Greater Vancouver Real Estate BlogRecently posted or modified blog posts in the category - Selling Your Homehttps://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/Copyright VancouverHouseFinders.com2022-07-05T21:00:24-07:00tag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:12279Nine expert tips on how to buy and sell a house at the same time without any stressNine expert tips on how to buy and sell a house at the same time without any stress
Selling and buying a house at the same time is a daunting task, even for the most seasoned homeowners. The current housing market situation in Canada is making it more challenging, with the house prices going way <a href="https://www.canadianrealestatemagazine.ca/expert-advice/when-will-the-housing-bubble-burst-in-canada-in-2022-335117.aspx#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Canadian%20Real,and%20many%20economists%20have%20agreed.">beyond reasonable</a>.
There are challenges you have to face as a seller and a buyer at the same time. Based on the Canadian Real Estate Association's (CREA) statistics in June 2022, the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/crea-housing-may-2022-1.6489200">home sales slowed</a> down and are now back to the pre-pandemic level.
However, the market situation does not mean you can't do anything. While you might not sell your house that fast, it also means the housing inventory is high, which widens your options of homes to buy.
Here are nine helpful tips to ease the stress of buying and selling your home simultaneously:
1. Check for a Sell and Rent-Back option
In some cases, buyers may agree to a rent-back clause where you can sell your house and rent it back from the buyer. If the buyer agrees, you can continue living in your house and pay rent. This will give you extra time to find a place or if there are delays in the purchase of a new home.
If you sold your house to an investor, you could try to negotiate for a longer lease term and affordable rental payments.
You can also request an extended closing as part of your purchase offer. Some buyers may want to move in immediately but can try asking to have time to sell your house.
2. Consider short-term housing
You might want to consider finding temporary housing. If you can squeeze in with friends or family, you're lucky. If not, check furnished apartments and vacation homes that offer month-to-month rentals. You can rent a storage unit to hold all your furniture and belongings while waiting to move into a new home.
3. Sell your house first and buy one later
Sometimes, it will make sense to sell your home before buying the house you have in mind. Selling before purchasing a new house has advantages, including having cash from the sale, which places you in a better position to buy your next home with cash. You can also wait for house prices to lower before purchasing and avoid having two mortgage payments simultaneously.
On the downside, you might have to spend more money paying rent for temporary housing and storage for your furniture and belongings. Home prices could increase before a seller accepts your offer, and interest rates may increase.
In buying and selling a house simultaneously, your mortgages could overlap. Assess your budget and see if you can afford to pay both. You might be required to pass <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2021/08/27/canadas-mortgage-stress-test-what-does-it-mean/?sh=6a2578e81dc1">Canada's mortgage stress test</a>.
4. Get your home ready for selling
How ready is your house to be put on the market? You have some preparations to do ahead of time before listing. Preparing your home will reduce the time your house will sit on the market. Usual preparations include:
Cleaning and decluttering the common areas of your home.
Fixing structural problems.
Adding fresh paint.
Making necessary renovations and upgrades.
5. Prepare your paperwork ahead of time.
File and get your paperwork early. Collect all the necessary documentation, including upgrade and renovation permits, repair records, warranties for appliances, and others, so you can answer any questions a potential buyer might have. You may need those documents to secure a mortgage to buy a home.
6. Add conditional contracts
There is no guarantee of selling your home fast. You can add certain conditions on your purchase offer, like an option where you can cancel and walk away in case you haven't or were unable to sell your previous home.
This method is not fail-proof. You can delegate the task of handling the details and negotiations on your behalf to a real estate agent.
7. Prepare to compromise
Selling your home and buying a new one can be stressful, especially if you're trying to do it simultaneously. You don't have to have every tiny little detail done perfectly. Allow some room to compromise, and don't overstress yourself in selling your house and searching for a new one.
8. Get ready for non-traditional methods
There are no predictable rules in real estate trends. Every transaction is unique. You might have to go through nonconventional ways of selling your house, like For Sale by Owner, trade, online auction, or a raffle. Some factors can influence market trends, like the season. More homes <a href="https://www.zillow.com/sellers-guide/best-time-to-sell/">sell in the Spring</a>, but this depends on your location.
9. Consult the professionals early on
Seek help early on. Your local real estate agents can advise on what to do right from starting to closing a deal on your new home.
Bottom Line
When selling and buying a home at the same time, it is essential to be organized, have a plan, and be prepared for potential bumps in the road. The expert tips in this article can help you successfully navigate selling and buying a home simultaneously.
Call us today and let a real estate agent make the experience of buying and selling a home smooth and seamless.2022-07-05T12:00:00-07:002022-07-05T21:00:24-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:13162How to Sell A House : An Effective 7 Tips For Selling Your Vancouver HomeGetting ready to sell your home? Even in a seller’s market, your home isn’t guaranteed to sell fast and for more. To maximize your selling price, you should prepare your home properly before listing it on the market. What’s more, you should start the preparation process early to allow enough time to tackle renovations and upgrades that’ll increase your <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/sellers/homeworth/">home’s value</a> and help you sell house faster.
That said, here’s a 7 tips for selling your home faster and checklist that’ll walk you through how to prepare your house for sale so you can sell fast and get the best selling price possible.
Find & Hire the Best Local Real Estate Agent
It might cost you to wait until you’re ready to list your home to<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/agents/hanifaraj/"> contact a real estate agent</a>. In fact, the earlier you bring an agent into the process, the better the results, which translates to a faster sale and more money. That’s because having professional perspectives from an insightful agent can boost your home’s appeal to potential buyers.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/why-do-i-need-a-realtor-to-sell-my-house/">Why Do you need a Real estate agent to sell your house?</a>
Moreover, your local agent understands what buyers want in the current market and will help you come up with a plan to maximize your home’s appeal. They’ll also connect you with a network of trusted vendors, contractors, and service professionals, including home stagers and photographers. This can ensure everything is done swiftly and smoothly before you list your home.
Address Repairs and Upgrades
Homebuyers prefer buying a move-in ready home over one that requires renovations. Hence, it’s crucial to address structural and systems issues that may hurt the sale of your home. For instance, issues with the foundation, frame, or roof are likely to crop up in an inspection report, while electrical wiring, plumbing, or HVAC system problems may pose safety concerns.
However, it’s crucial to note that you don’t have to make all these major upgrades before listing your home. It’s ideal to involve your real estate agent to help you assess any necessary repairs. Contact us and we’ll guide you on the upgrades that are worth your money and time. We might recommend a <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/q-should-i-get-a-pre-listing-inspection/">pre-listing inspection</a> to uncover hidden issues, and help you avoid unpleasant surprises during the actual inspection.
Essential Note: When dealing with major home repairs and renovations, give yourself ample time. With the <a href="https://canada.constructconnect.com/canadata/forecaster/economic/2021/07/labour-shortages-high-material-costs-strong-demand-more-pressure-on-house-prices">rampant material and labour shortages</a>, working on the upgrades early can help you avoid costly delays.
Deal With the Minor Issues
Sometimes, it’s the minor details that put potential buyers off. Unfortunately, many home sellers often overlook these issues, especially when they’ve been living there for years. So, after addressing large-scale renovations, you should deal with minor updates to improve how buyers will perceive your home. This should be done at least a month or more before listing your house.
Take care of unaddressed repair and maintenance issues like pest activity, water spots, and rotten siding. While at it, address small annoyances, such as sticking doors, leaky faucets, and squeaky hinges. You could DIY most of these projects, but ensure that you seek professional help for those you’re not comfortable handling.
When you work with us, you’ll get fresh perspective on your home and we’ll ensure you don’t miss any crucial updates that can make the difference between sell house quickly and a stale listing.
Check Also :
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-long-will-it-take-to-sell-my-home/">How long does it take to sell a house</a>
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-much-it-will-cost-of-selling-a-house/">How much it will cost to sell my Home</a>
Revamp Your Home’s Design
Did you know that a fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest and most affordable ways of sprucing up your home? A <a href="https://blog.remax.ca/canadian-real-estate-renovation-trends/">recent study</a> has shown that landscaping and painting are two updates that offer the highest return on investment (ROI).
Moreover, landscaping has the potential to add up to 7% to your home’s value. So, it’s in your best interest to try planting colourful flowers and laying fresh sod to add life to your home’s exterior.
Kitchen upgrades, such as countertops and cabinets, also yield high ROI, with 87% of real estate agents naming kitchen updates amongst top home renovations resonating with buyers.
Declutter and Depersonalize Your Home
Clutter can distract potential buyers from seeing your home’s best features since they might focus more on the content than on the house. Besides, a too much personalized home can prevent them from envisioning themselves living in your home, which might prevent them from making an offer.
When decluttering, try making it an everyday task, instead of trying to take care of it all at once. That’ll make the process easier and you’ll avoid being overwhelmed right before your home hits the market.
You should also declutter and depersonalize one room at a time- start with the attic, storage, and basement. Donate or discard things you no longer need or want, and then pack and store seasonal items, pile of letters, family photos, and other personal collections.
Bonus Tip: Decluttering and depersonalizing your home gives you a head start on packing for your move!
Important Note: A Week Before You List Your Home
Check in with your real estate agent to ensure you’re aligned on the selling price, marketing strategies, and any remaining preparation work to maximize the sale of your home.
Deep Clean Your Interior- And Exterior!
Your home should be deep cleaned before you consider putting it on the market. That entails a thorough freshening of your home’s interior and cleaning all carpets and floors. You might want to consider professional home cleaners to ensure your home looks and smells fresh.
Keep in mind that potential buyers may also look inside your pantries, closets, and cabinets. So, you should ensure that they’re neat and organized, and you’ve not cramped them with stuff. Also, clear small appliances and toiletries off the countertops.
Furthermore, you should clean your house’s exterior - you know, to spruce up the curb appeal! Power-wash the siding, sidewalk, and driveway, wash the windows and screens, and empty out the gutters. While at it, don’t forget to mow your lawn, trim overhanging branches, and weed the flower beds.
Stage Your Home for Showing
A <a href="https://d3oaxt0bwkjnjn.cloudfront.net/documents/home-staging-industry-statistics-2020-min.pdf">survey</a> has found that staged homes sell 3 times faster and for up to 20% more than un-staged homes. Hence, you should do a walk-through before the open house or private showing day, and make the final touches to give prospective buyers the best impression possible.
Empty trash cans, vacuum and sweep the floors, wipe down countertops, and in the bathroom, hang clean hand towels and close those toilet lids! Moreover, repositioning your furniture to define a room can make a huge difference to buyers.
On the day of the showing, making your buyers comfortable will likely prompt them to submit offers. So, adjust the thermostat to a comfortable temperature, open the curtains and blinds for natural light to come in, and turn on the lights to highlight your home’s best features.
Regardless of how friendly or cute your pet is, it’s best if you don’t have them in the house during showings- some buyers are easily turned off by some types of pets!
Start Preparing Your Home for Sale Now!
When selling your home, you’ll want to receive the highest sale price possible. And that means you don’t put your home on the market before it is ready. With the right preparation – and real estate agent- you can maximize the offers you get and sell your home faster.
Our real estate pros will offer professional and effective insights and suggestions to help you prepare your home for sale. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile when it comes to serving our clients, and that entails a series of complimentary, pre-listing consultations to help prep your home and sell it faster and for more.
Call our top-notch real estate professionals if you’re considering selling your home- even if you aren’t sure when!
Buying or Selling? Call the team that can help 778-881-6781
2022-04-04T09:39:00-07:002022-04-18T03:03:10-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:9201How Do You Prepare for an Open House?
Preparing for your first open house? Here’s how to do it.
If you’re a home seller preparing for your first open house, today I’ll share some tips on how to get ready. Typically, the Realtor does the bulk of the work, but you as a seller also have some work to do.
1. Make sure the entire house is cleaned. Do a thorough cleaning of your entire home, and be sure to put away all your laundry, personal items, etc. If you have any valuables, don’t leave them in the home. Instead, take them with you or hide them somewhere where few people will have access to them. Buyers will be looking through closets, cupboards, and the like, so store them in a safe place.
2. Avoid cooking pungent meals before the open house. Buyers can be put off by strong smells, so do your best to leave your home smelling fresh and pleasant.
3. Consider pleasant-smelling candles. Vanilla, cinnamon, or mild seasonal scents can be a great way to create an inviting atmosphere for guests.
"Our agents are prepared to take safety precautions to keep you, your family, and the buyers as safe as possible during the process."
4. Let in as much natural light as possible. Open your curtains and window coverings to let in natural light.
5. Leave the home for the open house. I highly recommend that you leave your house during the event. Staying could impact how people discuss your home, and you want to get as much honest feedback as possible.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/five-steps-to-holding-a-successful-open-house/" title="Five Steps To Holding A Successful Open House">Five Steps To Holding A Successful Open House</a>
I know that in this era of COVID, many people don’t even want to host open houses, and I completely understand why. However, just know that our agents are prepared to take safety precautions to keep you, your family, and the buyers as safe as possible during the process. That includes providing gloves to everyone as they enter the property.
If you have further questions about how to prepare for an open house or anything else to do with real estate, feel free to contact me. I’d be happy to speak with you.
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442">Schedule a call with me</a>2020-11-10T12:25:00-07:002022-04-11T01:26:50-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:8486Q: Should I Get a Pre-Listing Inspection?
Here’s why you should get a pre-listing inspection before selling.
Is it important to get a pre-listing inspection done before you sell your home?
While there are procedures that always happen, the buying and selling process is very specific to each person, so we would love to go over it with you one-on-one. However, usually, you can expect to see that the buyer’s offer is contingent upon a satisfactory home inspection. Then you’ll have to wait to see what surprises the inspector finds and potentially lose the deal. Or, you can get ahead of things and have a home inspection done before you list so you can address any issues and avoid the tension later.
On our team, we have a formula to help you maximize your property’s value and get the highest price. A pre-listing inspection is one aspect of this formula.
Have a home inspection done before you list so you can address any issues.
As an example, we recently had a client in <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/west-vancouver/">West Vancouver</a> list a beautiful home. That time a pre-inspection wasn’t done, and the inspector found a small issue with the house. However, it scared the buyer off, and we could have easily avoided that by repairing that small problem after a pre-listing inspection. Afterward, we mended the issue and got more money for the property because the next inspector didn’t find as many problems.
This $500 investment could likely get you a better price for the home, so you could easily make up the money spent on it. It’s well worth it.
Check Also :
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-to-determine-the-value-of-your-home/">Calculate Home value</a>
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-long-will-it-take-to-sell-my-home/">how long does it take to sell a house</a>
There are other steps to maximizing your home sale price besides a pre-inspection, so give us a call or send an email if you’d like to discuss that or have any questions. We look forward to speaking with you.
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442">Schedule a call with me</a>2020-09-14T14:16:00-07:002022-04-20T03:49:26-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:8185Q: 7 Things To Know Sellers Before Selling A House Due To A Divorce
If you’re selling your home due to a divorce, don’t do anything before watching this video.
