Victoria BC Community Blog

Home Staging 101: Preparing Your Property for Sale Tag: open houses

Posted by Niels Madsen on November 22, 2024

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes

Property staging can encompass a wide range of changes, from smaller cosmetic fixes to larger renovations, but the goal is always the same: to make sure a property is as visually appealing and inviting to prospective buyers as possible, whether they are looking at it online or in person. It’s a common practice, but not one that is always utilized to its full potential, so here are some things to keep in mind.

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Home Improvement Projects to Increase Property Value Tag: open houses

Posted by Niels Madsen on March 13, 2024

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes

When it comes to adding value to your home and making it a more appealing proposition for potential buyers, you don’t have to break the bank or bring in a professional to do major renovations. There are a variety of DIY projects you can undertake that will help add value to your home, and here are some of our favourites.

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The Home Selling Journey Tag: open houses

Posted by Niels Madsen on November 16, 2023

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes

Everyone dreams of that first step on the property ladder—and with good reason, your first house will live long in your memory. However that first step is rarely the final one, and in order to fulfill your property dreams, and potentially find that forever home, selling that first property will be just as important as buying it. Getting the most value for your first sale will improve the options available to you as well as helping to set you up for the long term financially. Here is what to expect as a first time home seller, and how a REALTOR® can help.  

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10 Essential Tips for First-Time Homebuyers Tag: open houses

Posted by Niels Madsen on August 15, 2023

Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes

Buying a home is an exciting venture, but it's also a decision that requires careful consideration. Before starting it’s vital to be well-prepared, so here are 10 tips to guide you through the home buying process, ensuring that you make informed choices and find the perfect place to call your own.

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4 Ways to Increase Your Home Value with Curb Appeal Tag: open houses

Posted by Niels Madsen on March 17, 2023

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes

First impressions count, especially if you are looking to sell your home. We know buyers are guided by emotions, and so much of this can be influenced by what they see before they’ve even stepped foot in your property. Because the exterior of your property is the first thing anyone will notice about your home, it’s important to take the time to showcase your property in the best light! 

But curb appeal isn’t just about selling your property — it’s a long term investment that can make a property a more enjoyable place to live, as well as raising the value and appeal of your neighbourhood. It can also often be an inexpensive and relatively simple cosmetic makeover that still has a marked effect on the look and feel of a property, ensuring you create a meaningful and lasting first impression on visitors and prospective buyers. 

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Buying a House Without Seeing it in Person Tag: open houses

Posted by Niels Madsen on April 19, 2021

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes

If you’ve begun looking for a house or even thought about it, you’ve probably been to websites that show listings in your area. You can see a few photos, check out the walking score for the neighborhood, and book a showing with the real estate agent on the listing.

But what if the house you’re looking for is too far away for you to take that step?

Is it possible to get enough information to purchase the home you want responsibly and without regret?

The answer is, with the right tools, a resounding “yes”!

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The Importance Of Listing Photos - Why A Listing Needs Good Photos Tag: open houses

Posted by Niels Madsen on November 20, 2019

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes

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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How To Stage Your Home For Success - 8 Aspects To Consider Tag: open houses

Posted by Niels Madsen on September 27, 2019

Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes

‘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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How To Make Your Home Appealing By Cleaning And Decluttering Tag: open houses

Posted by Niels Madsen on May 24, 2019

Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes

When it comes to selling your home, having a clean and tidy space can really make all the difference. Selling is all about making a positive impression, and whether consciously or unconsciously, an untidy or cluttered property may influence buyers negatively. It doesn’t take much, often it’s just a few small things and a matter of being thorough with your cleaning, and you’ll have your home dressed to impress. Below we’ve offered our own handy guide to the steps you should be taking in order to clean and declutter your home.  

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Tips For First Time Home Sellers in BC Tag: open houses

Posted by Niels Madsen on March 28, 2019

Estimated Read Time: 19 minutes

Homeowners typically don't think about being a first-time home seller until they decide to buy a new home. Whe the need to move arises because of work, a growing family, or other situations, most of the focus is usually on buying a new house.

But when you stop to think about it, as soon as you need to sell in order to buy a new home, you've become a first-time home seller. Plus, most first-time homeowners don't realize how different selling a home is from buying a home. The process can be daunting and complicated, especially if you don't have a real estate agent on board right from the start.

To help you get a better idea of what to expect, and as a partner to our first-time home buyers guide, we've collected a series of steps and tips that will hopefully make the process of selling your home a little easier.

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