Principal and Interest Vol.6
Happy New Year! I hope you got to spend some time relaxing with friends and family over the holidays like I did, and that you’re recharged and ready to go get ‘er done in 2025!
Principal
We are back! I’m back in office for the first time this year and feeling great. I took the holidays as a chance to disconnect a little bit so I could come in fresh to the New Year.
With a couple new listings going up very soon, there is lots to do for them to be ready. Decluttering, cleaning, staging, new hardware/fixtures, and painting are just some of the things we do to get these houses looking their best. People often underestimate the importance of staging, so I’m here to tell you, do not do that!! The saleability of your house is directly impacted by how it is presented. People have a harder time imagining themselves in a house with nothing in it. Neutral and clean are what we strive for, showing people how the house flows while allowing them to picture their things in the place of staging items.
Here are a few preparation tips if you’re thinking about selling your home:
· Curb appeal- First impressions matter. Some new exterior paint or driveway sealer, cleaning eaves/soffit, garden maintenance, and lawn care are just a few things that can help give you that strong first impression you’re looking for from a potential buyer. What they see when they get out of their car often stays with them the whole showing!
· Decluttering- I love knickknacks/trinkets/souvenirs as much as the next person, and my house is full of them too, but from a staging perspective they aren’t helpful in achieving your goal. I know it hurts, but putting all the little things away, along with family photos, bold/bright art, fridge magnets etc., is the smart thing to do to get that clean look you’re going for.
· Refreshing/Updating- I use the term refreshing here as a blanket term. It could mean doing some little paint touch ups on dinged up walls or choosing more trendy colours for rooms all together. But it’s not just paint. New plug/switch plates, light fixtures, and new hardware for your kitchen cupboards are all relatively low-cost options that can have a huge impact on interest and sale price.
Obviously, the list does not end here, but starting to think about these things and understand the value drivers in the sale of your home is a great exercise. Getting your house ready for sale can feel overwhelming but trust me when I say that it’s 100% worth it. The little stuff almost always has a major impact on home sales.
Interest
We went back to Lindsay, my hometown, for the beginning of the holidays, and kicked it off with a bang. We rented a space and we had a family pickleball tournament. It was a great time yes, but I regret to inform you that we did not win, and honestly didn’t come very close. Unfortunately, my oldest brother and his fiancé took the crown this time. It’s worth noting that he plays in a pickleball league, so I’m putting a big asterisk next to their win. No one else has their pro status like he does, and I think because of that we can all dispute the result. Joking, of course (not really). It was a great time, and I’d recommend anyone who hasn’t played pickleball to give it a shot. Kind of a cross between ping pong and tennis, it’s easy to pick up and play real games right away. However, if you do play against a more serious player, be ready for some smashes from close range. I think I like the spacing and pace of tennis a little more, but as far as games for all ages/skills go, I understand why pickleball has taken off. Go try it out!
After the tournament, we got up to the usual Christmas fun; turkey dinners, gift exchanges, sports watching, etc. The older I get, the more I appreciate being able to spend time with family when we’re all together, and this Christmas was no different. I was also part of some new Christmas traditions this year making the season even better. That’s including wearing matching pajamas, so that’s really saying something.
Switching gears, this year is also a great time for watching sports. World Juniors are one of my favourite things to watch all year. I know Canada hasn’t looked their best to this point, both the lack of offence in the Latvia game and the lack of discipline in the US game being highlights (lowlights) of that, but who knows. It’s a short tournament and anything could still happen (*Written before puck drop of the quarterfinals game tonight).
Here's to a great 2025!