Nice View from here

For all of those people who are always telling me that what they really want is a home with a fantastic view. Here you go folks!

Making the best of your Renovation Tax Credit

The renovation tax credit is a great incentive, and fantastic for home owners to get those upgrades that will put value on your home.

Here are a few useful tips to remember when you are renovating.

Make sure you spend your money wisely. Great things to upgrade are flooring, windows, counter tops in Kitchens and Bathrooms. All these things will give you a great return when you decide to sell.

Always remember to be consistent with your renovation. Make sure that you are renovating to the worth of your home and the neigbourhood you live in.

For instance, if you live in a neighbourhood where the homes are valued at the $600000 plus range. Do not put in laminate floors, and a cheap off the shelf kitchen. The sort of buyer that will be looking to purchase your home will be expecting Hardwood, and probably Granite as standard.

Alternatively if you live in a townhouse valued at around $200000 then laminate is great. Not only is it hardwearing, but it looks great and can make all the difference to the look of your home, and even refacing kitchen cupbaords and counters will make a big difference. Please make sure that you get a qualified Kitchen installer to do the work, doing it yourself can result in expensive mistakes.

If you are installing new windows, do so wisely. Do not replace an opening window with one that does not open. It is not a smart thing to do and will affect the resale value of your home.

When all is said and done, it comes down to common sense. Always consult the experts. Real Estate agents will be only too happy to discuss your renovations with you and guide you through the pitfalls to make sure that you get the very best value from your renovation tax credit. Don't cut corners, engage professionals to do the work, and your home will reflect the time and money you have spent. Not only that, but you will likely get every dime back when you decide to sell.

Until next time Happy Renovating.

When to sell - Tipping the balance in your favour..

Its been a funny old year. Well to be honest it's been a funny couple of years in the world of real estate.

Last September, due to the economic climate, the real estate market died. We couldn't sell anything. It did not seem to matter how reasonable the price, or how fantastic the property or the location. No one was buying. It was a worrying time to be sure.

Then, in the Spring of this year, the tide turned, and suddenly, everyone was buying, with the result that there were not enough homes on the market to fulfil the demand. So the competition for each home was so strong, that it almost reached fever pitch, there were multiple offers on almost every home, and sellers were acheiving prices way above their orignal asking price, leaving many of them very happy indeed. This has lasted for 8 months, and since it has lasted this long, there is no telling how long it will continue and could be poised for a change.

Sadly I can not predict what will happen next year. If I could do that I would be a very rich woman indeed. However, what I can glean from talking to my clients is that if everyone of them who tells me that this will list in the new year, does so. Then the market will tip the other way, and there will be a huge inventory of homes, and not enough buyers to go around.

My advice is this. If you want to cash in on the current trend, then list your house now. Do not wait until everyone around you is listing, and miss out on getting an amazing price for your home. I know, you may not want to move until the Spring. Well, you don't have to. You can list now with a long closing date and have the best of both worlds. You can sell your home for a great price, and when the market turns around in the New Year, you can grab yourself a bargain.

So, give me a call, and list now, you'll be glad you did.

My Video

To Stage or Not to Stage that is the question?

When I am listing a home for sale, my clients often ask me what they can do to show their home to its best potential. There are several golden rules to getting the best look for your home.

No 1. Keep it clean and odor free. Many potential buyers are put off by animal smells, especially dog smells. Many people, myself included, love dogs. But being met at the doorway of your potential new home by the smell of "wet hound" is not the most promising beginning. If you have lived there a while with your dog, you may not even notice an odour. So the best plan is to engage a good friend, with a good nose, and one who is not afraid to tell the truth. If they detect a scent, then clean, clean, clean. Freshen up the carpets and the upholstery. Get Fido checked into the Dog Grooming palour for a little freshening of his own. It will pay off in the long run.

No. 2. NO clutter. Yes it may well be your treasured tea pot or doll house collection, but remember, you are showing your house to sell. Not showing off your collections. Put them away. Leave surfaces clear and clutter free.

No. 3. Fresh paint and decoration. It really is worth investing a little time and money in bringing your walls and baseboards back to pristine. Keep the colours light and neutral, don't let your passion for purple get the better of you. Do not think of it any longer as your home, it is a showpiece designed to get you the best price.

No. 4. Employ a professional stager. There are many very talented stagers out there whose job is solely to show your house at it's very best. It is also useful if you are busy and don't have time to spend on decorating and decluttering yourself.
Ask your Real Estate Agent, he/she will know who to recommend, and you will be truly amazed at the results. See below.
