Today, I’ll cover the seven things that you need to know before selling your home due to a divorce. But, before you start the proceedings or rush into any decisions you’ll later regret, please ensure that you’ve exhausted all the options of coming together with your partner. If you have gone through all the options and can’t find a way to make it work, here are a few tips that could help you save thousands of dollars:
Ensure that the other party is on board. This isn’t necessarily fun, but if both parties know that they’re going to be amicable with each other, they’ll usually end up with more money.
Iron out how much each party will get from the sale. This usually requires dealing with a lawyer, so contact an attorney for legal advice on this matter.
Work with an agent who is experienced with divorce. Some agents make it seem as though they’re the ones going through a divorce, but that’s not the right approach. Your agent should know how to deal with highly emotional situations.
Keep your emotions in check. Keep in mind that the divorce has to happen; focus on the sale, not on getting back at your spouse.
Check Also :
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-do-i-know-if-im-ready-to-buy-a-house/">How do i know i am ready to buy a house</a>
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/should-i-get-a-pre-listing-inspection/">Should I Get a Pre-Listing Inspection?</a>
Don’t give visitors to your home any indication of your divorce. Play your cards close to your chest; you don’t want to give people an inch such that they know why you’re selling.
Talk to a mortgage broker. Many people neglect this step, and they eventually have to rush to buy something after the sale is completed.
Focus on the positives. This is a tough time in your life, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. Keep in mind what will happen in the next chapter of your life.
If you have any questions about this or other real estate topics, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you.
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442">Schedule a call with me</a>2020-09-01T00:05:00-07:002022-04-20T04:32:41-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:5090How often should your agent be communicating with you when selling your home?Q. How often should your agent be communicating with you when selling your home?
A. When you are selling your home, no question is too simple or small. Here’s one. “Will your agent call you or should you call your agent?” and the answer is always YES to both.
Most agents welcome calls from their clients, regardless of the frequency. When <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/">selling a home in Vancouver</a>, the number one complaint home owners have is the lack of communication & follow-up from their real estate agent - after the agent has listed the home for sale. In fact, the biggest complaint and frustration coming from sellers that the agent does not return theirs calls and doesn’t give them updates about the changes in the market place as the listing sits on the market longer and longer.
Of course, calling your agent 10 times a day is not recommended and maybe construed as annoying and probably not needed. But things often move fast in this business. If you're in the middle of extreme negotiations or an emergency has risen, for instance when you are closing the deal or there is an issue with the paper work but you are not really sure of what it is, you should be able to call your agent.
Thus, it is very essential for you to stay updated with your agent about the process of buying and selling during the sale of your home.
What can you ask your agent?
If it bothers you, no question is unreasonable. Here are a few topics or questions to ask real estate agents that home buyers or home sellers might have questions about, but any type of real-estate-related question, even if it doesn't fall into one of the following categories, is important to address with your real estate agent:
Property information: the first thing that is needed to know about the property such as what kind of house you want, how can you really know if it’s a good deal, best area to live, and best schools for the kids, etc.
Home prices: they can always help you in knowing the prices that are reasonable and best area and complexes that can be the most profitable in the market and how much you should invest.
Home selling steps: we all know that a lot of us don’t really know what the requirements to sell a house are? for example, legal paperwork, staging, deposits, etc. are important.
Home inspections
Purchase offer presentation
Counteroffer preparation
Offer negotiation
Comparable sales
Repair requests
Seller disclosures
Closing process
How you should ask for help?
Work with one agent
Be direct and ask your agent about terms of exclusivity if you are unsure. Often if you sign a contract with an agent, it is expected that you will only work with him or her. If your agent expects exclusivity, do not communicate with or call other agents. If you find a home that you want to see, contact your agent, not the realtor on the listing. The listing agent works for the sellers, not you the buyer. You hired your agent to find you the right home. Going behind your agent’s back could potentially put you in risk. Also could ruin your client-agent relationship and affect your communication.
Don’t worry about the lingo
No one expects you to know all the ins and outs of real estate vocabulary! Agents want you to feel comfortable, trust them and know just how knowledgeable they are in their field. If you are unsure of something, just ask.
Make your expectations clear:
Your needs should be a list of what you absolutely cannot live without in a house. Your wants should include perks but not deal breakers. Be upfront about your wants and needs so your realtor can easily find exactly what you are looking for in a home. If you aren’t clear with your agent from the beginning, you will waste your time looking at houses that you’ll never purchase.
Don’t be shy!
If you have a question? Ask. None of us are perfect. If you don’t understand anything, you NEED to ask. It’s your time and money you are investing, and you need to clear your doubts.
Trust your realtor
We know it’s not easy. But, if you have taken a step to go out and trust someone to sell your home, might as well trust them to do it well.
<br />Check Also Also :
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/important-questions-to-ask-a-real-estate-agent-during-an-interview-seller-perspective/">Important Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent During an Interview</a>
When you ask?
I usually call my clients every Monday to let them know what happened in the market the week before and on the weekend’s open houses. You and your agent can decide on one or all of the following methods:
Daily or weekly telephone updates and conference calls with your realtors and contractors. Daily wouldn’t be that required but weekly calls can really help you know the progress.
Email is the most used way of communication in such a professional setting. There are so many realtors who provide email services regarding cases or attractive articles such as tips or references to help you explore your options and help you with the procedure. You can always ask for regular updates or just email on an as-needed basis.
Text messages—best for confirming an appointment or short conversations. I mean everyone is available via text messages. It’s the best way to communicate if you want to convey something short such as dates or any meetings or requirements to be met.
Voicemail messages: When you can’t get a hold of your agent or they can’t get a hold of you, always leave a message and give your agent permission to do the same.
Face-to-face meetings: This is the most preferred way of communication for most people. All doubts can be solved and understood better in person plus handling complex situations in person is often easier.
Some agents don't answer their cell phones, but they return calls once or twice a day at certain times. If that behavior is unacceptable to you, either work out a different schedule with your agent or find another one.
Of course, an extended relationship with your agent through the life of a transaction dictates all modes of communication. The important thing to remember is to set expectations and boundaries such as how late at night do you want to be contacted, how early in the morning is too early, what type of news would you like to hear on the phone or what thing has how much intensity for you. Making clear of when is a text or email appropriate and maintaining your professional boundaries with your real estate agent. And of critical importance, never share financial or personal identification information with anyone electronically unless you verify the receiver first.
The important thing is that you establish the preferred methods your agent likes to use for communication and you find a way to work together that satisfies you both.
Want to have a chat about the property or about your buying or selling needs?
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442" target="_blank">Book</a> an appointment today with me and I’d love to help you with your selling.
You can call me anytime.
Hani Faraj
778 881 67812019-07-26T09:36:00-07:002022-04-14T03:45:57-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4483How Long Does It take to sell a HouseQ. How long does it take to sell a house ?
A. The real estate market is an everchanging and volatile field, with no guarantees. The key elements that govern this field are never constant. It’s the dynamic nature of this field that makes it so unpredictable.
In real estate, there is a transaction between a buyer and seller. For a buyer, there’s an array of choices and the wait is for the click, for a buyer to settle on the perfect home. Delays or backlogs are either related to finances or not finding something suitable, but both can be resolved by looking at a different array of properties. The options never stop flowing for a buyer. But in the case of a seller, the situation is quite different.
The process of selling a house or property is quite a complex concept. It is the culmination of many elements including location, valuation, market stance, buyers and the perfect timing. The process cannot be rushed or induced into fast forward just by the will of a broker or by the wish of the seller.
It’s the coming together of these elements that form the selling process. The duration between putting your house onto the market and it gets sold off to a buyer is all dependent on how the selling process unfolds and how the elements in this process interact with one another.
To understand how long does it take sell a house, let’s first understand the process of selling.
In the simplest terms, selling involves a buyer, seller and in many cases related to real estate, a mediator better known as a broker/realtor. This entire process can be split into two, the preparation process and the dealing stage.
The preparation process mainly involves the seller and the realtor. It includes all steps before the inflow of concrete deals, it is everything involved in preparing for the final transaction. The second stage, or rather the dealing stage starts with an offer made by a buyer. Everything post-offer comes in this stage.
The more time-consuming part of the selling process is the preparation stage and here is where a seller can have a certain amount of influence on how long the process will last. Though there is some amount of control you have in speeding up processes in the dealing stage as well, it mainly involves legalities, down-payments, drawing contracts etc., the time duration of which is out of your control.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/Blog/Steps.jpg" width="5669" height="3653" />
To bring a change in the duration of any step you first need to understand what it entails.
Here are the important steps involved in the preparation process for selling:
1. Choosing an agent: The first step is to choose a listing agent. Do not rush this process, interview, and scan at least four to five agents before selecting one. Make sure to find out all essential details such as how long your house will be listed and the previous track record of the agency.
2. Home valuation: Doing the property valuation of your house is one of the most important steps of the process. It is the step before the actual transaction between a buyer and seller. It is a very essential element that largely affects the sale of your property.
Be sure to go through all the available methods of <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-to-determine-the-value-of-your-home/">calculating the value of your house</a>. These may include broker valuation methods or online valuation tools, evaluate all methods available to you and choose wisely.
3. Staging & Repairs: This step is considered optional by some sellers. People sometimes prefer not to stage their homes before a sale due them inhabiting it at the same time. While staging is an important step, it can be forgone if the condition of your house is not too bad. But repairs are a must.
Make all necessary adjustments on your doors, in your plumbing, wiring etc because these are the amenities people are on the lookout for.
4. Open House & Marketing: Show your property to the world, and it will be sold. Don’t hesitate in marketing your property. Essential if you have a realtor on board the marketing aspect is taken care of, but even so you can market within your social circles, word of mouth goes a long way in the selling process.
When it comes to <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-do-you-prepare-for-an-open-house/">hosting an open house</a>, once again if you have a realtor it is taken care of. An open house is basically a real estate event of sorts wherein you keep your doors open for any potential customer who wants to make a property purchase.
There are planned open houses but some sellers even allow people in for a showing without an appointment. This is purely your decision.
5. Offers, offers, offers: Once your property is out there, the waiting game begins. Depending on how well you and the realtor are able to execute the previous stages, and how their effect takes off in the market, offers will come flowing in. With the offer comes the offer value and from there on negotiations begin.
This is the last step of the preparation process. Keep in mind, even if you are closing in on a certain offer, do not stop the inflow of offers until the deal is properly sealed and finalized.
In almost all cases, a realtor is able to come up with a rough estimate of how long does it take to sell a house
They do this after analysing all the decisions and choices you make at every step from the very beginning. Sometimes even the realtor is the reason for the slow sale of your house, thus it is important to make wise choices while selecting the person who will deal with your property sale. Though it's not a calculated deduction, sometimes its pure luck that brings a buyer to a seller.
Essentially there is no hard and fast rule or formula through which you can determine how long it takes to sell a specific property. But as discussed above, there are factors that contribute to it.
Though there is a multitude of internal and external factors, here are some factors on which we have an influence and here’s how you can boost your selling process:
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/Blog/Competitive_pricing.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Competitive Pricing" />
1. What is it you sell at?
The price at which you sell your property is the most important element in the selling mix. The process of fixing a price begins at the valuation of your property, post which you determine a price depending on how much percentage profit you want to make added to the condition of the house and the urgency to sell.
This is a very crucial decision that can decide the length of your selling process. The higher the price the longer the time. If a property is priced right, it will sell. Lower rates sell quicker, overpriced properties have an undetermined time limit.
It’s best to set your price just a tad bit lower than the other houses in the market or create other attractive offers to entice customers into making offers. Once you have offers flowing, competition between buyers raises the prices automatically.
2. Location is everything.
The geographical area of your property plays an important role in the sale. Make sure to mention any and all amenities available in your locality while marketing your house. Some important amenities include hospitals, schools, and playgrounds. Highlight to your buyer the connectivity of your area to highways, transport facilities, airports etc.
Always remember, its not only the house that sells, it’s the lifestyle. A person is interested in everything that a house has to offer, including its neighbourhood.
3. How it looks is how it is.
Though people sometimes refrain from staging their house for a sale, it’s like they say, the first impression is the last impression. Staging your house and decorating removes the troubles of a potential buyer to imagine how the house will like their home.
Visuals are a very powerful tool and staging helps to play that to its best potential. Create a story for your customer and make them wish they are the characters that play in it!
It's undeterminable to give an Average time to sell a house with market conditions and competitors' offers constantly fluctuating. But if you use the aspects that you are in control of and go forward with the selling process, it helps decrease the timeline.
Keep an eye out for opportunities to market your property and never lose hope, every house will find its owner!
Want to have a chat about the property or about your buying or selling needs?
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442" target="_blank">Book</a> an appointment today and let me know how I can help you.2019-01-02T11:37:00-07:002022-04-12T02:50:20-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4474Internet-Based Home Evaluation Tools: Are They Reliable?Q. Do internet-based evaluation tools provide accurate measurements of my home/condo value?
A. The answer every eager seller is looking for when entering the realms of the real estate market is to the heavy question ‘What is the exact valuation of my house, apartment, or property?’.
The most important factor for a buyer and even more so for a seller is the money value of a property. The real estate market depends on the transactions between a buyer and a seller, and the higher the sell the better it is for a broker. Any person looking to sell their home has a monetary motive behind it, the higher they can take the bid, the more beneficial it is for them.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that in the real estate world, free home evaluations are an essential part of every dealing. The first step for a seller, which is present to the actual buying-selling process is calculating the worth of a given house. Anyone looking to take a property off of their hands first looks for methods through which they can <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-to-determine-the-value-of-your-home/">determine the value of their property</a>.
This step can be carried out through multiple techniques available in the real estate market. They come in a wide range, starting from broker valuation methods, agencies that deal in such valuations or internet valuation tools.
<a href="https://www.backatyou.com/home-value/F1520B72-5957-45B3-87D4-D43D76E97C48?cc=1kud9" title="How much is your home worth?" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/Blog/Home_Value.png" width="769" height="400" alt="How much is your home worth? Click here to find out." title="How much is your home worth? Click here to find out." /></a>
Broker valuation method is a process wherein you approach a real estate broker and sign up for his/her services to get a proper value of your property. In such a method, brokers essentially take a look at the property, the key elements of the locality and using their expertise and the current value of the market provide a certain figure to the customer.
The second method is through agencies, wherein you contact a real estate agency and they provide you a realtor for the valuation. Its workings are the same as the broker valuation method.
Internet valuation tools are basically applications available online wherein you can put in the area and location of your property and it will generate your valuation instantly.
It is established that there are multiple wars to go about the valuation of your house, but often sellers are stuck in a dilemma, with a broker providing one rate, an agency providing another and online methods showing completely different results, which method can one truly trust? And why, if the property is the same, are there different valuation results?
