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Advice • Advice • Advice • Tips & Tricks • Tips & Tricks • February 24, 2023

7 TIPS TO HELP YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HOME AGAIN

by Preferred Real Estate
How to fall in love with your home again banner with a couple smiling in the background

If you’re starting to feel like your home needs an update or a refresh or maybe you just need some new ideas- we’ve got you covered. 

 

1. ADD A FRESH COAT OF PAINT! 

A simple way to learn to love your home again is adding a fresh coat of paint. You can give your walls a pop of colour, paint a new feature wall or even paint the ceiling if you’d like! Painting is such a simple way to breathe life into a space and make it feel new and exciting- without a giant price tag! 

 

2. REFRESH YOUR CABINETS! 

Give them a fresh coat of paint, replace the hardware or both! You’d be surprised how much of an impact can be made by simply adding new cabinet hardware. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, there are plenty of creative DIY cabinet projects out there that can transform your entire kitchen!  

 

3. DECLUTTER AND DO A DEEP CLEAN 

Spring is coming and that means it’s the perfect time to clean and declutter! Get rid of items that you don’t use or store away items that you only use sometimes. Even if your home is typically very clean and tidy, there are always going to be spaces or areas that don’t get cleaned as often or as deeply as they might need. Once you’re done decluttering, try deep cleaning your mattresses, blinds, shower curtains, underneath appliances, baseboards and railings!

 

 

4. ADD MORE STORAGE! 

Now that we’ve talked about decluttering and deep cleaning, it’s important to note that having enough storage is the key to keeping your home neat and organized. It’s amazing how adding some storage can make your home feel new and refreshed! Invest in some storage cabinets, baskets or extra shelving and label wherever possible! Once everything has a place, both you and your home will feel more organized, and it will be much easier to keep it that way. 

 

5. ADD AN OUTDOOR SPACE! 

Creating an outdoor oasis is a great way to make you fall in love with your home again! Bringing the indoors outside will make your home feel more comfortable and enjoyable. If the outdoors can act as an extension of your home, it will add to the square footage and make it much easier to entertain friends and family! 

6. THRIFT SOME NEW FURNITURE! 

Thrifting new pieces will help freshen up your home without the price tag! And an added bonus- it’s fun!! Maybe you’ll find the perfect vintage piece that’s been missing from your space, or maybe you’ll have the opportunity to upcycle some older furniture and give it new life! If you’re looking for some vintage or antique stores in our city, be sure to check out the list below! 

The Old House Revival Company

Johnson Terminal Antique Mall

Hello & Welcome

Atomic Age Vintage

Época House

 

 

7. REARRANGE YOUR FURNITURE! 

Sometimes all you need to do to fall in love with your home again is to rearrange a room! This can help to improve the functionality of a room or just make it feel new and exciting. And it’s absolutely free! 

Information referenced from:

https://www.hgtv.ca/simple-ways-to-fall-in-love-with-your-home-again-in-2021/  

https://www.hgtv.ca/canadian-vintage-and-antique-shops/

 

Source: 7 Tips to Help you Fall in Love with your Home Again by Bailey DeRudder

Advice • Advice • Advice • February 6, 2023

Why is Social Media so Important in Real Estate?

by Preferred Real Estate
WHY IS SOCIAL MEDIA SO IMPORTANT IN REAL ESTATE banner

Why is social media so important in real estate? We’ve broken it down into 3 categories to help explain the importance of having an online presence and why social media complements the real estate industry so well.

 

 

1. MARKETING 

Marketing for real estate professionals is essential in order to be successful. From the use of social media to the listing description, marketing a home in the proper way is very important. The wording you choose for a listing description should be based on the type of buyer that you are trying to attract. For example, luxury listing descriptions should be phrased differently than a starter home or fixer-upper listing. This is also known as a ‘positioning tactic’. For example, you can position a home- either as a rental property, family home, vacation home etc. So, how you position a home reflects how you will market it- both online and offline, and shows which type of buyer you are trying to attract.  

Facebook and Instagram even give you the option to create ads for your listings. Ads can be targeted to specific cities or locations, and you can include different interests and demographics too! Facebook Marketplace has also become a popular place for listings. Both buyers and sellers start their home search online, whether they are browsing their dream neighborhood or trying to determine the value of their current home, the process always begins online. As a result, using social media is a great way to have a connection point between buyers and sellers. Social media helps to build a reputation for many real estate agents and numerous deals are even done via social media as a buyer has seen a property advertised on Facebook or Instagram. Having a presence online also helps to boost exposure. Since the pandemic, being present and active on social media is more important than ever because home buyers and sellers are starting the process online. While marketing your listings is obviously highly important, social media acts as a channel where you can market yourself as well and show potential clients your personality. Marketing is going to be the future of real estate, and how you market not only your listings, but yourself, will be highly important.

