I know what you’re thinking, why can’t I just take my own photos or get my realtor to do photos/video themselves? It may seem self explanatory, but the fact is that your realtor isn’t a trained professional photographer. Honest truth is that professional photography and videography does make THAT much of a difference and it IS worth it to use them. If you want to show off your property in the best possible way that you can so that you can have more interested buyers and in turn sell your house faster… invest in a professional!

First off, not everyone has an expensive high-quality camera that they can use, so most people opt for their smartphone. And although cell phone cameras have come a long way, photos taken on them can still turn out grainy, low-quality, back lit, dark, out of focus or blurry and when they go unedited or with very little editing, they end up looking less than attractive. Hiring a photographer, you don’t have to worry about any of that, and can feel confident that your photos are professional and of the highest quality. 

You may also lack the experience, even with a good camera, there are techniques and rules that professional photographers use to utilize and enhance their results. There is in fact a certain way you should photograph various rooms in a home. This can include the kind of camera used, staging of the room, time of day the pictures are taken, angles of the photographs, and the editing process after the photos are taken. This is even more true for videographers, if you’re not 100% sure on what you’re doing, creating a high-quality video of your own would have its own set of challenges. 

This photo is a great example of much of a difference it makes when a photo is taken with the correct composition, lighting and editing. 

In this photo, you can really see the impact editing a photo can have… the left side is more bright, vibrant, sunny, and pleasing to look at.

One thing a lot of people don’t realize is the difficulty of shooting indoors, and the challenges of fixing those issues. Things such as the time of day and lighting, the composition of a room and lack of staging expertise, images that need editing and vertical lines and distorted-looking results.

Another example is that all professional photographers should shoot the room in landscape. Landscape photography helps enhance the size of the room and captures everything in one shot. Shooting in portrait mode will do the exact opposite, cutting out vital aspects of the room, ultimately not providing potential buyers with a complete idea of each room's layout and overall composition. 

A professional photographer would bring all their own equipment, they can help stage rooms to better display their entirety, plus they can showcase your home not only with better quality photos but also with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. To say the least, there are definitely many benefits to hiring a real estate team and real estate professional photographer/videographer; these examples are just the beginning!

There are so many details to handle as you prepare for a move. It can seem like a daunting task. But this checklist will help you manage the process and not forget anything.

Packing and Moving

• If you’re hiring a moving company, get a firm bid in writing.

• Try and consume canned food and frozen items before the move.

• Drain gasoline from your lawnmower. Drain any water from the garden doses.

• Dispose of any flammable or hazardous items. Do not move these if they can be easily replaced.

• Moisten plants before moving.

• Pack a “first night” box with coffee, bedding, household cleaners, toothpaste and toothbrush, pet food, and other essentials that you expect to need upon arrival.

The Important Stuff

• Call utility companies (electric, water, cable) to cancel your current services and sign up for services in your new home.

• Collect all of your important documents - birth certificates, passports, and medical. records, and carry these with you instead of packing them.

• Have any necessary prescriptions filled and carry the medication with you.

• Precious items such as jewelry on your family photo albums should also be carried with you instead of packed along with other household items.

Before You Leave

• Conduct a last-minute walk-through. Check drawers, closets, the basement, and the garage.

• Make sure everything is turned off and locked up.

Here are 27 Valuable Tips you should know to get your home sold FAST and for TOP DOLLAR!

Because your home may well be your longest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. To better understand the home selling process, a guide has been prepared from current industry insider reports. Through these 27 tips you will discover how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment, reduce stress, be in control of your situation, and make the most profit possible.

1.      Understand why you are selling your home.

Your motivation to sell is the determining factor as to how you will approach the process. It affects everything from what you set your asking price at to how much time, money and effort you’re willing to invest in order to prepare your home for sale. For example, if your goal is for a quick sale, this would determine one approach. If you want to maximize your profit, the sale process might take longer thus determining a different approach.

2.      Keep the reason(s) you are selling to yourself.

The reason(s) you are selling your home will affect the way you negotiate its sale. By keeping this to yourself you don’t provide ammunition to your prospective buyers. For example, should they learn that you must move quickly, you could be replaced at a disadvantage in the negotiation process. When asked, simply say that your housing needs have changed. Remember, the reason(s) you are selling is only for you to know.

3.      Before setting a price- Do your homework

When you set your price, you make buyers aware of the absolute maximum they have to pay for your home. As a seller, you will want to get a selling price as close to the list price as possible. If you start out by pricing your too high you run the risk of not being taken seriously by buyers and their agents and pricing too low can result in selling for much less than your home is worth.

