WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU WHEN SHOPPING FOR A NEW HOME

You will want to make the process of shopping for a home as productive and enjoyable as possible. After all, you'll be on a quest to find your next dream home. That's why it's important to take the right things with you:

A digital camera, so you can take pictures of the features you like in the properties you see.

A notepad, so you can take notes.

Measurements of your largest pieces of furniture, so you can confirm they'll fit in the rooms of properties you like.

A measuring tape.

Some healthy snacks and beverages, (especially important if you're taking the kids along).

A map of the area, so you can check out local parks and other neighbourhood features.

Clear driving directions to each of the properties you want to see.

One of the best ways to shop for a home, and actually enjoy the experience, is to work with a great REALTOR®.

HOME SAFETY IS MORE THAN LOCKED DOORS AND ALARMS

When it comes to home security, most homeowners think about door locks and alarms. These are, of course, very important. However, there is also a lot you can do around your property to prevent the possibility of a break-in.

One important part of home security is outdoor lighting. Your home doesn't need to be lit up like a baseball diamond at night, but your exterior lighting should illuminate your yard enough to be a deterrent to burglars.

Some burglars hide around the property and wait for someone to arrive and open the door so they can use that opportunity to force their way into your home. Security experts suggest that you walk around your property and look for areas where someone could hide, such as behind tall shrubbery like a cedar hedge or behind a tool shed. Make sure these areas are well lit. Pay particular attention to lighting around exterior doors, especially the back door.

Home security experts also recommend that exterior lighting be installed with a timed dimmer. The lights can then be set to cast a bright light in the early evening, and then a dimmer light throughout the rest of the night.

Lights installed with motion detectors can also be effective in certain areas. The sensors will cause the light to turn on or brighten when someone comes onto that part of your property. Generally, thieves will flee as soon as they see a light turn on.

Do you hide a spare key under the front door mat or in a flower pot? No matter how clever you think you are, experienced thieves know all the common hiding places. So, if you need to have a spare key available, put it in a small combination lock box and hide the box. That way, if a burglar finds the box, he still won't be able to open it and access the key.

A QUICK LESSON IN WOOD FLOORS

Thinking about installing wood floors? The first decision you need to make involves the type. According to the National Wood Flooring Association, there are four types:

Unfinished. This type requires you or your installer to sand and apply a finish. If you want a specific colour or style, or you're trying to match existing flooring, this might be the best option for you.

Factory finished. As the name suggests, this is flooring that has its finish applied in the factory. Although it is more expensive, factory finished flooring can be installed faster and can be walked upon immediately.

Solid. This is flooring that is made from a solid piece of wood, top to bottom. The advantage is that it can be sanded and refinished many times over the years, or even decades.

Engineered. This is flooring that is made of thin layers of wood pressed together. It can be engineered to be very durable and expand and contract less than solid flooring.

The type you choose depends on your needs. Talk to your dealer or contractor about your specific application.

HOW TO WIN YOUR NEXT HOME WITH A LOVE LETTER

Have you had a hard time landing your dream home in a hot market? 

If you have been through the bidding wars and have come up short, here’s a tool that might give you an edge in the next round of offers.

If you have ever experienced the disappointment of losing out on a home in a seller’s market, you want to do everything possible to keep it from happening again. One tactic many buyers overlook is the “love letter” written to sellers about their home.

Rationally, you might expect the highest offer will always win the home, but there are a host of other factors involved. Some are emotional. Some sellers want to see their home go to a buyer they not only trust to close the deal, but they also like personally.

Want to give yourself an edge? Craft a short “love letter” to go with your offer. Here are the basics you’ll want to cover in your letter:

1. Explain how much you like their home. Don’t go overboard, but prove to them you know the home and you truly appreciate their taste and the unique characteristics of the house. This might touch on improvements they have made or other aesthetic details.

2. Spare them all the things you might want to change. What you say is as important as what you don’t say. Don’t tell them you’re going to gut the place as soon as you close, add a second story, or rip out their garden for a pool.

3. Demonstrate you’re qualified to close. Make them feel confident in your qualifications as a buyer. Show them you’re pre-qualified for a loan, are buying cash, or have other reasons why you’ll be a hassle-free buyer.

4. Be humble and positive. Don’t give them a sob story about the four other homes you’ve lost out on. Praise the neighborhood and make them feel as though you would be positively honored to be chosen as the next owner of their home.

