SELLING?
BUYING?
3. Most Common Mistakes Buyers Make
Tips for Selling Your Home
Dave has the expertise and resources you need to help you sell your home quickly and successfully. It all begins long before you open your home to showings. You need to see your home like a prospective buyer. To do that, you need to look at both the inside and outside with a fresh perspective. If you follow these simple steps, you will be helping to set the stage for a property that shows great to potential buyers.
Letting Go Of Clutter
When prospective buyers walk through your home, they tend to imagine it as if it were their own. You can help them envision their dream space by presenting a clean, clutter-free environment.
(a) Remove Personal Items
Put away family photos, souvenirs, knick-knacks and personal items. These items are special to you, but the prospective buyer wants to envision their own personal items in your space.
(b) Clean, Clear Surfaces 
Clear off counters, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, storing away small appliances and miscellaneous personal items. Scrub down the surfaces and perhaps even put out a bouquet of flowers.
(c) Create Ease of Movement
Remove and store extra furniture to create open areas that promote easy foot traffic through your home.
(d) Show Off Storage Space
Clear out closets, basements and garages as prospective buyers are always on the lookout for ample storage space. Now is a good time to box up unworn clothes, toys and personal items for storage or charity.
Quick Fixes And TLC
Potential buyers will be looking for visual clues that your home is well cared for. How much work a house seems to require will impact the offering prices you receive, so it’s worthwhile to ensure that everything is in good working order.
Here's A Quick Checklist...
(a) Bathrooms
Ensure all plumbing fixtures are clean and in good working order. Outfit leaky faucets with new washers and clean any visible stains on porcelain fixtures. Replace old, worn shower curtains and bath mats.
(b) Doors and Windows
Spray WD40 on all hinges so everything operates smoothly. Have windows cleaned inside and out. Potential buyers will be estimating their energy costs, so fix drafts by re-caulking windows and replace exterior doors if necessary.
(c) Walls and Floors
A fresh coat of paint instantly transforms a space, helping it to look neat, clean, and up-to-date. Always fix obvious wall imperfections like cracks and nail holes, before painting. Steam clean carpets and runners, and repair any chipped or loose floor tiles.
Atmosphere
Be mindful of the odours left behind by pets and smokers and consider using an environmentally friendly room fragrance to neutralize unpleasant scents. Replace light bulbs and add light fixtures in dark hallways, including basements, garages and closets.
Curb Appeal – Drive By Success!
First impressions can be everything. Many people simply drive by a listing and make a decision based on your home’s curb appeal. So, don’t forget the importance of creating a well-manicured entryway – to entice potential buyers. Maintaining a neat and attractive exterior to your home will show buyers that you take pride on your property.
Here Are A Few Tips...
(a) Landscaping
Consider planting a few bushes and colourful mature flowers to create an eye catching display. Ensure that your lawn is well manicured: mowed, watered and void of brown spots.
(b) Front Door
Look critically at your front entrance: does the door or the porch railing cry out for a fresh coat of paint? Polish the door handle and invest in a new welcome mat.
(c) Front Porch
If it’s spring or summer, plant colourful containers to flank your entrance. If it’s autumn, rake leaves. During winter, clear the snow and ice from your walkway. Whatever the season, look closely to determine if any repairs are needed. All loose cement or rotting wood should be replaced.
(d) Shine On
Many serious buyers will want to drive by your home after the sun goes down. Remember to ensure that all outdoor light bulbs are turned on in order to show your home in its best light.
TOP 10 TIPS TO SUCCESSFUL HOME STAGING!
Preparing your house for selling can be a daunting and overwhelming task whether you have lived in your home a few years or many. The longer you have lived in your home the more things you will have acquired. The intent of this Top 10 Tips for Successful Home Staging is to help you save TIME, MONEY and ENERGY.
In preparing your house for selling you need to take a step back and have the mind set that this is no longer your home but your investment for your future. You want your home to have broad buyer appeal to your target market. Following these 10 Tips for Successful Home Staging will help you sell your house sooner and possibly for more money than if you did not prepare it for selling! Remember most people want to move into their new home without having to make updates to it.
1. Curb Appeal 
Stand back and view your home as if you were seeing it for the first time. This is the ‘first impression’ stage. Depending on the season you may want to have pots of colourful and attractive flowers to greet buyers; a clean and inviting door mat; new and shiny door handles and/or knockers; a freshly painted door. 2. Declutter
Start your pre-pack as soon as possible. You need to decide what you are going to keep, give away, sell or throw away/recycle. Many clients will rent storage lockers or have pods delivered so they can start to clear out what is not going to make the house look good.3. Clean
You would think this one is common sense but let me assure you, I wish it was so! A clean home translates into ‘They must have really cared for their home.” Use environmentally friendly cleaners where you can, for hard cleaning areas tsp is a good product. Bathrooms and kitchens must be sparkling clean at the very least.4. Depersonalize
We know you love your family photos and your personal treasures and for living they are perfect. For selling pack them up carefully so you can showcase them in your new home. For selling you want buyers to focus on the best features of your home and not your personal things or collections.5. A neutral colour scheme is the way to go for selling.
