In all the excitement and packing, buying & selling, many people forget to take care of some essential items before they move. Don’t look past these 5 things you need to take care of, or it could cost you $$$.
1. Take care of all subscriptions: Magazines, memberships, recurring orders, gym memberships. Get a head start on updating your address or cancelling memberships before charges mount on your credit card. We suggest you take care of this at least 30 days prior to your move, as many gyms, clubs, and mail subscriptions require this much time for cancellation or updates.
2. Change your address at the post office: For a small fee Canada Post will allow you to register your new address to ensure all your mail finds its way to your new home. Leaving bills or an outstanding balance behind, may impact your credit score, as well as lead to accumulated interest charges -–neither of which you are likely o want.
3. Call utility providers: Cable, internet, electricity, gas, etc…These are all services that you should be making contact BEFORE you move. Many of these services can pivot on a dime so not much notice is required, but we do recommend making contact at least 1 week prior to your move date. Make a list of required utility providers & check it twice! Or, you could wind up paying for someone else’s electric bill!
4. Manage your motor vehicle insurance: If you are new to British Columbia here is what you need to know; ICBC allows up to 90 days to switch over your license, and 30 days to register, license and insure your vehicle.
If you are moving within the Province, you must update your address within 30 days of moving. Your auto-insurance policy must always show your current home address and vehicle use, so do not forget to update this information!
5. Get a ‘To-Go’ box ready: Whether you are moving across the country, province, or just down the street, make sure that you have a go-to box ready. This should contain items you will need as soon as you get to your new home; cleaning products, toilet paper, garbage bags, paper towels, clean sheets, fresh towels, paper plates and eating utensils and maybe even a bottle of bubbly to celebrate.
We felt it was important to share this post we read in a private Realtors Professional group. There are plenty of those in our world who are willing to take advantage of anyone possible. And it's everywhere, not just in the Valley. Understand, using a professional to market your home isn't just about the marketing, knowledge, negotiation skills and understanding of the transaction. It's also for the protection of the Principal (you).
Please read:
Well - this is officially a first for me. My seller had a knock on her door this afternoon. Outside was a couple offering to buy her home if she agreed to do it without me. She gave them my card and told them to call me if they wanted to buy it. They said - no, we want to work with you.... don't you want to sell your home? Don't you want to make more money? What if we paid you $50,000 more than you're asking? Thank goodness she told them to F* off and closed the door in their face. She was furious when she phoned me to tell me. They apparently got angry and left. The nerve of some people!! UPDATE: Seller phoned the police and was told that they've had numerous reports of this happening over the holidays. It's sometimes a young couple. Sometimes 2 guys. All in the Aldergrove area. When talking to your sellers make sure to tell them to never let anyone in who isn't expected and with a Realtor... I always do and I'm sure glad I did this time!
The speculation, through the conversation in this thread, was that these people were potentially attempting to access the interior of this senior's home.
It turns out homebuyers are really into barn doors.
When Zillow looked at design features that sell homes at the best price and with the shortest listing time, that feature topped the list.
Anything craftsman-style, like rectangular farmhouse sinks, also got homes off the market at a premium.
Zillow Digs screened over 2 million listings for homes sold between January 2014 and March 2016 and looked for the keywords that had the best effect on how much more than the expected price and how much faster they sold.
Here are the top 15 design features:
Outdoor kitchen
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 3.7%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 19
Tankless water heater
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 4%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 43
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Backsplash
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 4.1%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 46
Granite
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 4.1%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 38
Stainless Steel
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 4.2%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 42
Heated floors
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 4.3%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 28
Frameless shower
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 4.6%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 38
Pendant light
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 4.6%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 48
Exposed brick
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 4.9%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 36
Craftsman
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 5.4%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 14
Quartz
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 6.0%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 50
Subway tile
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 6.9%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 63
Farmhouse sink
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 7.9%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 58
Shaker cabinet
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 9.6%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 45
Barn door
Percent of homes that sell for above expected values: 13.4%
How many days faster than expected the home sells: 57
Looks a bit cloudy this AM but it should be nicer later on.
Watch for a schwack (not a real word) of Neighbourhood Garage Sales coming up over the next coupe of months. So far we have confirmed South Meridian, Bayridge and Rosemary Heights school catchments for Spring.
Look for our new logo’s signs in coming weeks as well!
Click below, on our (complimentary for your use) directional sign to go to this weekend’s map.
Click our new logo below to take you to the latest Open Houses and listings in South Surrey & White Rock.
Get a great start on this year’s garden at the Historic Stewart Farm’s annual seed and plant sale and seed exchange.
Shop for rare heirloom vegetable, herb and flower seeds grown in the Stewart Farm’s heritage gardens. Find seeds for centuries-old varieties such as echinacea, stately hollyhocks, wildflowers, 200-year old pole beans, and rare peas.
Get tips from the heritage garden volunteers about the historic varieties they grow and how to save seeds.
Master Gardeners and other experts will be on site to answer your gardening questions.
Visit the heritage flower and vegetable gardens.
Tour the beautifully restored 1894 farmhouse with costumed guides, and sample fresh baked goods from the woodstove.
Kids get a start on their gardening skills through "seedy" crafts and activities.
