7 Reasons Why You Should Take Advantage of Spring Selling Season

Tanya LaRose 0 comments 01.04.2023

The spring selling season is often the busiest and most frantic period of real estate activity in the calendar year. There are many reasons for this. If you are hesitant about selling your home soon, check out why this is the perfect to take the plunge and do it!

1. The Weather Is Ideal

One of the biggest advantages to selling during the spring is the beautiful weather. The sun shines brighter, and the temperatures are warmer, creating the ideal environment for potential buyers to spend time out and about looking at homes. During the spring, people come out of hibernation due to longer days and improved moods. Plus, once they find the perfect home, the conditions are ideal for moving and getting settled into their new space. When you list a home in the winter, you risk having to postpone open houses or individual showings if harsh weather strikes.

2. You Maximize Curb Appeal

Speaking of ideal weather, if you have stunning landscaping, it's hard to show it off when there's snow on the ground and flowers aren't in bloom. Listing a home in the spring means you can wow buyers with curb appeal and perhaps command a higher asking price. The springtime allows you to show your home at its best.

3. Home Renovating Is Easier

The nicer weather is perfect for making those repairs or renovations that will increase your home’s value. Contractors, tradesman, and other businesses are in full swing, meaning there is options for you to use. Use this time and invest to make your home standout!

4. Higher Demand From Buyers

In the spring demand is much higher due to many factors. Most notably, many families are eager to get into their new space before the start of the school year in September. For many families, the ideal time to move is the summer; therefore, to make that happen, they begin looking for a property in the spring. Most homes are larger family homes, and families with kids are the largest demographic in real estate.

5. Houses Sell Faster

With more active buyers, spring also means homes are likely to sell faster, especially if they are priced correctly the first time listed. According to market trends, most people who sell their home in May or June can expect to sell it 18 days faster than the other months of the year. The faster you can get your house off your hands, the less mortgage payments you’ll be responsible for and the sooner you can move into your next space.

6. Competitive Pricing Possibilities

The increase in demand and how fast properties are moving means prices can be a bit higher. The possibility of multiple offers and bidding wars is greater in the spring due to the number of buyers in the market. This is not a guarantee though and is dependent on many factors.

7. More Inventory for You

Lastly, the springtime is great to go house hunting. You’re selling your home, and probably need another one. Many people are listing homes due to the reasons above, meaning there is plenty of options for you to look at. Your dream home could be right around the corner!

If you are ready to list your home during the Spring selling rush, check out my “Sell Your Home” series on Instagram (@saskatoonrealty). It will give you quick and easy tips to prepare yourself, and your home, for the selling journey!

Top 5 Garden Tips To Improve Your Home’s Showing Value

Tanya LaRose 0 comments 01.04.2022

With Spring and Summer right around the corner, let's explore how a well-spruced and aesthetically pleasing garden enhances the value of your property, especially if you plan to sell it anytime soon.

1. De-clutter & Maintain: Just like the interiors of your house, your garden also must be de-cluttered and maintained. Winter is harsh on your gardens, especially in Saskatchewan. Harsh winters can affect the fences and trellis along with large shrubs and trees. Once the winter ends, make sure you repair the damaged structures, clean fallen leaves, and remove other debris to prepare your garden for the beautiful spring and summer months.

2. Make It Colourful: Humans are genetically predisposed to colours and therefore it plays a big role in triggering emotions in us. To make your garden attractive and a great place to relax and unwind, opt for colorful flowers.

3. Add Focus Points: When someone walks into your garden, what is the first thing they see? The answer to this question can determine the chances of selling your house. For example, if a beautiful fountain is the focus area of your garden, it is sure to boost your property value and the chances for it to sell. That's why it's important to have a clear focus area that is stunning and attractive for even passers-by.

4. Paint The Fence: This is a cheap way to spruce up your garden and make it more inviting for you and your guests. The best part is you can do it by yourself too!

5. Add Yard Furniture: When you add some garden furniture, it is sure to spruce up the entire place and make it more inviting to your guests. It also shows that the area can also double-up as a cozy place for you to relax and read a book or maybe even listen to some music at the end of a long day.