 

2. COMMUNICATION 

Online and through social media is a great way to communicate and engage with your clients and customers. Social media can act as the perfect tool to network and gain new clients, customers, and even referral business. Ask your clients to follow you on social media and share testimonials and reviews if they were happy with your service! This will help you grow your network, but also add to your credibility and expertise.  

Social media acts as a space where you can be authentic and showcase your personality. Buyers and sellers want to partner with real people, so be sure to let your personality shine through, even if your accounts are more real estate focused. The beauty of having an online presence is that you have complete control over educating your clients and customers. You can warn them about common real estate mistakes and provide insights on how to avoid them or share market insights and predictions. This makes you a trusted real estate professional and helps to prove why you are an expert in your field.

 

3. PRESENTATION 

The presentation of your listing can sometimes be a make or break. While some buyers have the ability to visualize the potential of a listing, most buyers won’t see past the clutter or imperfections- which is why staging and professional photography are so important when it comes to selling homes.  

Staging focuses on highlighting the best features of a home and aims to depersonalize the space so that buyers can envision how the home will function. Most buyers already know what they are looking for in a home, so having it staged and presented well will tell buyers if the home lives up to their expectations. Staging also helps to move buyers from looking at the property online to actually booking a showing, and getting the buyers into the home can sometimes be the hardest part!  

When it comes to photography, you want to have just enough photos to showcase the property, but not too many so that the potential buyer is getting annoyed. You want to make it easier for buyers to get a feel for the space, without taking too long to get to the next space. 

 

Some best practices for real estate photos include: 

  • 5 exterior photos- 3 photos of the front of the property and 2 of the back- highlighting the backyard and any other outside structures 
  • 1 photo per room in the house and 2 photos for the kitchen, living area and master bedroom 
  • 25-30 photos is a good goal to set, however, this may vary depending on the size of the house or property

Video footage, drone footage, and virtual tours are becoming standard in the real estate world as it gives buyers a better idea of the size and layout of the home. With the number of Canadians that have been moving out of province or across the country- video is taking over the online space. Having video content of your listing, simply talking about your listing, or even just providing tips and tricks can really help to put a face to your name and make you more memorable and relevant. For both Instagram and Facebook, Reels are becoming the new norm- so you should familiarize yourself with how to create this type of content. They even have templates so it can be as easy or unique as you would like! 

 

We know that the online space is everchanging, but so is the real estate industry! If you are able to adapt and pivot within the real estate world, you’ll be able to tackle the world of social media just the same! 

 

 

Information referenced from:

https://inside.tru.ca/2022/03/07/the-value-of-communication-and-social-media-in-real-estate/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-important-photography-real-estate-paul-maynard/?trk=public_profile_article_view  

https://realtyna.com/blog/5-real-estate-marketing-ideas-help-increase-brand-awareness/  

https://www.wishup.co/blog/using-social-media-to-promote-your-real-estate-business/  

https://goiguide.com/blog/real-estate-photography-photos  

https://www.moving.com/tips/why-staging-a-home-is-important/  

 

Source: Why is Social Media so Important in Real Estate? by Bailey DeRudder

Advice • Tips & Tricks • Tips & Tricks • Tips & Tricks • January 24, 2023

5 Home Renovation Trends For 2023

by Preferred Real Estate
5 Home Renovation Trends for 2023 Banner
Does 2023 feel like the right year to give your home a little refresh? Here are 5 home reno trends that are going to be huge this year!
1. Home offices
Homeowners are transforming their spaces in order to accommodate the somewhat new normal or working from home. Emily Cassolato of Coldwell Banker Neumann Real Estate says that some of her clients are converting their sheds and garages into home office spaces.
2. Outdoor living spaces
As homeowners have been spending more time at home, they are trying to maximize the amount of living space that they have. In 2023, we are going to see many home renovations happening outside! From new decks and patios to outdoor kitchens- we are going to see outdoor living become the norm.
3. Energy efficiency
Rising costs have homeowners trying to make their homes more energy efficient to lower their monthly bills. Solar energy will be on the rise in 2023 renovations, along with smart HVAC systems and energy efficient appliances.
4. Bathroom & kitchen updates
These spaces are used the most often in a home and are likely to be high on the home renovation list in 2023. Cabinets and countertops will be upgraded, new lighting and faucets will replace old and outdated ones to help make these spaces more functional and enjoyable.
5. Multigenerational living
Some home buyers are choosing to purchase homes with family or friends in order to increase their purchasing power. Home renovations in 2023 will include adding additional living space into homes to accommodate this living style! Homeowners are adding separate entrances, secondary suites and reworking floor plans in order for their home to function better.
Which home renovation trend will you be trying out this year?
Advice • January 10, 2023

HOW TO STICK TO YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

by Preferred Real Estate
How to Stick to Your New Year's Resolutions banner, pair of hands writing in a planner

2023 has arrived and with a new year usually comes new goals and resolutions! So, let’s talk about how to create realistic goals and how you can stick to them!