Setting your homes sale price

If you live in a subdivision- If your home is comprised of similar or identical floor plans, built in the same period, simply look at recent sales in your neighborhood subdivision to give you a good idea of what your home is worth.

If you live in an older neighborhood- As neighborhoods change overtime each home may be different in minor substantial ways. Because of this you probably find that there aren’t as many homes truly comparable to your own. In this case you may want to consider seeking a Realtor to help you with the pricing process.

If you decide to sell on your own- A good way to establish a value is to look at homes that have sold in your neighborhood within the past 6 months, including those now on the market. This is how prospective buyers will assess the worth of your home. Also a trip to City Hall can provide you with home sale information in its public records, for most communities.

4.      Do some “Home Shopping” yourself.

The best way to learn about your competition and discover what turns buyers off is to check out other open houses. Note floor plans, condition, appearance, size of lot, location and other features. Particularly note not only the asking prices but what they are actually selling it for. Remember, if you’re serious about getting your home sold fast; don’t price it higher than your neighbors.

5.      When getting an Appraisal is a benefit.

Sometimes a good appraisal can be a benefit in marketing your home. Getting an appraisal is a good way to let prospective buyers know that your home can be financed. However, an appraisal does cost money, has a limited life, and there is no guarantee you’ll like the figure you hear.

6.      Tax assessments- What they really mean.

Some people think that tax assessments are a way of evaluating a home. The difficulty here is that assessments are based on a number of criteria that may not be related to property values, so they may not necessarily reflect your home’s true value.

7.      Deciding Upon a Realtor.

According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly two-thirds of the people surveyed who sell their own homes say they wouldn’t do it again themselves. Primary reasons included setting a price, marketing handicaps, liability concerns, and time constraints. When deciding upon a Realtor, consider two or three. Be as wary of quotes that are too low as those that are too high.

All Realtors are not the same! A professional Realtor knows the market and has information on past sales, current listings, a marketing plan and will provide their back round and references. Evaluate each candidate carefully on the basis of their experience, qualifications, enthusiasm and personality. Be sure you choose someone that you trust and feel confident that they will do a good job on your behalf.

If you choose to sell on your own, you can still talk to a Realtor. Many are more than willing to help do-it-your-selfers with paperwork, contracts, etc. and should problems arise, you now have someone you can readily call upon.

8.      Ensure you have room to negotiate.

Before settling on your asking price make sure you leave yourself enough room in which to bargain. For example, set your lowest and highest selling price. Then check your priorities to know if you’ll price high to maximize your profit or price closer to market value if you want sell quickly.

9.      Appearance’s do matter-Make them count!

Appearance is so critical that it would be unwise to ignore this when selling your home. The look and “feel” of your home will generate a greater emotional response than any other factor. Prospective buyers react to what they see, hear, feel, and smell even though you may have priced your home to sell.

10.  Invite the honest opinions of others.

The biggest mistake you can make at this point is to rely solely on your own judgement. Don’t be shy about seeking the honest opinions of others. You need to be objective about your home’s good points as well as bad. Fortunately, your Realtor, will be unabashed about discussing what should be done to make your home more marketable.

11.  Get it spic n’span clean and fix everything, even if it seems insignificant.

Scrub, scour, tidy up, straighten, get rid of clutter, declare war on dust, repair squeaks, the light switch that doesn’t work, and the bathroom mirror because these can be deal-killers and you’ll never know what turns buyers off. Remember, you’re not just competing with other resale homes, but brand-new ones as well.

12.  Allow prospective buyers to visualize themselves in your home

The last thing you want prospective buyers to feel when viewing your home is that they may be intruding into some else’s life. Avoid clutter such as too many knick knacks, etc. Decorate in neutral colors, like white or beige and place a few carefully chosen items to add warmth and character. You can enhance the attractiveness of your home with a well-placed vase of flowers or potpourri in the bathroom . Home-décor magazines are great for tips.

13.  Deal killer Odors-Must go!

You may not realize but odd smells like traces of food, pets and smoking odors can kill deals quickly. If prospective buyers know you have a dog, or that you smoke, they’ll start being aware of odors and seeing stains that may not even exist. Don’t leave any clues.

14.  Be a smart seller-Disclose everything!

Smart sellers are proactive in disclosing all known defects to their buyers in writing. This can reduce and prevent law suits later on.

15.  Its better with more prospects

When you maximize your homes marketability, you will most likely attract to more than one prospective buyer. It is much better to have several buyers because they will complete with each other; a single buyer will end up competing with you.

16.  Keep emotions in check during negotiations

Let go of the emotion you’ve invested in your home. Be detached, using a business-like manner in your negotiations. You’ll defiantly have an advantage over those who get caught up emotionally in the situation.

