Life's full of curveballs, and as individuals, we can't be experts at everything. When you buy a house, you hire a real estate agent to coach you through the complicated process. When you're going through a personal life change, the best thing you can do is hire a professional to coach you through that too. 

Today, we're talking to our friends Lisa and Lindsay at THE BIG d COACHES, who provide relationship, divorce, and life coaching to clients. "We want to challenge people to have real conversations about the challenges and struggles people face every day in their relationships." Lisa and Lindsay are experts in seeing the forest through the trees, helping people find clarity on what matters, confidence in their decisions, and trust in themselves.

No matter if you're considering divorce, or if you're set on it, their coaching was built to give individuals an understanding of the divorce process and what's to come--having a game plan as you navigate a divorce saves time and money. " ...for those couples sitting on the fence of their relationship, we really want to challenge them to GET IN and build a meaningful and thriving relationship or GET OUT in an amicable way with their respect and sanity intact." Coming out of the other side of a divorce is just as hard, and Lisa and Lindsay provide follow up life coaching so people can come out of the other side as the best version of themselves and hold themselves accountable to that standard. 

Get in touch with Lisa and Lindsay if you're curious about what kind of guidance and coaching you could benefit from. 

As sure as death and taxes, when you put up a "For Sale By Owner" sign on your lawn, your phone will start ringing off the hook. Except those calls aren't from prospective buyers - they're from prospective real estate agents, who are looking to scoop up your listing. And they're not wrong to reach out - while the idea of saving all that money by not having to pay a commission to a real estate agent, there are a ton of details and minutia that can pose big time challenges for those looking to sell their home on their own. 

If you're going to take on the responsibility of selling your own home, you have to be prepared. Running the risk of coming into the process unprepared can lead you down the long road where your home sits on the market longer than you anticipated, for any number of reasons but most likely because you aren't attracting and getting offers from qualified buyers. Without the market knowledge and experience, it can get extremely frustrating for homeowners. But going in with a little foresight and understanding can 

We've talked about being prepared for selling your own home - so what exactly do you need to know? 

1. Price it Right

Correctly setting your asking price is critical. Setting your price too high can be as costly as setting it too low. Home prices are determined by fluctuations in the mar- ketplace not by your emotional attachment or by what you feel your home is worth. In order to establish a real- istic price for your home, objectively compare the price, features and condition of all similar homes in both your neighborhood and other similar ones which have sold in recent months. It is also important for you to be familiar with the terms of each potential sale. Terms are often as important as price in today's market. Carefully budget your selling costs and prepare a net proceeds sheet to calculate your best estimate of what you will take away from your home sale. Prospective buyers may also re- quest this kind of analysis of buying costs.

2. Prepare Your Home for Sale

First impression is crucial. Make sure your home makes a positive statement by carefully inspecting all details and viewing it through the objective eyes of a buyer. Don't gloss over needed repairs and fix-ups, as your prospective buyers won't. Your job is to ensure that your home stands out favorably from the competition.

3. Prepare Yourself With All Necessary Legal Documentation

Not surprisingly, there are many important legal con- tracts and documents which you must assemble, com- plete and understand. A partial checklist of forms that you will require for prospective buyers and for legal doc- umentation is as follows:

• Seller Disclosure          

• Purchase Contract

• Mortgage Payoff                 

• Loan Application

• Deposit Receipt                   

• Property Profile Fact Sheet

• Buyer's Cost Sheet                 

• Closing & Settlement

• Personal Property                 

• Exclusion List

• Property Survey/Plot Plan         

• Sellers Statement of Representation

4. Market Your Home Effectively

Beyond the sign you will put on your lawn, you should find effective ways to spread the word about your home. Local buyers can be reached through the newspaper, but this is only a small part of the market you are after. Be sure you include the many buyers who could already be working with a Realtor®. To locate them, target as many top agents as possible in your market to see if the criteria of their buyers matches that of your home's. Be- cause out-of town buyers are also an important target, you should create a strategy to reach these people as well. Above all, you should be very service minded and make it easy for pre-qualified buyers to view your home. Ensure there is always someone available to answer the phone, pick up messages promptly, and be ready to give qualified prospects a tour of your home as soon as possible.

5. Remain Objective During a Showing of Your Home

Keep emotion out of the sale of your home, and the best way to do this during a showing is to remain physically in the background. If a prospective buyer says something negative about your home, it is better to counter-bal- ance this point of view by illustrating the positives rather than becoming defensive.

