Tag Archive for: buyers

home staging in comox valley

Expert Tips for Staging Your Home in Comox

You can improve your chances of getting offers and selling your home in the least amount of time for the best possible price by doing a few things. Whether it is a buyers’, a sellers’ or a balanced market there are some ways to make the best first impression.

Clean and Declutter:

Clean, clean, and clean some more! You might not be able to stage each room in your home.However, it is vital to ensure each space is cleaned and decluttered. Ensure that counters, carpets, flooring, and appliances are spotless! This not only signals pride of ownership, but it helps display the potential of the spaces to buyers.

Depersonalize:

Make sure to depersonalize while you’re working through and clean your spaces. Ideally, family photos, kids’ drawings, etc, should be removed or replaced. This will appeal more to potential buyers and help them focus on the home they are viewing.

Focus on Key Spaces:

The primary areas in your home are your living room, kitchen, dining room, and master bedroom. If you are not able to get to each room, these are the ones you should focus on to ensure your home is represented as best as possible.

Consider a Fresh Coat:

Did you know? According to a renovation investment report, 36% of buyers prefer a fresh coat of paint! This can go a long way to making your home look new and revitalized.

Boost Curb Appeal: While you’re staging your home, don’t forget about curb appeal! The exterior of your home may be even more important for first impressions. Just as it is key for the interior to be spic and span and minimalistic, the outside is the first thing a buyer sees. For first impressions, a good place to start would be renting a power washer to scrub down your driveway and exterior siding.

Whether you are in Courtenay, Comox, Regina or Halifax, you cannot discount the importance of making a good first impression when potential buyers come to view your property. It may well be the first and last thing they think about before deciding which home to make an offer on.

Get in touch with me today, for more tips on Staging Your Home in Comox!

Little Impact to Comox Real Estate Market From Lower Interest Rates

Little Impact to Comox Real Estate Market From Lower Interest Rates


So far, the Bank of Canada’s interest rate cuts are having little impact on housing markets in the Comox Valley. Activity in real estate markets has remained relatively weak with home sales below historical averages in July and August. New listings are edging upward, prices seem to have leveled and residential mortgages are lukewarm at best.


In the second quarter of the year mortgage balances grew by just 3% annually. This is the second slowest quarterly pace since 2000.


A lower debt-to-income ratio reduces the vulnerability of people who are trying to purchase and there may be more good news to come.


If the current trend to reduce interest rates continues, it should lead to a gradual increase in housing activity. Welcome news for sellers and buyers alike, it is expected rates are on the road to more decreases which should spark further interest later this year.

New Construction remains strong in Comox Real Estate Market

While the resale market has been sluggish, new construction is strong. The surge of residential starts is dominated by multi-unit construction. Apartment and condominium construction is healthy at just below recent all time highs experienced in 2021. Single family new builds have been weaker, but are still ongoing.


A shortage of construction workers, zoning restrictions and supply bottlenecks, along with slow municipality response, is not helping. This has led to delayed completions and brought the number of dwellings under construction to record highs.


Recent provincial government legislation is designed to alleviate some of these situations, but it remains to be seen whether it will. Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, and other locales have reset some of their bylaws to allow increased capacity. It is much too soon to see whether this will improve timelines for permits and other approvals. Economic growth has slowed to about 1% this year and isn’t expected to do much better next year. The costs of running a household don’t seem to be coming down. Easing of interest rates and other measures introduced by provincial and federal governments should allow housing markets to recover this year and next.

Check with me to find out what the real estate trends are in the Comox Valley. I am always available to provide you with more and better information so you can make informed decisions and realize your housing dreams.