5. Check the letter for typos. Read it out loud. Listen for clunky sentences or awkward repetition. Have someone proof it for mistakes. Their confidence in your attention to detail is important.

A good agent should be able to tell you if the letter sounds like an honest appeal. Have it included with your offer as a cover letter.

Need help finding a home worth a love letter? Get in touch today: valerie@valeriemcconville.com

THINK BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR NEXT HOME

It starts innocently enough... you pass a house in a neighborhood you like, you hear someone is selling their home, you happen to look up home prices online. Before you know it, you’re knee-deep in home shopping and open house visits. This can actually be exceedingly dangerous to your financial future.

Falling in love with a home before you actually know what you want in a home is risky. To avoid the “buy first, think later” syndrome that burdens family finances, marriages, and work life, ask yourself these important questions:

1. How much do we want to spend each month on home expenses? There’s a tendency for people who shop first to try and “make the math work” on purchasing a home. Often this leads to stretching the home budget and ignoring crucial expenses such as maintenance and property taxes in order to “make the mortgage.” Determine a comfortable, conservative range for home expenses first.

2. Which neighborhoods make sense from multiple angles? You may love a neighborhood for its leafy streets and family-friendly atmosphere, but what if it adds thirty minutes to your commute? Are the schools good? What are the crime stats like? What’s the walkability score? Don’t view a neighborhood with rose-colored glasses based on a single quality you like.

3. What’s a priority and what’s a nice extra? You may think you want extra bedrooms for guests and a home office, but which one is more important? Rank the must haves against the “nice to haves.”

4. What’s our long-term ownership picture look like? Are you settling in for ten years, or do you suspect you’ll need to move in four? While you can’t predict the future, you can make some estimates. Those estimates will help you understand how much home you should buy, what kind of down-payment you’ll want to have, and what the picture might look like in terms of renovations.

5. When can you move vs. when would you like to move? Rental leases, selling your current home, and job and schooling factors all impact the timeline for a purchase. Wrap your head around the pragmatic timeline as best you can.

I’m more than happy to help you think these through. Contact me for help today: valerie@valeriemcconville.com

WHEN IS IT TIME TO TALK TO A REALTOR?

Many people only see a doctor when they're sick or have some other health concern. On the other hand, some people visit a doctor regularly for check-ups, to ask questions and get advice, and to maintain good health.

Which do you think is the better approach? Obviously, the second one!

The same thing is true when it comes to real estate. Even if you have no current plans to buy or sell a home, there are many reasons to talk to a REALTOR® regularly in order to maintain your good "real estate" health. For example, you can:

Get an assessment of the current market value of your home, so you can make an informed decision about whether to stay or move.

     Ask about the state of the local real estate market (which may be vastly different than what you hear on the national news.)

Find out what homes are currently selling for in the area.

Learn what's currently available on the market, especially in neighbourhoods you would like to live in and that are within your budget.

Ask for a contractor recommendation.

In fact, it's a good idea to have a chat with your REALTOR® once or twice a year, even if it's just to say hello.

You want to build a relationship with a good REALTOR® who understands (and cares about) you and your needs. That way, when it does come time for you to make a move, you're dealing with a REALTOR® you already know and trust.

Don't have a good REALTOR®? Call me today!

HOME MAINTENANCE

The responsibilities of owning a home don't have to feel overwhelming-they can be fun!  

Taking the care, upkeep, and maintenance of your home into your own hands can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor.  

Why not kick off the New Year by taking charge of a few projects around the house?

FIVE TIPS FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF WORK AROUND THE HOME

Make a list: Spend some time taking stock of the kinds of maintenance and improvement projects you'd like to begin.  A well-considered list will help you to set reachable goals.

Assess your skills: Make sure that you carefully consider which projects you are fully capable of completing.  For example, unless you have sufficient experience with electrical, plumbing or construction work, you should probably leave those tasks to the professionals.

Establish priorities: Which projects are most important to you?  Which projects will be the most costly?  Which is more important: timeliness, quality or cost?  Before beginning any do-it-yourself project, it is always wise to determine specific goals and priorities so that you are fully prepared when it comes time to begin.

Create a budget: For each project that you want to complete, make certain that you have a firm budget in place.  Allowing for unexpected circumstances (such as errors or the need for additional materials) in your budget will keep you from overspending.

One step at a time: When it's time to begin, remember to pace yourself!  Rome wasn't built in a day, and your new garden terrace will take time as well.  Complete one task at a time, and soon you'll feel the wonderful sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that doing-it-yourself can bring!