6. Pre-Qualify Your Prospects

Don't waste your time entertaining buyers who could never afford your home. Research their financial steadi- ness with respect to job security, salary, debts, liabilities and credit standing.

7. Negotiate Effectively & Knowledgeably

There will be many details to resolve before a sale can be considered final: price, terms, inspections, posses- sion date, buyer concerns and objections. Make sure you fully understand the contract you have drawn up so you can in turn explain details and ramifications to the buyer and make any amendments to the sale that are necessary. The contract you use should be thoroughly examined by your real estate attorney. Some real estate brokers may be willing to help you do this. While this is going on, manage the buyer's interest in your home so that it doesn't wane during negotiations.

8. Know Your Buyer

Your objective during negotiations is to control the pace and set the duration. Try to determine what your buyer's motivation is. Does he or she need to move quickly? Do they have enough money to pay your asking price? Knowing this information will give you the advantage in the negotiation because you will know up front, what you will need to do in order to get what you want.

9. Don't Move Out Before You Sell

Studies have shown that it is more difficult to sell a home that is vacant. It looks forlorn, forgotten, simply not ap- pealing. It could even cost you money. If you move, you're also telling buyers that you have a new home and are motivated to sell fast which can, of course, give them an advantage at the negotiating table.

10. Know Why You're Selling and Keep it to Yourself

The flip side of "understanding your buyer" is to "under- stand yourself". Your reasons for selling will affect every- thing from your list price to how much time and money you will invest in getting your home ready for sale. Your motivation will help you determine what is more important to you: the money you walk away with, the length of time your property is on the market, or both. Different goals will dictate different strategies. As someone who wants to sell without a real estate agent in an effort to save the commission, it is likely that money is one of your primary considerations, (see below). Whatever your reasons, how- ever, it is very important to keep them to yourself so as not to place yourself at a disadvantage at the negotiation table. When asked, simply say your housing needs have changed.

HOW TO ASSESS YOUR NET GAIN

To analyze whether or not you will end up ahead by choosing to sell on your own, consider the fact that most buyers do use a real estate agent because it doesn't cost them any- thing for this service (i.e. the seller pays the agent's fee). Be cautious as buyers, investors and speculators who seek out For Sale by Owners are typically those in search of a bar- gain. The low-ball offers from these types of buyers will often net you much lower in the long run. What you will have to judge for yourself is the following:

1. Be as prepared as possible with your marketing, negotiations, evaluations, showings and all legalities.

2. Consider what it will cost you to effectively market your home and assemble all neces- sary materials from the "for sale" sign to any contracts?

3. What price will a buyer offer you as a For Sale by Owner minus the costs identified in point 2 above. Is this net price higher than the price an experienced agent could net for you minus his/her commission?

You're starting the year feeling exhausted. You tried to sell your home last year, and it didn't go well. All the work to prep your home for sale, all the emotions into looking for a new, perfect home - and now you've had to pull it off the market. You're not wrong to feel discouraged, especially in Calgary's real estate climate. You must know that the reason it didn't sell may have nothing to do with your home or the market. In reality, your home may have been one of the more desirable properties for sale. Take some time to grieve the process you've just been through and let's rally, starting with an audit of your procedure and what your next steps are. 

Q. If I'm taking the plunge (again), where do I start?

A. Start by committing to do what it takes to market your house to get it sold. You've got to promise yourself you're going to listen to the advice of your realtor, who has the knowledge of the market running deep in their veins. Sometimes sellers think they know, which is great - being informed is critical! But your realtor is an absolute profession - with the right system, the home sale you want is still well within reach.

Q. So seriously - why didn't my home sell?

A. Look back at your previous selling plan - you'll discover that your listing had a problem in one or more of these four major areas:

• Teamwork - trusting and working together with your realtor to move your property. 
• Pricing - are you emotionally attached to your property? Because sometimes, we feel all the feels when the market deems a property is worth "X" when you think it's worth "Y." 
• Condition of Your Home - perfect isn't the word we're looking for - we want your house to be spic and span. All the electric plates should match, the 
• Marketing - it's not just blasting the word out there to every nook and cranny. Your property could benefit from some strategy - let's talk about it. 

Why Don't Some Houses Sell?