These pressing questions need answers, and sellers are stuck with so many aspects to inspect but in so little time. The market is volatile and being stuck at the valuation stage for too long can be hazardous. So here’s some clarity on the issue.
The results you receive on a calculate depends on the numbers you type in. Similarly, the valuation of a house is a result of the information that goes into calculating it.
Realtors and agencies use the same kind of data but their results can be influenced by biases or human error. A software technique completely ignores the real elements of a property such as changes in a neighbourhood and can, therefore, be inaccurate. Thus, different methods sometimes show different results.
Check Also: <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/sellers/pricing-your-home/">Tips for Pricing your home</a>
There is no right answer on which one you can trust but rather a choice to make in deciding which method has a higher level of accuracy.
Traditionally, valuations were done by the broker method, whose results were, in the past, considered the ultimate word. People never cross-verified the final valuation and this often led to people being fooled into settling for a lower value than the actual value of the property.
But if the alternative is online house valuation, the question then remains, is this method any better than the previous? Or is it the same thing all over again, but now, with the risk of your credentials getting lost or misused in the large abysses of what we call the world wide web?
Internet evaluation methods are presented in the form of a software that can either be accessed on a website or through a downloaded application on your device, be it your laptop or your smartphone.
AVM, which is the abbreviation for ‘Automated valuation model’ is a real estate valuation model that provides properties valuations using large content available on their database combined with various pre-set algorithms. They are fast and easily available to anyone and everyone who wishes to access them, at any location at any time.
While the working and format of various AVMs may differ from one another, the general format is to do a comparative analysis of present-day home values and provide you a valuation for your property for that given point of time.
AVMs use public data in their home evaluations and as their number of users increase, their database broadens. With the market booming and there being a large influx of people making transactions within the real estate market, there seems to be no problem in this area. The reason more and more people are moving towards online methods of valuation can be narrowed down to one single word: Trust.
People’s entire lives depend on the sale of their property and the demand for an unbiased, fair evaluation is what has kept this internet valuation software thriving today. Having said that, this method, in spite of being unbiased, is not free from its faults.
Like any other real estate value evaluation system, even automated ones have their own set of limitations. One of the largest limitations is the dependency on data. The accuracy of AVMs is mainly dependant on the amount of data present in the database. The larger the database, the higher the accuracy.
Essentially what the program does is that, when a user inputs the information they have (address of the property) and asks for the information they need (valuation of said property), the software collects all the data related to the area, the geographical location, neighbourhood reviews, basic facilities, amenities, special features, general valuation of neighbouring properties etc. and putting all of this together, calculates a valuation.
One of the main advantages of using such a valuation technique is the decrease in manual labour for a broker. It reduces the time and is also a very cost-effective method compared to broker valuation methods. It aims at cancelling out the shortcomings of a physical broker property valuation.
Internet-based property valuation tools have both positive and negative aspects to them. Here are 3 reasons why you should go ahead with this valuation method for your home:
Quick & Easy
Internet tools can be downloaded onto your laptop or smartphone and can be used at any time. It’s easy to navigate these applications and it comes with an easy set of instructions to make your valuation experience user-friendly. The results are almost instant and if the area you’re searching is slightly obscure, you will receive a mail or update with the required information within a few days max.
2. Cheap & Best
Most of the available property valuation applications or software are free of charge or have a minimum subscription fee. In comparison, manual valuation turns out to be a far more expensive proposition.
3. Let’s get the stakes down
Automation valuation methods are low-risk methods of valuation. Technology completely overshadows the possibilities of human error, be it intentional or unintentional. The software has pre-determined formulas that access data accurately, and there is no outside factor that can affect the results of your house valuation.
But with its numerous advantages enter the disadvantages of internet valuation tools. The most prominent one being ‘inconclusive data’. The primary raw material for results is data.
Often in such technologies, the software is unable to capture the exact condition of the property, thus leaving the results inaccurate. Also, removing the human element can lead to the ignorance of factors that technology cannot provide. These may include future changes in the neighbourhood or locality. To combat this issue many applications, attach user reviews of the area along with your valuation.
At the end of the day, we can come to the conclusion that in spite of its disadvantages, automated tools for the valuation of your property are a viable option. With the advancements in technology, the accuracy and efficiency of these tools will only increase. The method is popularly used in the market for all the right reasons, now it is in your hands what technique you would like to adopt.
As it is popularly said, your house, your rules!2018-12-17T16:19:00-07:002022-04-12T04:56:42-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4368Should I Let Someone Look At My Home Without An Appointment?Selling a house is an anxiety-filled task for any homeowner. It’s their home on the market, and with a large proportion of their wealth tied up in the property, smooth sales are a dream come true. In simple words, for the seller, the buyer is king. A seller tries their best to make their prospective buyers as comfortable as possible, hoping for a sale.
While it is important to keep your potential customer happy, what’s the limit till which you can extend favours or curtsies? Many times, sellers face difficulties when buyers make demands that can’t be met. Sellers feel pressured into making decisions that would go against what they want, just so they can keep their customers happy.
But sometimes, it’s important to evaluate just how much you let happen in regards to the buyer’s request. While every seller’s goal is a fast and smooth sale, inconveniencing yourself is sometimes not worth it. Often, when a buyer requests something, sellers feeling conflicted and don’t know how to say no. One such instance is a request for an impromptu showing by a prospective buyer. This puts the seller in a spot. On the one hand, the buyer is showing enthusiasm and is interested enough to want to immediately see the property. On the other hand, though, the seller has to make a lot of adjustments & compromises to make such a showing happen.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/Pros-and-Cons-768x621.jpg" width="768" height="621" />
While there is no right or wrong answer as to how one can deal with this situation, evaluation is necessary. Let us discuss the pros and cons of letting a prospective buyer have a spontaneous showing without a prior appointment with the realtor or owner.
PROS:
They sealed the deal!
Every person that walks onto your property could be the one who finally signs the agreement and helps take a property off your hands. When a prospective buyer views your house, appointment or not, your probability of sale is increasing. Statistics show that 50% of buyers, once turned down for a showing, do not return to view it again.
Spreading the word.
Whenever a client looks at your property, their retaining details. Letting the person see the property without prior appointment appears as a personal favour and thus increases goodwill with the client. A comfortable client trusts you more, thus increasing the chances of a sale. Not only that, even if a person doesn’t buy the property, every happy client, even if they turn you down, is a marketer. In community-based societies, word of mouth is a strong marketing tool, that can take you a long way.
CONS:
Security
This is one of the most important and strong reasons as to why a seller should turn down impromptu appointments, even at the stake of a sale. Through appointment, one knows whom they're getting into their house or potentially going into dealings with. While you may not know a great deal about them, basic details are shared between buyers & sellers, unless it’s an open house. By agreeing to impromptu visitations, you will be trying to make a sale at the stake of your safety. If you feel uncomfortable, refuse.
Privacy
In spite of what buyers may believe, sellers do not sit by the door, waiting for potential clients to knock, so that they can go about trying to sell their property. Sellers lead a normal daily life just like everyone else. This means that a random visit interrupts their schedule, and largely invades their privacy. Often one feels conflicted as to whether to go about their daily routine or make way for a potential customer, even if it is an inconvenience.
During such visits, sellers often don’t even get the time to put away personal belongings
Or valuables, which they would otherwise do.
Missing in Action!
Most sellers have real estate agents who help them to put a property out on the market. These agents help attract potential buyers to help seal the deal. Generally, showings are scheduled by both the real estate agent & the seller personally, but sellers prefer to have the agent present, no matter where the client has been acquired. Agents help in describing the amenities in the property, the attractions of the neighbourhood and handle negotiations with buyers, if necessary.
It is often preferred by prospective buyers that the seller isn’t around while they are viewing the house. Seller’s bias to their own property restricts the buyer to express their concerns about the place. In such situations, the real estate agent steps in, the seller make themselves scarce and the buyer can happily have her/his viewing.
The problem with agreeing to the request is that, if a seller agrees to show a property without an appointment, they may not have the time to call their agent and even if they do, their agent may not be free to come help with the deal.
Make one decision, stick to it.
As a seller, all prospective buyers are equal for you. Conducting impromptu showings defies the purpose of scheduling appointments in the first place. By allowing this, a seller will make a reputation for themselves and this may lead to people believing every day is like an open house day.
Zero set up time.
Generally, before showing a property to a prospective customer, one does many tasks, such as, cleaning the house, maintaining an ideal temperature in the room, keeping flyers handy for them to take home, lightly decorating the property, creating a warm ambience etc. An impromptu showing robs you of the opportunity to prepare and impress. Also, one does not get the time to keep documentation in place, in case the client wants to see any.
While it’s clear that the cons in the situation outweigh the pros of the situation, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the answer to the question is that simple. The points above indicate that while letting someone in may lead to a potential sale, it’s after keeping a lot of things at stake that it will have been done.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/pros-and-cons2.jpg" width="768" height="506" />
It’s up to you as to what you finally decide to do, but here are some things to consider that might help you out.
Is your safety & privacy more important than a sale? Are you comfortable making deals without your agent being around? Are you comfortable allowing an unknown person into your house to see the property? Is it a personal favour? Is it unfair to other prospective clients who have come and gone on the basis of appointment?
Once you answer these questions, you will automatically get your answers. Don’t be scared about offending a potential buyer by refusing the request, it’s your home, your comfort matters most. If you feel comfortable doing a showing without an appointment, then go ahead. But do not agree into situation due to stress or anxiety of the property not selling.
Evaluate all the pros and cons. Do what you think is best for you.
Make a wise and informed decision.2018-09-25T23:21:00-07:002018-10-25T12:06:39-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4163Why You Should Consider Selling in the Winter<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/selling-in-the-winter-attracts-serious-buyers.jpg" alt="Selling In Winter Attracts Serious Buyers" title="Selling In Winter Attracts Serious Buyers" height="410" width="750" />
The season you sell your home can have an impact on how much you get for your home and how quickly it sells. The season that has the most success in selling homes is spring. This is a good time of year for families moving to new school districts and is also more convenient weather for moving. Because of this trend, most people will recommend waiting to list your home until after the winter is over. Avoiding the winter is a huge misconception in the housing industry and can cause homeowners to miss out on opportunities.
Selling in the winter can give you a few advantages. There will be fewer houses on the market since most people assume winter is a bad time to sell. This gives your home more attention. Potential buyers are always looking no matter the time of year. Keeping your house on the market in the winter might bring the right buyer to your door. Real estate agents also tend to be less busy during these months and commit more time to getting your home sold.
Studies have shown winter buyers are buying because they need to move right away either for a relocation or personal situation. They will want to close quickly and allow for a much smoother sale.
Bottom Line
If you need to sell your home right away, or have some time but want to see what is out there, consider listing in the winter. Most homeowners who are going to sell will list their home in the spring, making for a competitive market. The winter allows buyers who are in a hurry to move consider your home and sell for more money than you would have in the spring.2018-09-17T10:18:00-07:002018-10-25T12:10:43-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4367How To Determine The Value Of My House?Every investment is a worthy investment. One that we make only after weighing all the options possible and charting up a pros and cons list. It’s the same whether you invest in stocks, diamonds or your very open home!
When it comes to stocks or commodities, it is very easy to find out the true value, just look it up online! But, when it comes to real estate, the issue is a little tricky.
The answer may seem simple. The value of my house would be worth how much a person is willing to buy it for. Well, I would like to buy it for just 10 bucks, possible?
No way!
But, is the value so determined by a lender, agent or tax assessor correct? Can you trust them?
Well, knowing your own home’s value helps you to buy, sell and re-finance efficiently. This can be achieved with a mix of online tools, trained professionals and some common sense.
Here are 5 ways to Calculate a Home Value
Online Valuation Tools
Though there are many online tools which will pop up in your google search, such as the Automated Valuation Model so provided by the big real estate or lender sites. This tool basically uses a mix of mathematical modelling and public records about taxes, deeds of ownership to arrive at a specific number.
But, is this accurate? Like they say, you cannot trust the internet.
Most of these tools are meant only for marketing and lead generation because of which the accuracy can be a hit or a miss.
But, the tools so used by established lenders and real estate agents is different. These tools use a “confidence score” to indicate how close the AVM provider thinks an estimate is to market value. A confidence score of 90% means the estimate is within 10% of market value, for example, though each AVM has its own way of calculating confidence.
Another option is to opt for a professional-grade AVM with confidence is linked to a much better accuracy but you need to do your research before you start running for it.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/Home-Value-768x399.jpg" width="768" height="399" />
How much is your home worth? <a href="https://www.backatyou.com/home-value/F1520B72-5957-45B3-87D4-D43D76E97C48?cc=1kud9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here</a> to find out
2. Broker Price Opinion is gold!
When you are getting serious about your home value, at least more than googling it out, it is a safe bet to approach a local real estate agent and ask for a Broker Price Opinion, BPO for short.
As the name suggests, it is not a professional report or appraisal but it is an agent’s opinion about the home’s value vis-à-vis the market and what it will hopefully fetch once listed.
Though pretty useful, be sure to factor in the fact that this opinion is given with a tiny bit of hope that you will hire them as your selling agent. So, Beware!
3. Use the <a href="https://www.crea.ca/housing-market-stats/mls-home-price-index/hpi-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HPI Calculator by CREA</a>
You can always trust a credible source like the Canadian Real Estate Association which has its own House Price Index Calculator and applies a much more scientific approach without any hidden intent.
The calculator tracks a house’s change in value from one sale to the next. Then it uses this information to estimate how values fluctuate in a given market. This is a much easier way to track the growth of your home over time.
It may sound amazing, but you need to also keep in mind that this <a href="https://www.crea.ca/housing-market-stats/mls-home-price-index/hpi-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HPI calculator</a> and the way it is designed will also look at conforming home mortgages and does not account for inflation or seasonal changes.
But, if you have a conforming mortgage, this is a pretty good idea to find calculate home value
4. Professional Appraisal
Though we slightly touched upon this point earlier, professional appraisals are a pretty popular option. Many lenders by law require an appraisal to approve the mortgage. But, you can also choose this option any time.
These professionals can value the home according to your need, be it the value of your home on a specific date, its current market value for a re-finance or purchase.
How is a professional appraisal different?
These appraisals account for many other factors left out by previous options such as the:
Market – the region, city and neighbourhood.
Characteristics – Value of land, improvements, renovations
Comparable properties – On other listings, sales, cost, depreciation and so on.
This data is combined to create a final opinion of determine home value and delivered in an official report.
5. Comparable Properties
Be it the AVM tool or professional appraisals, they often rely on very important variable which is the sale of comparable properties.
By analysing comparable properties to the mix, one can determine the market value without paying an appraiser, but you have to use good judgment. We are here to tell you how. You need to use an “apples to apples” approach.
