Make your house look like it's worth every penny that you've listed it for. Here are 15 easy home staging tips you can definitely use to spruce up your home in time for an open house:

1. Remove personal items and decorations

When buying a house, potential homebuyers are more attracted to houses where they can see themselves actually living in. To provide a more effective illusion for your potential buyers, you need to depersonalize your house by removing any personal items such as family photos and eccentric decorations. If your budget permits, paint that bright yellow wall with a more neutral shade to match the interiors of the rest of the house.

2. Repair. Repair. Repair.

Repair everything that needs to be fixed around the house. Although you might think that a tiny crack won’t make a difference, homebuyers tend to zoom in on even the tiniest damage. Replace screens, touch up on cracked plaster and fix any broken furniture. Tip: Ask someone to tour your house and point out any damage they find. It helps to have a fresh set of eyes for they won’t overlook the ones you’ve been used to seeing all the time already.

3. Fresh looking linens

It’s time to put those luxurious and expensive linens to use! Ok ,they don’t necessarily have to be expensive, but they have to look fresh and brand new. Give extra attention to visible linens such as bath and tea towels, bed sheets, chair cushions, etc.

4. Re-arrange furnitures and create groupings

There is an old belief that when you stick furniture to the wall, it will make the room bigger. There is a reason it's old because it's obsolete. The key to make rooms feel larger is by floating furniture away from walls, reposition into conversational groups.

5. Accessorise the bathroom

Upgrade your bath’s accent pieces. If the mirror looks a little worn out, replace it with a new one. Does it need a little more touch up? Buy a nice little chandelier and it will look as if your bathroom is newly renovated.

6. Give special attention to the kitchen

The kitchen can be a major deal-maker (or sometimes deal-breaker). If there is any room that you should invest in (although it's best that you invest in every room), it should be the kitchen. Get it professionally cleaned, update the drawers and install a backsplash (if there is none). Tip: Keep it clutter free and limit the number of accent pieces to only a couple. Also, store small appliances inside the cupboard.

7. Paint walls the same color

To create a more seamless look, invest on getting the walls of adjacent room painted the same color. If possible, choose the same color as that of your drapery. This will also make the room appear bigger. Tip: If your property has a sunporch, paint it green. This reflects the color of nature.

8. Ample Lighting

You know the secret to a warm and inviting home? Lighting. This does not mean, flooding every nook and cranny with light but strategically installing lamps and fixtures in areas that will highlight the key points of your house. Aim to have at least 100 watts of lighting to cover 50 square feet of space. Also, it's better to have more than two sources of light per room.

9. Room makeovers.

We always have that one spare room that we don't really have a purpose for (aka the storage/junk room). For an open house, homebuyers don't want to envision a junk room. Instead, transform that room into an office by adding a small table, a comfy armchair and a lamp. Or if a yoga studio appeals to you better, you can simply add rubber padding to the walls, scatter cushy pillow and presto - you’ve got yourself a yoga studio.

10. Indulge your potential homebuyers with a memorable fragrance.

Baking cookies before an open house has become redundant. Here's what you can do instead, spray each room sparingly with a fragrance that you truly love.

11. Create a hotel-chic vibe

Think freshly made up hotel room with neatly stacked, crisp white towels. Tip: You can easily get matching packages of tissue holder, wastebasket, trays, etc. Use them! It will improve the visual appeal of your room and give it a more seamless look. Don’t forget to replace toiletries and soaps with beautifully wrapped and unused ones.

12. Polish both the interior and exterior of your home

Just like how you need to clean and declutter your house, the exterior of the house has to look well-maintained as well. Trim the bushes, mulch flowerbeds and plant fresh seasonal arrangements in strategically positioned pots and urns by the front door.

13. Decorate with fresh flowers from your yard.

Fresh flowers create a natural ambiance for open houses. Since you shouldn’t use personal items to decorate, bringing in flowers will give it that homey and inviting feel that potential homebuyers look for. Tip: Raid your backyard. You don’t have to buy flowers, if they are in bloom, just use the ones in your yard and bring them inside.

