Staging is a marketing tool that will help a seller convey the proper message. A professionally staged home shows better, no matter what its age or price. Staged homes also tend to sell faster in all markets, compared to comparable properties that have not been professionally staged, according to statistics compiled by the Real Estate Staging Association. Give up the idea that a home on the market has be expensively furnished or reflect the latest design trends.
Real estate agents note that prospective buyers view staged homes during home showings as well-maintained; the homes also present better in photographs and website listings than comparable unstaged properties.
Primary Elements of Home Staging
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Selling a home involves preparation, especially in the days leading up to the first showing. Everything needs to be in place when the buyer comes to view the property. Preparing for buyers to come involves a lot of cleaning, organizing and decluttering. These tips can help home sellers get ready for the first showing.
As expected, government influences are impacting our Victoria and BC wide real estate market. The combination of new federal tax strategies, mortgage stress test, increased interest rates, expanded and increased foreign buyer tax and impending speculation tax is starting the push the market balance towards favouring buyers. There is widely varied market activity by price range and area with the lower end in our Victoria market still in very short supply.
In the wake of rising interest rates, tighter lending policies and newly imposed tax measures designed to cool our over heated housing market, it would seem we should expect to see inventory rise and sales slow. With our traditionally busy spring market just around the corner, thus far we are continuing to experience lower than normal supply which is being outpaced by demand, creating a continuing, competitive market for much of the available listing inventory.
There is little dispute that renewable energy is good for the environment, and that solar energy is the prime source of that energy. But because initial costs are still relatively high, solar panel installations in provinces other than Ontario are not yet common, even though many homeowners see the benefits. Solar installations will pay for themselves over time, but with average savings only between $400 and $500 in many cases, and initial costs in the thousands of dollars, that payoff can be a long time coming.
When it comes to energy efficiency, different homeowners may have very different ideas when it comes to how they measure returns. Perhaps they're looking to save money on their home energy bills, or maybe they're only interested in upping the resale value. Some homeowners may only care about the long-term returns for the environment rather than their personal financial interest. But no matter what you want from home improvement upgrades, striving for efficiency is never a bad choice. See how to get the most out of every dollar you spend.
