Real Estate Market

Strong demand in January with record average price for detached homes.

The current monthly supply of single family homes for Vancouver Westside and Eastside is still very low. I have compliled this data using MLS data and documented it in a easy to view format.

Want to know what's happening with the real estate market in your neighbourhood? I have also compiled data for each neighbourhoods for Vancouver Westside and Eastside including price ranges for each area.
TO VIEW, CLICK HERE

Top Ways to Make Your Home Buyer Friendly for Little or No Money

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to 'feel the love' – for your home. Now is the time to start assessing ways you can make your house look more attractive to potential buyers as you get it ready to put on the market. Surprisingly there are many ways to make what you already have more attractive for little or no money

1. De-clutter – Go from room to room with your goal to reduce what is in the room by one-third to one-half. Buyers respond to a house that looks and feels spacious, airy, and appears to have room.  Remove everything from papers and magazines, to bulky, oversized furniture. Whatever detracts from that particular room as an attractive living space should go – pack it, store it, or sell it, but make sure it is gone and out of sight.
2. Clean - Buyers also respond to that shine which requires only a little elbow grease. This means cleaning the baseboards, buffing the floors, wiping down the lighting fixtures, and dusting the furniture. Sparkling windows and clean countertops say that you love this home and you know someone else will too.
3. Easy access – If you live in the part of the country where it is snowy, shoveled paths and driveways must be ready to receive visitors. Remove anything that makes the entrance and access to your home unattractive and impossible. Take down the holiday lights and invest in good lighting around the entrances to your home.
4. Landscape - While this might not be the time for gardening for most of the country, check your landscape and remove any fallen tree limbs, leaves, and lawn clutter. As soon as Mother Nature cooperates, plan on pruning shrubs, and painting and repairing any fencing around the yard.
5. Basement and Garage – Finished or unfinished, both the basement and the garage need to be as clean and de-cluttered as the rest of the house. Make sure the furnace and hot water tank are accessible and dust free. Air these areas out and make sure that they do not smell or appear to be damp or moldy.
6. Make a List – Make a list of all those small repairs you have been putting off. Either get busy fixing them or call in the experts and get quotes. Use the money from a spring garage sale and recycle it back into getting these repairs done as soon as possible.
7. Paint – A fresh coat of paint put on with some attention to detail can make a room appear fresh and brand new. Now is the time to use whites, neutrals, and a glossy black to give everything that ready-to-move-in look.

With a consistent plan of attack, you can get your home 'house proud' in a matter of four to six weeks – just in time for the spring market!

Aromatherapy and Your Home

Everyone knows that the smell of freshly baked cookies or apple pie can make a home instantly seem welcoming and inviting. That is because scent is a powerful trigger for emotions. As you prepare your home for sale, the following scents, used individually or in combination throughout your home, can help attract and maintain a potential buyer's interest.

Basil and Rosemary – These two scents used in the kitchen are invigorating and can help invoke memories of not only food, but of preparing food, and family gatherings. Tuck a few small pots of these in a sunny corner or on a window sill, keep them watered, and let the scent fill the air.

Jasmine – Jasmine is a not too heavy floral fragrance that attracts both men and women. It is light without being cloying, and helps to induce relaxation and good feelings. Spraying some jasmine based oil on an electric light bulb will give off an intriguing underscent that buyers will enjoy.

Orange and Citrus Scents – Citrus scents sharpen memory and helps perception. A bowl of fresh orange peel, cinnamon, and rose petals can make a pretty statement in a bedroom or bathroom.

Vanilla – Men are receptive to the smell of vanilla and to cinnamon. The key is to use it in a library, study, or even a bedroom .

Scent is a wonderful way to not only attract buyers, but keep them attracted to your home. Has with everything else, the scents you choose to use must be used lightly, refreshed periodically, and not overwhelm potential buyers or compete with each other. Do not use incense and cheaper varieties of candles where the scent may not be true or just plain overwhelming.

Careful use of scents can refresh your home and create a nice memory for a buyer long after the initial visual impression of your home has worn off.