framed picture of the home, at its best, inside the front door on a table.

2. DECORATE YOUR HOME - A STEP TOWARD A SALE

Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce desire.

Do not tell the prospective buyer how the place can be made to look; show it by redecorating first. A quicker sale at a higher price may result.

3. CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS

Bright, cheery windows and unmarred walls will assist your sale.

4. FIX THAT FAUCET

Dripping water discolours the enamel and calls attention to faulty plumbing fixtures.

5. A DAY WITH THE CARPENTER

Loose doorknobs, sticking drawers, warped cabinet doors and the like become noticed. Have them fixed.

6. FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

The attic and basement are important. Remove unnecessary articles, and display the full value of your storage and utility spaces. For a few dollars, have an electrician install lighting in crawl spaces and storage areas.

7. OBSTACLE COURSE

Prospects will have to dodge items unless all stairways are cleared of objects. Avoid cluttered appearances and possible injuries. Remove clutter and put into rental storage.

8. CLOSET ILLUSIONS

Clothes properly hung, shoes, hats, and other articles neatly placed, will make your closets appear larger. Now is the time to get rid of old and out-of-date clothing.

9. YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ROOM IS THE KITCHEN

Colourful curtains in harmony with the floors and countertops add appeal. The smell of a freshly baked loaf of bread appeals to prospective purchasers.

10. CHECK AND DOUBLECHECK YOUR BATHROOM

Bright and clean bathrooms help sell homes. Cultured marble basins with cracks can be cut out and conventional basins installed.

11. FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

Bedrooms are always outstanding features. Arrange them neatly. Consider painting the ceilings to brighten the room.

12. CAN YOU SEE THE LIGHT?

Illumination is a welcome sign. For after-dark inspections, turn on your lights from the front porch on through the house. The prospective buyer will feel a glowing warmth.

13. THREE'S A CROWD

More will lose a sale. Avoid having too many people present during inspections. The prospect will feel like an intruder and will hurry through the house.

14. LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG - DOES NOT APPLY IN HOUSE SELLING

Keep pets out of the way, and preferably out of the house. Any corner where pets sleep should be cleaned before any inspections.

15. SILENCE IS GOLDEN

Be courteous but do not force conversation with the prospect. They are there to inspect your house, not socialize.

16. BE I EVER SO HUMBLE

Never apologize for the appearance of your home. After all, it has been lived in. Let the trained sales representatives answer any objections that are raised. This is their job.

17. IN THE SHADOWS

Please do not accompany the prospect and real-estate representative. They know the buyer's requirements and can better emphasize the features of your house when alone. You will be called if needed.

18. PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE

Trying to dispose of furniture and furnishings to the prospect before he or she has purchased the house loses the sale. Proper timing is important.

19. A WORD TO THE WISE

Do not discuss price, terms, possessions or other factors with the potential buyers, refer them to the realtor.

Now that your house is ready to show, you are one step up on the competition.

Information provided by Shell Busey and the Province. For more information go to theprovince.com or askshell.com. 

The internet can be a wonderful tool to help find a new home, or it can be a frustrating time-waster. It all depends on how you use it.

Let’s first take a look at the upside of using the Web when home shopping.

A good REALTOR® can point you to websites and specific web pages where you can:

·         See pictures of homes available, including in some cases individual rooms and other property features.

·         Get property details, such as lot size, number of bedrooms, square footage, and other features.

·         Find information on the neighbourhood and surrounding area, such as the location of schools, parks and public transit.

·         Take a “virtual tour” (when available), which allows you to view a home on your computer almost as if you were walking through it in real life.

Previewing specific homes online can save you a lot of time. You can quickly get a sense for whether or not a property meets your basic criteria before traveling to see it in person.  But there is a downside to relying too much on the internet to preview homes.

Pictures and descriptions on the internet don’t always tell the whole story. It’s entirely possible for a home to look unappealing to you on a website, yet turn out to be the perfect home when you actually go to see it. (Imagine not seeing it and missing out on that potential dream home.) In addition, even these days, some homes are listed and sold so fast that they never make it to the internet. So if you rely too much on websites to find homes, you might miss out on opportunities.

The solution? Work with a REALTOR® who knows how to find homes on the market that are a good match for you, and knows how to make the entire home buying process go quickly and smoothly.

Need help finding a new home? Call the Dion-Ivans Group today!