Curb Appeal and Yard

• Buyers first impressions are critical. They may not want see inside of house if curb appeal is a turn-off. Mow that lawn, weed, a few new carefully chosen bushes. Garden beds can pop with some new natural or brown mulch. (about $45) Paint that front door. Don’t underestimate the power of Curb Appeal.
• Study the house from the street. What should stay and what should go. If stucco needs repair, consider painting afterward. New warm colors can make the home look so inviting. Steps and railings should be top notch.
• Paint is the cheapest option with most return on dollars spent. C-Think twice before painting old 50’s “Rockdash” stucco. Pull the colors out of it for trim. Difficult to repair, but here’s a trick. With tarp in place, straw...

Part 1 of 5 Common Mistakes

Three most Common Mistakes and What to look for

Here are the three most common mistakes made by real estate investors:

• Under-estimating renovation costs
• Over-improving properties
• Under-improving properties

What do I look for in a flip or buy and hold? 

• Floor plans. Is there a good flow to this home? Open plans are more popular today. Walls that make little sense, even most bearing walls, can be removed. On the flip side, can an extra bedroom be created? Is there an issue that you can solve to create more value? A house with functional issues will be difficult to sell, even with great finishings.
• Look for houses with mortgage helper or suite potential.
• Know your Municipality Zoning Bylaws. E.g. City of Victoria and Saanich approvals for Secondary Suite...