17.  Learn why your buyer is motivated

The better you know your buyers the better you can use the negotiation process to your advantage. This allows you to control the pace and duration of the process.

As a rule, buyers are looking to purchase the best affordable property for the least amount of money. Knowing what motivates them enables you to negotiate more effectively. For example, does your buyer need to move quickly. Armed with this information you are in a better position to bargain.

18.  What the buyer would like to chose

As soon as possible, try to learn the amount of mortgage the buyer is qualified to carry and how much his/her down payment is. If their offer is low, ask their Realtor about the buyer’s ability to pay what your home is worth.

19.  When the Buyer would like to close

Quite often, when buyers would “like” to close is when they need to close. Knowledgeable of their deadlines for completing negotiations again creates a negotiating advantage for you.

20.  Never sign a deal on your next home until you sell your current home

Beware of closing on your new home while you’re still making mortgage payments on the old one or you might end up becoming a seller who is eager (even desperate) for the first deal that comes along.

21.  Moving out before you sell can put you at a disadvantage

It has been proven that it’s more difficult to sell a home that is vacant because it becomes forlorn looking, forgotten, no longer an appealing sight. Buyers start getting the message that you have another home and are probably motivated to sell. This could cost you thousands of dollars.

22.  Deadlines create a serious disadvantage

Don’t try to sell by a certain date. This adds unnecessary pressure and is a serious disadvantage in negotiations.

23.  A low offer- Don’t take it personally

Invariably the initial offer is below what both you and the buyer knows he’ll pay for your property. Don’t be upset, evaluate the offer objectively. Ensure it spells out the offering price, sufficient deposit, amount of down payment, mortgage amount, a closing date and any special requests. This can simply provide a starting point from which you can negotiate.

24.  Turn that low offer around

You can counter a low offer or even an offer that’s just under your asking price. This lets the buyer know that the first offer isn’t seen as being a serious one. Now you’ll be negotiating only with buyers with serious offers.

25.  Maybe the buyer’s not qualified

If you feel an offer is inadequate, now is the time to make sure the buyer is qualified to carry the size of mortgage the deal requires. Inquire how they arrived at their figure, and suggest they compare your price to the prices of homes for sale in your neighbourhood.

26.  Ensure the contract is complete

To avoid problems. Ensure that all terms, costs and responsibilities are spelled out in the contract of sale. It should include such items as the date it was made, names of parties involved, address of property being sold, purchase price, where deposit monies will be held, date for loan approval, date and place of closing, type of deed, including any contingencies that remain to be settled and what personal property is included (or not) in the sale.

27.  Resist deviating from the contract

For example, if the buyer requests a move-in prior to closing, just say no, that you’ve been advised against it. Now is not the time to take any chances of the deal falling through.

Before you commit your hard earned dollars to monthly mortgage payments, consider these 6 issues.  Effective consideration of these important areas can make your payments work much harder for you.

1.      You can, and should, get preapproved for a mortgage before you go looking for a home.

Preapproval is easy, and can give you complete peace-of-mind when shopping for your home.  Your local lending institution can provide you with written preapproval for you at no cost and no obligation, and it can all be done quite easily over-the-phone.  More than just a verbal approval for your lending institution, a written preapproval is as good as money in the bank.  It entails a complete credit application, a certificate which guarantees you a mortgage to the specified level when you find the home you’re looking for.

2.       Know what monthly dollar amount you feel comfortable committing to.

When you discuss mortgage preapproval with your lending institution, find out what level you qualify for, but also pre-assess for  yourself what monthly dollar amount you feel comfortable committing to.  Your situation may give you a preapproval amount that is higher (or lower) than the amount of money you would want to pay out each month.  By working back and forth with your lending institution to determine what this monthly amount is, and what value of home this translates into at today’s rates, you won’t waste time looking at homes that are not in your price range.

3.      You should be thinking about your long term goals, and expected situation, to determine the type of mortgage that will best suit your needs.

There are a number of questions you should be asking yourself before you commit to a certain type of mortgage. How long do you think you will own this home? What direction are interest rates going in, and how quickly? Is your income expected to change (up or down) in the near term, impacting how much money you can afford to pay to your mortgage? The answers to these questions and other questions will help you determine the most appropriate mortgage you should be seeking.

4.      Make sure you understand what prepayment privileges and payment frequently options are available for you.

More frequent payments (for example weekly or biweekly) can literally shave years off your mortgage. Simply by structuring your payments so that they come more frequently will significantly lessen the amount of interest that you will be charged over the term.

For the same reason, authorized prepayment of a certain percentage of your mortgage, or an increase in the amount you pay monthly, will have a major impact on the number of years you will have to pay and could shorten your payment term considerably.