Choose only 3 colours or less to paint your house for selling. If you have an open floor plan then paint the main floor all the same colour. Bedrooms look good in light sage greens or warm blues like the new aqua.6. Highlight your home’s best architectural features
Place your furniture in each room so that you have very obvious focal points that show off the home’s best selling features. For example, if you have a beautiful fireplace then place the furniture in a parallel grouping so that the eye is drawn to the fireplace.7. Decide on the function in each room
If you were using your guest bedroom as your den for living, for selling turn it back into a bedroom with bedroom furniture in it. If you do not have the right furniture for each room consider renting it. There are more and more rental furnishing companies opening up every day. If you don’t want to rent then borrow.
8. Lighting your home to its best advantage
Spend money on new light fixtures in brushed nickel or stainless steel. Brass is out so don’t fight it. There are many low-cost lighting stores to select from so no excuses for having dated light fixtures. 9. Window treatments that sell your home 
The most popular on the market are the 2” faux woods in a white tone to go with your trim. Decorative side panels will do the trick if you need to add warmth and colour. 10. Flooring needs special attention and is good investment for updating the look of your home
Tile or linoleum is great for entranceways, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms; a good quality laminate or hardwood is perfect for living rooms and family rooms; bedrooms are attractive in a neutral carpet.
HOME RENOVATIONS TIPS
As a home owner, you are likely to re-sell at some point and should consider the benefits of the neighbourhood. Remember, choices you make regarding improvements or renovations can drastically influence your home's market value.
Landscaping
IT ALL STARTS AT THE CURB Everyone knows the value of a first impression. But RE/MAX has learned that landscaping the front and backyard of your home will give you a 7% better return on your renovating dollar over the average return on other popular renos you might consider.
Increasing your curb appeal can be as simple as adding containers of brightly coloured flowers. Another idea would be to add a low maintenance garden for blocks of colour and texture. Also, consider a simple water fixture in the back yard to add ambiance.
Kitchen
THE KITCHEN IS THE HUB
Ever wonder why "kitchen parties" naturally occur every time you have guests?
Well, it's because the kitchen is the hub of every home. It's where we get nourishment, refreshment, gather and regroup after a busy day. It is a room with real value for every family. At RE/MAX we've learned that kitchen upgrades can really deliver, with a 44% higher return on investment over the average return on other popular renos you might consider.
Whether you're working with a contemporary kitchen or more of a country feel, stainless steel appliances continue to hold a lot of interest. In cabinetry, look at fine-grained maple, stained or natural, over the traditional heavy oak look of the past. Laminates and marble are great choices for countertops, but granite continues to be the most popular surface of all. Check out the latest fixtures in today's new, brushed nickel finishes.
Fireplace
REKINDLE YOUR PASSION FOR LIVING
Nothing beats the feeling of curling up around a fire on a cold winter's night. Not to mention the comforting feeling of hearth and home that a fireplace adds to a room.
The RE/MAX Return on Reno Index will tell you that installing or upgrading the fireplace in your home will generate 11% greater return on investment than the average return on other popular renos you might consider.
Gas fireplaces have made huge advances in popularity thanks to recent increases in efficiency as well as advances in design. A gas fireplace delivers the best of both worlds - all the comfort without the mess and maintenance.
Bathrooms
DISAPPEAR IN YOUR PERSONAL SPA
Today's stress-filled world leaves us all crying out for rest and relaxation. RE/MAX knows that making your bathroom the best it can be will generate a 56% better return on investment than the average renovation.
The goal should be to create a spa-like environment in your bathroom by installing a soaker tub with relaxing jets, or perhaps a new steam shower stall.
Great Ideas Underfoot
Great looking floors are a strong feature of any home. It often makes all the difference. With RE/MAX, we'll show you how this upgrade can generate a 22% better return on investment than the average.
Start by ripping out that dated wall-to-wall carpet. Then, sand your existing floors down and refinish them, or choose one of the many easy-to-install and affordable laminates now available. A darker stain gives an elegant, yet up to date look. Use area rugs to accent and ground the space.