Here are a few steps:
Browse recent sales online – You can use your local MLS service to find comparable properties
Use at least 3 properties – This helps get a good range
Use logic - You’ll need to adjust for differences between your home and the comparable properties. This can be in terms of interior, improvements, and so on. So add and subtract accordingly.
After adjusting values, look at your highest and lowest comparable properties. A rough estimate of your home value is somewhere in the middle.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-long-will-it-take-to-sell-my-home/" title="how long does it take to sell a house">How long does it take to sell a house</a>
Why do you need to stress on the value of your home?
By knowing your home’s value, you will be able to understand and analyse what you can afford, determine whether a listing is priced appropriately and decide how to price your own home when you wish to sell or buy.
But, the pros just don’t end there. By finding the value of your home, you will be able to analyse the options of refinancing, insurance premiums and property taxes based on home value.
You get to choose the way your home is treated in terms of any process, be it the taxes or buying and selling.
Don’t you want that?
Just buy following a few easy steps, you can gain control over your home and make choices that you will be proud of in the future when you look at how much you save! In terms of money and time.
Want to have a chat about the property or about your buying or selling needs?
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442">Book</a> an appointment today with Mr. Hani Faraj and be relieved of any stress.
<a href="https://admin.clientlinkt.com/admin/clientapps/widget/59020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Try our free app!</a> This free app has property search, property listings, mortgage calculator, and allows you direct contact with your local agent BCHOUSEFINDERS.COM and preferred service providers like #mortgage brokers, #insurance providers, and find offered #discounts !
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/bchousefinders-app-768x375.png" width="768" height="375" />2018-09-12T22:15:00-07:002022-04-12T00:16:58-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4364Do I Need a FOR SALE sign board for my property?Recently, it has come to our attention that there are a lot of people in the market at the moment that don’t have a for sale sign board outside their homes.
The newspapers and shop windows are now outdated and people are turning to the internet to start their search for their next property. The rise of the digital world has changed a lot of things we do. Rather than actually speaking to our friends, we tell them what we are up to by posting updates and pictures on social media. We shop online, chat online, even date online. But what about buying and selling houses online?
Before the internet took over the world, people would search for houses by visiting high street estate agents and seeing what they had to offer. But now, it is estimated that 95% of people begin their home search online.
With the ever-mounting use of online marketing, is there still a place for the traditional humble For Sale board?
Sometimes, for sale sign boards are seen as a nuisance. The thought of neighbors knowing you’re moving and might gossip about it is frustrating at times. You might get strangers come knocking on your door and making inquiries about your house but that’s secondary.
Check Also : <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-do-you-prepare-for-an-open-house/">How do you prepare for Open an House ?</a>
No doubt the board outside your house helps your estate agent with brand awareness too, but so what?
We hear many reasons why property owners don’t want a sale board:
“I don’t want to worry the gardener”
“I don’t want my neighbors knowing”
“we don’t get a lot of passing traffic”
There are many pros and cons for putting up a for sale sign which you need to look up for before deciding you want a sign or not.
WHY WOULDN’T YOU?
Not to deny, for sale sign can be seen as an annoyance, a tacky eyesore that helps to blight the look of an area. We often hear stories of local residents and councils being opposed to for sale sign, particularly if there are streets filled to the brim with them. There are also often complaints that for sale sign are left up too long, even once a property has been sold.
What’s more, many people see boards as antiquated and without purpose in an increasingly digital world. The majority of people head online when it comes to browsing for property. Gone are the days where people drive past a for sale sign and immediately pounce on this initial interest. Word of mouth is no match for the power of the internet, where potential buyers can search for thousands of properties at the click of a button. The internet allows property to be advertised on local, national and global basis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.
If your property can receive huge levels of exposure on the major property portals, is there really any need for a for sale sign? Are there really enough buyers out there who might see your for sale sign by chance and subsequently show an interest in your home? Is it worth it?
WHY WOULD YOU?
If you are on the market trying to sell your property, should you have a for sale board?
Yes, you 100% should.
If you’re selling your home then no doubt you will want to sell it for the best possible price, in the shortest possible time frame- everybody does! The way we see it is that all exposure is good exposure and if you really want to get your property sold, then having a board up outside can only be a good thing. Usually, 7% of all the enquiries are a result of boards outside properties and whilst one may argue that’s a small percentage, its still almost 1 in 10 of all the enquiries. It is potential, where extra viewing or two of your property wouldn’t really harm with someone having spotting your board. Sometimes people spot a board outside, like the house and will like request for the needed information whereas perhaps also the things which didn’t appear on websites under this criterion and so often we find people end up buying properties that are totally different to their initial ideas.
Check Also :<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-long-will-it-take-to-sell-my-home/"> Average time to sell a house ?</a>
Now you and I both know that virtually all buyers will search online for property these days and so many don’t see the need to have a for sale board but there are many reasons which are valid to have one.
For instance, people still do jump in the car on a Sunday and drive around areas they would be interested in buying in to get a ‘feel for the area’. Friends and family from outside the area visiting the family may well be ‘thinking’ of moving to your area but not actively looking and the fact your house is on the market may just spur them to take the next steps. Having a board can attract the ‘opportunist buyer’ too that is the buyers who aren’t actively looking but would be interested if your house popped up on the market. Also, without one you cannot say you are ticking every box and doing everything possible to find a buyer as quickly as possible for the highest possible price.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/FOr_sale.jpg" />
There are more reasons why we suggest you have a for sale board:
A very high percentage of buyers will drive into an area or a specific street they want to live in live in and will quickly look for for sale boards- we wouldn’t be surprised if you chose your last home by this method?
If you look at it from a buyer’s point of view, when they enter the street we want them to concentrate immediately on your property and nobody else’s. There’s nothing worse than a potential buyer trying to find a property and then they see something else that puts them off the street or worse still, they see a neighboring property for sale?
If you think about it this also applies to a potential purchaser that we may have already spoken to or may have already seen the property on the internet- we want them to be able to <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/property-search/search-form/">find the property immediately</a>.
It goes without saying that if your potential buyer can’t immediately cast their eyes on your property because there’s no for sale board then you run the risk of them missing yours and looking at the next available property on their list.
It is also extremely important at the viewing appointment stage that the buyer is attracted only to your property when they approach your street- we don’t want your buyer being put off at this point by any other potentially negative distractions.
One final, but very important point is, ‘is this seller serious about selling?’. This is a question that is regularly asked when a board is not present. A quality buyer will only want to offer on a property where the seller is genuinely serious about selling. It’s just one of those things.
As usual with these things, you have to measure the pros and cons and work out if the possible advantages outweigh the downsides. It is generally advised that boards are still a very useful marketing tool and bring extra exposure to your house, but in an age where things are now so heavily revolved around the internet and digital marketing, you have to ask yourselves whether they still have enough relevance.
Well, look again at the instances given above, and decide carefully. Is it worth potentially missing those opportunities for sake of upsetting the gardener or feeding gossip to your neighbors. Your neighbors will soon know you are selling when they see people waiting outside to view your house. It is advised to stop with hesitation as due to that, seller maybe be losing some serious buyers.
The bottom line is- for sale signs matter to some extent and you should have one in your yard when you decide to sell your property.
Want to have a chat about the property or about your buying or selling needs?
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442">Book</a> an appointment today with Mr. Hani Faraj and be relieved of any stress.2018-07-20T21:58:00-07:002022-04-13T02:09:45-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4363How Much It Will Cost Of Selling A House ?<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/account-achievement-bank-870902.jpg" />
Show me the money!
Admit it, that’s what first came to your mind as soon as you started considering selling your house. In fact, chances are that you have already started spending money on the procedure- on a new house you are willing to buy, or maybe even a nice exotic vacation this holiday. Well you need to slow down here. While selling a home can indeed bring in some sweet profits, remember that not every piece goes into your pocket. One who has decided to sell their house also needs to pay the professionals who helps them to unload the property.
So now we come to the main question that I am pretty sure is revolving in your mind: ‘how much does it cost to sell a house'
On an average, home sellers pay their<a href="https://www.bchousefinders.com/blog/why-do-i-need-a-realtor-to-sell-my-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> listing agent or realtor</a> a commission amounting to about 6% of the price of their home, although the percentage may vary which might seem like a HUGE chunk of change. But hey? Don’t go assuming you are getting ripped off.
Here is where that money goes, and why it is totally worth it.
Realtor’s Fees for Selling A House :
The average 6 percentage sales commission that most real estate agents get is a high price to pay, especially if you believe economists who say that realtors don’t sell homes for significantly more than the asking price.
If you are not getting much more money when using a real estate broker to sell your house, why use them? Expediency may be the best answer since agents often sell homes faster than homeowners could on their own. A real estate company’s costs aren’t worth paying for, they found, when the MLS assistance is taken out of the agent’s hands. But if you are going to <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/sellers/">sell a home</a> and want to pay for an agent’s expertise, there are ways to lower the fee such as:
Go for half: The typical commission is 6%, which is split by the agent for the buyer and the agent for a seller- 3 percent each. But its only paid by the home seller. Tell your potential agent that you will give a 3 percent total commission for selling your house that the agents from each side can split, and your agent can work whatever deal they want when they help you buy another property.
Shop Around: <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/important-questions-to-ask-a-real-estate-agent-during-an-interview-seller-perspective/">Interviewing three or more agents</a> is a good way to find out if you get along with an agent and learn how they will sell your home. Some people take a step forward and organize an auction for the chance to sell their property.
Ask what you are getting from your money: Asking how the agent is justifying their higher commission can be a big help. The things they do that other, less expensive agents don’t do. Why should you pay more for their services? For luxury home sales, it can cost more to advertise in publications and websites for the wealthy, or the agent may have more contacts than a cheaper agent does.
Check Also :
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-long-will-it-take-to-sell-my-home/">How Long it will take to sell my house ?</a>
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/sellers/marketing-your-home/">Marketing Home to faster selling a house?</a>
Home Repairs
If you are thinking about selling your home, it's likely there are a few things you could do to enhance the appeal of your property and maybe even raise its <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/sellers/homeworth/">home worth</a> in every sense. If you have been putting off sprucing up the exterior of your property, painting the inside of the house, repairing the staircase or a leaky faucet, now is the time to get them at work and make those changes.
Also, if the buyer’s home inspector finds problems, such as a leaky roof or bad plumbing, lack of necessary furniture or damaged door knobs, you might have to pay to fix those, as well.
Big repairs can set you back financially, so be prepared for them before you decide to sell, especially if you can expect a problem with your home passing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXIOHxiBcbE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inspection</a>.
Home Staging Cost :
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x9FK-5jJ9A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Home staging</a> involves setting up your property in a way that will impress as many prospective buyers as possible. You can stage your home yourself, or you can hire a professional to achieve this. Every home owner has their own style, but a professional home stager will consider current buyer trends and have experience in de-cluttering and presenting a home to sell in today’s market. If you are simply looking for some guidance, a home stager can provide you with a once-off styling consultation to point you in the right direction. If you want to take a step further, ‘partial staging’ is a service provided where the staging professionals will offer room ideas with a selection of trending decoration items, if you have already moved out, certain home staging companies can provide you with a full set of furniture needed to prepare your house for photography and inspections.
Home staging cost can vary depending on if you are simply after a consultation, partial staging, or if you have already moved out and you need furniture to stage your home. Secondly, the size of your property and number of rooms needing to stag will also play a big part.
House Closing Costs And Additional Fees
If you’re selling a home, don’t expect that the final sale price is the amount of money you’ll receive.
That’s because home sellers pay the bulk of the transaction’s closing costs, which can be substantial. However, there are steps you can take to help reduce closing costs and minimize their impact on the profit from the sale of your home. Home closing costs include all fees and charges associated with a home sale beyond the price of the property itself. These costs vary by region, lender and property type, but they typically include appraisal fees, inspection fees, loan origination fees, transfer fees, title search fees and realtor fees for selling house..
While the buyer is required to cover their share of house closing costs when the property closes, the seller’s share is deducted from the amount they received for the sale.
Sharing house closing costs between buyer and seller is subject to negotiation, but typically, the buyer pays the bulk of the fees while the seller pays real estate commissions. It’s also common for the seller to pay government transfer taxes and costs associated with title insurance. Overall, the seller’s share of costs is usually larger, often more than 6 percent of the property’s selling price. Buyers pay an average of 2 percent to 4 percent of the property’s price in closing costs.
It’s nearly impossible to avoid all costs associated with the seller’s share, but there are a few strategies that can reduce or eliminate those that are most expensive.
Legal Fees
Once you have found a buyer, next comes the legal matters which will require the expertise of a lawyer. When you and the buyer have come to an agreement, the buyer will pay you a non-refundable deposit (also known as a booking fee) amounting to 2% of the property’s selling price.
This is when a lawyer fees for selling a house come into the picture.
For the services rendered, the lawyer will charge you a legal fee which is calculated based on the property’s selling price.
A lawyer can help you avoid some common problems with a home purchase or sale. For example, a seller may sign a brokerage agreement that does not deal with several legal problems. This happens quite often; realtors often use standard forms, expecting that they will cover all circumstances or will be easily customizable for unusual circumstances.
In the absence of an agreement to the contrary, the seller may become liable to pay a brokerage commission even if a sale does not occur, or to pay more than one brokerage commission. If the agreement allows the seller the right to negotiate on his or her own behalf, for example, you may avoid this problem. A lawyer can explain the effect of multiple listings. He or she can negotiate the realtor's rights if the seller withdraws the property from the market or can't deliver good marketable title.
The seller should have the advice and guidance of an attorney with respect to a brokerage agreement. Even if the agreement is a standard form, its terms should be explained to the seller and revised, if necessary. An attorney should also determine if the agreement was properly signed.
Real Property Gains Tax
This is where the bulk of the cost is. <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/personal-income/line-127-capital-gains/principal-residence-other-real-estate.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT)</a> is a tax imposed by the government when you dispose of the property within five years from the date of purchase. With that said, RPGT is not applicable if you have held the property for six years or more.
RPGT is charged only on net gains, meaning the sum after deducting the original purchase price of the property, cost of renovations done to the property, and other costs such as legal costs. In other words, the net gain you made from the sale.
Insurance cost for selling house
Selling a home can be an emotional – and busy – time. Between finding the right agent, keeping your home ‘<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-do-you-prepare-for-an-open-house/">open home ready</a>’ for viewings and all the paperwork that comes with the sales process, there’s a lot to remember.
You should keep your house insurance in place for as long as you own the property. It can be tempting to cancel your house insurance as soon as your property is sold or goes unconditional but remember you’re the owner right up until settlement.
That means until settlement it’s up to you to insure the property.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/home-167734_960_720-768x512.jpg" width="768" height="512" />
In the end, that savings to list a home yourself doesn't usually save you any money. In fact, it can cost you in terms of time, stress, and often a lower price for your home.