These two payment options can cut years off your mortgage, and save you thousands of dollars in interest. However, not every mortgage has these prepayment privileges built in, so make sure you ask the proper questions.

5.      Ask if your mortgage is both portable and/or assumable.

A portable mortgage, where available, is one that you can carry with you when you buy your next home and avoid paying any discharge penalties. This means that you will not have to go through the entire mortgage process again unless you are making a move up to a much more expensive home.

An assumable mortgage is one that the buyer for your home can take over when you move to your next home. This can be a very powerful tool at the negotiating table making it much easier for a buyer to buy your home, and again saves you any discharge penalties.

 6.      You should seriously consider dealing with a Mortgage Expert.

Consider dealing only with a professional who specializes in mortgages. Enlisting their services can make a significant difference in the cost and effectiveness of the mortgage you obtain. For example they can make the process faster thereby avoiding costly delays. Typically there is no cost or obligation to enquire.

Summer months bring warm weather and fun but they also can end up being the most expensive months out of the year for people. With extra spending going to summer activities, vacations, daycare, higher electricity bills and more, you’ll be spending more money than you usually do. So, this summer follow our money saving tips, so you save instead of spend!

Riding your bike more/only using one car

This really depends on your kind of lifestyle, obviously if this may not be possible for some people, but you're only a couple blocks from work, ride your bike instead. Or if there always seems to be a vehicle sitting in the driveway not being used as much, not to mention it’s better for the environment and you get to save on gas money. Another tip is to wait until there’s a bunch of running around you to need to do, instead of driving around for just one thing you need.

Plant a garden

What saves you more money than growing your own fruits and vegetables? You’ll have to spend a little at the start for seeds and such, but even if you grow basic things like lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, etc. you’ll be spending less on your grocery budget. 

Get rid of your gym membership 

There are a lot of free ways to workout during the summer, especially if you’re barely using it, consider cancelling it and save some money. Consider instead; biking, hiking, swimming, jogging, or any of the numerous at home workouts on youtube. For some people it is worth having a gym membership, but most people are not getting their money's worth.

Learn how to travel on a budget

Start by researching, find out all you need to know about your trip. Eat like a local, buy groceries instead of eating out, try to stay at an Airbnb for more options on accommodations.  Try to find free camping sites, and bring everything you’re going to need with you. 

Take a Staycation

Instead of going somewhere far, go around and visit places where you live where you normally wouldn't. Make a list of popular tourist locations in your area, places you’ve always wanted to visit or just look online for ideas.

Turn your Air Conditioner up a few degrees 

You may be able to save a little on your utility bill, especially when no one is going to be home, or when everyone is asleep, this could save you 10% or more on your next electric bill.

You should also block the sun out by closing your curtains during hot days, this’ll help keep out a lot of the heat. Also, cooking food will heat your house up as well, you could opt for

Invest in a programmable thermostat

There’s plenty of programmable thermostats for less than $50, and if you haven’t bought one yet, a programmable thermostat is something you may want to invest in. With a programmable thermostat, you can set exact temperatures for different times of the day. It automatically changes on a set schedule, meaning you won’t have to think about it. For example, your AC can automatically turn up when you leave for work so that you don’t waste electricity or money cooling a house that no one is in. You can also program it for while you are sleeping, for the weekend, when you are on vacation, and so on.

Stop paying for cable TV

The average monthly cable bill is around $120 or higher. One easy way to save money save is to cut your cable and head outside for less expensive entertainment. There are many streaming services that are great options to help you save money while still watching your favorite shows and movies. 

Here are some services and what they charge per month:

• Netflix. $7.99 to $13.99

• Hulu. $7.99 to $39.99

• Sling TV.  $20 to $40

• Amazon Prime Video.  $8.99 (requires an Amazon Prime subscription, which is $119 per year)

• HBO Now.  $14.99

Start meal planning.

Meal planning helps you eat healthier, save some money and have less food waste.The average person wastes 40% of their food! Have trouble eating at home, then try the $5 Meal Plan. It’s only $5 a month, and you get meal plans emailed directly to you along with the exact shopping list you need in order to create the meals. This allows you to save time because you won’t have to meal plan anymore, and it will save you money as well! 

Buy second hand items.

Think garage sale and flea markets if you are looking for summer money saving tips while also shopping for things you need. This can also be a fun way to time while allowing you to save money in the summer on the things you need or want to buy. Since things are so cheap, it may be worth it for you. 

Find free fun.

Most have lots of fun activities during the summer months. Check out Melfort’s town calendar and website to see what free attractions and events are offered. Even places like museums often have free days. Also, if you live near a national park, you may want to find out when their free entry days are.