Selling Your Home with Kids

I get it – you all have to live in your home while it's listed for sale...

The home-selling process can be very disruptive, and often stressful, on kids. You may want to recommend that they play a part in preparing their rooms for sale themselves, to help them with the transition. If you have any knowledge of their next home, you can also help to get them excited about getting their new home ready.

-       Engage your kids in the process – get them involved with deciding what will stay, and what will be packed for the new house.

-       Kid’s toys should be limited to their bedrooms and play area (if available). Remove all additional toys from the living room, kitchen, dining room, and other adult entertaining areas.

  -       If you need to have some toys in an adult area, considering investing in a wicker or canvas basket - fill with toys, and place a blanket over the top to cover. This will cleverly disguise your toy basket as a simple “blanket basket”!

-       Kid’s play areas are a great selling feature, in the right neighbourhood, if there is space available for them. Adding baskets to these areas will help to keep the toys contained, and somewhat organized.

-       Kid’s Rooms – Kids will be kids, but when selling a house, it’s important that to check their rooms each morning to ensure that the beds are made and toys put away.

-       Limit the toys to a maximum of 2 toy bins, and unless these are considered decorative, such as a storage bench, keep these bins stored away in the closet or under the bed.

-       Take advantage of your “free” storage areas – these are areas that prospective buyers will not be looking in and includes under beds, dresser drawers, and inside any other furniture that you own. Remember, if it is sold with the house, they will look inside, so avoid over-filling any built-in cabinets or closet spaces.

-       Tone down any accessories and wall coverings – since it’s a kid’s room, some toys or other fun items should be on display, but be sure that these are kept to a minimum as well, and aim for a few select larger items rather than multiple small items.

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While parents have often joked about shipping their kids off for the time that the house is for sale, some clients have actually make arrangements for the kids to be out of town, or have an extended stay at grandparent’s house for the first week or two. This helps to minimize stress on everyone, and allow them to be more flexible with available showing times – this can result in a faster sale, and return to normal life.

Selling Your Home with Pets

When preparing your home for sale, the ultimate goal is to ensure that the home shows at it’s very best, and appeals to as many potential buyers as possible. This strengthens your chance of receiving quality offers, and selling the home quickly.

Unfortunately, not all buyers are pet lovers, and in fact, a home with pets can often be a cause of concern for many, especially for those with allergies. Evidence of pets such as toys, food dishes, and pet beds will also put potential buyers on the lookout for damage throughout the house that may have been caused by furry family members. By eliminating the presence of the pets in the home, buyers can focus on the home’s features, instead of scrutinizing and looking for flaws.

The BTSH team consists of serious animal lovers, and we are proud of our dedication to the animal community. We are all pet owners, and Shauna Lynn takes “crazy cat lady” to a whole new level. Despite this, our recommendations when selling a home with pets is always the same - consider removing all pets from the home, not only for showings, but for the duration of the sale. At the very least, aim for a temporary home for your furry family members for the first two weeks that the home is listed – this is when you receive the greatest amount of traffic and interest in the house. Approach trusted friends and relatives about opening their home to your fur babies. This will mean less stress on both you, and the pets. Animals can be incredibly sensitive to changes, and to strangers in the house (even when they are removed from the home for showings), and you won’t have the worry of trying to maintain the home with the fur, dirt, and other messes that these pets create for us.

If removing your pets is not an option, there are some steps that you can take to ensure that the evidence of them is minimized. To minimize any potential pet odours, ensure that all pets and pet areas are given a thorough cleaning. Opening the windows for a few minutes every day, regardless of the season, will help to remove any stale odours that may be lingering.

Selling Your Home With Cats
Selling your home can be especially stressful for cats, so it is strongly recommended that cat-owners find a temporary home for them while the house is on the market. Indoor cats, when left in the house for showings, often escape, whether by fright or negligence of the potential buyers.

If the cat(s) absolutely must remain in the house for showings, it is important that their presence is minimized as much as possible.

• Litter box should be cleaned twice daily
• Litter box should be completely emptied and washed at least once a week
• Remove cat and litter box for showings if possible (sometimes this can be as simple as a car ride for the duration of the showing or open house)
• Store food in an unmarked, opaque container – this will help to keep it hidden from buyers, as well as keep the food fresh
• Remove all scratch trees, beds, and all toys
• Ensure that their food area is kept clean and tidy, and remove it for showings
• Vacuum and dust daily

Selling Your Home With Dogs
Dogs are a little easier to “hide” while a house is on the market. Usually, a homeowner (or a friend or family member) can remove the dog(s) for showings, if given sufficient notice. It is still recommended that a temporary home be found for dogs whenever possible, but if they must remain living in the house for the time that it is on the market, their presence should be minimized as much as possible.

• Remove the dog for all showings
• Hide all evidence (leashes, food, toys, beds, etc.)
• Store food in an unmarked, opaque container – this will help to keep it hidden from buyers as well as keep the food fresh
• Thoroughly clean all fabric surfaces (couch, carpet, rugs, bed, etc.)
• Keep dog(s) well-groomed
• Clean the house regularly
• Keep the yard cleaned and patch any bare areas

To check out a few of the furry friends that we have had the pleasure of meeting and working with, check out our video here.

For more information on how to prepare your home for sale, contact Beyond The Stage Homes!