BONUS: Don’t have a garden, no worries: The same principles apply to plants that are displayed outside in your yard or in your house! Plants make a home feel inviting and provide a warm aesthetic to any area. https://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/sellersadvice/item/1038117-5-ways-a-home-garden-can-boost-the-aesthetic-value-of-your-house?rtmpage=null

10 Spring Maintenance Tips When Listing Your Home

Tanya LaRose 0 comments 01.03.2022

1. Get Your Ducts Cleaned – It will help to provide cleaner breathing for in the home by removing all old materials in the air that have built up over the winter.
2. Service The Furnace and Central Air – Annual services are recommended for the most effective mechanical maintenance to prolong each respective lifespan.
3. Change Furnace Filters – Depending on the amount of people and pets in your home, you will want to change your furnace filter every 90 days give or take.
4. Wipe Down All Surfaces – Dust settles in the most unwelcome places year-round but it is particularly important to remove it when you have the ducts cleaned.
5. Wipe Down Vents – Often overlooked, bathroom vents and kitchen vents can get covered by thick layers of dust due to their excessive use which is not a good look!
6. Change Fire Detector Batteries – Put new batteries in and test them before reinstalling, this is also an annual recommendation.
7. Eavestrough Clearing – You always want water to flow away from your house which means allowing it easy access through the eavestrough, don’t forget to lower those down troughs!
8. Aerate & Overseed Lawn – Although your house may sell prior to the lush green grass coming through, you will want to prepare for a beautiful lawn in the event the house does not sell for a few months (disregard for condos).
9. Wash Windows – The one maintenance item that will improve both the interior and exterior simultaneously which is highly effective in improving showing quality.
10. Power Wash – Taking the time to power wash your home exterior and driveway will provide an outstanding yet subtle elevation to your curb appeal.

Note that your home may require less or more home maintenance items. Every home is unique and an in-person Home Listing Consult is recommended. Call or text Tanya at 306-380-7325 for your complimentary consult to help sell your home for top dollar.

5 Minor Items, With Major Impact, That Home Sellers Forget To Replace

Tanya LaRose 0 comments 01.02.2022

1. Furnace Filter – Change your furnace filter and leave the package nearby in clear view of the furnace. You will want to book an appointment with your tenant for this if the home is a rental.
2. Weather Stripping – Especially if you live in a location where you experience all four seasons, you will want to ensure you have fresh weather stripping on all exterior doors of the property.
3. Caulking – Take a close look at the caulking throughout your home, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms. Often times it is deteriorated or discolored and is a very inexpensive replacement cost, usually around $5, and fresh white caulking is outstanding for improving showing quality.
4. Smoke Detectors – While this is not immediately impactful during showings, these will be tested during a home inspection so make sure they are functional, and you have the appropriate amount for the size of your home.
5. Light Bulbs – Even if the room is only used for storage, a missing light bulb in any space will disrupt the flow of a showing and trigger a flag in the mind of potential buyers. Although the flag may be small, considering the cost of light bulbs, it is a worthy replacement.

What To Expect When Selling Your Home In 2022

Tanya LaRose 0 comments 01.01.2022

1. A Seller’s Market – Unless another global event alters the real estate market, like that of the pandemic, you will most likely experience Seller’s Market conditions in 2022. It is crucial that you work with a REALTOR® to capitalize on these conditions by following a sales strategy that is unique to your home type and location.
2. Numerous Showings – Depending on your sales strategy, you may have to vacate your house for the entire first day of it being on the market for back-to-back showings. You might also have showings before it hits the market or numerous showings throughout the first week of it being on the market before you get an offer. Be flexible with your schedule for this reason.
3. Pandemic Precautions – Hundreds of thousands of homes have been safely sold since the pandemic began. Talk to your REALTOR® about any specific precautions you would like taken during showings, however the most common include masks, sanitize, minimum attendees, and lights to be left on.
4. Aggressive Offers – Prior to the pandemic, offers coming through over asking price were almost impossible short of a “Presentation of Offers” scenario but in 2021 offers at or over asking price became the norm. Of course, this is an expectation that is entirely dependent on your sales strategy which includes pricing according to market data.
5. Competing Offers – If your sales strategy was successful, you will end of receiving more than one offer on the first day. You can discuss the pros and cons of each offer with your REALTOR® to ensure you are cognizant of any terms that might diminish the value of the offer. Remember that the highest price does not always equate to the best offer.
6. Unqualified Offers – Sometimes during the hustle and bustle of buying a house, buyer’s overlook due diligence such as working with an experienced mortgage broker and/or REALTOR® so make sure your REALTOR® is screening for qualified buyers. An unqualified buyer can waste weeks of valuable market time and effectively lose several thousand dollars in would-be equity.

