Buy a Luxury Home Sight Unseen
For the same reasons that people are sometimes wary about buying things online (it’s hard to assess the quality and details, it might be the wrong fit, etc.), most homebuyers would be hesitant to buy a home sight unseen too. In fact, buying a home sight unseen has one downfall that even online shopping doesn’t: You can’t return a house after you’ve bought it! There are times, however, where buying sight unseen might just make sense. Here’s what you need to know: There are circumstances where it is actually logical. If you’re relocating from another region, you might not have the luxury of touring homes in person. And even if you do, in some hot markets, luxury homes sell within days of being listed, meaning you may not even have time to hop on a plane for a viewing. Likewise, if you’re interested in purchasing a luxury home pre-construction, there simply won’t be a way to view the home before buying… since it’s not even built yet! Rely on friends or your agent. After you’ve checked out a listing online, call in friends that may live nearby or are familiar with the neighbourhood. They might be able to view the home on your behalf, or at least give you a rundown of the area and offer some insight into what it would be like to live there. You can also ask your agent if they would tour the home for you, or, if it’s a sizable distance away, if they know someone who would. It’s a good idea to ask if they will do a video tour, so you can see the unit in real-time. Do some research on the developer. If you can’t be there to see the finishes and check the foundation yourself, find out who developed the property and see what their track record is. This is usually best practice when considering a pre-construction luxury home. Some provinces have databases where you can search developers and see how many complaints have been lodged against their developments. Make an offer—with contingencies. When buying a home sight unseen, it’s crucial to add some contingencies to your offer, since there are limitations with being so far away, even with people viewing the home on your behalf. A good option is to add a home inspection contingency, signifying that if any major problems are found, you have a way out.
3 Steal-Worthy Tricks for Staging a Small Condo
We’ve all seen an opulent home on television, staged perfectly to appeal to buyers. When you’re dealing with a small condo like many Canadians, however, you might not have the luxury of unlimited square footage to impress. The good news? You can still make the most of your space with these tricks: Maximize natural light. Though many condo owners rely on roller shades or heavy drapes for privacy, these both add unnecessary weight and limit light in a small space. Instead, try hanging sheer shades and push them all the way to the sides of the window to showcase it fully. Use a single colour on the walls. In a small space, painting in a single colour can really open up the home and create an illusion of flow. White can be a good option as it’s bright and makes a great blank canvas for buyers to imagine their own belongings against, but so can light grey, blue or taupe. Pick a focal point. Without the luxury of space and multiple rooms, you might have to pick a single focal point in your home. This might be a killer skyline view, a cozy fireplace or a large piece of art. Arrange your furniture to maximize this focal point. Get rid of what impedes the flow. Many stagers store extra furniture or belongings for the duration of the selling period. Do you really need four kitchen chairs, or will just two work? Can you replace the bulky media unit with a sleek console? Think about the flow of your small space and store what gets in the way.
7 Steps to a Show-Worthy Home
There’s a lot that goes into selling a home. You’re constantly trying to appeal to the senses of prospective buyers, and that means ensuring your abode is pretty much prepared to be shown at any time. There are some things you can do to alleviate your stress level and to be prepared when you get the call from your agent that a purchaser is ready to go. Give your yard the occasional spa day. A well-manicured yard is the first thing a purchaser will set eyes on. Trim hedges, pull weeds and keep everything looking green and healthy. Most parts of Canada get mounds of snow in the winter, so if your home is on the market during the colder months, be sure to keep the walkways and drive shovelled. Close the doors on rooms you don’t use. If there are rooms that are seldom used, try to do without them. Close the doors and lock them if you have young children. Just remember to unlock them prior to your home being shown. Make it smell yummy. Everyone identifies positively with certain smells. You can easily keep your home smelling delicious by simmering a pot of water on the stove to which you’ve added some orange slices, a cinnamon stick and a few whole cloves. The odour is light and fresh without being overpowering. The smell lingers even when the stove is turned off. Light on the laundry. Hiding a mountain of laundry from a prospective purchaser is no easy feat. Try doing a load every other day to keep on top of it. It’s much simpler to hide a load of laundry than it is to stuff away baskets full of dirty laundry. Have easy meals. Meals that are easy to prepare and clean up make you and your family ready for a showing that was just scheduled. You’ll be ready if you get a request for a showing later in the day. Planning on eating a little later than usual may be to your benefit, as well. Make the beds first thing. If you get into the habit of making the beds as soon as you get up, you won’t have to worry about it later. If your children are old enough, get them to make theirs when they wake up, too. Start packing. If you know you’re going to be moving, start packing. It’s amazing how much you’ll be able to pack away in a little bit of time. When you’re packing, you’ll be able to sort through some of those things you’ve been meaning to get rid of by either giving them away or donating them to charity. Packing goes a long way toward making your home look uncluttered, as well.
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