Ideas and how-to's for the general homeowner. 

 

We're living in strange times, with most of us currently sitting at home twiddling our thumbs in self-isolation. Luckily, with the change of the seasons here in the Comox Valley, it's the perfect time to spend ur days in self-isolation to Spring clean our homes! Spring cleaning is a great time to review closets, garages, and storage rooms; donating any items no longer serving purpose in your home. Take some of your newly found time at home to get your property in a sparkling state with these areas of focus:

The House as a Whole
Pick a room and get down to business cleaning baseboards, windowsills, doors and windows. This is a great time to dust from the top of a room to the bottom, ensuring you're eliminating any potential dust allergens. If you're…

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Navigating the ever-changing mortgage market can feel overwhelming at times. As you’re on this journey to homeownership it’s important to ensure you have trusted professionals working for you. Once you’ve connected with your chosen Realtor® it’s time to start the mortgage pre-approval process. Here are some key terms and first steps to get you started on your path to real estate purchasing success.

 

Choosing a Lender
Establish your affordability by meeting with your favourite Comox Valley mortgage professional prior to beginning your house hunt. Compare your mortgage options by researching lenders, local banks and mortgage brokers to see the products, rates and terms that are available to you.

A pre-approval will help you to establish your own…

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No winter lasts forever; don’t let the wet and rainy weather forecast here in the Comox Valley get you down! If you find yourself avoiding time spent outdoors, take advantage of this time of year by utilizing time indoors to make cosmetic updates to your home.

We’re seeing many design trends that were popular in decades passed make their comeback in 2020. These aesthetically appealing enhancements can elevate your property for your own pleasure or can prepare you to take your home to the Spring market.  If you’re looking for some fun and creative ideas to spruce up your Comox Valley home this season, have a look at our top 6 favourite 2020 design inspirations below.

 

Statement Backsplashes

A fresh backsplash is a great way to polish up…

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New year, new mindset; it’s no surprise that January is the most popular month for homeowners to review their monthly costs, making conscious efforts to conserve spending and increase their savings contributions. Many of us have started the year off with a shift in our financial awareness that has us evaluating whether we’re adequately covered and on budget each month. It’s the season for Courtenay real estate owners to review their cable and utility costs, household budgets as well as insurance policy coverages. What better time than now to review your own property insurance policies with your insurer to confirm the details are up-to-date and accurate. 

Depending on your geographical location and the insurance provider you’re insured with, you may be…

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Opening your doors to friends and family during the holiday season will be a ton of fun, but you may find yourself overwhelmed with the thought of organizing all the moving parts of your event. While the holiday season isn’t ideal for major home renovations, we think it’s a great time for a “functionality review” to prepare your house to look and flow it’s best. 

Take the time to focus on the areas you’ll spend the most time in such as the kitchen, living areas and guest spaces. Whether you’ll be hosting for your first time, or as the go-to host space each year, consider our Top 10 Tips for getting your home ready to host for the holidays. 

 

 Lighting

‘tis the season in the Comox Valley for the very early setting of the sun; greet your…

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As a rule of thumb, spend as little money as possible when preparing your home to hit the local Comox Valley real estate market. Although buyers will be impressed by the extras, such as a new roof, you aren't likely to recoup the money spent on it. Save your money for home improvement projects for your new home!

With that said, it does make a big difference to invest a little money into updating your Comox Valley home and getting it ready for the market. Minor touch ups may range from putting new knobs on cabinets to painting some rooms. Here are a few tips for getting your house in the Comox Valley ready to sell:

Depersonalize Your Home

The first step in selling your home is to depersonalize it. This involves removing personal items such as…

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Home improvements are generally made for two reasons—for personal enjoyment, or to boost your home’s resale value. 

If you are making a change for your own enjoyment, you may not care how it impacts resale value, especially if you have no intentions to move. In this case, do as you like. Splurge. Revel in your living space and upgrade at will.

However, if a move is in your future… even your distant future… it’s a good idea to consider whether the investment will help or hurt your resale value. Here are three of the worst upgrades, in terms of return on investment.

 

1. A Swimming Pool

Only the most devoted pool enthusiasts are willing to put in the time, energy, and money to maintain a swimming pool, which requires heating, filtering,…

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