Here’s What You Can Do Now! 

Whether your plan was to buy your first home or sell your old one, those plans will have been put on hold by coronavirus unless it’s a necessary move, leaving you with the feeling that there’s nothing you can do except sit and wait…

However, now that you have time on your hands you can take some practical steps now that will save time and give you a jump on the process when life returns to something closer to normal — and when your time to tackle those projects is once again in short supply.

Top tips for buyers:

1. Go Virtual

You may not be able to easily view homes physically right now but an online search is valuable research! 

Most listings have great professional photos or video tours that will allow to view the home virtually to decide whether it is a possibility or an absolute No! 

Check out our App where you can browse properties and mark & save your favourites ….and we can see what you’re liking as well so we can also send you recommendations based on your favourites! 

2. Prepare your mortgage pre-approval

Your mortgage broker can help you virtually to get your pre-approval done now and get your mortgage rate locked in for 120 days ….so when things normalize you are ready to hit the ground running! 

Top tips for sellers:

1. Finish any DIY jobs

Home improvement stores like Home Depot are still open so you can pick up supplies for those small projects that you can tackle now like: 

Replace broken tiles or touching up grout, paint touch-ups, touch-up watermarks on ceilings, fix or replace that leaky tap, replace bath & shower caulking, etc. 

2. Neaten up your Yard

Once the weather warms up a bit you can start cleaning up your shed, garage, and those pots that didn’t all quite get cleaned up before the snow fell last year! 

Box up or bin the contents of the garage or garden shed so you can get a jump on that process before you get your hime on the market. 

3. Tackle those exterior projects

First impressions count and an easy way to amp up curb appeal is to give your front door a fresh coat of paint. When weather permits take on those exterior tasks including:

clearing your eaves, cleaning your windows(by the way there are window cleaning companies still working), and spray down your driveway to remove all of that winter dust & dirt. 

Those projects all take time  — and right now that’s the one you thing have more of!  

We’re here to help you and answer any questions you may have about the market and how that may affect you whether you are buying or selling.  

So feel free to reach out …we’re happy to help! 

~ Karin & Jen 

If you are thinking of buying a home for the first time or if you have been out of the market for awhile, there are a lot of things to consider before you start home shopping!

Here is our list of to-do’s to get the process started:

Get pre-approved and decide on budget!

Book an appointment with your lender or mortgage broker to discuss your plans before you even start seriously viewing properties. There is nothing worse than falling in love with a house only to find out that it doesn’t fit your budget. 

Knowing the price point of properties you are pre-approved for helps us to narrow the search so we are showing you homes that will fall into the right range. 

Your lender will need your employment/salary info and the full picture of your financial situation so they can best advise you as far as price range. Having all of the paper work done in advance will save you time & make the final approval process run more smoothly when it comes time for an offer.  They will also guide you as far as the amount of your down payment and what is required for your mortgage. 

Know the Costs Involved

There is more to consider than just the purchase price of a home. You need to factor in property taxes, utilities, and condo fees where applicable. Your monthly costs are important to know to determine not just how much you can afford, meaning your pre-approved budget, but how much you are comfortable allocating to home expenses. 

There are also costs that go along with making the purchase including your home inspections, legal fees, and land titles transfer fees and the deposit portion of your down payment.  With the possible exception of property taxes depending on how you pay those, these expenses are all out of pocket, meaning you have to have the cash accessible as they can’t be rolled into your mortgage. 

There are a number of great apps that can help you calculate those expenses so you have an idea of the numbers in advance. 

Create your “wants & needs” list

Make a list of what things you want in your next home and what areas appeal to you. Do you love entertaining and the space must have a gourmet kitchen & open concept living spaces?  Do you have school age children and the school district is of the utmost importance?  Do you have pets and a fenced yard or access to park space/walking paths is a must? Is it number of bedrooms/bathrooms that are most important….or a master bedroom with separate ensuite bath perhaps?  Do you want to be able to walk or bike to work so proximity is a priority?  Whatever the things are that matter to you most are the starting point for the house hunting process and that all helps us to choose the best possibilities to begin with. Your time is valuable so we ant to be sure that we are choosing the best houses to fit your wants and needs. Of course some compromise is inevitable but we want to help you find the home that checks off the most boxes!

Why Hire a Realtor®? 

Because we understand the local market and have the tools and knowledge to guide you through the process, from the first home viewing to the day you take possession of your new home. We negotiate with the sellers agent on your behalf and liaison with your lender, lawyer, home inspectors, appraisers etc and make your home purchase as seamless as possible for you. Simply put we are your advocate!

If you are ready to start looking for your first home, your dream home or even just looking to make a change we are here to help you make the right move.

If you have questions about anything real estate, whether it’s buying, selling or looking to build a new home we have answers!

Happy Home Shopping! 

Karin & Jen

Your Proven Regina Real Estate Team