MOST COMMON MISTAKES BUYERS MAKE
Not Getting Pre-Qualified
Before looking for your next home take the time to get pre-qualified by the bank or mortgage broker you choose. This can save you hours of searching for homes in the wrong price range or worse, purchasing a home and then finding out you don’t qualify for financing. Pre-qualifying gives you peace of mind, helps narrow your search criteria and most importantly, gives your RE/MAX agent a negotiating edge by being able to alleviate the sellers concern over financing. The latter is especially important should a competing offer surface.
Not Shopping For Mortgage Terms
Rates are negotiable! Banks will sharpen their pencils to get your business especially if you have a good credit rating and bring other business to them e.g. RRSP’s, general account, savings etc. Posted rates should viewed as a starting point. You need to know what the best rate is and this is usually done by get competitive quotes. Also, ask whether the bank will cover appraisal fees, and about buy-out fees, penalties, payment options, portability etc. The time spent can save you thousands of dollars over the life of the mortgage.
Not Getting Professional Inspections
Nobody wants to purchase a home only to find out later there are defects, latent or otherwise. Ensure you obtain inspections where needed e.g. home inspection, structural engineer, insect, radon etc. If the inspection identifies deficiencies you may be able to negotiate the purchase price to cover required repairs or make your satisfaction of the inspection subject to the homeowner remedying the problem. Your RE/MAX agent can advise you on inspections you should consider.
Not Using A Professional Agent.
Your RE/MAX agent can help you make a purchase with the least amount of problems. He or she can ensure the price you pay is market value. They can offer expert advice on what to look for, conditions to include, negotiation strategy etc. After all, they work for you.
Buying First Before Selling
If price is important you should always sell your present home before buying another. It has the advantage in letting you know exactly how much money you will have available for your next purchase. Selling your home first allows you to place fewer conditions on your purchase which makes your offer more attractive to a seller. They often will demand more money to take a “subject to” offer which takes their home off the market. The other advantage is if you find a terrific house, chances are others will also find it attractive and you stand to lose it if you can’t make an unconditional offer.
Not Knowing The Full Cost Of Buying
Know all the costs associated with your purchase. Consider the following costs: legal fees, transfer tax, property taxes, new home landscaping, fencing, appliances, window coverings.
HOME BUYING STEP BY STEP
Contact us to get a copy of the Homebuying Step by Step Guide and Workbook by CMHC
MAINTENANCE ON YOUR HOME
January/February 
• Clean or replace furnace filter • Check/clean heat recovery ventilator (HRV); wash or replace filter
• Ensure that air intakes, exhausts and meters are clearof snow
• Clean humidifier
• Clean range hood filter
• Check basement floor drain
March/April
• Clean or replace furnace filter
• Check/clean HRV; wash or replace filter
• Clean humidifier and turn it off
• Check sump pump
• Check gutters and downspouts and clean if needed
• Inspect air conditioning; service as needed (usually every two or three years)
• Inspect basement or crawl space for signs of seepage/leakage
• Open vents to outdoor crawlspaces
• Ensure that ground slopes away from foundation wall
May/June
• Open outside hose connection
• Clean windows, screens and hardware; install screens
• Check that air intake and exhausts are clear of debris, nests, etc.
• Clean range hood filter
• You can turn off your HRV if your windows are mostly open in the summer; if you have air conditioning and keep your windows mostly closed you can keep it running
• Undertake spring landscape maintenance; fertilize young trees
July/August
• Use dehumidifier in damp basements;• For central air conditioning; clean filter in air handling unit
• Check exterior finishes
• Check exterior wood for deterioration
• Check caulking and weather-stripping around windows, including around entry door from garage and home
• Check basement floor drain trap; replenish if needed
• Have furnace/heating system serviced (every two years for an electric furnace)
September/October
• Check fireplace and chimney, service or clean if needed• Clean range hood filter
• Clean leaves out of eavestroughs
• Check roofing and flashing for signs of wear or damage
• Close outside hose connection
• Close windows, skylights
• Clean and reactivate HRV, if it was turned off
• Winterize landscaping
November/December
• Clean or replace furnace filter• Check/clean heat recovery ventilator; wash or replace filter
• Clean humidifier and turn it on
• Check exhaust fans
• Close vents to crawlspaces
Annually
• Dust or vacuum electric baseboards• Vacuum ducts behind warm air and return air grilles
• Test plumbing shut-off valves to ensure they are working
• Test pressure relief valve on hot water tank; drain water from tank
• Do safety checks; smoke alarm, fire escape routes, fire extinguisher, door and window locks
• Check and, if needed, oil door hinges
• Lubricate garage door motor, chain, etc.
• Check attic for signs of moisture in summer or fall
• Check septic system; clean if needed (usually about every three years)
Every 2-5 years
• C heck and repair driveway cracks• Check and repair the chimney cap and the caulking between the cap and chimney, recaulk as necessary
• Refinish wood surfaces, including window frames and doors