You know the saying "you get what you pay for"? Well, you also earn what you save. Think long and hard about your limitations in terms of time and expertise before heading down the home-selling path solo. After all, this home sale may be one of the largest financial transactions of your life, so it's not exactly something you should cut corners on with the hopes of saving a few bucks.
Want to have a chat about the property or about your buying or selling needs?
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442">Book</a> an appointment today with Mr. Hani Faraj and be relieved of any stress.2018-07-16T21:20:00-07:002022-04-14T03:43:56-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4362Important Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent During an Interview - Seller's PerspectiveThere’s a reason why nearly 90% of sellers use a listing agent as selling a home takes time, knowledge of neighborhood trends, and negotiating skills. The agent’s chief tasks are to help set the right price and then buyers in the door having the access to the most up to date information about the most recent sales of comparable properties and competing listings in the neighborhood.
These are the basic needs that are needed to be fulfilled by any individual who is selling the property and thus can’t be done alone due to lack of experience. Hence, one needs an agent to help them work through this process.
But again, the question arises, how do I find the perfect agent to sell my property?
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/41.jpg" width="600" height="400" />
The ideal real estate agent for any individual is the one who plays a key role in its transactions. They should possess the expertise and should be well able to assist you in realty ventures like sale, purchase, lease, sublease, portfolio management, negotiation and so on.
Amidst the realty boom, the back-bone sector is also a haven of fraud malpractices. Since realty transactions is much better with real estate agents, it is also important to choose the ideal real estate agent.
What are the characteristics of an ‘ideal’ real estate agent which every person who is willing to hire should look out for?
A real good agent is similar in nature to a conductor of a symphony, coordinating the different players to make a successful transaction a reality.
Below are some questions which you can ask your agent to further understand their qualities.
Q1 : What are your experience and education? Is this your full-time job?
Though a new agent can certainly be motivated and eager to please, a pro with experience will have the knowledge and skills to face any kind of situation. The question will help you to understand their substantial knowledge and their problem-solving mindset. The realty arena has become mature now that specialized services have emerged like residential, commercial, industrial and retail. So, an ideal real estate consultant should have good knowledge in these different sectors to prove their worth to the client. Their past experiences and their way to handle the situations will speak a lot about their mindset. See if they enjoy coming up with creative solutions for the problems. Many <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/about/">successful real estate agents</a> know how to showcase a property to make it more marketable and develop creative listings to attract the right buyers. A part-time agent won’t really bother much to put so much effort to sell your property.
Read Also : <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-hiring-a-reputed-property-agent-can-prove-to-be-beneficial/" title="How Hiring a Reputed Property Agent can prove to be beneficial?">How Hiring a Reputed Property Agent can prove to be beneficial?</a>
Q2 : How many homes did you sell last year as a seller’s agent?
This interview question has a high level of importance! Do you want to work with a realtor who sells 5 homes a year or someone who sells 25? Don’t be fooled by the agent who does very little business who tells you that you will get better personal service with them. Just remember, there is a reason why they sell only 5 houses. This is a very essential question which most of the sellers forget to ask or never even think of. You need a realtor who has track record of success in good markets and bad. This question indicates their personality and understanding of the local market. An ideal agent doesn’t only sell the property but also themselves. People will only respond to you if you have a great attitude, interest in your work, are personable and honest, have confidence in their abilities and get a sense of fulfillment by others.
Having a true interest in houses and architecture can give you an advantage. The knowledge they have can engage a person in the conversation and also help to be adaptive according to the situations. A top producing real estate agent appreciates and utilizes the nuance that make a specific community’s market and pricing strategy unique.
Check Also :
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/why-do-i-need-a-realtor-to-sell-my-house/">Why Do I need Real-estate Agent</a>
Success comes from identifying and developing a focus or niche in the local real estate market that allows you to distinguish yourself from the competition.
Q3: Are you a member of the national association of realtors? Can I see your references?
Membership in this professional organization is what really allows an agent to use the title ‘realtor’ which means that the person agreed to follow the organization’s ethical guidelines and to keep up with continuing education. An agent’s professional reputation is crucial to a long career. Being a member of <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NAR</a> shows that they practice high ethical standards. Successful agents have a vast network of contacts within the market they serve. This list of connections should include other agents, potential sellers and buyers, even brokers.
The amount of contact and publicity will reflect their transparency for the legal parameters and their way of guidance.
The agent should be able to guide to fulfill your requirements. If the client wants a property with specific features, your property should have those minimum features which is their responsibility to look after rather than misleading both of you. This happens when they are interested in their own profit. In some cases, the same property is sold to five different buyers with almost the same property papers provided by the agents. Thus, to avoid such scenarios, starting with negotiation to the final documentation, the deal should be fully transparent so that primary benefit goes to the client.
Not necessary, but a realty agent should possess the legal side of every transaction so they can guide you safely through the process without any chances of intervention of law. And in case, they aren’t aware of the lawsuits, one should have a good network of legal professionals.
Ideally, ask for the names and the contacts. You need to know whether their clients are happy with their work now, not in their past. It is important to know how easy it would be reach them if you have questions or whether they felt supported and advised which only former clients can answer.
Q4 : How will you price and market my home? What are the cons of my property?
There is a lot more to marketing a house than putting up a ‘for-sale’ sign on the lawn. For instance, listing it on websites and advertising it in media fields. An agent should be able to give you some simple advice on how to make your home as presentable as possible. Things like whether or not it would be worthwhile to make an improvement or properly tagging a home for sale. The general improvements to enhance the sale ability. Each realty transactions require an ideal plan to be implemented. Good realty consultants should know the required plan for the procedure. Some may advertise, some may auction. The pricing of the property is also very important which only an experienced person can fix which is acceptable in the market for both buyer and the seller.
A good <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/sellers/marketing-your-home/">Home marketing</a> plan can be what makes the difference between a speedy sale and a home that languishes on the market. One should have strong understanding of both online and social media marketing. More than 90% of all buyers find their home online.
We all know that selling a house is not riding unicorns, so be ready to accept that your property might also have some flaws. A realtor that is a good fit should be able to name several potential drawbacks, from repairs to location and beyond. That said, you will be spending a good deal of time with your real estate pro, so seek out someone with a realistic but tactful approach. You should also keep in mind that their demands should be reasonable i.e. the improvements you make in your property shouldn’t lead you to a loss.
To sum up, it’s very common for real estate agents to prepare an informal presentation to give you. Consider keeping a list of the questions that you have. There are some truly great agents out there so don’t prefer settling any agent that walks to your door or you will most likely end up being
disappointed. Keep in mind that hiring an exceptional real estate agent will go a long way in being happy and getting the terms and conditions you are looking for in your sale. In the end, you get what you put into it. There is a certain level of investment needed to make anything successful. Once when you are done with the interviews and research, trust your instincts. You will be sharing sensitive financial information and time with this person, so you surely want yourself to like them and for them to be trustworthy enough towards you. It’s your property and play it well with the support of an <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/agents/hanifaraj/">ideal real estate agent</a> with all the above-mentioned characteristics to taste success.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/0a5FRF-wBnw
Want to have a chat about the property or about your buying or selling needs?
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442">Book</a> an appointment today with Mr. Hani Faraj and be relieved of any stress.2018-07-09T19:50:00-07:002022-04-14T03:37:01-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4361Why Do I Need Realtor To Sell My House ?Does every other property advertisement confuse you?
Or are all the deals they offer legitimate?
Have you been saving for your dream house and now want to sell your property to reach your goal but you don’t get the expected response and thus it leads to debt or loss?
Do you remember the time when you were a kid and you thought of your dream house having a big garden with a backyard that led to a luxurious lifestyle?
One can’t deny that everyone of us had a dream house which all of us wanted but as the time passed you realized that it needs a lot of hard work and money which makes you end up buying the feasible home near to your work and keeping other situations in mind such as the locality or the distance from your kid’s school. But maybe, it’s time for you to sell your house and go for your dream. We know that one can’t do it alone. After all, it’s a big risk that you take and it needs a lot of suggestions and experience to make the right decision which gets you profit too.
Well, we have got the answer.
REALTOR!
A really good realtor.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/real-estate-agents-2523247_960_720-533x690.png" />
Who is Realtor And What does a Realtor do?
A realtor is an estate agent, a person whose job is to arrange the sales, renting or management of homes, land and buildings for the owners, and who is a member of the <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Association of Realtors</a> in your country.
But, we know that one can hardly trust the online platforms as you are never sure of what you will get. Hence, we provide you with your own personal agent who will help to resolve any queries and ensure that you have a seamless experience.
A realtor helps to run the tasks and errands that are needed to sell your property such as:
Preparing your home to sell
An experienced agent after your first consultation, lets you <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/sellers/homeworth/">know your home worth</a> and points out the corrections if needed such as lighting, paints, pest control etc. to increase your property value. All of these are listed to you and according to your convenience, experts are assigned by us as per your needs in a feasible amount.
In a seller’s market, with a lack of houses and surplus of buyers, it is quite possible that your property may sell in a couple of weeks itself.
Preparing of the house means ‘STAGING’ your property which makes it more presentable for the buyers. It also includes professional photography of the house and listing the honest pros and cons to you and the buyer.
Listing of the property
As these agents are licensed, they can post listings for free to <a href="http://www.mls.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Multiple Listing Service</a>, a national database of <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/">homes for sale </a>which is searchable by other realtors. Our agents imagine themselves in the buyers’ shoes and create the advertisements that attract potential buyers.
Manifesting the house
Once there are prospective buyers, the realtors will arrange showings and <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-do-you-prepare-for-an-open-house/">open houses</a>. As the primary contact, they are responsible for making sure that the house is presentable during every visit which includes being on time for the visit, cleanliness of the house as well as presenting the home in a sophisticated manner.
Sealing the deal
Once the seller and the buyer agree for the transaction, the buyer’s agent comes for inspection of the house and might also schedule termite or mold inspections. After this process, the realtor will prepare the official offer accepted by both buyer and seller. All the processes in the transaction is taken care by the realtor and you are kept well informed in person and through online communication.
What is the difference between a realtor and a real estate agent?
There are many people who don’t know the difference between a ‘real estate agent’ and a ‘realtor’. These terms are interchangeable but yet are different.
A Best real estate agent is licensed to help people to <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/">buy or sell property</a> whereas a realtor is a trademarked term that refers to a real estate agent who is an active member of National Association of Real Estate Agents which gives them the right to list the property in the NAR. One can also say that realtors are more educated and experienced in this field and will help you better to make the decision.
What are the possible results and outcomes if I choose a realtor?
The 2016 profile of home buyers and sellers by the NAR found that for sale by owner sales are at an all time low, at only 8%, versus the all-time high set back in 1981 at 21%.
If a seller uses a realtor, it’s going to help them in many ways such as improving your household, <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/sellers/pricing-your-home/">pricing the property</a>, legal work of the property, open house visits etc.
All these factors are taken care by the realtors which not only saves your time but also money.
89% of sellers were assisted by a real estate agent when selling their home in 2016. 41% of the sellers found their realtor through their acquaintances and 67% go for the same realtor.
Where Can I Find the Best REALTOR ?
You can use always the ‘find the realtor’ tool on <a href="https://www.realtor.com/realestateagents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">realtor.com</a> to find individuals who actively sell in your community. Getting recommendations from friends or family who have sold houses and there are always open houses to connect with.
What a Does Realtor Do?
Once your home is listed with us, we immediately begin to market your home according to what your needs maybe. It is our responsibility to keep you informed as the marketing processes unfold and as expressions of interest are received.
We expect complete loyalty about the honest background of the property needed for us to sell it and professionalism maintained from both the sides during the whole procedure.
Once associating with us we promise you a hassle-free process but at the same time keeping you updated with plans and the follow ups.
The above information reflects our work and quality provided by our firm. The main point of this article was to make you understand the role of a professional realtor. Our motive is to create a wonderful experience of the so called ‘boring’ procedure of selling a house by keeping you stress free yet informed by maintaining transparency as a buyer or seller. Our realtors are held to a higher ethical standard than licensed agents and must adhere to a code of ethics.
And of course, they are working for you at nearly all hours of the day and night using their well efficient networks as a realtor, we assure you of a seamless experience.
Loved what you read? Want to get in touch?
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442">Book</a> an appointment today with Mr. Hani Faraj to know more.2018-07-04T18:43:00-07:002022-04-14T02:34:19-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:43599 Possible Reasons Why Your House Isn't Selling<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/frustration-1241534_960_720.jpg" />
So, you have put up a home for sale. It’s been a couple of months but still, your house is not selling or you haven’t gotten any positive leads.
Heck, you haven’t even gotten calls barring a few creepy ones.
You are worried and confused as to why isn't my house selling. Well, fear not. It is not because the entire universe is against you, it may just be one of the following factors.
1. High Asking Price
It is difficult to correctly price your house. It is your house that you built and made it a home. But, just because you think it’s worth a certain amount it doesn’t mean everyone thinks the same.
So, <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/sellers/homeworth/">what is the worth of your house</a>?
It is the price that someone is willing to pay. Every house can be sold in seconds if it is priced right. It is difficult to lower the asking price, but it is much better than waiting for months and not being able to have the cash in hand.
2. Aesthetic Appeal
Just as an experiment, walk out of your home right this instant.
Are you there? Great.
Now, with a third-person mindset, observe your home. The lawn, the hedges, paint and so on. Does it need some re-touching? Does it look inviting? Do you feel like going in?
Look around the neighbourhood, take a closer look at the houses you love and have sold recently. What have they done differently? Why does it look more appealing?
You need to be able to work on the aesthetic appeal of your home such that it not only looks good in person but also in photos. Potential customers will judge your home on the basis of first impressions which are extremely vital.
Check Also :
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-to-determine-the-value-of-your-home/">Do I Need For Sale Sign Board For My Property ?</a>
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/do-i-need-a-for-sale-sign-for-my-property/">Determine Home Value</a>
3. Clutter?
When potential customers come knocking, it is important to have a home that is not only beautiful from the outside but also from the inside. Try to get rid of as much as you can. Keep it simple and aesthetically simple. This allows for the buyer to be able to visualise how they would design their future home.
Just open up the place and let the light flow in. You don’t want your clutter to be the reason for not having closed the sale!
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/clutter-360058_960_720-768x576.jpg" width="768" height="576" />
4. A messy house?
Take a hard look at yourself and be honest,
Is your home clean? Really?
Are the shelves absolutely shiny? Are the corners and the bathrooms clean?
Is there laundry visible anywhere?
It can be very hard to keep up with your household chores and maybe too much when it’s your own home. But, when you want to sell your home, you need to do go that extra mile.
Your house may be awesome but if it’s in any way a mess then a potential buyer won’t see the awesomeness, they will see the dirty toilet and be skeeved.
If you have to hire a cleaning service, then go for it. Those extra bucks spent will come back to you and be rewarding in every sense of the term.
