WHY IT PAYS TO LIST YOUR HOME IN THE WINTER

Should you put your home on the marker now?  Although Spring is peak home-shopping season, it does pay to list your home in the winter when buyers tend to have more urgency.

If you do move forward to listing your home at this time, these are the things your need to do to have your home a hot seller in the winter:

1. Price it Right.
The quieter winter weather brings special pricing considerations. It may make sense to price low to generate a bidding war. Take a conservative approach and price at market value to nab a buyer before Spring when new listings appear on the market. 

2.Schedule a Tune-Up.
Winter buyers are particularly attuned to issues related to heating and maintenance. Furnace, HVAC and roofing need to be inspected and necessary repairs made. Other things to seriously consider: clean the gutters, change the filters and weather-strip the windows. Winter home buyers also consider heating costs so consider making low-cost upgrades like insulating the attic or installing energy efficient windows to cut down on utility bills.

3.Brighten your Home. 
Warm up your curb appeal with basic landscaping. Add inexpensive cool-weather plants like Holly to freshen up outdoor space. Repair cracked window seals, fix chipped paint, caulk windows- these things cause condensation that freezes over and can be an eyesore to potential buyers.
Paint your home in off-white to offset poor natural season lighting and will make space feel larger. Create a sense of warmth throughout the home starting with the living room. Consider Home Staging for maximum impact.

4. Declutter and Depersonalize. 
Put away family photographs so buyers can see themselves living in the home. Display pictures of what your home looks in the warmer weather so that buyers can appreciate how it looks like year round. Ex. the garden in full bloom or a picture of the backyard in the summertime.

Unsure of how to get started? Call me directly at 780-722-6480. I look forward to hearing from you!
Get to know me! Visit my website at www.debbieasmith.com

REAL ESTATE and RETIREMENT

As baby-boomers advance into their retirement years, many will face decisions about their living arrangements, such as whether to retrofit their current home to address mobility issues, or downsize to embrace a less demanding lifestyle. Whatever the expectations, it is wise to plan ahead and budget for the future, when issues like health, self-sufficiency and social interaction may take on new or more critical importance. If you're a long-term homeowner, you'll have likely built up equity in your real estate investment, which puts you in a more favourable position to free up funds to meet your goals. So, whether you're planning extensive renovations or extended vacations, its wise to determine your home's current market value compared to the cost of your long term plans in order to determine your financial leverage. Since real estate is an investment that can be liquidated relatively quickly, you might also consider selling or refinancing to release funds to address not only your future lifestyle needs and preferences but also personal desires to donate to charities or plan for family inheritances. 

Most likely you have already a plan for your retirement. I can help you with this by giving you the best and most honest advice when making real estate decisions- whether you would like to start investing now or determining your position in the market with regards to your real estate investment.

Visit my website www.debbieasmith.com and let's get started!

Selling your Condo

THREE LISTS TO MAKE WHEN SELLING YOUR CONDO

When you put your unit up for sale, you want to make sure that potential buyers get all the information they need on the features of your condo and its surrounding area. If, for example, a buyer doesn't realize there is a great school just a couple of blocks away, he might cross your property off his shortlist. An effective way to make sure something like that doesn't happen is to create three lists.

#1. The "I'll Miss It" List. Chances are, there are things about your condo that you are really going to miss when you move. It may be the spacious living room, ideal for entertaining or the nearby park with scenic trails, perfect for walking and biking. Whatever you'll miss, put it on the list! There is a great chance possible buyers are looking for those features,

#2. The "Just the Facts" List. What are the facts about your condo that a buyer needs to know in order to consider purchasing it? This may be a very long list including such items as total square footage, number of bedrooms, number of washrooms, property taxes and more.

#3. The "Repairs and Improvements" List. Buyers are interested in the state of repair of your unit. and any improvements you may have made to it. On this list, include all repairs you have done during the past three years and if possible attach receipts. It's especially important to include anything that has been replaced such as an oven or washer and dryer.

Give me call or contact me through my website 

www.debbieasmith.com

if you are planning to sell in the coming months. I have the latest information and truthful facts regarding the market status.