Tag: Qualicum Real Estate

3 Tips for Finding Your Ideal New Home- The Perfect Fit

Moving to a new city is exciting – new  sights, new sounds, maybe even a new job. Let’s not forget, however, one of the largest tasks when it comes to relocating: finding a new home. House searching can seem daunting, but not if you’re equipped with the right mindset and tools. To get you on track, we’re sharing a few home-buying tips:

Know what you want. When you’re in the market for a new home, it’s easy to get swept away with Pinterest boards full of “must-haves” and dream décor but it’s important to be realistic with yourself. Your new home should be conducive to your personality and daily lifestyle; if you’re an avid at-home cook, prioritize a large kitchen. Being able to articulate what you want and need will help your REALTOR find exactly what you’re looking for.

Do your research. Oh, the beauty of the Internet! Before you begin booking appointments to check out new living spaces, be sure to do a quick search of the area. This will allow you to pinpoint a few neighborhoods that intrigue you. Is it the beautiful beaches and boardwalk in Parksville, the beautiful community of Nanoose Bay, or possibly the quaint easy life style of Qualicum Beach that you like? Want to be close to schools, in more family neighborhoods, or near walking trails with properties with bigger acreages? – and don’t forget to keep your price point in mind when searching!

Project the future. Avoid narrowing your focus on solely the here and now; a home is a great investment, and you want to treat it as such. Thinking about where you may be in five to ten years will help you pick a home that can grow with you, both in your career and your family.

Have other home-buying tips that you’ve found to be helpful? Share with us in the comments below!

How to Amp Up The Resale Value of Your Home

Whether you’re putting your home on the market this year or in the next five years, it is a smart decision to start building your home’s resale value now. Here are some ways to create a comfortable home while making it easier to put more money into your bank account on closing day.

Small Maintenance and Repairs

If you think that home maintenance on the weekends is a low priority, think again. The small chores you do around your home prevents it from losing value. Neglecting small maintenance and repairs causes 10% of your home’s value to walk out your door and slip through your windows. Most appraisers claim that homes showing little to no preventative maintenance can depreciate from $15,000 to $20,000! Preventative maintenance can also actively increase your home’s resale value — according to a recent study, by about 1% per year! Also, because home buyers generally notice any repairs needed upon buying a new home, proactive maintenance lets the home buyer know that he or she will not have to spend extra money to maintain the basics. This makes your home more attractive, and thus more likely to get higher priced offers

Remodeling Ideas and Tips That Work

Studies show that a home valued at $150,000 could increase its value between $8,300 and $19,000 with the addition of landscaping. These studies also note that positive landscaping can reduce the amount of time your home spends on the market! Changing out the doors of your home is also generally a smart design choice. Lately, fiberglass and steel doors are a coveted aesthetic by home buyers. A steel door costs $1,335 but has a whopping 91% return on investment. A fiberglass door, on the other hand, costs about $3,126 with an 82.3% return on investment. Likewise, a new fiberglass or steel garage door distinguishes your home from the rest on your block and provides a 91.5% return on a $1,652 investment. Finally, matte paint finishes will trend in 2016 because of its transitional qualities. With a matte finish, your potential home buyer can easily match his or her stainless steel or black and white appliances. It’s touches like these that make your home appealing to a wide variety of home buyers, and that drives up its resale value.

Your Needs and Buyers’ Wants

On that note, if you need to renovate your home, be sure to consider how those changes will affect its appeal to future buyers. Knowing design trends will give you the opportunity to make changes to your home based on where your needs and your potential buyer’s desires intersect, thus increasing your property’s resale value drastically. Designers and design websites provide great ideas when you’re brainstorming home renovations. Keep in mind as you research, however,that you don’t want to sacrifice your needs for a comfortable home just for the sake of what you think a future buyer will want! Therefore, before you begin making any changes to your home, consult your real estate agent. Real estate agents, because we are constantly working with new buyer clients, have insider insight into what home buyers are looking for now and in the future. We’ll be able to help you make smart choices when remodeling or renovating your home

If you think you might want to remodel or renovate your home in the near future, or if you are just curious about other ways you can increase its resale value, please reach out to me!