5. You linger!
More often than not, sellers will hang around while a potential buyer is scoping the property. The seller will try to tell them about everything that is brilliant about the home and answer any kind of questions.
Though you may think it’s a nice gesture, it’s not.
In fact, it works against you. This is precisely why you have a real estate agent.
By following the buyer everywhere, you are making the buyer nervous and maybe really annoyed. The buyer cannot voice what he/she feels to the agent and has to be cordial. You may also end up looking too eager and that may put off the buyer. Or you might accidentally let out a piece of information that sours the buyer on the house!
Provide the space for people to voice their opinions, it will work out in your favour.
6. Your Real Estate Agent is not so great
It is often one of the main reasons why your house not selling.
You go through a lot of research to <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/agents/hanifaraj/">hire the perfect real estate</a> who would bust their backs trying to get your home sold. They are getting a commission, right?
Well, not so much.
Not every agent will work equally hard and will favour one client over the other. The agents may even make you sign different forms which is favourable to only them.
To be wary of this, ensure to always stay in touch. Keep asking for updates and never take no for an answer. Be in touch with their bosses if you aren’t satisfied. But, more than anything, ensure that the agent knows what he/she is talking about. Do the due diligence for the best experience. Let the agent work for you.
(Pssst. The perfect agent should be telling you everything in this article.)
7. Lies!
It is a taken that the description and details of most homes will be a little over exaggerated and take some liberties. But, some listings do lie quite a bit. Don’t call your home to be in pristine condition when it’s far from it.
If there is some serious renovation to be done, then say it out.
Here’s the deal, all houses have their warts, and we all want our house to sell. But, when you lie in your description it ticks off the potential buyer.
You lose all the trust all at once. When a buyer feels cheated, be rest assured that word will get around. And you will never be able to sell to a quality buyer.
Some outright lies include the number of bedrooms, storage facilities, society obligations etc.
8. The renovations are still going on
If your home is undergoing some serious repair work or even if it minor, it is not a good time to put your home on the market. It does not give potential buyers the best impression. The home seems incomplete and the gory construction equipment is a major put off. Also, if you are the one doing the work then that’s really bad. A buyer wants to know any work is professionally done and up to code.
Get them done beforehand and always do it so with proper documentation.
9. You have eccentric tastes
Each individual is unique, and each one has his/her own tastes. There is nothing wrong with that. But, that is until you have to sell your home.
If you are somebody who paints your home black and love it, trust me, it will be difficult to sell the home to a bigger audience. The buyers will judge and think of it as a major renovation gig and often take a pass.
Hence, it is important to understand what the potential buyer will click to see and design accordingly.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/signature-962354_960_720-768x576.jpg" width="768" height="576" />
Phew.
That’s quite a list. Isn’t it?
Well, when you want to sell your home and that too, quick, you need to take some steps which are headed in that direction. The home for any potential buyer should be one in which he/she can imagine a future life and memories yet to be made.
So, try to create that for them. Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes and imagine what you would want to see when you go house hunting and do exactly that. Selling your home is not easy and you need to put in that hard work if you want to see the dough.
Want to have a chat about the property or about your buying or selling needs?
<a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442">Book</a> an appointment today with Mr. Hani Faraj and be relieved of any stress.
(You will not be reading this article again, we promise you. Mr. Hani Faraj is in the top 1% of the best real estate agents in the country. He will break his back for you.)2018-06-25T21:25:00-07:002022-04-14T03:04:24-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4344When is the best time to sell my home? Does it matter?Selling a house in this day and age can be difficult. One needs to think not only about staging of an apartment, the pricing but also when is the right time to sell a home.
It has been found that certain times of the year can be better to list a home than others. It can be difficult to comprehend that idea but stay with it. For example, you should not put up a home on the market during Christmas time because it’s a really bad time. Not because it won’t sell during the holidays but because there will be a small pool of buyers only. Hence, it would be a less than optimum time to sell.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/sell_stat.jpg" />
As found out by the HomeLight National Agent Insights Survey, research states that “Springtime” is the best time of the year to list a home. This is when most residents are gearing up for wanting to make new investments. If not spring, the second best is the fall market which is right after the Labour Day weekend. Unlike popular belief, summer is not the best time to put up your house for sale. This is because Summer is the time for family vacations, get-togethers, hanging out with friends and other improvement projects.
What is the best time of the month to list a home?
If you want to be extremely analytical about and break it down, a week after your <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/Best-mortgage-rates/">mortgage</a> payment has been made or the second week of the month would be perfect.
It’s possible to sell your home within 21 days. After you have made the mortgage payment for the following month as that would be the last payment you would ever make. If you are moving or buying a new home to close simultaneously, you would be able to close escrow at the end of the month. Because of the way interest calculations are handled, you will not have a mortgage payment on your new home for another month.
It will just be like receiving a free month even if you are paying interest.
What is the best day of a week to list a home?
The first day of the week though named as “Monday Blues” is not the most popular vote. The reason why it is not the best day is because people are less focused on Monday. That is because they are usually adjusting to the weekend having been over and trying to get back to work. Some believe that Tuesdays are a good day to break out a new concept. But, contrary to popular belief, Mondays and Tuesdays are not the best days to list your home.
But, the weekend will also not be a good time to list your home for sale because most people have plans for the weekend or usually want to relax. Hence, that leaves us with Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
Usually Thursdays are day off for real-estate agents as well as some work throughout the weekends too. Wednesday is a good day only when it's the day before Thanksgiving; it's still hump day in many people's minds.
That leaves Friday. This is usually the best day as many are looking forward to the weekend but also have enough time to browse through listings and make a few calls.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/best_time.jpg" width="956" height="720" />
What is the right time to list a home?
Not just any time would work. The best time is at 12:01 in the morning on a Friday or Thursday at midnight. Usually, you can prep your listings 1-2 days before to ensure it’s ready and all the links are working. You can use an automatic listing so you do not need to be awake at midnight and keep watching the clock at all times.
What this helps is that if you launch at midnight, many of the potential sellers will receive notifications the first thing when they wake up. Since most sellers are usually looking at a Friday to buy a home, they will receive a notification immediately. It usually so happens that you will receive calls from buyers right, left and centre. Also, buyers are motivated to check out brand new listings.
Another important tip to keep in mind is that before you put up a listing or put up your <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/selling/">house for sale</a>, ensure that you don’t have any missing data or loose ends tied up. Check out our article about <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/what-do-i-need-do-i-put-my-house-market/index.html">What needs to be done before I put my home on the market?</a>
Though we have delved into what would be the perfect season, week and time to put up your house for sale. It is important to remember that you should only choose that option when YOU are ready for it. When you feel like it’s time to bid goodbye and move on to newer prospects. Because if you delay this process, it is only a bad name in the market as the number of potential sellers will decrease when they realize how long the house has been on the market. They will assume that there is something wrong with it which is something you certainly do not want.
But, whatever you may decide, it is necessary to look at selling your home as a business opportunity. You need to understand the demand, the ways to convince the potential buyers and use techniques to get the right price. These techniques also include deciding upon the right time to sell your home and matching it to any payment schedule or renovations that need to be completed.
If you need more assistance or want to reach out to a real estate agent who will be committed, dedicated and innovative then book your appointment with Mr. Hani Faraj <a href="https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15579442">here.</a>
He is one of the best real estate agents in Vancouver and is recognised as the top 1% agents available in the market.
What are you waiting for?
This is the right time to reach out to a professional and be able to sell your dream home to a potential buyer today. If you have any queries or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us anytime.2018-05-31T21:12:00-07:002018-10-18T02:17:08-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4341WHAT DO I NEED TO DO BEFORE I PUT MY HOUSE ON THE MARKET?WHAT DO I NEED TO DO BEFORE I PUT MY HOUSE ON THE MARKET?
Planning to sell the special place you call home?
Does it not seem like a lot?
Thinking about every little detail can be pretty overwhelming. Haunted by the thought that every little thing matters when it comes to wooing and winning potential buyers?
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/house-for-sale-2845213_960_720.jpg" width="720" height="720" />
Fear not!
Just set a couple of weekends aside to follow three simple steps and get ready to make the desired impact and cinch the deal.
The first step while obvious has a level of importance that cannot be overstated irrespective of how much you try and it’s all about cleaning and decluttering. However, tedious and time consuming this may seem, it can practically be made almost painless. Start with decluttering. Extra space will be your saviour and so it is time to purge your house of everything that just wastes space.
The goal is to turn your home into a clean slate before you get down to cleaning it. In addition to selling items, you might also want to consider giving them away for charity or getting in touch with recyclers. These are some affective ways of getting rid of huge metal junk without shelling out any money.
You want the buyers to focus on how amazing your place is and not how messy it looks. In addition to discarding items, remove the pile of shoes from the entry, old mail that has been rotting on the kitchen table and everything else that distracts the buyers from the beautiful features that you place naturally boasts about. It’s time to clean after giving your house room to breathe.
Deep cleaning is probably the most time consuming but is also the most important part. Maybe get the whole family involved and think of it as spring cleaning. Pay special attention to the kitchen, the inside as well as the outside of windows and the bathroom. This makes a striking improvement in the overall appearance.
Simply, closing the toilets can do wonders. Do not forget to organize closets, cabinets, and drawers. In this case, out of sight is not out of mind. Many potential buyers will open cabinets and closets, because they are thinking about storage space.
If your storage areas are clean and organized, it will send a signal to buyers that you take care of the house and it is easy to do so. Keeping the house décor simple also helps as people with different tastes might get turned off by what you call art. Now your house is sparkling, make sure that it smells nice too.
Don’t cook anything that will ruin the deal. While most things like bacon taste amazing, they have this innate ability to fill the place with a certain stench. Baking cookies or using a natural air freshener are some way to express the essence of your house through the way it smells.
The second step is to tackle the honey-do list! All the little things that you always wanted to fix but never got around to, is what noticed most in an otherwise clean house. This detracts the buyers from appreciating the real value of your house.
<a href="https://www.cleanandscentsible.com/making-to-do-lists-fun/">Image by Clean and Scentsible</a>
So, set aside a weekend to tighten those loose doorknobs, fix that leaky faucet and paint over the scuffs from when you first moved in your sofa. Any leaking faucets and running toilets; replace caulking around tubs, showers, and sinks; freshen up or repair grout as needed; repair and repaint them in a neutral, generally pleasing colour that complements your home; fix cracked or broken windows; replace or repair damaged window screens; replace burned-out light bulbs. All of them are fixes that you can do yourself.
Taking care of these little problems before you show your house for the first time helps the buyers visualize comfort and serenity as they imagine themselves living there.
First impressions are a big deal. You want potential buyers to be charmed by the outside of your house so they look forward to coming inside. Hence the third and the final step is to go for “the curb appeal”. Extend your pumped-up spring cleaning to the outside of your house, too. Trim bushes, shrubs, and trees. Make sure vegetation isn’t touching your roof or siding. Also ensure that your roof gutters are well cleaned out. A neat look is always pleasing.
Other than that, repair broken downspouts and gutters. Also, clean and repair concrete areas such as driveways and walkways. Be sure to eliminate any oil or grease stains and clean out any weeds coming up through the cracks. Another idea could be to invest some time and money in landscaping. A beautiful garden with lush green grass and flowers will be inviting to potential buyers. It will showcase the possibility of children playing, couples enjoying a quiet picnic and families celebrating occasions.
Dress things up a little bit. If it’s seasonally appropriate, put out some pots of annuals, which will maintain their colour for the season. Freshen up your doorstep with a new welcome mat. Make sure the house numbers are easy to see, and in a style that complements your home. If it’s the season of holidays, decorate your home with some mistletoe or a Christmas tree or even just some Halloween decorations. When potential buyers come into your home, they will be able to imagine celebrating the same festivals with their loved ones. It’s a neat little trick which won’t cost you a dime!
In the end, apply new mulch, river rock, and/or pea gravel if it is appropriate for your yard. This can do wonders for your landscaping and provide immediate curb appeal.
The final tip is a critical one. If you too are subjected to the restraints of a tight budget, at least try and spruce-up the front entrance. That first impression goes a long way.
With just a moderate amount of effort, you can render the most appropriate meaning to the phrase, “mi casa es su casa” by making your house beautiful and welcoming, both inside and out.
About the author:
Hani Faraj and his team are known to take care of their clients and take care of them like family. They provide clients with junk removal, staging, they can help with booking a storage room, and even book movers. There do 38 things to ensure the home is marketed and sold for the highest price and never waiver on customer service or the highest standards.
They go the extra mile to find ways to make sure every transaction is beneficial to all parties involved. Hani Faraj will make sure that the property you sell and the property you buy suits your needs and requirements.
Hani Faraj and his team also takes care of your property’s advertising and marketing needs. Their services include taking professional photographs and creating virtual tours and posting on different websites and social media to generate interests and leads. They also offer free staging of your home which includes decluttering and rearranging to attract more buyers.
To know more about Hani Faraj and his team, check the website: <a href="http://www.hanifaraj.com/">http://www.HaniFaraj.com/</a>
If you are, or anyone you know would be interested to sell or buy any real estate property, you can conveniently schedule an appointment by clicking the button below.
Posted in <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/category/selling/index.html">Selling</a>, <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/category/selling-your-Vancouver-home/index.html">Selling Your Vancouver Home</a>
2018-05-14T21:42:00-07:002018-10-18T01:53:54-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4335Leave Your House and Live Your Life: 5 Benefits of Selling Your House in Your 60s<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/senior.jpg" width="300" height="200" />
Many seniors are calling us with questions on how to sell their property and how it could be advantageous for them. Their concerns especially, but not limited to, is they have accumulated so many items in storage and in their garage, they have no idea what to do with it.
Generally, people are afraid of change and those who retire in their 60s are afraid to let go of the home they have built and/or lived in for several years and often overlook the benefits of starting over again.
The current real estate market in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley is crazy with prices reachingnew records every single month, it is becoming more and more appealing to sell your home and consider a condo. We are here to simplify the entire process and to give some ideas to objectively consider trading in your old home for a new house or apartment.
Here are 5 benefits to selling your house upon retirement that you could think about:
Financial Practicality.
Maintaining a big space also requires bigger expenses. Maintaining a house, regardless of the size, requires constant repairs, updates and cleaning. The older the property is, the more maintenance is required as well. You will also continue to pay utilities, yearly property taxes, insurance and mortgage if applicable. Even if you have more than enough retirement savings, you could be spending more than necessary to maintain your place.
Think about the money you will be spending on spaces you do not always use.
Think about all the other things you can enjoy with the money you worked for and saved up to retirement. In some cases, you can still use the money you have to invest so that you continue to earn after retiring.
Less Space Is More.
There are many inevitable changes that happen as people age and that include changes in the physical, physiological and mental aspects. Taking care of one’s self becomes harder as years go by. You will eventually need the assistance of others to move around and do things.
Many of the stuff you own now will prove little to no use for you as years go by.