Phone: 1-266-240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

If you have outgrown your house, and are considering moving in the Waterloo Region (or surrounding areas), you may be intimidated by the extreme seller’s market. Reports have indicated it will not be shifting any time soon! With the increased demand due to a growing population, homebuyers are finding it challenging to find the perfect home that fits all of their needs within their price-point. Then, if they do find a home that works well, it’s often met with a bidding war. Perhaps you have already put yourself out there, and have lost several bids on ideal homes. You may be frustrated that you'll never be able to find what you need, for the price that you want. If you’ve considered the option of staying in your current home, and taking on some renovations, you are certainly not alone! You might be wondering if it’s better to stay in your home, and what your options are, should you stay.

BEFORE

AFTER

There are a number of considerations to make in order to help you to make the best decision for you and your family:

Step 1: Create a list of what you “need” in a home.
Step 2: Create a list of what you “want” in a home.
Step 3: Assuming that budget is not an issue, evaluate whether or not your home is capable of providing you with what you need. For example, if you are on a narrow lot, and need a double car garage instead of your single, it’s likely not possible to create the home of your dreams.

On the other hand, it might just be a matter of utilizing your current space better. You may need to approach a designer/contractor for this to fully determine what you can and cannot do (HINT: anything can be done, but are you willing to spend what is needed to achieve what you want). A designer can help you to determine how you might be able to better utilize various spaces within your home. If renovations are needed, a contractor can help you understand the considerations and implications for this.

Another alternative you may want to consider is expanding your current space. Evaluate if your property lot is large enough to add additional space. If you think it can, consult with a designer and contractor to create a plan for adding space, and maximizing not only the new space, but the original rooms in your house as well. This will create a smooth and consistent design and flow throughout your home. As well, a contractor can help you to determine what can be done, and how much it will cost you.

BEFORE

AFTER

Iain Kent of Eagleview Construction has noticed an increase in homeowners opting for additions to their home this year. “We’ve heard over and over again from homeowners that they love their current neighbourhood, but have run out of room in their current house and can’t find anything in the area that meets their needs and budgets,” says Kent. “Additions can be a great way to add that much-needed living space, but can come with a hefty price tag. A typical addition can run anywhere from $75,000 to well over $200,000 depending on the amount of space being added, the types of rooms being added (kitchens and bathrooms tend to be more expensive than other rooms) and the types of finishes desired.”

Now, before considering a renovation of this magnitude, you should always consult with your mortgage professional, real estate agent, and financial planner. Stephen Green of RBC Financial has seen this option weighed a number of times, but sometimes it is simply better to sell to get what you need. “If you do you have sufficient equity to draw from in your current residence it may be worth pulling that out towards the renovation, provided the final value actually does increase. This is where both your mortgage professional and your real estate agent can come in the play. If both your real estate agent and your mortgage professional deem it not to be a good decision to renovate, it might be the right time to list it and find the home that does everything. Sometimes the time and effort of a renovation is far more tedious than simply buying the house that is already what you want,” says Green.

Kent has noted that, despite the effort, many are still finding an addition the more desirable option. “With the growing trend of families wanting to live more centrally, many of the homes in the older areas of town are smaller than what modern households might require, and to find a bigger house in the same area might either be completely out of the budget or simply non-existent, says Kent. “Whatever the case may be, many clients are choosing that renovating and adding an addition to increase their livable space is the best option.”

Now, if you have deemed that you are ready and prepared to take on the renovation, you may be looking at your bank account, and wondering the best way to fund it. We asked Green about this, and he said, “If you are looking to do a large scale renovation, first ask your mortgage professional if there is an option to withdraw equity from your current home. Any line of credit that is secured against a property is always at a lower rate because there is security against it. If the value goes up from the work you have completed, you could then possibly move those funds into a mortgage portion to work at paying down principle. Another option is to go with a regular unsecured line of credit and then wrap it into your mortgage after the fact.”

Any renovation, large or small, should be given careful planning consideration in order to ensure a successful execution. In addition, local qualified contractors are finding themselves booked months into the future in order to keep up with market demand. Once the decision has been made, you’ll want to start the planning process and consult with a residential designer to help you to plan your renovation, and secure the materials that you need in order to keep the project on track.

As a bonus, we’ve provided you with some tips to help you to live through the renovations:

• It will get messy – There is no sugar-coating this! You might think that you’re prepared for this, but most people are creatures of habit and a disruption like this can be difficult to cope with at times. Despite best efforts to maintain a level of cleanliness, you will need to be prepared to lower your daily standards of clean.
• Backup plan – With any renovation, there is always a margin of unknown and this could mean delays. If you have a tight timeline for when you expect things to be finished, ensure that you have a backup plan in case things go wrong.
• Find off-site storage – Review long-term versus short-term storage options and consider purging any items that will not be included in the new design instead of storing these unnecessarily.
• Protect your valuables – No matter how professional and careful your hired contractors are, accidents can happen. We recommend moving valuables off-site, to a secure facility such as your off-site storage, safety deposit box, or a trusted family member or friend.
• Find a safe haven for your pets – Change can be stressful on your pets, not to mention that the dust and debris throughout the process can be dangerous if accidentally ingested. If possible, find a temporary home for your furry friends.
• Consider finding a temporary residence – While this may seem like an added expense, it could mean savings for you in the long run. By finding a temporary residence, you will enjoy a more convenient lifestyle, allowing you to be more comfortable and productive, while allowing your team of workers the freedom to come and go from the work site at their discretion. When living in the home during renovations, your workers will ensure that you have as comfortable of a living space as possible at the end of each day, but this takes time to tidy and clean, and those are billable hours. If you have any allergies or sensitivities, regardless of how clean the home is kept during renovations, you may find that your body will react adversely to the presence of dust, fumes, and other renovation materials.

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com