11 Feb Island Winter 2021
As we settle into January and February winter months we look at the upcoming year with hope and renewed energy in the aftermath of 2020.
With the robust momentum of the Victoria Real Estate market you may be considering selling your home during the winter months. While there can be some extra work with selling your home in the winter it can pay off in this market with so many buyers and low inventory. Here are a few considerations for preparing your home for sale in the winter months.
Winter months in Victoria can be blustery, wet and sometimes supply a dump of snow. To keep your property looking tidy and maintained – clean up any debris , mow the lawn and if we have snow ensure driveways and sidewalks are clear of snow for visitors.
You’ll want to repair any damaged windows, peeling roof shingles, broken gutters, etc… Maintaining outdoor lighting ensures a warm welcome and well lit pathway for visitors.
Keeping your home cozy and sufficiently heated during viewings will go a long way in making your home feel comfortable and welcoming. 68-70 degrees fahrenheit.
Have curtains or blinds open for natural light during the day and for evening viewings make sure your rooms are well lit, changing lightbulbs or adding light where needed.
A sparkly clean home and fresh paint on the walls can make a huge difference in presentation along with de-cluttering. Less is more when selling your home as it allows potential buyers to see the size of the rooms and imagine their furnishings in the space.
If you have pets take them with you and if that isn’t possible leave them in one room or leave a note for visitors so they are aware of them in the home.
If your property lines are not defined by a fence or are obvious you may want to mark the corners of your property so that potential buyers can see the lot size.
For that added homey touch you can always add a vase or two of flowers and bake cookies for that warm welcoming first impression.
Family Day – February 15. What to do?
While Family Day may look a little different this year, it is rooted in the value of family and fortunately there are several ways to spend time with our loved ones in your little bubble this Family Day.
Try an online Exercise Class. Trying an online activity class is not only fun but it is a great way to teach your kids about health and setting up healthy habits for life. See what you think of this – Disney Inpsired Workouts
Participate in Digital Programs – the Royal BC Museum has a schedule of event webinars from Animal Portraits for Kids, Family Recipes, Virtual IMAX Humpback Whales. 10am to 2pm on February 15 – Family Day – You can join with Zoom or Facebook live. Check out the webinars here
Zoom with Family or Friends. While you may not be able to have the entire family over this Family Day our digital world allows us to stay connected. Call up your parents, grand parents, cousins, aunts or uncles, do an activity over the computer. Have a story time session or cook a favourite family recipe together and eat it together sharing the memories it evokes.
Build a Blanket Fort– With the winter chill not quite gone, building a blanket fort is a great way to spend the day indoors with the family playing games, watching movies with yummy snacks in the coziness of the creatively built fort.
Victoria Real Estate Outlook
The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) has an optimistic forecast of the Victoria Real Estate market in 2021 expecting that the economy will be on a better footing going into the new year with a recovery in the labour market. The report notes that the pent-up demand that marked 2020 will likely fade somewhat – however, this will be offset by a challenging supply environment.
BCREA is forecasting that residential sales in Victoria will increase about +5% in 2021 to 8,400 units and that the average price for a residential property will increase about +2.%
Victoria Real Estate Board states: “Our bustling market continues to be fueled by strong consumer demand to own a home in Greater Victoria, driven in part by low interest rates and by the overall desirability of our community. “This continuing demand, coupled with our record low inventory, has resulted in competition for desirable properties. The competition for sparse inventory has pushed both pricing and activity up and has created the very fast-paced market that we’ve been experiencing for the past several months.”