14. Upgrade your kitchen cabinets.

Upgrading your cabinets doesn't have to be too expensive. If new ones are not in the budget, just get new doors and drawer fronts then paint everything the same colour.

15.Get new window treatments

Old, apartment-grade blinds can make a room look outdated. What's an easy fix? Get new window treatments. They are easy to install and definitely inexpensive.

Staging a house doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, you just have to pay extra attention to the small details, the ones that would make a difference. Need help listing your house? Need assistance selling your house? We’ll be glad to help! Set an appointment with us here or call us at (604) 760 - 8995.

Resources:

Canadian Living - http://www.canadianliving.com/life-and-relationships/money-and-career/article/top-15-home-staging-tips

HGTV - http://www.hgtv.com/shows/designed-to-sell/15-secrets-of-home-staging-pictures

So you recently decided to sell your house. Now, the next question is: should you hire a real estate agent or not? If you answered yes to that question, then finding one that matches your needs and requirements should be the next on your list.

With the onslaught of real estate professionals here in Richmond and Vancouver, it's not easy to decide which one to work with. You can start your search by asking for referrals from your family, friends and even neighbours. Once you've got a shortlist of realtors and you're all set to meet with them, here’s a list of great questions to ask your potential real estate agent.

Can I contact your references?

Anybody, even real estate agents, will always focus on the positive whenever they are doing an interview or meeting a client for the first time. If you’re ready to move forward with a certain candidate, look into them further and ask to contact their references. Talk to their references and ask: Did they enjoy working with him/her? Was he/she easy to communicate with? Did he/she keep them updated regarding the status of their listing? This will give you a better idea of whether you want to hire this agent or move on to the next. Tip: Always ask the reference how they are related to the agent. Keep in mind that families and friends may often give a biased feedback regarding the agent’s qualities and traits. Thus, you have to be aware.

What sets you apart from competition?

You want to hire a real estate agent that can sell themselves. Besides, how can an agent who doesn't know how to sell themselves, sell your house for you? It just makes sense that a great real estate agent anticipates these kinds of questions and knows how to answer them. Our tip? Look for an agent that has the following traits:

• Approachable yet professional

• Assertive, has initiative

• Conversationalist, possesses great communication skills

• Always available by phone or e-mail

• Honest and trustworthy

• Negotiation superstars

How many clients do you have right now?

There are always pros and cons to having an agent that is attending to multiple clients. Real Estate professionals who have a lot of clients may not always have the time to speak with you as they are busy juggling different tasks for different clients. This might become a source of frustration as an overly busy agent, could be harder to reach and less available to cater to your needs. However, an agent that works with a significant number of clients indicated that this agent is in-demand and trustworthy. This is also an indication that he/she is quite efficient.

On the other hand, an agent who has a really low number of clients under his/her belt could be a sign that he/she doesn't have that much experience or is not recommended well by previous clients. This may also be because this is only a side job for him/her.

How will you market my home should I list with you?

What's the difference between you and a real estate agent selling your home? A more well-thought of marketing plan. The main reason why you want to sell your house through an agent is because you don't want to go through all the hassle of marketing it to potential buyers. Thus, your prospective agent should give you an idea of how they plan to market your house. An experienced agent will give you a detailed account of his/her marketing plan including posting your house on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

How do you charge your realtor fees? How much do you charge?

Discussing money can be an awkward first meeting topic but it's necessary for you to know how your prospective agent plans to charge you for his/her services on Day One. Tip: real estate fees are always negotiable. Typically, agents charge a percentage but this may change depending on various factors like your property’s assessed value, the current real estate market and the amount of work that needs to be done to market your house.

How long have you been in the real estate industry? What sort of experience do you have?