Call or text Tanya LaRose at 306-380-REAL(7325) to start your home selling process now for 2022.

Why Saskatoon? 5 Reasons Saskatoon Real Estate is an Excellent Investment – In A Nutshell. (Part 1)

Tanya LaRose 0 comments 01.09.2021

1. POST-SECONDARY – Saskatoon attracts students from all over Canada and further. From the University of Saskatchewan to the Saskatchewan Polytechnic to the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, many post-secondary options are available which produces a high demand for student housing. Multi-unit developments, suited homes, and homes with multiple bedrooms are in constant motion in on the Saskatchewan MLS® making it easy for investors to capitalize on this demographic.
2. CURRENT ATTRACTIONS – Did you know some of the artifacts found at the Wanuskewin Heritage Park are older than the pyramids? Saskatoon truly has some gems that are unique all on their own. Search the list created by the team at Tourism Saskatoon and you will be impressed: https://www.tourismsaskatoon.com/things-to-do/
3. UPCOMING ATTRACTIONS – Between a state-of-the-art library and a $12.9 million downtown festival venue, Saskatoon is coming out of its shell in a big way. It is no surprise that Saskatoon’s average population increase has been consistent at 2% annually. Read more about some planning here: https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon-city-councillors-to-mull-12-9-million-downtown-festival-site-1.5304032
4. FESTIVAL CITY – Let the good times roll as Saskatoonians thrive on festivals and celebrations that take the city by storm almost every month of the year in Saskatoon. The most concentrated number of festivals take place during the summer including RibFest, Food Truck Wars, YXE Beer Wars, Fringe Festival, Jazz Festival, Taste of Saskatchewan and so much more! Look at the list, although many are continuously added on a regular basis, and choose your favourite: https://www.todocanada.ca/festivals-in-saskatoon/
5. REAL ESTATE REBATES – The City of Saskatoon offers numerous rebates to home-owners and home builders. Many of them are incentives for continued growth, and geared toward the new development sector, however if that is an option for you as an investor, the value tied into these rebates are worth taking advantage of. The details of these programs can be viewed here: https://www.saskatoon.ca/business-development/land-development/rebate-program

 

How To Sell Your House & Make Top Dollar In A Seller’s Market

Tanya LaRose 0 comments 31.03.2021

Contact A REALTOR® - Contact not just any REALTOR® but a REALTOR® you have intentionally chosen. It is the great thing about the real estate industry - you can pick your home team (e.g. mortgage broker, home inspector, etc.). Do your research to see who will best fit with your personality, needs, wants, and client-care expectations. How do they give back to the community? Questions like these can help you if you are interviewing many potential REALTORS®. Just remember to hire only one so that you do not sabotage your home buying process. 

Prepare Your Product – Just as you would organize and adjust a rack of clothes to sell in a clothing store, you should do the same with your house to the same scale. Buying a basic functioning rack, arranging the clothes in an orderly manner, and possibly even color coordinating is guaranteed to attract more buyers. In the same way, if you need to update a vanity, touchup paint, and purge "stuff" from your house, it will help it to attract more buyers. It is important to strategize preparations because buying a gold plated rack to sell $10 shirts will not make the shirts sell for $80, which then minimizes profit. In other words, your can over-renovate. Most importantly, remember nobody will buy a $100 jacket if they can get the exact same jacket for $50 elsewhere - it is called "Market Value" and is applicable in real estate as well. Being conscious of marketing strategies like these, and implementing them, will ensure you get top dollar for your home. 