4 Important Points That Will Get Your House Sold!

1. Teamwork

Your home is a major financial investment, and your relationship with your Realtor® should be a full partnership where your needs and wishes are heard, and you receive detailed and dependable feedback on the progress of your sale. Your agent has a responsibility to source this feedback from the agents who have shown your home, and to communicate this to you so together you can make the right decisions about what to do next. How well did this occur the last time you had your home up for sale?

2. Pricing

Did the price work for or against you? The "right" price depends on market conditions, competition, and the condition of your home. Pricing it too high is as dangerous as pricing it too low. If your home doesn't compare favorably with others in the price range you've set, you won't be taken seriously by prospects or agents.

You'll get the facts when you see the statistics!

HOT TIP! Every Seller Can Boost a Property's Exposure!

• Make your house easy to show.
• Consider installing a lockbox.
• Allow showing times that are convenient to buyers.
• Use a "For Sale" sign, where permitted.
• Create a Good First Impression by depersonalizing furnishings and decor so prospects can visualize themselves in your home, emphasizing curb appeal, and keeping large pets at a distance.

Remember — The next prospects who visit your home may be your buyers — be ready for them!

To help you to establish a realistic selling price for your home, ask your agent to provide you with an up-to-date competitive market analysis to give you:

• a review of comparable homes recently sold or currently for sale,
• an idea of how long other homes have been listed, to calculate an average time in which a home can sell in today's market,
• a review of homes whose listings have expired, to understand what issues were at play.

Note: There is no mention of how much you paid for your home or its improvements. Like any other investment, the market value is determined by what a willing buyer will pay, and a willing seller will accept.

3. Condition Of Your Home

Showcase Quality!

Is your house someone else's idea of a dream home? When buyers enter are they inspired? Do they think, "I love this house!" Remember, the decision to buy a home is based on emotion, not logic. A house in move-in condition invites a sale.

You need to consider:

• fixing all the little squeaks and cracks
• keeping it clean for all showings
• making it uncluttered
• brightening it up
• what your home shows like from the street concentrating on outside curb appeal.

Plus — Consider taking care of major items, such as having your home painted. Offering an allowance to your prospective buyers, so they can have painting completed is not the same as having done it for them. Now, as they're trying to imagine what that new paint job will look like, they may also be discounting the price even further because of the less-than-perfect look of those walls.

Remember-a house that presents well sells for the best price because it outshines the competition.

* Ask your agent if they can arrange a no-obligation inspection of your home to help you assess the above.*

4. Marketing

Marketing Your Home To Sell! Some Questions You Should Be Asking! One of the first steps in your marketing plan involves finding an agent who will best represent you. When interviewing agents, test and compare their knowledge and ask each to demonstrate how they will market your home to buyers. Compare, too, how much money each spends on advertising the homes s/he lists, in what media (newspaper, magazine, etc.) and the effectiveness of one medium over the other. Remember, it's not just how much they spend, but how they spend it. Say goodbye to any real estate agents using old, traditional methods to sell your home because they don't work in today's market! To be competitive in today's marketplace, agents who use new and innovative, non-traditional marketing approaches are the ones who are getting more homes sold fast and for top dollar.

HOT TIP! Get the Best Results!

To get the best results when selling your home, you need to team up with your agent to develop a great marketing plan that exposes your property to the broadest possible pool of prospective buyers.

And Remember...

Not all agents are the same. The relationship between you and your agent can make the difference between selling your home fast, or not selling it all.

You've looked around your home, taken a deep breath, and made the decision - it's time to sell your home. For most people, just the thought of moving makes them nervous - you need every tool in your toolbox to feel confident about the process, and to make sure it goes smoothly. There's one element that can make or break your experience, and that's your realtor. It's not just finding a breathing human with a real estate license - this is a significant emotional endeavor. You need someone you connect with, who understands what you need and how you communicate, someone who sees the value in your home the same way you do and goes above and beyond to market it. And more than anything, you need someone who has a strong understanding of the market. 

The bottom line is - the agent you pick can cost or save you THOUSANDS of dollars. There are particular questions you should be asking to make sure that you get the best representation for your needs. Some agents may prefer that you don't ask these questions, because the knowledge you'll gain from their honest answers will give you an indication about what outcome you can expect from their services And let's face it - in real estate, as in life - not all things are created equal.

Hiring a real estate agent is just like any hiring process - with you on the boss's side of the desk. So what questions should you ask? Let's dig in. 

