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Property Photo: 307 1694 Cedar Hill Cross Rd  in VICTORIA
I have sold a property at 307 1694 Cedar Hill Cross Rd in VICTORIA.
Priced Below Assessment! Near the foot of Mount Tolmie this convenient location has shopping, banks, restaurants and more all within a block or two. A longer walk or short bus ride takes you to UVIC, Camosun, or the rec centre. The suite is very spacious, extremely clean and bright featuring many upgrades including ceramic tile, newer carpets, and handy roll out lower shelves in the cupboards. Insuite laundry is a real bonus. This vacant unit is ready for your immediate possession.
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Property Photo: 410 - 2220 Sooke Road  in Colwood
I have sold a property at 410 - 2220 Sooke Road in Colwood.
The Copperwood! Beautifully finished, top floor,  one bedroom and den with 2 full baths unit featuring 9' ceilings, laminate flooring, six appliances and secure underground parking & storage. This Unit is on the quiet side of the building. Copperwood is located at the corner of Sooke Rd and Kelly Rd. Close to all major Shopping and Royal Roads University. Finnished and Ready to Move In! Plan F
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Property Photo: 36-2728 1ST STREET  in COURTENAY
I have sold a property at 36-2728 1ST STREET in COURTENAY.
Phase 3 - Terrace View! Fully finished 3 storey unit. Large kitchen complete with appliance package. Master bedroom with large walk-in closet & jetted soaker tub in ensuite. Downstairs has fully finished rec room, 4 piece bath & tons of storage space. Feature rock faced electric fireplace in open dining/family area with sliding doors to patio area.
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It is no secret that sales are lower and that listings are up.  But, that doesn't mean that it is a bad time to sell your house.  There are a lot of reasons that may make this the right time for you. 
 
The challenge, however, is making your home stand out from the rest.  Here's a handy tip:
 
The front door is usually the first feature of a house that buyers see and feel. How do you ensure it makes a grand first impression? That’s easy.
 
• Put on a fresh coat of paint.
• Replace worn or faded door handles and locks.
• Install a brass kick plate at the bottom of the door.
• Clean the exterior door frame. Make it shine.
 
First impressions are very important.  This small tip will help your house shine!  To learn more about how to sell your house in today's market just give me a call!
 
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“Curb appeal“. You’ve probably heard that term used before. It

refers to how valuable and enticing your house looks from the

outside, typically from the perspective of a potential buyer

“standing on the curb”.

 

Many people focus on preparing the inside of their house for

sale, and neglect preparing the outside.This is amistake. Studies

confirm that curb appeal has a huge influence over how quickly

your house will sell, and for how much.

 

How do you improve curb appeal?

 

You don’t need to do a major landscaping renovation! In fact,

small improvements often make the biggest difference…

improvements you can easily do over a weekend.

 

Here are some suggestions:

• Clean the outside of front windows.Make them sparkle!

• Remove grass,weeds and other unwanted growth between

driveway and walkway stones.

• Prune shrubs and trim trees.

• Re-sod bare spots on the lawn.

• Edge the lawn. (A simple task that can have a dramatic

visual impact.)

• Water the flowerbed. (Flowers look brighter and more

healthy within one hour of watering.)

• Sweep the walkway and driveway. Rake the leaves.

• Remove signs such as “Beware of dog” and“No solicitations”.

• Check the welcome mat. If it’s worn or dirty, replace it.

 

Also, consider buying some attractive potted flowers to put near

the entranceway.They are worth the investment.

 

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to boost the curb appeal of

your house. Just a little work and a few added details will make

a big difference.

 

Needmore ideas for increasing the“sales appeal”of your house?

Call today.

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Weekends are the busiest time of the week for home shopping. No wonder! Saturdays and Sundays are the only days most people are available to view homes and open houses.  How do you deal with the crowds and traffic?
 
Here are a few tips:
 

• Plan your itinerary in advance. Don’t just drive around. Make a list of homes you want to see.
• If possible, stick to one geographic area. You’ll drive less and see more homes.
• Get a sitter for the kids. Only bring them along for those homes you’re seriously considering purchasing.
• Avoid the temptation of fast food restaurants.  Take a healthy snack you can eat in the car.
• Pace yourself. Don’t try to do too much in one day.

House hunting doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. With some planning, you can make it a fun adventure.

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Let’s face it. When you visit a home during a scheduled viewing or open house, you’re usually seeing it at its best.The rooms are tidy. The sinks are clean. The closets are organized and uncluttered. Even the lighting is set to its brightest.

 
That’s just good old-fashioned marketing.  However, not every house you see will actually look this way. For any number of reasons, a house on the market may be less than tidy, poorly decorated, and even in need of minor repairs. You may open the front door in anticipation, only to be immediately turned off by stains on the carpets, faded paint on the walls, cluttered hallways, and more.  First impressions form quickly. It’s easy tomake quick judgments and move on. But, you may be passing on what could be a dream home.
    
Don’t make that mistake.  Make your purchase decision based on a carefully considered second impression, not just your first. When viewing a house, imagine how it will look with a fresh coat of paint, some redecorating, the minor repairs completed, and your furniture adorning the rooms. You might just find that a home that doesn’t show well is really a diamond in the rough. (One caveat: Be careful of houses that don’t look like they’ve been well maintained. There could be issues lurking that may require expensive repairs or renovations. Always make a professional home inspection a condition of your offer.) 
 
There are advantages to buying a home that doesn’t show well.  They attract less interest and, therefore, less competition from other potential buyers.The listing price may be lower too. Need more ideas for finding the perfect home? Call today.
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The softening trend that we've been seeing over the last several months is continuing.   All market segments are showing reduced numbers of sales with single family houses showing the greatest slow down by a significant margin.  In most years, August is a slow month as people vacation so many eyes will be watching what happens in September!
 
Prices are generally holding steady.  But, when compared to last August, single family house prices are down 1%.  Keep in mind that prices are still WAY up compared to August of 2006.  But, this could be the beginning of a trend.
 
Inventory levels are still much higher than the same period last year but are not increasing at the same rate as they were earlier in the year.
 
Depending on where you are in the market, there are some opportunities emerging.  If you are entering the market you have greater choice and can most likely drive a harder bargain.   A weaker market is also the right time to consider moving up.  Want more details?  Just call me anytime.
 
At the end of September I will be publishing my next quarterly market analysis.  If you would like a copy of this report for yourself just subscribe here on my website.
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