 

1. DEFINE YOUR GOAL, MAKE IT REALISTIC AND MAKE IT PART OF YOUR IDENTITY

Once you have figured out what your goal is going to be, figure out the best way that you can achieve that goal. For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, your training is going to start small and build up gradually. You’re not going to start Day 1 of your training with a 20km run. If you’re realistic, your goals will be much more sustainable and achievable.

James Clear- entrepreneur and author of the novel ‘Atomic Habits’- says that focusing on the identity that you would like to build is more important than focusing on just the goal itself. So, if you would like to run a marathon, build the identity of a runner. Even if you only run a short distance every day, you are building the identity of a runner, while working towards your goals in a realistic way. This will make it much easier to stick to your goals, but also maintain them even after you have achieved them, as you have now built a new identity and formed new habits.

2. BE MENTALLY TOUGH

Some days, achieving your goals or sticking with your new habits is going to feel too hard or you might experience some setbacks. It is so important to remember that setbacks will occur, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t still moving forward.

James Clear shares his insights about ‘never missing twice’. This means it’s alright to have one slip up or setback but recognize it and don’t let it happen again. If your resolution is to become a runner by running every day, but you miss one day, be mentally strong enough to not miss two days or three days. Making excuses just makes it harder to stick to your resolutions.

3. THINK POSITIVELY

If you can train your brain to think positively, you will learn to stop doubting yourself. James Clear stresses the importance of focusing on the good and ignoring the bad- a habit that can apply to all aspects of life. As humans, we always prefer to be praised and hear good things about ourselves. So, if we start only focusing on the positives when it comes to our family and friends, we’ll start to do this with ourselves as well.

4. BE PATIENT

Building habits takes time, so don’t worry if it feels like you’re stuck or slow going- that’s normal. By being mentally tough, you can tell yourself that making changes takes time and even if you’re 1% better than you were yesterday, that’s still a huge accomplishment! Sometimes half the battle is showing up, even if you don’t feel better, faster or stronger than you did the day before. Just remember, it’s okay to have off days.

5. BE A FORWARD THINKER

Are you picturing what your goals look like in the future? Are you picturing yourself crossing the finish line of that marathon? If you are able to concentrate on what the future looks like, it will be easier to stay motivated. Make sure that you learn from your mistakes and focus on the changes and adjustments that you can make to allow yourself to be better in the future. 
 
When building good habits, results often take time- so, it is important to continue looking forward to what your life will look like in a few weeks or a few months once you have given your habits and goals a chance to show real results.

6. DECIDE THAT FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION

Sticking to your resolution is entirely up to you, but it’s okay if you need to adjust it or modify it to ensure that it’s still serving you and making you happy. If your resolution was to run a marathon, but your body needs time to adjust to becoming an avid runner, maybe you adjust your goals to run a half-marathon. Rather than failing and giving up on your resolution, allow yourself to learn from your mistakes, take breaks when necessary and prioritize building an identity around the goals that you are trying to achieve. Running a half-marathon still makes you a runner and puts you one step closer to being able to run a full marathon.

 

So, after all of that, do you finally feel ready to build your new identity and finally stick to your New Year’s resolution?!

Continue reading →

Just For Fun • November 16, 2022

Christmas Tree Trends 2022 – Coldwell Banker Canada

by Preferred Real Estate
Blue blog banner that says 'Christmas Tree Trends' and the Coldwell Banker Canada logo

Now that Halloween is behind us, it’s time to start decorating for Christmas (if you haven’t already, that is). If you’re tired of decorating your Christmas tree the same way you always do- we might have some good news for you! In 2022, we are seeing a few fun and different Christmas tree trends that just might be worth a try. You might want to consider the décor that you already have in your home before deciding on a style, but feel free to get as adventurous as you’d like- there’s no judgment here!

 

Let’s take a look at some Christmas tree trends that we are seeing this season!