1. What makes you different? Why should I list my home with you?

It's a much tougher real estate market than it was a decade ago. What unique marketing plans and programs does this agent have in place to make sure that your home stands out favorably versus other competing homes? What things does this agent offer you that others don't help you sell your home in the least amount of time with the least amount of hassle and for the most amount of money?

2. What are your company's track record and reputation in the market place?

It may seem like everywhere you look, real estate agents are boasting about being #1 for this or that, or quoting you the number of homes they've sold. If you're like many homeowners, you've probably become immune to much of this information. After all, you ask, "Why should I care about how many homes one agent sold over another. The only thing I care about is whether they can sell my home quickly for the most amount of money."

Well, because you want your home sold fast, and for top dollar, you should be asking the agents you interview how many homes they have sold. I'm sure you will agree that success in real estate is selling homes. If one agent is selling a lot of homes where another is selling only a handful, ask yourself why this might be? What things are these two agents doing differently?

You may be surprised to know that many agents sell fewer than ten homes a year. This volume makes it difficult for them to do full impact marketing on your home because they can't raise the money it takes to afford the advertising and special programs to give your home a high profile. Also, at this low level, they probably can't afford to hire an assistant, which means that they're running around trying to do all the components of the job themselves, which means service may suffer.

3. What are your marketing plans for my home?

How much money does this agent spend in advertising the homes s/he lists versus the other agents you are interviewing? In what media (newspaper, magazine, TV, etc.) does this agent advertise? What does s/he know about the effectiveness of one medium over the other?

4. What has your company sold in my area?

Agents should bring you a complete listing of both their own and other comparable sales in your area.

5. Does your Broker control your advertising, or do you?

If your agent is not in control of their advertising, then your home will be competing for advertising space not only with this agent's other listings but also with the listings of every other agent in the brokerage.

6. On average, when your listings sell, how close is the selling price to the asking price?

This information is available from the Real Estate Board. Is this agent's performance higher or lower than the board average? Their performance on this measurement will help you predict how high a price you will get for the sale of your home.

7. On average, how long does it take for your listings to sell?

This information is also available from the Real Estate Board. Does this agent tend to sell faster or slower than the board average? Their performance on this measurement will help you predict how long your home will be on the market before it sells.

8. How many Buyers are you currently working with?

The more buyers your agent is working with, the better your chances are of selling your home quickly. It will also impact price because an agent with many buyers can set up an auction-like atmosphere where many buyers bid on your home at the same time. Ask them to describe the system they have for attracting buyers.

9. Do you have a reference list of clients I could contact?

Ask to see this list, and then proceed to spot check some of the names.

10. What happens if I'm not happy with the job you are doing to get my home sold? Can I cancel my listing contract?

Be wary of agents that lock you into a lengthy listing contract which they can get out of (by ceasing to market your home effectively), but you can't. There are usually penalties and broker protection periods which safeguard the agent's interests, but not yours. How confident is your agent in the service s/he will provide you? Will s/he allow you to cancel your contract without penalty if you're not satisfied with the service provided?

Evaluate each agent's responses to these ten questions carefully and objectively. Who will do the best job for you? These questions will help you decide.

There's a sentiment on the internet lately and it's that people are ready for 2019 to be over. It's been a wild ride, for Calgarians, for Canadians, for citizens around the world, in real estate and beyond. Here's what we're saying - you have full permission to be ready to say goodbye to 2019 and welcome 2020 and a new decade with open arms. 

If 2020 feels like it's going to be a year of fresh beginnings, maybe now is a good time to take steps to get your home ready for staging. Or even if you just want to perk up your home and clear some clutter, rules of staging make any home look great, no matter what phase of life you're in. Consider getting your home staging a cleanse - when all the holiday decor comes down, it can be an opportunity for an audit of all your stuff, and allow you to pick out what matters and what doesn’t 

If you’ve ever visited model homes, you’re familiar with effective presentation styles. Have you ever walked into one of these homes and immediately begun taking stock, planning how to get your home to look that good? Well, now is the time to take some of these steps. Of course, there are ways to achieve the same effect in your own home without incurring model home costs.

When homes create this immediate type of emotional appeal, they tend to sell quickly— and for more money. Use the following step-by-step guide to get your house into selling shape before you put the property on the market, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful sale!

