Home Staging.
1. Take Home More Money.
Fact: Staged homes generally sell for more when compared to those left in "as is" condition.
2. Speed up that Sale.
Fact: Staged homes typically sell faster than un-staged homes. A home that doesn't show well and sits on the market longer. Homes that get stale result in thousands of lost dollars through price reductions. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes, sellers need to put your best foot forward and stage first!
3. Get the advantage on your competition.
With the abundance of inventory in the Okanagan valley you need to every advantage to set yourself apart from the competition. The purchase decision often starts with an emotional connection between the buyer and their new home. You want to leave the buyer feeling that your home can feel like their home.
4. Your taste may be exceptional, but it’s still exactly that … Yours?
It's difficult to be objective with your personal belongings. A stager looks at your home through the eyes of a buyer - taking into account functionality, flow, selling features, colors and style to appeal to a larger audience.
5. The cost of home staging is not what you think.
Staging often results in selling your home for more thus recovering your staging costs. This means allocating a very small % of your home investment towards staging less than 1%. This could mean a huge difference between profit and loss, take a chance and stage your home.
6. One-stop shopping.
Staging services offer a turn-key solution, quality furniture, design concepts and setup, all in one.
7. Your most valuable commodity, Time.
Using a professional home stager will take the guesswork out of staging. Our stagers have the experience and local resources to meet your deadline.
8. Few buyers can visualize the potential of a space.
An empty room can seem much smaller without appropriate furniture, and buyers might not imagine how beautiful and stylish a space could be. Staging can eliminate many questions/concerns buyers may have about a home. More importantly, staging can excite a buyer about living their dream lifestyle in your home - leading to an offer (is that not what were looking for?)
9. A well cared for home is a more valuable home.
Buyers view a staged home as a well cared for property. Simple … any questions please ask.
10. Are you doing everything in your power to sell fast and for top dollar!
Why wouldn't you do everything you could to protect your investment? Is selling your home the largest transaction you will be doing this month? Using all the tools and resources available to sell your home is the best way to go. In this challenging market and there are many variables, use everything in our toolbox.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Playgrounds Abound
Big things at Vantage West folks. Big things.
As company expansion continues, a niché slowly forms.
Vantage has become home to multiple big listings that are tailored to a new crowd, a crowd that seems to be waking up from its vanilla and beige slumber.
For future homeowners looking for something different, Vantage stands out like a flamingo in March of the Penguins. A Highpointe palace and a Sunset Drive penthouse crackle with the type of fresh life that Kelowna is trending towards. This infusion of vivacity should serve to remind us all that just because you live in a safe, respectable community doesn't mean you can't have fun.
Wetbars, rec rooms and colours that range from sultry to spicy make these homes perfect for summer entertainment, and perfect for the rock-star in us all.
As Vantage matures into its founder’s vision, success has become apparent for a host of reasons, all of which work because of one main focus:
Service.
A company unequalled in work-ethic and attention, clients of Vantage West have experienced their exceptional marketing and luxury service since its inception.
And, as the weather has warmed, some special opportunities have presented themselves to Kelowna's fastest growing real estate company and its clients – apparently adults need playgrounds too.
To go with the movement towards the high-end listings, the company has proven to work with all price ranges, earning an endless string of positive testimonials.
Check out the website for a peek at the type of life you could be living, at http://www.vantagewestrealty.com/.
As company expansion continues, a niché slowly forms.
Vantage has become home to multiple big listings that are tailored to a new crowd, a crowd that seems to be waking up from its vanilla and beige slumber.
For future homeowners looking for something different, Vantage stands out like a flamingo in March of the Penguins. A Highpointe palace and a Sunset Drive penthouse crackle with the type of fresh life that Kelowna is trending towards. This infusion of vivacity should serve to remind us all that just because you live in a safe, respectable community doesn't mean you can't have fun.
Wetbars, rec rooms and colours that range from sultry to spicy make these homes perfect for summer entertainment, and perfect for the rock-star in us all.
As Vantage matures into its founder’s vision, success has become apparent for a host of reasons, all of which work because of one main focus:
Service.
A company unequalled in work-ethic and attention, clients of Vantage West have experienced their exceptional marketing and luxury service since its inception.
And, as the weather has warmed, some special opportunities have presented themselves to Kelowna's fastest growing real estate company and its clients – apparently adults need playgrounds too.
To go with the movement towards the high-end listings, the company has proven to work with all price ranges, earning an endless string of positive testimonials.
Check out the website for a peek at the type of life you could be living, at http://www.vantagewestrealty.com/.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Spring has Sprung at Vantage West
The trees are budding and the flowers are blooming. Spring has come to the Okanagan.
Vantage West is in bloom too. After a successful 2008 in what was described as a "tough market", our small but expanding company has continued it’s torrid pace, expanding both our sales and our staff.