With years of being in the business comes experience. An agent who has been in the real estate agent for decades would have a long list of clients that has continued to trust them. However, new agents don't necessarily mean they can't do the job. In fact, a new agent might even give you better attention than someone who's dealing with loads of clients. This all boils down to preference and how you match up with their personality.

What do you think about my home? How will it fare in the current real estate market?

A great real estate agent, and someone you can trust, will tell you straight up how your property will do in the current real estate market. Asking this question will also give you an idea of whether this agent is experienced enough to point out legitimate concerns about your property. Otherwise, an agent who is not honest enough to tell you any obvious flaws may only be interested in getting you to sign a contract and not exactly selling your house with your best interest at heart.

Will I be working with you directly?

This can be a crucial aspect, especially for agents who are dealing with multiple clients right now. You have to make sure that they will personally handle your affairs and not hand you off to another associate or assistant once you’ve signed the contract.

May I review documents that I will have to sign should I list my home with you?

An experienced and efficient real estate agent has all their forms at the ready. Any form or contract signed is legally binding, thus, it's important to make sure you review them (ahead of them if possible) before signing them.  

Should I change my mind, how do you go about cancellations?

What if you signed a contract with an agent and you're not exactly happy with his/her services? How do you think this agent will handle a cancellation? Knowing how your prospective agent will handle cancellations will give you an idea of his/her company's cancellation policy. Tip: Observe their demeanor when you bring up this topic. An experienced and confident agent will not be fazed while answering this question and remain composed. While a suddenly nervous or agitated agent might not be a good sign.

Ready to start interviewing those agents? If your list is still open and you have a spot for another one, I’ll be glad to answer these questions for you! Book an appointment with us, call us at 604-760-8995 and let’s get your house listed!

Diverse Landscape

Delta has a lot to offer in terms of views, landscapes and types of areas to live. From the family oriented neighbourhoods of North Delta, to the farm life in South Delta, to the charming small-town feel of Ladner, there’s no shortage of options for everyone.  Delta has several beautiful natural habitats to spend time in, including Deas Slough, Burns Bog and Centennial Beach.

Things To Do

Delta is rich with activities, services, commerce and entertainment.  It’s home to several golf courses, the newly added Tsawwassen Mills mall, the revamping of Splash Down park, and the build up of the Tsawwassen Springs development.  Once simply just an access road to the Ferry, the stretches along highway 99 are now full of shops, department stores and restaurants.

It’s Growing

With the recent approval of a new 10 lane bridge connecting Richmond to Delta, replacing the overused Massey tunnel will be a welcomed edition to outlying communities in Tsawwassen and Ladner.  New townhomes, houses and condo developments are beginning to pop up all over town.

Sense of Community

Although large in a geographical sense, the communities within Delta are very tight knit.  Although several amenities are available and you are 20 minutes from Vancouver or Surrey, the smaller districts within Delta have a nice small town feel.  It’s hard to come by in this day and age!

Recreation

North Delta, Ladner and Tsawwassen are wonderful communities to live in if you’re an outdoor enthusiast.  From the watershed trails and Burns Bog network in North Delta, to the dykes and slough of Ladner and the ocean front and centre in Tsawwassen.  From biking to rowing to sailing, there’s no shortage of activity to be had in Delta!  

New Westminster has become a vibrant and inviting place to call home, especially if you're looking for condo living.  The city runs alongside the Fraser River, which offers lovely views, as well as several nearby attractions.  New West is a great transit hub, and travel between Vancouver and surrounding areas is easy and fast. There are also several great neighbourhoods to enjoy in New West, which makes it such a great place to live. 

1.  New Westminster is rich in history.

Once one of the largest cities in Canada, New West was the hub of lots of activity, in industry and transportation.  To this day, several historic sites still exist, such as Irvin House, which is located on Royal Avenue. 

In present day, New West boasts several gorgeously restored heritage estates, ample supply of condominiums with great views and family homes.  

