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Many homeowners think there’s not much they can do about telephone, heating, water and other utility expenses. Sure, you may grumble about a high heating bill one month, but what can you do about it? Turns out, you can do plenty. There are several ways to reduce monthly utility costs that can save you tens or even hundreds of dollars. For
example:


• Shop around for a better phone plan. Then contact your phone company. They might match the rates.


• Turn down the thermostat on your water heater. You likely don’t need tap water to be that hot.


• Clean the screen on your outside air conditioning unit regularly. (Gently with the water hose.) Dirt and leaves can build up on it, reducing the unit’s efficiency.


• Leverage the sun. Open curtains in the winter to gain heat. Block direct sunlight in summer to keep the cool air inside.

 

• Scrutinize your bill. There may be extras you’re paying for that you don’t need.


• Play with the thermostat. Experiment with setting the temperature a couple of degrees lower. You might not notice any difference.


It’s worth paying attention to your utility costs. Just a few smart moves can save you some serious money.

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One of the most important decisions you make when selling your home is setting the listing price. That can be tricky. After all, if you price your property too low, you leave money on the table — perhaps thousands of dollars. On the other hand, if you price your home too high, many buyers won’t even bother to see it, believing it is too expensive.


Even with that reality, there are some sellers who contemplate setting a high listing price in the hopes of a windfall. They want some unsuspecting buyer to fall in love with the home and buy it — even though it’s overpriced.


That rarely, if ever, happens.


Instead, the listing often languishes on the market because its listing price is conspicuously much higher than its market value. Think about it. If two similar homes, side-by-side, are for sale, and one is priced $40,000 higher than the other, wouldn’t you wonder what was going on? That’s exactly what the market thinks. “Why is that home priced so high?”


Of course, many buyers, who might otherwise be interested in the property, won’t even consider seeing it, simply because it’s outside their price range. It gets worse. When an overpriced home sits on the market with no offers for several weeks, the price will often need to be adjusted down. That helps the situation a little. However, you’ve lost the excitement created by a “new listing.” Yours is now an old listing struggling to get attention.


There’s a better way…


Setting your list price at or near the market value is much more likely to generate interest from qualified buyers and maximize how much you make on your home. That market value may even be higher than you think!


Interested in finding out how much? Call today.

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December 1, 2015, Victoria BC – Victoria Real Estate Board President Guy Crozier confirms that November was another busy month for the popular Victoria real estate market. “Holding true to the theme we’ve seen throughout the year, the Victoria market had another great month of sales, with numbers exceeding those from the same time last year.”


A total of 573 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this November, an increase of 23.2% compared to the 465 properties sold in the same month last year. There were 2,952 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service® at the end of November, 18.7% fewer than the 3,631 active listings at the end of November 2014.


Crozier notes that prospective sellers may want to take advantage of the current market conditions. “One thing I can say about the market right now is that due to lower inventory levels, this is the best time in the past ten years to list a house. Demand from buyers in most areas is up, but inventory continues to decrease on a year over year basis. The good news for buyers is that pricing remains competitive and there are new listings coming onto the market every day.”


What does Crozier recommend buyers and sellers keep in mind as the year comes to a close? “There are real estate microclimates in Victoria. Different areas have different levels of demand and ability to meet that demand. Though properties are selling everywhere, what to expect in terms of value and time to sell may differ depending on your area and the type of property. Now more than ever it’s important to work with a REALTOR® to understand the market and track the activity.”


The Multiple Listing Service® Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core last year in November was $558,600. The benchmark value for the same home in November 2015 has increased by 9% to $608,600.


More information on the November 2015 report and the Multiple Listing Service® Home Price Index is available from the Victoria Real Estate Board, at vreb.org.

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MLS® property information is provided under copyright© by the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board and Victoria Real Estate Board. The information is from sources deemed reliable, but should not be relied upon without independent verification.