Thriving with a small office of eight licensees in an industry that boasts over 800 on the Okanagan Mainline Realty Board, Vantage West took a substantial 14% of the market share last month. Our office has become a group of young and hungry agents, people proving themselves to be capable of working harder, faster and smarter than their competitors.
That’s under 1% of the people doing 14% of the work. Somehow, Vantage West became that smart kid in class that got put in with the group of slackers. Everyone knew he’d be doing more than his share, but in the end, he’s the one people want to hire.
The rising prominence of Vantage West in the valley has brought new buyers, new sellers, and with them, new work. To maintain diligence in keeping customer care our priority, we wanted to take further measures to meet the growing demand, and that’s lead to one thing: new staff.
We were excited to have the opportunity to bring aboard three new employees, Veronica Campbell, formerly of Coldwell banker, Lucas Jackson from Sarras Marketing in Calgary, and Justin Bourne from Creative Fire.
When you have the opportunity to hire young talent, you take it – just ask the Canucks. Veronica Campbell has two years of productive service under her belt, so when the opportunity to lure her to Vantage West came about, we did our best, and sure enough she made a smooth transition to joining the our team.
Veronica is ready to help us meet the demands of our clients. She knows Kelowna inside and out, is well connected in town, and is willing to put in the hours needed to keep up with the hectic pace of the Kelowna market.
But there’s more: In a clever move for the future of the company, we managed to pick up Lucas Jackson to be a part of our marketing team. He’s a perfect fit for the feel of our office: ambitious, talented, and hell-bent on doing a good job.
Lastly, we brought in a copywriter who can bring life and color in capturing the unique traits of our clients properties. Justin Bourne, who plays hockey better than most writers and writes better than most hockey players, has built a following in The Hockey News, Max Hockey and his own personal blog, which has been recognized by the New York Times as must-read material. But above all, he is a product of the Okanagan who understands what makes every property special – and has the words to convey that to others.
So, with a long winter behind us here in the Okanagan, we turn our focus to spring. The sun is scrapping its way through the clouds to give us golf weather while the Canucks are in the thick of a playoff run full of promise.
How could you not be excited? We look forward to seeing you in Kelowna this summer!
Vantage West is in bloom too. After a successful 2008 in what was described as a "tough market", our small but expanding company has continued it’s torrid pace, expanding both our sales and our staff.
Thriving with a small office of eight licensees in an industry that boasts over 800 on the Okanagan Mainline Realty Board, Vantage West took a substantial 14% of the market share last month. Our office has become a group of young and hungry agents, people proving themselves to be capable of working harder, faster and smarter than their competitors.
That’s under 1% of the people doing 14% of the work. Somehow, Vantage West became that smart kid in class that got put in with the group of slackers. Everyone knew he’d be doing more than his share, but in the end, he’s the one people want to hire.
The rising prominence of Vantage West in the valley has brought new buyers, new sellers, and with them, new work. To maintain diligence in keeping customer care our priority, we wanted to take further measures to meet the growing demand, and that’s lead to one thing: new staff.
We were excited to have the opportunity to bring aboard three new employees, Veronica Campbell, formerly of Coldwell banker, Lucas Jackson from Sarras Marketing in Calgary, and Justin Bourne from Creative Fire.
When you have the opportunity to hire young talent, you take it – just ask the Canucks. Veronica Campbell has two years of productive service under her belt, so when the opportunity to lure her to Vantage West came about, we did our best, and sure enough she made a smooth transition to joining the our team.
Veronica is ready to help us meet the demands of our clients. She knows Kelowna inside and out, is well connected in town, and is willing to put in the hours needed to keep up with the hectic pace of the Kelowna market.
But there’s more: In a clever move for the future of the company, we managed to pick up Lucas Jackson to be a part of our marketing team. He’s a perfect fit for the feel of our office: ambitious, talented, and hell-bent on doing a good job.
Lastly, we brought in a copywriter who can bring life and color in capturing the unique traits of our clients properties. Justin Bourne, who plays hockey better than most writers and writes better than most hockey players, has built a following in The Hockey News, Max Hockey and his own personal blog, which has been recognized by the New York Times as must-read material. But above all, he is a product of the Okanagan who understands what makes every property special – and has the words to convey that to others.
So, with a long winter behind us here in the Okanagan, we turn our focus to spring. The sun is scrapping its way through the clouds to give us golf weather while the Canucks are in the thick of a playoff run full of promise.
How could you not be excited? We look forward to seeing you in Kelowna this summer!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Great Line I had to Post.
I recently came across this great line as I was getting my daily intake of real estate newsletters and books... This may be a little pointed but the point he is crystal clear. Enjoy!
A BUYERS MARKET SHOULD BE JUST THAT – A Buyers Market. It’s not a fence sitting, waiting, loitering, delaying, doddling, postponing, vacillating, hesitating, wavering, faltering, pussy footing, foot shuffling market. It’s a buyer’s market. By its very name it means buyers should be doing one thing and one thing only, Buying! So where are these buyers and why aren’t they buying.
