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Langley Real Estate – Selling your Townhouse?

Let’s face it; most couples who buy townhouses usually go on to outgrow them at some point and find themselves looking to upgrade to a bigger home. The key to getting the most from the sale of your townhouse so that you can afford to up-size is making sure that you make it more appealing to your target market, which is people who were where you were when you first bought it: singles or couples without kids.

Speaking with an experienced Langley real estate agent about your target market is a good place to start so that you have a better understanding of who you should be trying to impress, so to speak, when getting your townhome ready for sale. Along with insight from a real estate agent who knows the area, the trends and what people are looking, you can also use the following information to make your home more appealing to singles and couples looking for a townhouse for sale in Langley.

Executive Home vs. A Family Home

Young home buyers are looking for a home that works for their lifestyle, which for most doesn’t include kids. They want stylish and easy spaces that they can see themselves in relaxing, entertaining and often even working. This means removing toys and extra clutter that tends to accumulate when you have children, such as playpens, playhouses, etc.

Potential buyers should be able to walk into a space and envision their life happening there. If your only other bedroom has been decked out for a child, then removing wall decals and toning down paint is a good idea. The perfect second bedroom for appealing to your typical Langley townhouse buyer is one that works as a spare bedroom and office space. This doesn’t mean that you need to send your child to grandmas or move them into the basement. Paint out the room in a stylish and somewhat neutral color and stage it with a simple and uncluttered desk and a bed or foldout couch if space doesn’t allow for a full-size bed. This means that your child can still sleep in the room while the home is on the market—just be mindful to pick up toys and check for any hidden messes before showings.

Go through your home and pack up any knick-knacks, family photos and other memorabilia that isn’t in keeping with what your target market is looking for.  They need to be able to envision themselves in the home and that’ll be a lot easier to do if they aren’t bombarded with photos of your family trip to Disney or your child’s drawings and report cards on the fridge.

Talk to an experienced Langley real estate agent for other suggestions on how to sell your townhouse for more so that you can afford to upgrade to a family home.

Tenant insurance is affordable peace of mind

So, you’ve found your ideal apartment: a 2-bedroom basement paradise or a mid-town penthouse or a fantastic south-facing 1-bedroom condo. Now it’s time to move in right away, right? Sure, start packing, but make sure you also budget for tenant insurance.
Perhaps you think you don’t need it because you’re only renting and you don’t own any fancy stuff. But, what if something happened — would you have enough set aside to replace all your belongings and to find temporary housing?

Tenant insurance protects your property and also covers you in the event that you accidentally cause damage to the property of others. For example, if your bathtub overflowed and flooded the apartment below destroying your neighbour’s property, tenant insurance would protect you. Luckily, it’s a simple and affordable coverage. Also, if you’re a student, your parents’ policy might automatically extend coverage to you at school.

What’s typically covered by tenant insurance?
This type of insurance protects you from damage, like fire, theft, certain water damage and vandalism. If your apartment is seriously damaged as a result of an insured loss, tenant insurance would also typically cover your additional living expenses while it’s being repaired. Tenant insurance also provides liability coverage if someone gets hurt because of your negligence, like slipping and falling on a wet floor in your apartment for example.

How much coverage do you need?
The total cost of tenant’s insurance will depend largely on the value of your contents. Most renters tend to underestimate what it would cost to replace their belongings. It’s smart to take an inventory, including photos, which only takes a few minutes and will make things a lot easier if you experience a loss. Start by walking from room to room and itemize all the contents, including your closets and cupboards. You might think they’re not worth that much until you have to replace them. Keep in mind however that coverage for some insured items may be subject to exclusions or maximum limits. Read your policy carefully to determine your exact coverage.

Typical items to include on your inventory are: computer, printer, tablet, smart phone, flat screen TV, video game system and games, music player and other electronics, clothes, shoes, boots, pots, pans, other personal and household items.

For more information about choosing the right tenant insurance, give us a call (604-588-4466) or email (info@brokersmart.ca).