Accommodate Showing Requests – Often if there is a tenant, a homeowner may have difficulties approving showing requests. However, in a Seller’s Market it may be worth your while to list it for sale vacant due to the low supply, high-demand, and quick possessions being common factors. Alternatively, if your property has been listed properly, you could be inundated with a few dozen showing requests in a matter of days. Although it can seem daunting to have to constantly be leaving your house, you can rest assure that you are taking every step to ensure it gets the most exposure resulting in a top dollar offer. You can also rest assure that organized real estate abides by local and provincial safety regulations which are enforced by REALTORS®.

Presentation of Offers – While it is a great option if your property has the highest buyer demographic with the lowest supply, it can also drive buyers away. You can always drive away a pool of buyers by forcing timelines upon them. You are also limiting yourself to the pool of buyers at any given time. Whereas if you can capitalize on an entire season, like a busy spring season, one buyer might offer $40,000 above another buyer but several weeks apart. It also confuses buyers sometimes when it is listed low for the Presentation of Offers and it does not sell, then the price is raised which deters more buyers. Often times, a good old fashion market value listing is the most successful option. Your trusted REALTOR® can advise you on strategies like this, and more, to decide on what will be most successful for your unique property. 

If you would like to learn more about capitalizing on the Seller’s Market (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/real-estate-homes-hot-market-1.5951774), call or text Tanya LaRose at 306-380-7325. 

Top 5 Highlights Of The Saskatoon Real Estate Market From 2020

Tanya LaRose 0 comments 01.01.2021

1. The 2nd Busiest Year Ever – Strictly speaking in terms of market
   data, 2020 has been the second most active year for Saskatoon residential real
   estate in the history of Saskatchewan MLS®.
2. June Explosion – While the pandemic caused an
   audible pause at the end of the first quarter in the 2019 real estate industry,
   much like most other industries, the market activity had a huge explosion
   starting at the beginning of June. The activity far exceeded that from the
   following year, and each following month after June in 2020 continued with the
   same acceleration.
3. Sharp Market Shift – Over the past several years in
   residential real estate, Saskatoon has been in an extreme Buyer’s Market
   with seemingly no end in sight. Of course, no one saw the pandemic coming which
   resulted in a sharp shift to an extreme Seller’s Market. Typically, this
   kind of Market Shift happens very slowly over numerous years, so the industry
   is doing its best to keep up but over the past few months demand has exceeded
   supply.
4. Golden Houses – It should be noted that the conditions
   of this Seller’s Market are most applicable to houses, also known as Single
   Family Dwellings. The condominium inventory is not moving quite as quickly
   as a house under 500k. Theoretically speaking, if these trends continue into
   2021, it would be the ideal time to downsize. A homeowner could capitalize on
   selling for top dollar for their home (if advised properly in sale preparations
   by their REALTOR®) and possibly get a great deal on a
   condo. It would also be an opportune time for parents to invest in a condo for
   their children who are going to post-secondary school.
5. Cabin Fever – Fascinatingly enough, the Market
   Shift is a result of two primary factors: low mortgage rates and, for lack of a
   better term, cabin fever. Homeowners who are confined to their own home for
   months on end have proven to get restless enough to either renovate their
   current home (i.e. lumber and other home products shortage) or move into a
   different home simply for the sake of a change in setting.    

If you
are thinking about selling your home in 2021, contact Tanya LaRose at 306-380-7325
for assistance in the most successful sale possible.

