Eight Tips for Selling Your Home in the Spring

Spring is a popular time of year to sell a home.  Most people are interested in buying a home during the months of March, April, May and June to get settled by fall.  Here are eight things you can do to help your home attract a lot of potential buyers during the spring market:

1.      Be sure to mow the lawn and clear out debris left over from the winter.  The front yard is one of the first things people see so you want to make a good first impression.

2.      Polish hardwood floors and thoroughly clean carpets and area rugs.

3.      Clean all windows and mirrors so they glitter.

4.      Clean window coverings to get rid of dust.  

5.      Light a few candles or put out fresh flowers to create a welcoming scent.

6.      Repaint the interior walls a neutral colour so they look refreshed.

7.      Complete any necessary renovations and repair any interior and exterior damages.

8.      Declutter and organize your home by getting rid of unwanted things.

Five Tips for Moving During the Winter

Moving in general is a lot of work.  Packing boxes, remembering to update your address with creditors, arranging help and booking a moving truck.  There's even more to think about if you have children because you have to make sure you have somebody to watch them while you move.  Moving during the winter can be more challenging.  Here are five tips to keep in mind when moving during the winter months:

1.      Clear any snow and ice from the walkway to ensure there's no accidents.

2.      If you can afford it hire moving professionals as this will help relieve some stress.

3.      Remember to set up the heat and the electricity in your new home so it's warm when you move it.

4.      When you're packing make sure your winter clothes are easily accessible.

5.      Protect the floors in your current home and new home.  It's hard for people to take their shoes off because they're constantly going in and out of the house, so get something to cover the floors. 

 

January Sales Statistics for Burlington

 

 

Year	Sales	Average Price
2013	158	454,906
2012	181	435,162

As per the table above there was a 12.71 percent decrease in sales in January compared to January 2012.  The average price increased by 4.53 percent compared to January 2012.

One Mistake Homeowners Make

 

It's important for homeowners to know the difference between how much they spent on a home improvement and how much value it will add to their house.  For example, if you spent $20,000 remodeling your kitchen, it doesn't mean the value of your house will increase by $20,000.  The longer you own your house after the improvements are done, the more likely you are to earn back all of your costs when you sell your house.  Also, remember that not all improvements are the same in regards to how much value they will bring to your home.

What the seller originally paid for the house and what the seller spent on renovations doesn't have that much influence on the value of the house.