2.  Parks & Recreation

New West is a city with several fantastic park spots for families and folks who love the outdoors!  Hume Park is a gathering spot popular in the summer months, as it has a lap pool, spray park and tons of space for picnics.  Queens Park is gorgeous - with old growth trees, a theatre, spray park and, it's very own petting zoo!  It's a must see, whether you're from New West, or just want to visit for the day.  

Recent developments on the banks of the Fraser River include Westminster Pier Park, which is a man made beach alongside the river.  It's a great place to hunker down with a book or to let the kids play for a bit.

3.  Shops

New West is well known for its collection of bridal stores along Columbia Street!  There are also several fantastic locally owned shops in the area, including shops at the River Market.  New West is also home to Army & Navy, which is a rich part of New West's history.  

4.  Dining

New West is home to so many amazing places to dine.  From the more relaxed fair, try out the delicious Big Star Sandwhiches on Columbia Street, to having something a little more sophisticated, like the Boathouse on the Quay.  Take a stroll down the quay after dinner and check out the tugs on the river.

5. Things to do 

There's never a shortage of things to do in New West.  From taking a river boat tour from the River Market, to hanging out at the Sapperton Festival, there's never a shortage of things to do!  

There’s always something to do, no matter what age you are.

Vancouver is host to so many vibrant, eclectic and yes, even big name events.  On any given night in the city, you’re able to take in festivals, comedy, music, sports…basically whatever you’re into (and even some things you’re not!)

It’s beautiful.

In this fine city, being outside is a requirement.  From gorgeous snow capped mountain views, to breathtaking sights of the pacific ocean, there’s not a dull view.  From walking through Stanley park to enjoying trails on the North Shore, to getting food truck takeout in Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver sure is gorgeous.

It’s diverse.

Vancouver is home to so many different cultures, backgrounds and people.  One of the things that makes us so lucky, is being able to absorb so many different cultures.  From taking part in a Diwali festival, to watching the dragon on Chinese New Year, we’ve got it all.

The food is amazing.

Vancouver has so many wonderful flavours available to the avid foodie, and the regular joe.  From local coffee joints to upscale bites, there’s something for everyone in between.  Between checking out the more eclectic Main Street restaurants, to venturing downtown for some more sophisticated palates, you can definitely eat your way through Vancouver.

The are so many vibrant neighbourhoods to live in.

From the historic streets of Kerrisdale, to bustling downtown to the more artsy East Van, there’s a neighbourhood that suits everyone.  If you’re looking for the perfect neighbourhood in Vancouver to call home, make sure you call us!  

Property assessments are out this month and a lot of people have had varying reactions to the amounts they see when they open the envelope or log in online to check out their addresses.  Each year, properties in British Columbia undergo an assessment done by an independent source.  Assessments fluxuate, and often times, the assessed value of your home is not the same as what you’d see on MLS. 

Why are they different?

An assessment is conducted in BC each July.  It provides more of a forecasted view of what property values might look like for the coming year.   Assessments can be formally contested and adjusted, and generally, the assessments are not tied into what the market value of a home may be.

What determines market value?

Market value is basically defined as a value someone would pay for your home.  Market value is set forth by trends in the Real Estate industry and comparable sales in your area.  A great realtor (hint, like us) will be able to study and compare recent and past activity to accurately price your home in today’s market. 

Professional appraisers, whether independent or through a financial institution, quite often will do an appraisal on a home for financing. 

If you’d like to learn more about the market value of your home and how much you can receive for your home, please call us at 604-760-8995 for your complimentary market evaluation.  We also have a very easy form on our website that you can access here:  http://murphytimmis.com/home-evaluation.html

Over the last few months, we've had a few listings and buyers in Ladner and Tsawwassen. It's always a beautiful drive, and now that Tsawwassen Mills is open, a trip to the super mall is always a good idea.  But a new neighbour in Tsawwassen has popped up, and it's something you can't miss!