For instance, the house you own must have been bought with more residents at that time. How many are you left living in that property? Think about the bedrooms rarely or not used at all. Think about the bigger living room, kitchen, dining room and other common spaces that you do not occupy as much anymore. Think about how tiring moving around becomes.
Opportunity To Design Living Space According To Current Needs.
Selling the house you currently own gives you freedom to choose a house or a condo that would suit your current need and lifestyle. Moving on also gives you the option to live in a place you have wanted to reside in.
Do you remember the time you last looked for a house or a condo? When you decided to live in the home you live in, you were most likely in a different situation. You could have considered proximity to your office or other places such as schools when you chose your house. Now is the perfect time to think about where you want to be at this point.
Have you always wanted to spend your retirement years in a house or a condo by the beach? What about a place with ocean or mountain views. Have you dreamed about moving to a busier city? We have a client that did a complete turn-around and moved to downtown Vancouver so he can walk everywhere and he wanted to be close to the Vancouver Art Gallery. Would you rather be in a more laid back city like Langley, White Rock or Maple Ridge? Moving out of your current house could also mean moving into a better place for you.
Perhaps you want a smaller garden or community garden to attend to. Perhaps you want a smaller kitchen with lesser but essential utensils. Perhaps you want to let go of the stairs.
Creating New Memories.
People get sentimental and more often it is the memories made in their houses that make it harder for them to think about selling their homes. It is often the happy times that happened in the different areas of the house that stop them from giving up the space. Remember that nobody can take away those memories from you.
Cook with your loved ones in your new kitchen. Watch TV with them in your new living room. A break in routine could be refreshing. A change in space and pace could make you happy.
A house is just a structure, home is what you make it. You create your home wherever you may be.
The Joy of Giving and Sharing.
There is an opportunity to give and share when you put your house for sale. Look at all the things you have collected throughout the years inside the house. Take with you the most basic stuff you can’t live without. There are other people who will benefit from the other things you can do without. Think about the family members, friends and institutions that would want and need them. Sometimes we negotiate furniture or appliances as included in the selling price when selling.
Also, you give other people the chance to make happy memories in the house you live in. You allow people who once needed the space like you did to enjoy what you did with the home.
I once sold a house and my client didn’t care about selling it for the highest price, they wanted to sell it to a family that will benefit from it the most. The children write a letter to my sellers saying how they could build a swing set in the back yard, and how they can carve their names in the tree trunk. My sellers were moved and even though the sellers received multiple offers and the offers were for a higher price, my sellers wanted to give the house to the family that would love the house as much as they did! Imagine the impact you would make on a family like this.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/senior2.jpg" width="460" height="307" />
Embracing change is not bad but there are many aspects to selling and buying a property. There are many things to take into consideration such as current value in the market. While it is practical and beneficial for others to sell their houses upon retirement, for some people it will not be applicable. Some people would love to make their properties their legacy. Other clients of ours have decided to leave their home to their children to keep forever.
There are also different rules and laws that govern the Real Estate Industry. There are exemptions that could apply to you and some don't. It is best to consult a professional real estate agent when you are planning to sell and/or buy any property.
A good real estate agent will be able to help you reach the right decision and make the process easy for you.
About the author:
Hani Faraj and his team are known to take care of their clients and take care of them like family. They provide clients with junk removal, staging, they can help with booking a storage room, and even book movers. There do 38 things to ensure the home is marketed and sold for the highest price and never waiver on customer service or the highest standards.
They go the extra mile to find ways to make sure every transaction is beneficial to all parties involved. Hani Faraj will make sure that the property you sell and the property you buy suits your needs and requirements.
Hani Faraj and his team also takes care of your property’s advertising and marketing needs. Their services include taking professional photographs and creating virtual tours and posting on different websites and social media to generate interests and leads. They also offer free staging of your home which includes decluttering and rearranging to attract more buyers.
To know more about Hani Faraj and his team, check the website: <a href="http://www.hanifaraj.com/">http://www.HaniFaraj.com/</a>
If you are, or anyone you know would be interested to sell or buy any real estate property, you can conveniently schedule an appointment by clicking the button below.2018-04-17T21:30:00-07:002018-10-31T13:50:30-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4334Five Steps To Holding A Successful Open House<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/open-house.jpg" width="622" height="350" />
An open house is one way that REALTORS® attempt to expose a home to multiple buyers at once. Not only is an open house designed to market the home in a way that differs from a simple listing, but it also opens the door for competitive offers as more than one buyer could potentially fall in love with a home on the same day.
Step # 1: Make Your Home Shine
A successful open house begins with cleanliness, so make sure that your home is ready to be shown. This means the clutter should be removed and the home should be “staged” to allow potential buyers to envision themselves living in a beautifully decorated home.
Step # 2: Cross Your T’s & Dot Your I’s
Your next step to an open house is making sure that the price is right. If the day is successful, you may be fielding offers within hours, so be ready to make a deal. Most open houses are advertised locally in order to attract buyers looking to move into the area, which means a newspaper ad may have a lot of potential. The advertisement should feature a photo, along with text that outlines all of the unique and positive aspects of the home. The date, time and clear directions should also be given in the ad, along with the REALTOR’S® contact information. Before your ad goes to press, make sure that you have proofread it to ensure accuracy.
Step # 3: Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal
As buyers begin to show up for your open house, they will want to see attractive landscaping with an inviting atmosphere. This will make them eager to see what’s inside the home. The front yard should feature an Open House sign with colorful balloons, but don’t forget to place signs along the street (with permission, of course) to help potential buyers find you.
Make sure the lawn is freshly cut and flower beds are well kept. Any clutter, including bicycles or yard care equipment should be removed to produce a visually pleasing image of the home. Make sure your windows and doors are sparkling clean and free of fingerprints. Nothing should distract buyers from the prize, which is your house.
Step # 4: Feed Your Guests
It’s customary for every open house to have complimentary coffee or other refreshments and/or cookies. The smell of freshly baked cookies will give buyers the feeling of being at home—exactly the type of reaction you want when trying to sell your home.
Step # 5: Reading Material Is Golden
Your REALTOR® should provide a business card and/or informational sheet for each potential buyer that tours your home. If this is not a service that they offer, take a few minutes to design your own flyer using a computer and print out some full-color circulars to offer interested parties as they arrive. You should also provide copies of any appraisal, inspection or other information about the home that potential buyers would find interesting.2018-04-11T20:51:00-07:002018-10-31T13:51:45-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4306Sales in March 2017 fare better than February with a 47.6% increase.The new monthly update brought by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver showcases a significant drop in sales in March 2017 when compared to last year.
The total sales in March equal to only 3,579 homes as compared to the 5,173 homes sold in March 2016. This records a 30.8% drop in sales over the past 1 year. But, on the plus side, the figures of March have witnessed a 47.6% from February this year where only 2,425 homes were sold in Metro Vancouver alone. Though the demand in March was below the record high of last year, the market witnessed a significant increase month-to-month for sales of condos and townhouses.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/2017-01-Stats-531x320.jpg" width="531" height="320" />
It seems that the seller’s are still reluctant to put MVR Market Highlight 2017their homes on the market, which is creating quite a competition for those who wish to purchase homes. New listings for all types of homes in March were recorded at 24.1% which when compared to last year have dropped from 6,278 to 4,762 listings respectively. The Board estimated that this is the lowest number of new listings ever recorded in March since 2009.
In totality, the sales-to-active listings ratio for March stands at 47.2%. Many analysts believe that home prices will fall when this ratio falls below 12%. But, as witnessed in the past few months, home prices are likely to only continue increasing unless there is an inflow of supply of homes in the market. The composite benchmark price as calculated by the <a href="http://www.rebgv.org/mls%C2%AE-home-price-index-explained">MLS Home Price Index</a> indicates the cost of a typical property in Metro Vancouver, which is currently set at $919,300. It represents a 0.8% decrease over the past 6 months.
On the other hand, the sales of detached homes fell by 46.1% when compared to March last year. Also, the benchmark price fell to $1,489,400, another 5% decrease over the past 6 months. Also, apartment sales have also witnessed a decline of over 18.3% when compared to last year. But, the benchmark price has in fact recorded a 5.2% increase at $537,400. The sales of townhouses were also at a down low dropping to 25.2% as compared to February last year with a benchmark price of $685,100, another 1.3% increase over the period of 6 months.
Hence, the market is anticipating an increase in the supply of homes such that prices would decline and sales would showcase an eventual increase as well and equilibrium could be achieved.2017-04-06T00:40:00-07:002018-10-23T12:53:02-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4251Choosing A Selling REALTOR® <img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/Choose-a-Realtor.jpg" />
Your REALTOR® is the person you count on to get your home sold, get you the best possible purchase price, and handle all of the details that go into selling a home. If you are selling for the first time and it’s been a while since you bought, you may be on the hunt for a new REALTOR® to handle the sale of your property. How do you choose? Take a few simple tips into account.
Selling Is Different From Buying<br />Although most REALTORS® handle both listings and help buyers find a home, they may have more experience at one or the other. Some REALTORS® are simply great at finding the right house for a potential buyer, while others are just really gifted when it comes to marketing a home well and getting it sold.
When selling your home, you want a REALTOR® who has plenty of sold listings under his or her belt, and who has a reputation for getting homes sold quickly and for a good price. Finding that person shouldn’t be too difficult with a little effort.
Reputation And Referrals<br />The first place to start is to ask for a few referrals. Look to people you know who have recently listed or sold their home in your area. You want a selling REALTOR® who knows your area and your market, so stick to people who are local if you can. You can also ask your insurance agent, mortgage broker or other similar industry professional for some referrals.
Once you have a list of referrals, take some time to see what their reputation is around town. You can use online services to read comments from other people who have used the company or the REALTOR® and get reviews for their services.
Interview Your REALTOR®<br />Before you hire a REALTOR® to handle your home selling job, meet with a few and ask them some questions. Find out what their track record is for selling homes—how fast they sell and how they handle marketing. Look for someone you get along with well and communicate with well, since you will have a close working relationship until your home is sold.
Choose the REALTOR® you feel has the best combination of experience, knowledge, and a personality you get along with. The bottom line is getting results and getting your home sold—but you also want someone you like and trust to handle such an important transaction for you.
2016-04-25T20:13:00-07:002018-10-23T05:35:39-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4250Home Listing Terms To Know <img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/A-Glossary-of-Real-Estate-Terms-300x300.jpg" width="300" height="300" />
Home buying has its own set of terms and phrases that buyers should know when perusing the listings. As with any specialized area, the terms used in home listings are often confusing at first, but understanding them is simple enough once you get to know how they are used. Take a look at these common home listing terms and their meanings before you start house shopping.<br />The Basics Of Describing A Home<br />In a listing, the description of the home is one of the most important things to understand. It tells you all of the basics of the home’s size and features, things that will help you decide if you want to go take a closer look. Here are a few of the basic terms and abbreviations you will need to know.
BR/BA: Bedrooms and baths. This tells you how many bedrooms and bathrooms the home has.
Bonus Room or Den: This is a room that does not qualify as a bedroom because it has no closet, but may still be a separate room with a door. Bonus room may be abbreviated as bns rm.
Det: Detached, usually used in reference to a garage.
C/A and C/VAC: Central air and central vacuum.
F/A: Forced air, used in reference to the heating system.
DR/FDR: Dining room and formal dining room. A formal dining room is usually a separate room that includes lighting, making it more formal than an open dining room.
OSP: Off-street parking. This can be important if you are looking at condos or townhomes.
FCD YD: Fenced yard.
Terms Of The Sale<br />Some of the terms that are important in a listing don’t just describe the home; they describe important things to know about the actual sale of the home. Get to know these abbreviations and terms so you will have an idea of what you might be getting into.
FSBO: For sale by owner. This means that the owner is acting as his or her own realtor in the sale and has not hired a professional to negotiate.
Bank-owned: This is a property that is owned by the bank, usually due to a foreclosure.
Owner Finance: This means that the owner is willing to finance the sale, rather than using a traditional mortgage with a bank or other lender.
Quick Possession, or Q/P: This means that the home is often already vacant and the sellers are looking to close quickly.
Contingencies: The most common contingency is that the sale is dependent on the owner finding a new home to which to move. This means that the process could be delayed.
Your REALTOR® can help you with any terminology in a listing you don’t understand and make sure that your home hunt is smooth and easy.2016-04-18T20:09:00-07:002018-10-23T05:34:51-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4248Ten Tips To Successfully Market Your HomeTen Tips To Successfully Market Your Home
There is a lot more to putting your home up for sale than placing a sign on the front lawn. Selling your home quickly and getting the best price possible requires marketing your property and using the services of an experienced agent. Here are some of the strategies you can use to market your home.
Hire A Professional REALTOR®—The ability to market your home is always best served by hiring a real estate expert. They have access to resources that you as an individual do not, and their experience and knowledge are certainly worth the commission.
Photograph The Exterior Of Your Home—Good high quality photographs of the entire exterior of your home can really spark the interest of potential buyers. These photographs can be used in a variety of online and print marketing campaigns.
Photograph The Interior Of Your Home—Be sure you also have good quality photos of every major room in your home, especially the kitchen, bathrooms, and master bedroom. Also ensure that these pictures are taken in good light, and from angles that best highlight the space they are to represent.
Purchase A Virtual Tour—Virtual tours are one of the latest and most effective marketing methods in the real estate industry. Essentially a virtual tour allows potential viewers to get a 360-degree perspective of your property from the comfort of their home or office. This method is also a great way to assure that only interested buyers show up at an open house. Your agent can have these tours put on multiple listing websites as well as on their own pages.
Print Advertising—While this may seem to be a costly and outdated marketing method, there are still a considerable number of potential buyers who use print resources to find prospective properties.
Signage—Be sure you have clear, visible signage on your property that indicates it is for sale. Also, be sure your agent’s contact information can be seen from a distance so that those passing by can take down their name and number.
Direct Mail—Again, this may seem like an outdated method of advertising, but it is still effective, especially if your home may appeal to an older demographic.
Open Houses—This is still the most effective way to get a sale. Be sure your home is in clean and presentable condition before hosting an open house, and ask your REALTOR® for advice about preparing your home for such an opening.
Agent Tours—These tours can give agents a better look at your home without having the general public in your house, and can assist them in matching your home with their clients. Your agent can arrange these tours.
E-marketing—Like print advertising, this is a fairly inexpensive and effective method of marketing your home that your REALTOR® can offer to you as part of their services.
2016-03-28T19:04:00-07:002018-10-23T05:27:00-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4242Market Update - The time to sell is now!<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/real-estate-marketing-tools.jpg" />
The number of active listings in the Vancouver market is at the lowest it’s been in over 30 years! The active listings count for the month of December is 8096, a 30% decrease from December of last year. In the history of Vancouver real estate there has never been a better time to sell than today. Interest rates are at an all time low; listing count is at an all time low; and the buyer count is at an all time high!