1. Depersonalize

This should be one of your first steps when you begin preparing your house to sell. Over the years, a home inevitably becomes tattooed with the owners’ lives, covered with touches that have made it that special place for you. At this point, however, you want buyers to recognize it as a property they could make into their unique place. When a homebuyer walks into a room and sees these personalizing touches—such as photos on the walls or trophy collections—their ability to picture their own lives in this room is jarred, impairing a positive emotional response. So, your first step will be to remove all the family photos, the trophies, collectible items, and souvenirs. Pack them all together, so you’ll have everything you need at your disposal when it comes time to personalize your new home. For the time being, rent a storage space and keep these items there. Do not simply transfer these items to another place in your house. Do not hoard them away in a closet, basement, attic, or garage, as the next step in preparing your home is to minimize clutter—and these areas of your house will all be targeted

2. Remove all clutter. 

The next step on the list is to purge your house of the excess items that have accumulated over the years. This is the hardest part for many people, as they have an emotional investment in many of these things. When you have lived in a house for several years, a build-up of personal effects occurs that is often so gradual that you don’t notice the space is becoming cluttered. If you need to, bring in an objective friend to help point out areas that could stand to be cleared. Try to stand back yourself and see your house as a buyer might. Survey shelves, countertops, drawers, closets, the basement—all places where clutter often accumulates—to determine what needs to go. Use a system to help you decide: get rid of all items, for example, you haven’t used in the past five years, and pack up everything that you haven’t used in the past year. Although getting rid of some things might be hard, try to do it without conscience or remorse. You’ll be forced to go through this process anyway when you move, and with each box you eliminate, your storage space—and the room in general—begins to look larger. We’ve broken down the process into specific areas of your house to help you concentrate your efforts:

Kitchen: 

The kitchen is an ideal place to begin, as it’s easy to spot and eliminate the type of clutter that tends to accumulate here. Homebuyers will open your drawers and cabinets as they’ll want to check if there will be enough room for their own belongings. If the drawers appear cluttered and crowded, this will give them the impression there is not enough space.

• First of all, remove everything from the counters, even the toaster (the toaster can be stored in a cabinet, and brought out when needed).

• Clean out all the cabinets and drawers. Put aside all of the dishes, pots and pans that you rarely use, then box them and put them in the storage unit you have rented (again, not in the basement or a closet).

• If you, like many people, have a “junk drawer,” clear this out.

• Get rid of the food items in the pantry that you don’t use. Begin to use up existing food—let what you have on your shelves dictate your menus from now on.

• Remove all extra cleaning supplies from the shelves beneath the sink. Make sure this area is as empty as possible. You should thoroughly clean this spot as well, and check for any water stains that might indicate leaking pipes. Buyers will look in most cabinets, and will notice any telltale signs of damage.

Closets:

• Go through all clothes and shoes. If you don’t wear something anymore, get rid of it. We all have those clothes, too, that we wear only once in awhile, but can’t bear to give away. Box these items and keep them in the storage unit for a few months.

• Go through all other personal items in the closet. Be ruthless. Weed out everything you don’t absolutely need.

• Remove any unsightly boxes from the back of the closet. Put them in storage if need be. Get everything off the floor. Closets should look as though they have enough room to hold additional items.

Furniture:

• You may want to tour a few model homes in order to gauge the type of furniture chosen by design teams to create a spacious, yet comfortable atmosphere. Note how that furniture is arranged to cultivate a certain feeling.

• After having armed yourself with some ideas, stand back and look at each of your rooms. What will you need to remove? Remember, most homes contain too much furniture for showings. These are items that you’ve grown comfortable with and that have become incorporated into your everyday routine. However, each room should offer a sense of spaciousness, so some furniture will likely need to be placed in storage.

Storage Areas:

• Basements, garages, attics, and sheds: these are the “junkyard” areas of any given home. It is possible to arrange simple clutter into a certain order, but junk is sent packing to these often-hidden rooms. First, determine which of these boxes and items you actually need. Can some of it be sent to the dump once and for all?

• Hold a Garage Sale. You’ve heard the saying, “One person’s trash is another’s treasure.” Let these items go to a better home

• Transfer some items to the rental storage unit. You’ll want to clear the storage areas in your house as much as possible, in order for them to appear spacious to potential home-buyers. Buyers want the reassurance that their own excess belongings will find places for storage in their new home.

Eliminating clutter from your home will do you a world of good - it will help you clear space in your mind, and give you more rest and peace when you are at home. As well, it will help show you how much stuff you have - and how much stuff you don’t really need. Start the new year fresh! 

