You've made the decision: your current home no longer meets your needs, and you're ready to let it go. You've spruced up your property, decided on a real estate agent, and have the perfect new home picked out.
So is it best to sell your home now, or later?
When it's time to move, it always feels like there's a million things to do and not enough time to keep track of them, much less get them done. But if you start the process early enough, keep yourself organized, and have a checklist of items to follow, the process becomes much less overwhelming.
Here is a list of important items to cover before and during a move, including links to change of address forms and tips on how to pack.
As one of the biggest investments one can make in a lifetime, homeowners want and expect their homes to last a long time. But not all buildings — or building materials — are made equal.
Homes of a certain age in BC are more prone to some issues than others. Condos built in the 1990s often have leaking issues, while those built in the 70s can have poor plumbing and elevators. Homes built from the 1960s all the way up until the early 90s can contain harmful asbestos. Buildings constructed prior to the 1950s, the start of official building codes, can have everything from poor foundations to faulty wiring.
Everything is fixable for a price, but many home buyers may not have the budget to replace or upgrade the core "bones" of a house. I'll be reviewing some of the warning signs to watch out for when touring a home, as well as what kind of systems and materials are preferred.
In a hot real estate market, emotions often run high and tough situations are common. And more often than not, you'll find a bidding war at the heart of those situations. Bidding wars can be high-stress for both the buyers and the seller, and contrary to popular belief, they aren't always the way to get the best price for your home.
With that in mind, there are ways to minimize the stress and increase your chances of getting the home you really want.
As spring approaches, so does the ideal home selling season. The period right after the cold starts to wane and before the market starts to pick up is the perfect opportunity to prepare your home for staging, as well as add some value to your property.
Starting on the outside and moving in, I'll help you take a look at the top 8 ways to spruce up your home this spring.
Family Day is coming up quick, and it's time again to start planning those family activities! Organize a family outing and check out the wide variety of free and paid events taking place around Greater Victoria.
In 2016, the Victoria real estate market broke records across the board: over 10,000 transactions took place, the most ever since the Board began tracking the number in 1990. Real estate values for single family homes increased 20% overall, with increases ranging as high as 37% in the Victoria core.
The Canadian Housing Market Association (HMA) has warned of the problems arising from real estate price increases and overbuilding across the country, but predictions are hopeful that the market will slow and stabilize by 2018.
I'll be taking a detailed look at the real estate market forecast for Victoria in 2017, as predicted by a number of leaders in the industry.
This year we've already seen an incredible amount of rainfall in Victoria BC, thanks in part to Hurricane Matthew. Some areas in Sooke even received instructions and supplies for sandbagging their homes against potential floods. When facing conditions like this, it's easy to see that sometimes winterizing your home isn't enough on its own.
How can you ensure the safety of your home and family when mother nature is at its worst? We can't prevent every disaster, but there are things you can do when looking for a new home, or as a home owner readying for the winter, to better your chances.
Halloween is always a big event in Victoria with plenty to do. Check out local kids activities, ghost tours, haunted houses, bonfires, festivals and events taking place during the 2016 season of the pumpkin. And make sure to share your experiences using the hashtag #VictoriaBOO!
Deciding on a new home can be a huge, frustrating project when you're new parents or your family has recently grown. How do you tell when your current home is too small for your kids? What will your kids need in a new home or neighbourhood, and how can you make it fit your budget? How do you tour houses when you have an infant or a toddler and no way to get a babysitter?
Psychologists say that involving kids of any age in the house selection and moving process will help them adjust to their new home better, faster, and happier — but it's not easy. As a real estate agent with children of my own, I've been around the block (literally) on both sides of the issue, and I've learned some tricks over the years that I hope will help other young families searching for a home in Victoria.