5 Ways To Use Christmas To Help Sell Your Home

Tanya LaRose 0 comments 01.12.2020

1. Consider Your Street – If everyone on your block lights up the exterior of their home, you may want to consider matching that level of cheer. A first impression as “The Grinch” might not bode well during showings, drive-by's, and/or open houses.
2. Keep It Real – Although considered “high-maintenance”, a real tree appeals to two sense: sight and smell. Two important aspect of successfully selling a home. The warmth psychologically triggered by a real Christmas tree is worth every effort to keep the tree alive over the holiday season.
3. Keep It Classic – The overall theme you set for both exterior and interior decorations should be classic. Classic colours like red, white, and green or gold. No new holiday characters that anyone over the age of 30 will not recognize. Simply put, think “Miracle On 34^th Street” for décor inspiration.
4. Sending Out Christmas Cards – If you are a savvy Christmas card sender, you can always note a reminder to your family and friends that you are trying to sell your house. Family and friends are great networks to tap into for potential buyers that you normally would not have access to.
5. Depersonalize Decorations – Just like every other day of the year, decoration should always be depersonalized in a home that is listed for sale. No names on the stockings or personalized tree ornaments. Ultimately we want to keep family photographs to a minimum, heavy religious symbol lessened, and any potentially offensive décor removed.

COVID-19 Safety Precautions: Home Buyers & Home Sellers Edition

Tanya LaRose 0 comments 01.05.2020

HOME BUYERS

Home Buyer Strategizing – It is more important that now
than ever to be strategic with your real estate goals and going about them any
way less is foolish. Take the right first step and begin your home buying
journey with a Home Buying Counseling session with Tanya LaRose, REALTOR®.
You will find out exactly what you are looking for, how to get it, and what to expect
along the way.   

Efficient Showing Selection – It is a very dangerous
time to be the looky loo so if you have a tendency to do this, please share it with
your REALTOR®
and they can help you remain focused. Many more media mediums are being incorporated
into listings now so you can view much of the home virtually. When you have selected
homes that require a closer look, ensure they have much of the criteria you are
looking for and therefore are genuinely attractive before you ask your REALTOR®
to schedule the showing.

Perfect Your Finances – The Bank of Canada is taking
strides to strengthen the economy by dropping mortgage rate substantially. Take
advantage of this by asking your mortgage specialist to lock in a rate so your monthly
payments are as low as possible. A mortgage rate can be locked in for up to
three months! Many lenders are also extra meticulous with each files completion
so make sure you have all of your ducks in a row when preparing with your
mortgage broker.    

Protect Yourself During Showings – Gloves, mask, and
hand sanitizer are all tools that you can use to protect yourself and others
during showings. You will also want to avoid touching anything in the home that
you do not need to during the showing. Many homeowners will leave the lights on
and interior doors open for you before they leave and close everything back down
when they return so you do not have to touch anything.

Buyer Client Waiver – The Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association
has taken the initiative to compose a COVID-19 Buyer Client Waiver to do our
part in reducing the spread of the virus. It is a short document that will make
up part of the precautions being practiced by your local real estate industry as
an essential service, in addition to our basic responsibility to humanity.

HOME SELLERS

No Open Houses – The Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association
set national precedent by banning all open houses, therefore it is not optional
to host any open houses for the public or REALTORS®.

Leased Revenue Properties – Remember that currently
the Office of Residential Tenancies (Rentalsman) is not issuing eviction notices
so if you accept an offer outlining possession of a vacant home, you are
accepting a very risky liability.

Tenants During Showings – If you do have a trusted
relationship with your tenants and you proceed with putting your property on
the market, specify with your tenant that they will need to vacate the home
during all showings. Tenants staying home during showings was always frowned
upon but is now unacceptable with the current health concerns as a potential
buyer may refuse to enter the home at all with a tenant present.

Preparing Your Home Before Showings – Before you
leave your home for a scheduled showing, be sure to leave all the lights on,
with all interior doors open, so the contact required by the potential buyer is
minimal. If possible, but not mandatory, you will also want to leave the home for
a extended time period beyond what was scheduled.

Seller Client Waiver – The Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association
has taken the initiative to compose a COVID-19 Seller Client Waiver to do our
part in reducing the spread of the virus. It is a short document that will make
up part of the precautions being practiced by your local real estate industry as
an essential service, in addition to our basic responsibility to humanity.

For more safety precautions and best practices, please contact Tanya LaRose at 306-380-7325 to further discuss details on how you can safely and successfully proceed with your 2020 real estate goals.