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Lake Front Living in Whistler

Have you ever dreamed of living in the best ski resort in the world and also having an amazing lake front property? There are several lakes in Whistler, and some of them have really amazing real estate right on the shore.

Twin Lakes is a townhome complex on the shore of Alta Lake. This complex offers what no other complex in Whistler does; private beach and dock, in ground swimming pool, tennis court AND a shuttle to the gondolas all winter!

#31 is a fabulous floor plan with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus the quintessential sauna that people in ski towns love.

Send me a message if you want to more about lake front living in Whistler!

 

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Buying a Home in a Hot Market

It is no secret that we are dealing with a hot seller’s market in 2021. Especially here in Whistler!

Here are some tips and advice to head to when trying to buy during this kind of real estate trend.

Don’t Be Shocked to Pay More Than the Asking Price

Most likely, you will need to make the best offer to your ability if you are serious about a specific property, and that may be over the listed asking price.

Geography Affecting Pricing May Be Less of  a Factor

Typically the location of your home to your workplace and workplace epicentres like city centres, had a large impact on the property value. As there has been a large shift in working from home in industries where location of the work being done isn’t as important, you may see communities that were once lower valued based on geographical location, will raise in value as buyers geographical requirements change as well.

Here are some additional strategies for buying in a hot market

  • Get mortgage preapproval- This is important in any buying market, but especially important in a hot market.
  • Look for homes under your budget so you have room to bid up. Wiggle room is key in these negotiations.
  • If you are borrowing money for any part of the buying process, have it secured and in your possession before you’re ready to present an offer.
  • Get the best real estate agent possible. An excellent real estate agent is every buyer’s secret weapon. They’re not only great negotiators and have a solid understanding of the neighborhood you’re interested in, but they also have terrific connections, which will benefit you.
  • Don’t fall in love with just one house, or at least try not to! In a hot market there may be many offers presented and not accepted. Keep your options open that if the one you’re hoping for doesn’t work out, there is another one out there that is meant for you!
  • Expand your search. You may have your heart set on a specific area or location, however there may be the perfect property for you located just out of that area. Have an open mind and a wide search location.

Ok, that’s all I have for today, stay tuned for more tips on hot seller’s markets coming soon!

And if you ever need a Whistler Realtor who knows how to secure a home in a hot market, give me a call!

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Staging Your Home For Success

How to stage your home for success

 

The first impression you have on a potential buyer for your home can be the most important. Staging your home and being intentional on the important areas that a first look sees can be pivotal in the success of your sale and maximizing the value of the offers you will receive.

Here are a few tips that will help you on what to focus on:

Curb Appeal

As this is going to be the first thing that a potential buyer will see before even entering your home, it is important that you make sure the outside is looking as polished as the inside. Make sure your lawn and landscaping are looking great. Mow your lawn, blow the leaves away, pull the weeds, all things that cost mostly effort and time and will be worth it. Make sure your front door is clean and clear of dirt, cobwebs, and any debris, a freshly painted door can been an easy spruce up project and not super costly either.

Make Sure Your Home is Sparkling Clean

Investing in a professional cleaning service to come and do a deep clean before your home is ready for viewings is a great idea. Professional cleaners will get to all of those areas that you may not think of in your day to day cleaning and having a fresh set of eyes will likely end up with all sorts of areas you never thought of cleaning!

Clear Away the Clutter

This one is often the most difficult, but if you are serious about selling your home, all clutter must go! Clean and clear surfaces, floors, cupboards and closets equal more space in the eyes of potential buyers and an opportunity to envision their own things in the home instead of looking at your things.

Tone Down Your Style

Often times homes are carefully curated to a homeowner’s taste, however your taste may not be those of your potential buyers. The easiest way to do this is to acquire storage and place things that are very style specific away while you are in the process of selling. Keeping clean sophisticated and neutral colours and items will be helpful in appealing to a broader audience of tastes in potential buyers.

Arrange Your Furniture With Style In Mind

Rearrange your furniture. In the living room, symmetrical arrangements usually work well. Make sure to pull your furniture off the walls and use pairs (of couches, chairs, lamps) to create an inviting conversation area. You may have furniture put a certain way to watch tv or make room for the dog or kids to run around in your normal daily life, now is the time to locate furniture to showcase the room and make it look stylish and inviting. These steps are a great starting point to staging your home with the goal of a successful sale. I’ll touch more on professional stagers tips in one of my next blog articles, so stay tuned!

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