So Lets go BUY.
Joel
A BUYERS MARKET SHOULD BE JUST THAT – A Buyers Market. It’s not a fence sitting, waiting, loitering, delaying, doddling, postponing, vacillating, hesitating, wavering, faltering, pussy footing, foot shuffling market. It’s a buyer’s market. By its very name it means buyers should be doing one thing and one thing only, Buying! So where are these buyers and why aren’t they buying.
So Lets go BUY.
Joel
Thursday, March 12, 2009
window of opportunity
I am Proud to say that all three of the hot deals I have posted on the Facebook group have gone to members. Which means that there are people looking to take advantage of this BUYERS market.
It's called a buyers market for one reason and one reason only, If you can, you must be buying. This is perhaps the best buying opportunity we will see in the okanagan in the next 20 years. We have all time lows in interest rates (2.5%) and prices have come down by over 20%. Thats 150k off the average house! This is not the time to be waiting around or trying to time the bottom of the market. We never know the bottom until its on its way back up. By that time the sellers are aware of the upswing and are no longer willing to take huge discounts or give favourable terms.
If you think theres another 10% of price drops yet to come, whats stopping you from preying on seller fear and offering 10-15% less than their asking price. Our average lately when working with a buyer has been 10.4% off the list price. FYI when working for my sellers I have been able to protect pricing and have an average of 96.5%
The typical spring surge of sales activity has been reported by the Central Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board, increasing by 42% in one month from 114 sales in January to 162 in February. The federal incentive plans such as the home renovation tax credit and the increase to the Home Buyers Plan from a maximum of $20,000 per individual to $25,000 for first-time home buyers to draw from their RRSPs for a down payment will also help sweeten the pot for buyers.
Sorry there hasnt been a deal of the week in 3 weeks. I take the scouting of these deals very seriously and when I post them, you can bet they're the real deal. Hopefully one presents itself soon, I know there are many of you waiting. Thanks for reading this novel Ive written, next time wont be so wordy!
AJ Hazzi
It's called a buyers market for one reason and one reason only, If you can, you must be buying. This is perhaps the best buying opportunity we will see in the okanagan in the next 20 years. We have all time lows in interest rates (2.5%) and prices have come down by over 20%. Thats 150k off the average house! This is not the time to be waiting around or trying to time the bottom of the market. We never know the bottom until its on its way back up. By that time the sellers are aware of the upswing and are no longer willing to take huge discounts or give favourable terms.
If you think theres another 10% of price drops yet to come, whats stopping you from preying on seller fear and offering 10-15% less than their asking price. Our average lately when working with a buyer has been 10.4% off the list price. FYI when working for my sellers I have been able to protect pricing and have an average of 96.5%
The typical spring surge of sales activity has been reported by the Central Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board, increasing by 42% in one month from 114 sales in January to 162 in February. The federal incentive plans such as the home renovation tax credit and the increase to the Home Buyers Plan from a maximum of $20,000 per individual to $25,000 for first-time home buyers to draw from their RRSPs for a down payment will also help sweeten the pot for buyers.
Sorry there hasnt been a deal of the week in 3 weeks. I take the scouting of these deals very seriously and when I post them, you can bet they're the real deal. Hopefully one presents itself soon, I know there are many of you waiting. Thanks for reading this novel Ive written, next time wont be so wordy!
AJ Hazzi
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Budget - Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC)
With record setting low interest rates, Real Estate prices that are back at about the 2003 levels and now tax credits for renovations there has really been no better time to get into the market.
Here are some relevant points from the recently released budget.
Joel
Action to Stimulate Housing Construction.
Providing $8.4 billion to build quality housing, to stimulate construction and enhance energy efficiency. Measures include a renovation tax credit providing up to $1,350 to an estimated 4.6 million Canadian homeowners.
British Columbia will receive its share of the investments in social housing.
Implements a temporary Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC), which will benefit homeowners in British Columbia up to $419 million over two years.
Here are some relevant points from the recently released budget.
Joel
Action to Stimulate Housing Construction.
Providing $8.4 billion to build quality housing, to stimulate construction and enhance energy efficiency. Measures include a renovation tax credit providing up to $1,350 to an estimated 4.6 million Canadian homeowners.
British Columbia will receive its share of the investments in social housing.
Implements a temporary Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC), which will benefit homeowners in British Columbia up to $419 million over two years.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Vantage West Client Appreciation Evening
Vantage West Realty hosted their first annual Client Appreciation Evening at the Laurel Packinghouse. There was great food and wine with live entertainment provided by Kelowna's own Scott Theilman as the guests mixed and mingled. If you like your real estate service served up on a silver platter Vantage West is for you. Since it's launch in early 2008, the partners and realtors at Vantage West have dedicated themselves to creating a high end real estate service offering unique and creative approaches to finding, buying, and selling residential and commercial real estate.
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