I think you will agree that it does not look like the same house. A fresh eye and a flair for design and layout can make all the difference.

So the next time you list your home, invest in a Stager. You'll be glad you did.

Meanwhile Happy House Hunting...........................

How to get the most from your home - Part 2 - The inside scoop

So lets go and look inside your dream home. When it comes to the interior of the house, try to find something that has had the "big ticket" items renovated. I am talking about the roof, the windows and the furnace. You really don't want to be moving in December only to find that the roof leaks, the windows are draughty and the furnace is broken. Brrrrrrrrrrr. These things can cost big dollars to replace.

It great if you can find a house that also has the kitchen and bathrooms renovated, but this is not so important. If you do have to do these renovations then you will get your money back, and then some, when it comes time to sell.

Look for a home that is "decoratively challeged" as I like to call it. By this, I mean something that looks tired. Where the decor is faded and the fixtures and fittings are dated. If the three year old child has created a lovely picasso impression on the hallway walls all the better! it is so inexpensive to decorate, or install new carpet. Paint, flooring, moulding and light fixtures will always give you the biggest return for your money

By the same token, don't worry if the back yard looks a mess. A little landscaping can go a long way. If the house is structually sound then the rest is really just cosmetics. Beware though. Do not cut corners. If you want the top resale value for your home, then invest in it and always use an expert. Yes, we all know that Uncle George is a dab hand with a paint brush, and once did a lovely job in Auntie Dora's bathroom, just make sure its going to look professional. Or better, use a reliable decorator,and painter to get the best results. It will save you a lot of grief and money in the long run, and will be accomplished with a lot less stress, and mishaps than Uncle George could manage.

It is the old adage that you get what you pay for, it is worth paying for a professional to give your home that finishing touch. When it comes time to sell your home it will stand out from the crowd and you will reap the benefits of your investments.

Join me again soon for more hints and advice about the world of Real Estate

Until then - Happy House Hunting.....................................

How to get the most for your home - Part 1 Buying right!

For most of us, the most important purchase we will ever make is our home. So it pays to invest a little time and research in buying the right home, in the right neighbourhood, and even in the right position on the street. All these factors can make a huge difference and also have an enormous impact on the resale value once you are ready to move on.

So lets take a minute to have a look at these points and explore the critical indicators in buying the perfect home, in the best neighbourhood with the absolute top resale value. The phrase location, location, location, was not thought up by accident believe me.

The right neighbourhood is absolutely critical. If you have lived in the area for a long time then you probably know where to and where not to buy. However, if you are moving from out of the area or even from out of the Country then you will, understandably be in the dark when it comes to these things. Of course, you can do your own research. Drive around the neighborhoods, not only in daylight but also after dark. Does it look/feel safe? Trust your instincts, if you don't feel comfortable then don't go there. The local police are also a good source of information and will be able to give you crime rate statistics which will be a major help in making such a big decision. However, your best bet is to just use the experts. Find an experienced Real Estate agent who knows the area well. He/She will be a wealth of useful information and be able to keep you away from the "dodgy" bits, as one of my clients recently called them. Every Town & City has it's most desirable areas, the Agent will know these. Look there first.

Avoid corner lots. Yes they may be slighter larger and they may face onto two streets, but realistically all this actually means is that there is more lawn to mow, and more snow to shovel. In my experience, corner lots are the least popular and alot harder to resell. They tend to be busy with traffic and pedestrians and often afford less privacy. Look for something with privacy off the beaten track, you will be pleased in the long run that you did.

What does the house back onto? You really don't want to be right behind a Plaza with a 24 hour supermarket for instance, or a nightclub. Always be aware of what is at the end of the yard. The best outcome is a park, conservation area or a ravine. Living behind a cemetery would also be very peaceful, unless of course you are superstitious, then probably not. You will always be looking out for things that go bump in the night. Not conducive to a good nights sleep.

Don't go for the biggest most expensive house either. Yes, your house will be grander than everyone Else's, and it will most definitely increase the value of your neighbours homes, but it will do absolutely nothing for yours, and also make it way harder to sell when the time comes. Choose something smaller. It is better to have a smaller house in the best neighbourhood, where people are lining up to live, than the "Castle" at the end of the road that no one can afford.

If you follow all these points, then you will have a lovely home in a fantastic neighbourhood, and worth a small resale fortune.

Check in next time to learn what to look for in the interior of your dream home.

Happy House Hunting..................................................................