THE List Of Home Inspection Issues To Be Aware Of Before You Put Your Home On the Market 

- A pre inspection could save you a ton of money!

Home buyers are as individual as the homes they dream of purchasing - everyone has tastes and preferences that make shopping for a new home challenging and exciting. There’s no one home fits all! But one thing all home buyers have in common is a desire to ensure that the home they will call their own is as good beneath the surface as it appears to be.

We've noticed a trend over the past couple of years where a deal is only half done when we get the offer negotiated. We now have to go through the home inspection, which has been opening another round of negotiations in most situations. This causes a ton of stress for sellers, as home inspections usually make or break a sale. We talk to our inspector Chris Odds of Odds on Home Inspections about the benefits of a pre-inspection in our attached video. Think about it...you could know what issues your home has long before it becomes a deal-jeopardizing problem, giving you ample time to repair them. Also, it could save you thousands in price reductions after the fact. Making you money, and selling with less stress? That's a win in my book!

THE List Of Home Inspection Issues To Be Aware Of Before You Put Your Home On the Market

When you put your home on the market, you don’t want any unpleasant surprises that could cost you the sale of your home. By having an understanding of these 11 problem areas as you walk through your home, you’ll be arming yourself against future disappointment.

1. Defective Plumbing

Defective plumbing can manifest itself in two different ways: leaking, and clogging. A visual inspection can detect leaking, and an inspector will gauge water pressure by turning on all faucets in the highest bathroom and then flushing the toilet. Is your plumbing made of Poly B or Kytek? This could cause insurance issues for potential buyers.

2. Damp or Wet Basement

An inspector will check your walls for a powdery white mineral deposit a few inches off the floor, and will look to see if you feel secure enough to store things right on your basement floor. A mildew odor is almost im- possible to eliminate, and an inspector will certainly be conscious of it. It could cost you $200-$1,000 to seal a crack in or around your basement foundation depending on severity and location. Adding a sump pump and pit could run you around $1500 - $6,000, and complete waterproofing (of an average 3 bedroom home) could amount to +/- $15,000. You will have to weigh these figures into the calculation of what price you want to net on your home.

3. Inadequate Wiring & Electrical

Your home should have a minimum of 100 amps service, and this should be clearly marked. Wire should be copper. Home inspectors will look at grouding issues, double tapped panels, and overloaded circuits.

4. Poor Heating & Cooling Systems

Insufficient insulation, and an inadequate or a poorly functioning heating system, are the most common causes of poor heating. While an adequately clean furnace, without rust on the heat exchanger, usually has life left in it, an inspector will be asking and checking to see if your furnace is over its typical life span of 15-25 yrs. For a forced air gas system, a heat ex- changer will come under particular scrutiny since one that is cracked can emit deadly carbon monoxide into the home. These heat exchangers must be replaced if damaged - they cannot be repaired.

5. Roofing Problems

Water leakage through the roof can occur for a variety of reasons such as physical deterioration of the asphalt shingles (e.g. curling or splitting), or mechanical damage from a wind storm. When gutters leak and downspouts allow water to run down and through the exterior walls, this external problem becomes a major internal one.

6. Damp Attic Spaces

Aside from basement dampness, problems with ven- tilation, insulation and vapor barriers can cause water, moisture, mold and mildew to form in the attic. This can lead to premature wear of the roof, structure and building materials. The cost to fix this damage could easily run over $2,500.

7. Rotting Wood

This can occur in many places (door or window frames, trim, siding, decks and fences). The building inspector will sometimes probe the wood to see if this is present - especially when wood has been freshly painted.

8. Sewer Blockages/Line Breaks

Some older neighbourhoods have common issues with sewer pipes that are made from a collapsible material. This can be an extremely costly repair, and one that most buyers will run away from

9. Windows/Doors

Are your window seals broken? Do the casements or sashes work properly and smoothly? Are all the screens in place? These are things that will come up on an inspection

10. Eavestrough Extensions/Water Drainage

Most inspectors will look for drainage issues on the outside of the house. The goal is to prevent water from collecting near the foundation, and causing leaks into the basement. Make sure your eavestroughs are clean, your eavestrough extensions are in place, and that there is an adequate slope away from the foundation around the perimeter of your home. Building up soil or drainage rock around your home is a good idea.

