Have you ever driven up to a restaurant and your first impression was disappointing? Perhaps the windows looked dark and gloomy, the façade was worn and unattractive or for some other reason it just didn’t look like a tempting place to eat.

It could still be a fantastic restaurant – a real gem. But, your first impression has soured your anticipation. If you still walk through the front door, it will likely be with the expectation of being disappointed.

This scenario often plays out in the real estate market as well.

A buyer drives up to a home for sale and quickly forms an impression based on what he sees “from the curb”. That’s why you’ll hear real estate experts talk about the importance of “curb appeal”. It’s one of the most important selling points of a property.

If you plan to put your home on the market, you obviously want your home to look as attractive as possible from the street. Fortunately, there are many simple things you can do to improve curb appeal.

For example, you can trim shrubs and hedges, plant flowers, clean the walkway and driveway, paint the front door and garage door, and clean the exteriors of the windows. All these projects are relatively easy and inexpensive. Yet, each can make a dramatic improvement to how your home looks at first glance.

Don’t be like the great restaurant that’s hidden behind an unkept façade. Make sure your curb appeal reflects the overall value of your property.

Looking for more advice on selling your home quickly and for the best price? Call today.

“Staging” your home is all about making the space in your home as
appealing as possible to buyers. You may already know the basics, such as
eliminating clutter. Here are some other tips that are less well known yet
very effective:
• Chandeliers. Surprisingly, these are one of the simplest ways to
make a foyer, dining room or living room dramatically more eyecatching.
You can buy a good-looking chandelier for a few hundred
dollars.
• New linen. This is something many home sellers don’t consider, but
should. Replace any worn linen – sheets, coverings, towels, and
even oven mitts with new ones. Believe it or not, new linen makes a
big impression on buyers.
• Pedestal sinks. It may not be practical for you to replace a bathroom
sink. However, if you are doing a renovation, keep in mind that
pedestal sinks – especially in small washrooms – are a big hit with
buyers.
• New appliances. A brand new fridge, stove and dishwasher are
motivating selling features to buyers. That’s because new appliances
make the whole kitchen look brand new.
• Avoid multi-use rooms. Have a spare bedroom that doubles as a
home office? That’s a turnoff to buyers. Whenever possible, stage
each room so that it has a singular purpose. A guest bedroom, for
example, should be only that.
Want more tips on how to stage your home so that it attracts buyers? Call
today.

Imagine you’re viewing a potential new home. You walk in the front door and are instantly impressed. You explore the property room by room and like what you see.

Then there’s something you notice that’s not quite right. An odour. You realize that it’s likely cat dander and, now that you’ve identified it, you smell it everywhere. Suddenly the home doesn’t seem as attractive as it did just moments earlier.

The owner of the property is probably so used to the smell that he doesn’t even notice it. Neither does anyone else in the household.

So, when marketing your home for sale, be scent sensitive. Think about the odours that you may have become used to but others are likely to notice. Even odours you think are pleasant, like the strong scent given off by some house plants, may not be pleasing to everyone.

An odour can easily distract a buyer from appreciating the good qualities of your property. Pay particular attention to garbage bins (which can smell even when empty), pets, kitty litter (even when fresh and unused), the kitchen (especially after cooking), perfumes, and closets.

The smell of cigarette smoke is particularly unpleasant to many people. Its odour can linger even on an outside deck or patio.

Bottom line? Don’t assume buyers won’t notice certain smells. They will.

Looking for more advice on selling your home quickly and for the best price? Call today.

When some people think about selling their home, they imagine all the things they will have to do: paint the kitchen, clean closets, prepare for viewings, find another home, arrange financing, start packing, etc. It can all seem very overwhelming very quickly.

In fact, the long to-do list you imagine you’ll have to deal with may dissuade you from making a move!

It doesn’t have to be that way.

There are many ways to make selling your home and buying another relatively simple and easy.