70% of downtown Vancouver listings sold in the month of November! “November is typically one of the quietest months of the year in our housing market, but not this year,” Darcy McLeod, REBGV president said. “The ratio of sales to home’s available for sale reached 44% in November, which is the highest it’s been in our market in nine years.”
The first time ever, the average price for detached homes on the Vancouver west side is over $3 million! For example, a quick scan of 17 comparable west side Vancouver homes — all about 4,000 square feet and on 120-by-33-foot lots, located within an area of six blocks between West 18th Avenue and West 24th Avenue — shows an increase in sale prices of 36% between January and November 2015!
We probably already have a buyer for your home or condo. We have over 3200 recently registered buyers on our websites who are waiting for hot properties to come on the market. Call today to get your home listed and sold quickly and for the highest possible market value.
The time to sell is now! List now! CALL 778-881-6781 or Visit <a href="http://soldbyhani.com/">www.soldbyhani.com</a>2015-12-14T22:19:00-07:002018-10-23T05:07:31-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4241Making it Work When Selling & Buying a Home at the Same Time<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/buy-and-sell-a-house-main-image-240x240_1.png" />
Remember your first time when buying your first home and you are a house buyer newbie? Yes… it wasn’t easy as a pie. Whether you have to move or downsizing, you will need to sell your home and buy a new one. Buying your first home is quite easier since there’s no excess baggage on your back. But since you are moving into a new place, you need to think about selling your home AND buying a new house. You might be wondering, how other people could do this at the same time?
We will give some of the aspects so you could have an idea what to look forward and how would you do it.
Do your own assessment.
You need a general view of what you will be dealing with. Research on how the housing market is doing in your area or in the area you are planning to move to. By doing your own homework will help you understand more and have intelligent questions to ask your realtor. Is it the seller’s or buyer’s market? How long it usually for a property to stay on the market? What is the average price within the area and so on? How competitive is the market nowadays?
Knowing the situation beforehand will guide you on what things you need to anticipate and to ready for.
Plan your steps.
After careful assessment, you have a clear outlook on what steps you will take. If you are going to sell before you buy a new home, this is good to your financial leverage but then you have to think about where you will stay if you sold your house before finding a new place. If you are going to buy your new home and sell after, this will affect your financial capability to pay two mortgages every month. In case you found a lender who will approve your loan, this will affect your household debt-to-income ratio. It will be convenient to have a place to move into but it will take a toll on your finances. Remember, money put down to your new place shouldn’t be borrowed. You have to be financially ready for this.
Planning your steps when buying and selling a home at the same time needs one step ahead of thinking. Anticipate the things you have to face in case one step falls apart. In this business, you are not the only factor that has an effect in this process.
Set expectations realistically and achievable.
No matter how your plan was laid out perfectly, you have to expect the unexpected. Prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially. It doesn’t mean that when we plan just a small setbacks will be encountered, this goes to setting our expectations like thinking you can sell a house in a month or your offer will be accepted because it was fair and good.
Prepare financial contingencies.
Since home buying or selling is a vital financial decision, planning when your plans won’t go your way is important. Knowing your finances fully will help you make adjustments and avoid making big mistakes like accepting a low offer for your house or purchasing a new home because you must move right away. Discuss with your financial advisor or mortgage broker what your options are when something fails. Some homeowners tend to strike a deal with new owners of their house to rent it out to them on a month-to-month basis up to 60 or 90 days until they find their own new home. Knowing what step to take when plans don’t go your way will help you reduce the risks and the stress.
Don’t get emotional.
When everything fails or a deal fell apart, don’t let your emotions take over your decision-making facilities. Do not panic. Since you have done your part and made your plans, don’t let your emotions get in the way to make a sound decision. You can call a professional, your realtor, to guide you since they have the skills for this business.2015-09-30T21:08:00-07:002018-10-23T05:05:05-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4235Can Home Staging Really Win Over Buyers?<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/3163-Laurel-St.jpg" width="958" height="639" />
Years ago nobody would consider "staging" a home before putting it on the market. Homeowners would think that it is okay to keep the home free from clutter, make every crevice spotless, and fix problem parts of the house will do the trick. Putting up a <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/do-i-need-a-for-sale-sign-for-my-property/">For Sale sign</a> after all those preparations will entice home buyers.
However, according to the National Association of REALTORS survey that was conducted and entitled <a href="http://www.realtor.org/reports/2015-profile-of-home-staging">2015 Profile of Home Staging</a> says otherwise.
According to the survey, a hefty 81% of buyer’s <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/agents/hanifaraj/">REALTORS®</a> perceived staged homes is easier to sell their property because buyers can visualize their future homes when presented it this way. 46% of buyers agents report that staged homes viewed online are more likely to be toured, and 45% of buyers who view staged homes tend to view the value of a home more positively. Furthermore, 28% of buyers are more willing to look past faults and imperfections and still consider buying the house, according to the NAR survey.
Most buyers form an opinion about a home within the first 7-10 seconds of arriving and according to NAR’s survey, there’s an increase in a home’s dollar value from 1 percent to 5 percent which is at 32% of buyers willing to offer for a home; and also 16% buyers agents surveyed said it could raise offers by 6 percent to 10 percent. Therefore, buyer agents believe that staging can potentially influence buyer’s opinion on how much they would offer for a home.
Check Also:
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-to-determine-the-value-of-your-home/">Calculate your home value</a>
<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/blog/how-much-it-will-cost-of-selling-a-house/">cost of selling a house</a>
Seller agents who say they only suggest that sellers de-clutter and fix property faults is at 44% percent and they do not recommend home sellers to “stage” homes in prepping a property. Not everyone chooses to stage a home before putting it on the market as survey depicted in results.
On the contrary, seller agents surveyed say they do “home staging” in properties they list is about 34%; while 13% of them only do “home staging” if the property is difficult to sell; and a mere 4% of seller agents “stage” homes that are high-priced.
Other useful findings that could help you as per NAR survey:
- a consensus of REALTORS® surveyed, yield a result of staging a home focused on living room, kitchen, and bedroom.
- It takes an average of $675 in prepping a home for staging.
- About 62% of agents representing the home offer professional home stager service.
- 39% say the home sellers pay for staging in prepping a home.
- 10% of sellers do home staging after the property is sold.
- About 3% say that the seller agent’s firm will pay for home staging services.
Because home staging has only grown in popularity over the last few years, there have not been quantifiable studies and surveys done. However, with this survey conducted the National Association of REALTORS® has clearly stated how home staging can have an impact on buyers’ opinion.2015-09-23T20:28:00-07:002022-04-19T23:46:11-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4231How to Stage Your Home for a Higher-Priced and Faster Sale<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/screen-shot-2015-08-22-at-102756-pm_1.png" />
Staging, or setting your home up for buyer to view, is a huge issue when it comes to selling your home. If you do it right, you can add value to your home and cause it to sell faster.
Most real estate experts agree, that you increase your sales price by about two dollars for or every one dollar you invest in improvements.
But, you have to know the high-value, cost-effective improvements that will pay off the most. So this week I’m going to give you a quick “how-to” course on the most important improvements to focus on.
Make a Great First Impression
Staging is putting your house on display for all to see. And just as you want to make a great first impression when you meet others or attend a big social event you want to do the same with your home. So before you list it, consider these cost-effective improvements that will bring a higher selling price.
Welcome Your Potential Buyers
Start with the entry of your home. Make sure you trim bushes, wash walkways and upgrade your welcome mats.
When buyers first come in the door, they should be impressed. If necessary, use candles and counter sprays to remove unpleasant smells. Check closet doors and be sure they slide smoothly and close properly.
Depersonalize
Everybody has a personal style when it comes to decorating a home. You probably love the way your house looks, filled with your pictures and family mementos. However, look at it from a buyer’s perspective, they have to be able to picture themselves in the home before they will buy it.
So you have to remove yourself from the home or depersonalize it for them to imagine themselves and their family living in the home.
Remove the Clutter
When prospective buyers open your closets they need to see a few of your best outfits hanging from matching hangers. All other stuff needs to be neatly stored in matching boxes or storage bins.
All your rooms should be set up to look their best, but especially your storage areas. You want the clutter gone from your closets so they appear spacious and organized. Use storage bins if you have to or rent a storage shed to hold your clutter while your home is for sale.
Make Your Bedrooms Look and Feel Relaxing
Create a simple, uncluttered look and feel in your bedrooms. If necessary, move your clutter and extra accessories somewhere else. Most buyers will feel more relaxed if your bedroom looks like a bedroom — not a home office.
I recommend a headboard on your bed, a cohesive color scheme, and a few decorative items. Get rid of office furniture, power strips, and televisions. As for colors, gender-neutral ones work best since they appeal to more people.
Focus on Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Buyers usually care the most about kitchens and bathrooms. So these are two key areas to focus on. Keep both places immaculate. Dust, wax, scrub toilets and wash the windows, but keep your cleaning materials out of sight. If you’re really busy, consider hiring some help to keep these vital areas looking their best before every showing.
Also, keep counter tops clear, making the kitchen and bathrooms look larger. Also display white bath and hand towels in the bathrooms to create an open look and feel.
Make Smart Updates
If your home needs some updates, here are a few low-cost improvements to consider.
Replace gold or brass fixtures and cabinet hardware with nickel, chrome, brushed silver, or stainless steel.
Buy newer appliances or update your current ones with stainless steel stick-on coverings or specialty appliance paints.
Clean the clutter from your cabinets, drawers, and oven. (Some buyers will scrutinize every detail of your kitchen.)
Remove rugs and make your kitchen look more spacious.
Stay Neutral and Use Natural Light
Neutral color schemes can have the same impact as depersonalizing your home. It makes it easier for buyers to see themselves — not you in the home. Also use neutral window treatments with subtle designs to enhance rooms or sheer curtains to let in more light. Additional lightening and the use of natural light can really make your interiors stand out.
Let Us Help Sell Your Home
These general updates can make a big difference in the impression your home makes on home seekers. But when you list with us, we will also do a detailed walk through and show you other low-cost, high-impact improvements that can increase the selling price of your home.
We’ve sold properties in the Vancouver area for years and know exactly what gets the most attention from buyers. So call us at 778-800-2587 or complete or online contact form.
We look forward to helping you sell your home!
2015-07-22T21:12:00-07:002018-10-23T02:26:45-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4218Why you need to think twice before Hiring a Realtor to sell your home?<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/social_media.png" width="300" height="153" />
Vancouver is a great place for you to live in due to a number of factors. Everyone says that real estate is the best investment you can make in this market, but nobody really tells you why that is so. The question as to why real estate can be your best investment can be answered in a variety of ways, but the most tangible argument is the fact that real estate (if the decision was made wisely) has a price value that goes higher with the rise of inflation. If you find a <a href="http://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/">well-placed house</a> and invest your life’s savings in it, you will find yourself being able to sell it at sometimes even more than a 50% profit if the property is sold after some time and is taken care of.
In the same way, when you <a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/search/results/fj/?&sort_latest=true">purchase a Vancouver home</a>, you have something tangible that has its monetary value increased over time as you are using it. You can live in your home and still not consider the money going to waste. The rent you pay at a place that is not yours cannot be sold after ten or twenty years, but if you own a place, you might be able to sell it for twice as much as you paid for it when you need to. The property is yours for the keeping and that is one of the best things about real estate investment.
Many people wonder as to why they should even hire a Realtor when it comes to selling their homes. They argue that they did not need real estate agents 30 or 40 years ago to sell houses. They also do not see how being tech savvy helps sell their property faster and on a much better rate. However, here are a number of factors that you probably did not consider when you were thinking of these questions.
If you hire a tech savvy real estate agent, you will stand a higher chance of making more off of your property than you would with someone who is not tech savvy or does not know how to operate technology. This is mainly because of the perception that people or companies that are more technologically advanced tend to be better at doing their jobs. Research has backed the statement that people who have invested in technology find themselves benefiting from greater returns in terms of money and in terms of customers.
Also, having your property listed on the internet also means that you are reaching a greater audience. When you do not make use of the internet, you have very limited exposure and likewise, a very limited chance of finding a good customer for your home, who will pay you what you want to get in return for your home. However, on the internet, you will find people who have the money and want to <a href="http://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/north-vancouver-homes/">purchase a house in your area</a>. They can be anywhere in the world and you can be open to a lot of choices.
In addition, some people think that people who have their property listed on the internet are serious about selling their property. In addition to all these factors, there is also the fact that finding a customer for your home is not only easier on the internet, but it is also must faster than manually finding clients and it is a lot cheaper than reaching out to a customer. In today’s world, it is important to stay competitive and you can do that by hiring a tech savvy Realtor.
According to NAR, National Association of Realtors, over 90% of home buyers in some way will end up using the internet to conduct their search. While only 3% of buyers indicated that they used a printed publication to find their home.
This is why you Can't afford not to hire an agent that is well versed in the online marketing world.
See How we're different here, call now and get a receive a<a href="https://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/selling/"> free market evaluation</a>today!
Hani Faraj, Realtor<br />778 88167812014-10-29T22:31:00-07:002018-10-21T23:02:25-07:00Hani Farajtag:vancouverhousefinders.com,2012-09-20:4215Have a Culinary Adventure on a Food Tour of Vancouver Real Estate
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1084/image/45.JPG" width="307" height="258" />
A great reason to own <a href="http://www.vancouverhousefinders.com/">Vancouver real estate</a> is the incredible food scene. It can be a bit daunting to navigate the immense array of choices, though. Get an expert’s help by signing up for a food tour with the knowledgeable guides at Vancouver Food Tour. The guides are all culinary professionals who will introduce you to many of the gems around Vancouver. The focus is on local, seasonal, and sustainable food and drink. Get to know beers and wines crafted in British Columbia. Sample local cheeses and charcuterie. Taste fresh seafood caught near your Vancouver real estate. A food tour is also a great way to meet new friends who share a love of good food.
Choose from four delectable tours. The Gastown Tasting Tour takes guests through the historic Gastown district. This is Vancouver’s most diverse restaurant scene and Canada’s cocktail capital. You can also choose the Chinatown tour and taste contemporary twists on old favorites. The Gastown Craft Beer ‘n Bites Tour introduces participants to the history of particular brews and delicious food pairings. Finally, you can opt for a tour of the Molson Coors brewery. You’ll learn about John Molson, the science of beer making, and visit the can filling and brewhouse operations. You’ll also get to sample the beers and learn how to pour a pint just right. If you own Vancouver real estate, you owe it to yourself to take a tour of the gastronomic delights of your city. Visit <a title="Eat great food near Vancouver real estate." href="http://www.vancouverfoodtour.com/">VancouverFoodTours.com</a> to learn more about the available tours and make a reservation.
2014-10-01T20:36:00-07:002018-10-21T22:31:21-07:00Hani Faraj