Renovation Rewards
​When it comes time to sell, it’s important that your home stacks up well against the competition. In order to have it look its best, renovations are sometimes necessary.

The key to generating a decent return on your investment is to renovate in line with other homes in your area. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you’re thinking of renovating:
1. Get Cracking – The kitchen will often yield the greatest return on investment. A welcoming kitchen that’s functional and up-to-date will be very attractive to buyers.
2. Clean Up – The bathroom is the second most important room in the home in terms of valuation so renovating an existing bathroom or installing an additional one pays off.
3. Landscaping – Adding a few perennials is an easy way to improve your home’s curb appeal. A few well-placed trees and shrubs will reduce utility costs by providing shade and shelter.

Homeowners should try to achieve a balance between their individual wants/needs and by making sure they don’t pour money down the drain. Improvements should be an investment, not an expense.
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How To Buy The Right Home, Quickly
You’re in a rush. You have just three weeks to find and buy the right home. Whoa! How are you going to make that happen?
Don’t stress. Here are some tips that will help:

• Get a pre-approved mortgage. With this document you’ll know exactly what you can afford. A seller will take your offer-to-purchase more seriously, too.
• Make a wish list. Be clear about what you want in a home. Two bedrooms or three? A finished basement? A large kitchen? A spacious backyard? If you know what you want, you’ll be able to quickly zero in on the right homes.
• Be flexible. You may have a wish list, but to find a home quickly you’ll also need to be flexible. Think about what you absolutely must have in a new home.
• Neighbourhood matters. Generally, buying a less than ideal home in a great neighbourhood is better than purchasing the perfect home in a bad area. So, create a list of neighbourhoods you’ll consider.

Work with a REALTOR®. A good REALTOR® like me can help you view the best opportunities on the market and quickly select the right home for you.

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Staging The Three Most Important Rooms
When your home is shown to potential buyers, every room is important. However, there are three types of rooms that buyers tend to pay particular attention to: kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. How do you make these rooms look great? Use these staging tips from professionals.
 
In the kitchen, make sure the stove, sink and countertops are spotless. In addition, the countertops should be clear of anything that isn’t absolutely necessary. You want to create the impression that there is a lot of counter space!
 
In the cupboards, refrigerator and pantry, make sure all food items are facing forward.
 
In the bathrooms, make sure everything is clean and uncluttered, especially around the toilet and in the cabinet under the sink. Remove personal items from the countertop. If there is a shower curtain, keep it open. Make sure that the towels match and are neatly hung on the rack.
 
As a rule of thumb, the more you can make the bathrooms look like those in a nice hotel, the better!
 
In the bedrooms, make sure the bed is neatly made, preferably with matching covers and pillow cases. Make sure that items that are stored under the bed are not sticking out enough to be seen.
 
Closets should be tidy with nothing on the floor except shoes (neatly arranged). It’s okay to have a lot of clothes, as long as they are all hanging neatly. If there are non-clothing items in the closet - such as loose files and papers - store them somewhere else.
 
Don’t leave any clothes lying on the bed, chair or dresser, even if they are nicely folded. Don’t have anything in the laundry hamper.
 
Want more staging tips? Call me today.

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