Newman's Fine Foods, located on 52nd, located in the driveway of Tsawwassen Springs golf course, along with Woods Coffee.  If you've ever been to Newman Fine Foods' sister store, Seafair Meats in Richmond, you'll know that they do one thing exceptionally well - quality.  

With the opening of their new (and fabulous) Tsawwassen location, the new Newman's is full of amazing local products.  Spice blends and rubs from Vancouver Island, locally prepared salads and salad dressings, in house made ice creams in so many delicious flavours, local artesan cheeses, breads and baked goods, and of course, their large selection of meats!

Next time you're in Tsawwassen, make a stop at Newman's!   You will love it!  

Check out their website here:  http://www.newmansfinefoods.com/home/

Instagram here:  http://www.instagram.com/newmansfinefoods

Check out our Tsawwassen & Ladner listings here: http://www.murphytimmis.com/listings

Buying a presale can be an excellent way to secure yourself a home or make an investment that can gain momentum over time, while the property is still being completed.  We've put together a small Q & A, all about presales!

How do I get started?

A realtor who is familiar with the process of presales will be able to guide you in the right direction.  Generally presales will have a date where they begin selling off their units, and you and your realtor can attend the sales office and choose layout and go over contracts together.

How does it work?

Generally, you will be placing a smaller deposit down initially, and then paying a larger deposit over time in larger increments.  When it comes time to take possession, you will need to obtain a mortgage for the property. 

How long does it take?

It can take 1-3 years, sometimes more, to bring a project to completion.  

What if I don't want to keep the unit I've put a deposit on?

Usually what will happen is you will need to pay a penalty, and sometimes, losing your entire deposit.  Sometimes you can sell your unit before it's been completed, but it's also subject to a penalty.  The penalties, fees and other information is found within your contract and will be clearly outlined.

Why should I invest in a presale?

Purchasing a presale can be a very advantageous move for someone who is looking at getting into the market, because the deposit can be paid over time, giving you a bit more financial flexibility.  A lot of the time in Metro Vancouver, presales are worth more when they have completed than when you originally purchased them, so you have the ability to make money on your unit before it's even built.  It also gives you an opportunity to get into an up and coming area for rental potential.

What are some of the risks?

There are some risks with presales.  The most common one is a change in the market.  This is a risk with most real estate transactions, but with the help of your realtor, you can have more confidence in making the right decision! 

We've purchased presales in a few different up and coming neighborhoods within Metro Vancouver and would love to help guide you to your first presale!  Call us to set up an appointment, 604-760-8995.

We like to stay current with what's happening in Vancouver in terms of events and happenings, but this is an especially exciting milestone!  Vancouver city council has approved our new bike share system, and now bikes are available throughout the city to rent and ride.  How awesome is that?

The system is very easy to register for - you simply set up an account online and choose your plan.  Plans range from $7.50 for a daypass, right up to $20 per month for unlimited 30 minute rides.  Once you register online, you are given an account number an

d pin code, which you enter right on the bike itself to check out.  There are 1500 bikes and 150 stations throughout the city, making it super convenient.  

We set sail near  Olympic Village and rode along the Seawall towards Science World.  The bikes rode super smooth, and had a really nice cruiser style design.  Each bike comes with a helmet and basket for convenience.  You can bring your own helmet though, if you prefer.  And trust us, you'll have fun dinging that bell!   

Sign up for your account now and come bike with us!  https://www.mobibikes.ca/

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Summer seems to be coming to a quick close and the days when spending more time indoors than outdoors is creeping up on us!  Changing up your home decor can be very simple and easy, and if your home is painted a neutral colour, changing pops of colour up, it can make a huge difference!

We love the accessories we picked out below:

Some ideas for items you can easily change out: is huge and inexpensive enough to do it frequently.   Two of the colours that we love for fall are greys and pale rose.  Warm, cozy and ready for fall!  

Candles

Throw blankets

Pillows

Coffee table books

Small accessories, figurines, prints, etc.

Jar with candies

Coasters

Photo frame

Light fixtures

The list is endless!