Victoria BC Community Blog

Home Makeover: Social Distancing Edition

Posted by Niels Madsen on May 8, 2020

We’re all spending a lot more time in our homes these days, meaning it’s never been more important to make sure you’ve got your home environment just right for you.

In lieu of being able to do any more involved changes that involve builders and tradesmen and lots of supplies, we’re going to take a look at some of the ways you can give your home a makeover while physical distancing measures are in place. Implement these for you personally to enjoy, or as a precursor to setting up to sell. 

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New To Homeschooling? Try Our Essential Tips For Parents

Posted by Niels Madsen on April 22, 2020

Homeschooling is never as easy as it looks—something that millions of parents across Canada have been discovering.

Trying to balance the task of managing your child’s education and your own life can be difficult, but thankfully there is a wealth of information, resources, and support out there to help you.

This guide will look at some of those resources, as well as offering some helpful tips on how to make your homeschooling adventure an enjoyable one for you and your children. 

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A Guide To Wills, Estate Planning, And How To Pass On Your Property

Posted by Niels Madsen on March 17, 2020

Planning for what will happen to your assets after you’ve passed is a difficult subject—and one we can understand people being reluctant to approach—but it is very necessary. And once you’re done, you’ll be able to relax knowing everything has been taken care of!

Wills and estate planning are also daunting legal prospects, which is why we’ve prepared this comprehensive guide. 

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2020 Family Day Activities in Victoria

Posted by Niels Madsen on February 3, 2020

Family Day is coming up quick, so start planning those family activities!

Whether your children are teens or little ones, there's a wide variety of free and paid events around Greater Victoria for your family to take part in. Give a few a try! Here are a few events happening on Family Day Long Weekend:

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Your BC Property Assessment Explained: What Is It, What Does It Mean, and What Are The Tax Implications

Posted by Niels Madsen on January 20, 2020

As it’s January, it’s once again time for property owners in BC to receive their annual property assessment from BC Assessment. Even if you aren’t planning on buying or selling immediately these are important documents. And you should take the time to understand what they mean for you. Here’s our primer on what you need to know about your BC Assessment. 

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A Guide To Winter Planting

Posted by Niels Madsen on December 23, 2019

Winter has already descended upon us, and with that comes one of the most difficult times of the year for keen gardeners. The frost, snow, and shorter days all combine to make planting and growing a daunting task. The key to a successful winter garden is to plan and prepare properly — but it’s still not too late to make the most of your garden this winter if you haven’t.

We’re going to look at some of the ways you can help cultivate a year-round garden that thrives in winter, how to make the most of the winter period to lay the foundation for the next planting season, and some of the best plants and vegetables to plant next year for a bountiful winter harvest. 

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The Importance Of Listing Photos - Why A Listing Needs Good Photos

Posted by Niels Madsen on November 20, 2019

Do listing photos matter? When it comes to selling your property the answer is a resounding yes. In the past one of the biggest selling points of any property was its curb appeal, because of that first impression made when a prospective buyer would view a property. Nowadays, that first viewing doesn’t come when the buyer approaches the physical property — it happens when they view a listing online.

We’ve seen this replicated in numerous studies of the property market which show that listings with professional quality listing photos sell faster, and often for higher sums, than those without. With studies showing that professional photography can cause a listing to sell around 50% faster. And as prospective buyers put more and more stock into their online property searches, it’s reasonable to expect this to continue.

Why is this the case? Read on to find out, and to gain a better understanding of just how and why you can use professional-quality listing photos to your advantage. 

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2019 Halloween Events in Victoria

Posted by Niels Madsen on October 4, 2019

Ready for another year of tricks and treats in Victoria? Check out local kids activities, ghost tours, haunted houses, bonfires, theatre shows, quiz nights, and other events taking place during the season of the pumpkin. Share your spooky experiences with us! 

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How To Stage Your Home For Success - 8 Aspects To Consider

Posted by Niels Madsen on September 27, 2019

‘All The World’s A Stage’ — and your home should be the grandest of them all, especially if your audience is prospective buyers. Staging is vitally important because those in-person impressions will be what ultimately sways a buyer. Your home may look good in photos, and sound good on paper, but if the reality doesn’t match up with expectations buyers may very well look elsewhere.

Imagine a job interview: you dress to impress, you prepare the right answers, and you go out of your way to win over your hopeful future employers. Think of staging as preparing your home for its very own job interview! With that in mind, here are our top tips for how you can stage your home and win over prospective buyers. 

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Tips On Making Your Home More Accessible

Posted by Niels Madsen on August 28, 2019

Whether you need to make sure you’re living in a home that can meet your mobility requirements or you’re looking to make sure your home is well-suited to your needs as you approach retirement—accessibility is going to be your number one concern. This applies to both those who are looking for a new place to live and those that want to make their current home more accessible.

To help you on both these fronts, we’re taking a look at some of the key accessibility concerns you need to look out for when looking for a new home as well as some of the things you can do right now to make your own home more accessible. 

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