Buying 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.
Successfully Selling Your Luxury Home
If you’re planning to take your luxury home to market, it takes working with the right team, from a skilled luxury real estate agent, a thoughtfully crafted marketing plan, an expert stager, and a professional photographer, to name a few. Listing a luxury home is slightly different than a mid-range home, as it’s a smaller, more discerning buyer pool. The home needs to be tailored thoughtfully to these buyers, and the marketing efforts need to showcase the experience of living in the home instead of simply staging the home’s features. Read on for ways to successfully sell your luxury home. Partner With a Luxury Selling ExpertWorking with a luxury real estate agent is the first step to selling your luxury home successfully. This professional should have proven experience in your local luxury market and can create a customized marketing plan to showcase your house. Craft a Carefully Researched Offer PriceOnce you find a real estate agent with experience and knowledge of the local luxury real estate market, crafting the offer price is essential. Crafting the offer price can be more difficult for a luxury home since there aren’t as many comparables as a mid-range home. If the home is priced too low, you won’t get what you deserve for the property; alternatively, if it’s too high, it can sit on the market too long, ultimately making it more difficult to sell. Create ExclusivityRegardless of the type of home, open houses can attract many visitors who are simply curious about the house. This curiosity peaks even more so with luxury homes. Creating exclusivity around your home is essential to eliminate the curious neighbors and bring in serious buyers. Private showings, broker open houses, and invite-only events showcase your property and bring in the people most inclined to make an offer. These events may include decor, entertainment, catering, and cocktails — all elements of a swanky soiree and can help your home sell. Design a Buyer ProfileThe luxury home buyer profile is specific. Every marketing effort should be designed with this buyer profile in mind. This hyper-specific marketing will reach the buyers who will most likely extend an offer. Your real estate agent’s luxury home selling experience should help craft this profile. Sell the LifestyleLiving in a luxury property implies that the home affords a particular lifestyle. Highlighting this lifestyle in the staging efforts can help buyers envision themselves living there. Staging the home in a way that tells a story, such as setting the outdoor dining table, lighting the outdoor fireplaces, and setting out glasses of wine and cozy throw blankets, can help buyers envision themselves hosting in the sprawling backyard. Or, staging the kitchen and dining space with plenty of appetizers, champagne, a curated playlist, and cocktail party accessories can help a buyer imagine their next cocktail party at home. Sweeten the DealTo help your home stand out even more to buyers, consider including some added perks. This will create additional value for buyers. This may mean including the custom sofa in the living room, the custom dining table in the dining room, the custom stools around the kitchen island, or the outdoor furniture set. An aspirational marketing approach to the ideal buyer will help your home reach the perfect buyer for your property.
Coastal Home Decor Without Kitsch
Whether it’s your lake house or primary residence, you may gravitate towards coastal-inspired home decor as the summer is in full effect. From crisp blues and whites to stripes, rattan, jute, and other natural fibers, coastal home accents can make every day feel like a beach getaway. However, the design scheme can soon veer into coastal kitsch if you overdo the coastal accents. If you like the breezy blue and white feel, remember these design tips to create a coastal-inspired space without overdoing it. Capture the SceneryEvery coastal home has the same exterior elements: water, greenery, and sometimes the neutral hues of sand. Creating an interior design scheme based on the blues from the water and sky, whites from the clouds, green from the landscaping, and neutrals from the sand will instantly create a coastally-inspired foundation in your home. Below are some ways to incorporate these elements throughout a house: White walls and sofas Blue and white striped accent chairs Neutral, natural fiber rugs, accent tables, seating options, home decor accessories Blue and green decor accessories Natural greenery Highlight the Natural LightOne of the best design elements in a home is the amount of natural light it receives. In a coastal-inspired home, abundant natural light will help create the most realistic indoor-outdoor living environment. Skylights, floor-to-ceiling windows, glass doors, sidelights, and transoms are all ways to maximize the amount of natural light that floods a space. Additionally, removing any landscaping that blocks the windows and selecting light, breezy drapery panels and woven Roman shades will provide privacy while creating a lightened-up and open feeling. Include Subtle Nautical ElementsThere are subtle ways to incorporate coastal or nautical accents without filling your home with anchors and seashells. Millwork detailing, such as shiplap on the ceiling or bead board as a backsplash; metal finishes with a patina, such as antique brass; and shades of wood in rich walnut or pale oak, are all design elements that give a nod to a nautically inspired space. Avoid Cliche Nautical AccessoriesCliche nautical accents such as anchors, oars, word art, and an overabundance of shell decor can take a subtle coastal design scheme too far. Eliminating these pieces in favor of more meaningful items like framed family lake memories, historical photos of the area, pieces from your coastal travels, and any other sentimental items will create a unique, relevant, and understated coastal kitsch-free space. Focus on ComfortComfort should be the ultimate design factor in a coastal home. One of the top ways to create a comfortable space is to ensure everyone can relax and not worry about messes and spills. Performance fabrics, indoor outdoor rugs, wipeable surfaces, and textiles that can easily be washed are the foundational pieces of a relaxed and carefree atmosphere. FYI Kitsch= something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality
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