Sure, there will be some work to do. You may need to prepare your property so that it looks appealing to potential buyers – cleaning, decluttering, doing some repairs, etc. Of course, you will also need to view some properties for sale in order to find your next dream home.

But those activities may not be as time-consuming or difficult as you had imagined. In fact, you and your family might actually enjoy the experience – and see it as an adventure.

The trick is to work with the right REALTOR®, someone who can guide you through the process, show you the shortcuts, and generally make things easier for you.

Home Maintenance for the Fall

With school right around the corner it reminds us that Summer is almost over. Days are going to get shorter and the trees will start taking on their autumn colours. Before Fall is fully upon us, take some time to get your home ready for the colder weather ahead.

CMHC has a checklist for regular home maintenance. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before the weather turns chilly.

Weather Stripping

Make sure your windows and doors close tightly to reduce the draft in your home. Replace worn out weather stripping to keep the warm air in and the cold air where it belongs – outside!

Baseboard Heaters

Vacuum the dust from your baseboard heaters and make sure they work properly before you need them the most. Do you ever get the burning smell when you first turn on the heat? Getting rid of the dust on your heaters will help reduce the burning smell that’s so common the first few times of use.

Furnace or Heating System

It’s recommended that you have your electric furnace or heating system serviced every two years. Having regular maintenance of your heating system will ensure it’s working as efficient as possible, saving you energy costs.

Foundation

Take a walk around your home and make sure the ground slopes away from your foundation. This ensures that water isn’t pooling or leaking into your basement. Look for cracks or imperfections, and seal them or call a contractor if necessary.

Roof

Inspect your roof and replace any broken shingles. It may be a good idea to have your roof inspected every few years to make sure it’s in good standing order. Clean the debris from your eavestroughs and roof and make sure downspouts are draining properly.

Landscape

The garden and front yard make the first impressions for anyone approaching your home. Fall is a great time to get your garden ready for the colder months and to ensure you have a beautiful garden in the Spring.

•Cut back the flowers after blooms wilt
•Prune dead and dangerous branches from your property’s trees to ensure they don’t damage property during strong winds
•Bring patio cushions inside, drain your outdoor hoses and store them for the winter
•Plant some bulbs for Spring: some perennials need some time to develop root systems before blooming in the Spring

A well-maintained home can have many advantages and make your home more comfortable. It is one of the biggest investments in your life and is worth the time and effort you put into it.

It is Westerner Days Kick off week so grab your boots and hat and go enjoy some of what Westerner Days has to offer!  There are many pancake breakfasts’ this week for the community to enjoy!  Westerner Days brings so much entertainment starting with the always enjoyable Parade downtown on Wednesday morning.  There are concerts at the Centrium, a midway with fun for the entire family, pony chucks in the evenings and so much more!

“This year we anticipated that Westerner Days will generate a gross economic impact of roughly $7.3 million for our region,” said Kent Olson, president of the Westerner board of directors.

Visit www.westernerdays.ca  for a complete list of events and entertainment over the next couple of days!

Hope everyone had a safe and fun July Long Weekend – just a quick update to let all of our past, current and future clients know about the Written Service Agreement that goes into effect tomorrow.

Effective July 1, 2014, the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) will require industry members who establish a client relationship when trading in residential real estate, property management, or when dealing in mortgages to enter into a written service agreement with that client. Written service agreements help ensure the role of an industry professional is clear , and when clients are better informed, there is less confusion and typically, fewer disputes.

Written service agreements help industry professionals clearly and confidently communicate with clients about:
•the relationship between the parties;
•the services to be provided by the brokerage;
•the obligations and responsibilities of the parties;
•consent for collection, use and distribution of personal information of the client;
•method of calculation of remuneration or how the industry professional will be compensated; and,
•consent to obtain a credit report (for mortgage brokerage professionals).

Welcome to The Dusty Smith Team’s new blog! Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for posts about the Central Alberta real estate market from our team members.