1. BLUE & GOLD

You can expect to have a blue Christmas this year, as all shades of blue are trending this holiday season, but with splashes of gold too (obviously). To add more depth to your tree, try using a few different shades of blue or mixing a darker shade and a lighter shade.


2. FROSTED TREES

‘Neutral and rustic’ has been a trend during 2022, so having a frosted tree fits the vibe perfectly. If you already have a tree, no need to worry! You can create your own frosted tree using snow spray. 

 

3. PASTEL COLOURS

From pastel decorations to pastel coloured trees- the possibilities are endless. You can mix a few pastel colours together if you’re feeling adventurous or stick to one colour and incorporate some gold or silver.


 

4. DON’T BE AFRAID TO MIX SILVER AND GOLD

On that note- don’t be afraid to mix silver and gold if you’d like! Anything sparkly will do, after all- it is Christmas! 

 

5. OMBRE TREES

Grey specifically is the ombre colour of the season! This is truly a statement piece, so it might not be for everyone, but it’s definitely a unique idea. 


6. RAINBOW COLOURS

If you’re feeling EXTRA adventurous, you could try having a rainbow tree this year. Whether the entire tree is rainbow or just the decorations, take the opportunity to use your tree as a form of self-expression!

 

7. NATURAL

The perfect opportunity for a DIY tree! You can make your own simple decorations using natural materials or choose a minimalist theme. 

HOW WILL YOU DECORATE YOUR TREE THIS YEAR?! 

 

Information referenced from: 

https://www.womanandhome.com/homes/christmas-tree-color-trends-2022/

Source:

Christmas Tree Trends 2022

November 16, 2022

5 Tips to Get Your Home Winter Ready – Coldwell Banker Canada

by Preferred Real Estate
Front porch of a home with a red door

With the colder months approaching, it is important to make sure that both you and your home are best prepared for the cooler months. 

 

Here are 5 tips to help prepare your home for winter! 

  1. Gather your comfy bedding. With the temperatures dropping, you can ditch your lighter, summer bedding and get cozy with your warm, cotton, flannel or knit blankets
  2. Give your fireplace and chimney a good cleaning! Oh, and gather some firewood now so you don’t have to do it once the temperatures drop. 
  3. Give your furnace a good once over and change out the filter. 
  4. Tend to your garden. Whether you need to clean up your flower beds or plant bulbs before the ground freezes, now is the time to do it. 
  5. Gather your fall & winter tools and put away your summer ones. Have the leaf blower and snow shovel handy and put the lawn mower away until next year!

 

Information referenced from:

https://www.hgtv.com/design/design-blog/how-to/tips—tricks-to-get-your-house-ready-for-fall

 

Source:

5 Tips to Get Your Home Winter Ready

Advice • Tips & Tricks • November 15, 2022

7 Tips For Selling Your Home in the Fall & Winter – Coldwell Banker Canada

by Preferred Real Estate
Front lawn of a home with a Coldwell Banker signage

Just because the warmer months are typically the most common for selling your home, doesn’t mean that there aren’t benefits to selling in the cooler months! In fact, buyers are usually more serious in the winter and less inventory means less competition.  

 

Here are 7 tips for selling during the colder months! 

  1. Make sure you show potential buyers what your home looks like during the warmer months. Have some exterior photos that show off your yard, flower beds and outdoor furniture. 
  2. Clean up the outdoors as best you can. Shovel the snow on the sidewalks and walkways, clean up leaves and tend to any flower beds. It’s even a good idea to clean your siding. 
  3. Allow as much daylight as possible into your home. Add the right light bulbs to each room, have brighter bulbs in bathrooms and have softer, warmer lighting in the living area and bedrooms. Use outdoor lighting to help the outdoors be visible to potential buyers.
  4. Make sure your windows and doors aren’t drafty since this will be noticeable when the weather changes. You’ll also want to make sure that your furnace is working well and has been cleaned & maintenanced recently.
  5. Do a deep clean of places you wouldn’t normally think of, including under the sink, the cupboards and pantry, baseboards, appliances, the shower head, and ceiling fans. Also, make sure you dust everything!
  6. Make your home look as cozy as possible and stage it in a way that reflects the seasons. Add cozy throw pillows and blankets to the living space, light some candles, and use your fireplace if you have one!
  7. Keep your home clean between showings- both the inside and outside! Keep the sidewalk and driveway clear.  

 

Follow these tips if you plan on selling your home this fall or winter! 

 

Information referenced from:

https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/real-estate/tips-selling-home-during-fall-winter

https://www.moving.com/tips/the-pros-and-cons-of-selling-a-house-during-the-winter/

 

Source: 

7 Tips For Selling Your Home in the Fall & Winter

 

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