11. Asbestos/Radon/Other Hazardous Chemicals and Products

Asbestos was used prevalently in construction before 1984. This can be an issue for potential buyers depending on where it is, and how concentrated. Radon has come under the microscope in recent years, and is starting to become a big issue for buyers. Having these two tests done before you list your home can be a big benefit.

12. Structural/Foundation Problems

An inspector will certainly investigate the underlying footing and foundation of your home as structural integrity is fundamental to your home.

Could a Pre Inspection Save You Money?

From a realtor’s perspective, yes. Not only could a pre inspection ease the mind of a buyer before they write an offer, it could be a great leverage tool during the negotiation. If we have an inspection in our hands, we’re going to be more confident that there isn’t anything that will pop up, even if a buyer wants to do their own inspection during conditions.

For more info, or if you have a home to sell, give us a shout. We can talk you through all the things that could potentially be a problem for you during your sale.

How To Increase Your Home’s Value & Make It More Energy Efficient

Homeowners remodel their homes for a number of reasons, but one of the most common is to increase resale value prior to listing. Renovations will improve the style and function of your home and may make it more appealing to potential buyers if you’re thinking of listing your home. So are you ready to tackle the bigger projects to see sweat equity when it comes to list your home in the future? 

Renovation Facts and Figures 

40% of renovation projects went over budget, while 33% stayed on budget.  

40% of home improvement dollars in Canada have gone into kitchen renovations. 

Top 3 Reasons for Renovating

1. Improve the design/look and feel 

2. Increase resale value 

3. Improve storage and efficiency 

Top 3 Renovation projects

1. Bathroom renovation/addition 

2. Kitchen renovation/addition 

3. Flooring/Paint

Upgrade Your Kitchen 

The kitchen is the heart of the home. A kitchen remodel will not only improve your home’s functionality, it may also become a key selling point if you decide to sell. The average kitchen remodel costs $24,912 (CAD), with people undertaking a high-end remodel spending an average of $49,495 However, if you’re thinking of listing your home soon and your kitchen is in good shape, you may want to rethink a full remodel. A minor upgrade and a coat of paint may be all you need to freshen up the space. 

Upgrade Your Bathroom 

The bathroom is the place where you get ready to take on the world every day. Show it some love with a makeover. Upgrade your fixtures to reflect your style, or create the spa-like getaway of your dreams. Canadians spent an average of $10,127 (CAD) on their renovation, with people spending an average of $21,200 for a high-end remodel.

Improve Energy Efficiency

Is it time to upgrade your appliances, windows, or other energy-impacting parts of your home? Upgrading your home with energy-efficient features will not only save each month on your utility bill, it may also make the home more attractive to younger or more energy-conscious buyers. 

When you move into a new home, no matter how thoroughly it has been inspected, there are always a few surprises. Like when your couch can’t quite fit down the basement stairs or when that one heat vent for some reason gives of no heat. To be thoroughly prepared when you move into your new home means to be ready to tackle certain tasks that will not only make your new house more cost effective and energy efficient, they’ll also make your home more valuable in the long run! So what should you be ready to do to make your home more energy efficient? Here are a few tips...

Go low flow. Bathing and showering comprises 35% of Canadian household water use. Low flow faucets and showerheads can help you dramatically reduce your water consumption, which can help you save money.

Fix leaks. Leaky faucets and pipes increase your water bill and may require expensive repairs if they’re ignored. Every six months, inspect your faucets and pipes for wear and tear. If you notice a leak, fix it right away, and don’t forget outdoor faucets! 

Go tankless. If it’s time to upgrade your water heater, consider going tankless. A tankless water heater may help you save 20% on your water bill. An added bonus: You’ll never run out of hot water again! 

Canadians use an average of 105 gigajoules of energy per household.While you may have already switched to compact flourescent light bulbs to save money, these tips will add to the savings by regulating your home’s temperature. 

Rethink your insulation. Good insulation not only helps regulate the temperature of your home, it can also reduce your heating and cooling costs by as much as 20%

Manage the temperature automatically. Wouldn’t you love to come home to the perfect temperature? A programmable thermostat helps you save energy and money by scheduling temperature settings for when you’re likely to need heat or air conditioning the most, such as when you wake up and when you arrive home from work. 

Seal up drafts. Have you ever wondered why your home won’t stay warm in the winter or cool in the summer? Check your windows. Drafty windows are not only a nuisance, they can also cause 30-40% of heating and cooling losses. Apply weather stripping to your windows to patch up leaks and save more money.