With spring in the air, the exterior of a home becomes even more important when putting your house on the market because buyers

now will spend more time outside looking at your property and envisioning what their summer barbeques and family playtime will look like.

The addition of any amount of usable real estate to a property increases value.

Customized decks and personalized outdoor living areas are a hot trend in home improvement upgrades, and a great-looking deck may entice more people to come see your home.

Building or updating an existing deck isn’t simply a great investment; it also provides opportunities to personalize your backyard and customize the look to your taste.

And with many families staying home this summer to save money, why not think about creating the perfect location for entertaining?

Deck experts agree that multi-level decks are the most popular now.

These are a series of decks connected by stairways or walkways, which are aesthetically pleasing and can be used for different purposes.

One level can be used to catch the sun, one level can be positioned for shade and another can be set close to the house for entertaining and barbequing.

Wood decks have always been the most popular, but caring for them is tough.

They will rot over time, are subject to insect infestation and require a great deal of maintenance to keep the wood from fading.

Accordingly, people are embracing composite materials for their decks, which cost significantly more but will last longer with less maintenance.

For those homes that already have a deck, it’s important to make sure that it’s still in good shape and adds to the attractiveness of a property.

You can change your deck’s appearance with interesting balusters to match other decorative accents on your house or in your yard and really add unique touches to make the deck a personal haven.

Meanwhile, railings offer a good opportunity to pull in color and ornamental detail that complements the house.

By designing your deck with accents, lights and unique accessories, you can transform your backyard into an outdoor retreat one will never want to leave.

Whether you’re catching up with friends over a grilled dinner in the evening or are curled up with a book in a lounge chair on a sunny afternoon, a deck is the perfect place to be.

Jeff van de Bennet can be reached at (403) 327-5555. Prudential Top 5 Real Estate is an independently owned and operated broker member of BRER Affiliates, Inc. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential. Equal Housing Opportunity.

4025 GLACIER AVE S # 2 - $185,000.00 – MLS

3 Beds – 2 Baths

Don’t hesitate on the value It’s worth every penny & I can prove it!

Call me today for a private showing

Jeff van de Bennet - REALTOR®

Associate Broker

Prudential Top 5 Real Estate

1274 - 3rd Ave. South

Lethbridge, AB.

T1J - 0J9

www.top5.ca  

www.homesold.ca

www.lethbridgerealestate-info.com

403-327-5555 - Office & Pager

403-327-5575 - Fax

403-795-8675 -  Cell & Voice Mail

e-mail - jeff@top5.ca 

* Feel free to call or e-mail me directly with your referrals.

    I’d enjoy touching base with you.

In the sales contract, the sellers of your new home agreed to leave the custom blinds, refrigerator,

built-in entertainment system and those fine cabinets and workbench in the garage.

But when you show up on moving day, all of those amenities are long gone.

Moreover, the lock on the back door is broken; there is a huge gouge in the drywall near the front bathroom.

Although these circumstances are extreme, they could happen, which is why it is important to have a final inspection of the home you are purchasing before the closing.

A pre-closing inspection gives you, one last opportunity to verify that you are getting all that was promised in the sales contract.

Although buyers still have legal recourse if they discover—even after closing—that the condition of the home is not as it should be.

Of course, the best time to identify problems is before closing when the seller will be motivated to correct any deficiencies to close the transaction.

Typically, a buyer takes possession of a property one to three months after signing the sales agreement.

And a lot can happen before the actual move-in.

Appliances and fixtures can break, and walls, carpets and doors can be damaged during the seller’s final weeks in the house,

particularly during move-out.

Sometimes the seller will simply have forgotten that he or she has agreed to leave the refrigerator or window coverings with the house.

Whatever the reason, problems identified before the closing have the best chance of being remedied.

If possible, schedule the inspection right before the closing, such as the day before. Ask your real estate professional to attend the inspection with you. Here’s what to do:

Using a copy of the sales contract as a checklist, first make sure that all items that should be in place (appliances, built-in furniture, window coverings, fixtures, etc.) are there.

Test each appliance to make sure they work properly. Bring along an electrical clock or radio to test each electrical outlet.

Test all electrical switches and the garage door opener. Run the garbage disposal and turn on every water faucet, checking under the sinks for leaks.

Flush the toilets. Inspect the floors, carpets, walls and doors for recent damage.

If you discover that something is damaged or missing, make a note of it and inform your real estate professional immediately.

In most cases, the seller is usually able to take care of small problems immediately, either by making a needed repair or offering compensation to handle it.

And, if there are major problems, the seller can even sign a statement acknowledging the deficiency and agree to correct it.

Although pre-closing inspections take time and may be inconvenient, they are important and well worth the buyer’s time.

Jeff van de Bennet can be reached at (403) 327-5555. Prudential Top 5 Real Estate is an independently owned and operated broker member of BRER Affiliates, Inc. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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Spring is here and for those selling their home or getting ready to put their house on the market, there’s nothing quite as beneficial as doing a great “spring cleaning” job to not only make your home look great, but to get rid of some of that clutter that could distract someone coming to see your home. 

            Here are five spring cleaning tips that will help you sell your home.

            1: Curb appeal becomes as important as ever when the weather turns nicer and buyers are more likely to spend time outside looking at the exterior of the house and the property. Make sure to have a well-maintained lawn with all the leaves gone, the grass mowed and the hedges trimmed.

Spruce things up by buying some inexpensive, yet colorful flowers and spread fresh mulch in flowerbeds. Fill in any bare spots on your lawn with sod or seed. Make sure to also clean your gutters, wash your welcome mat and put away any rakes or winter shovels that clutter the yard.

            2: The phrase “I don’t do windows” should never apply when selling a home. While a REALTOR^® may tell you that homes show better with the blinds or curtains up, this will not be true if the windows are dirty. A clean window brings more light into a room and allows buyers the chance to see what the view will be when they look out of their potential new home. It’s important to clean both the inside and outside of all windows until they are streak free and spotless. This includes all sliding glass doors, garage windows and outside doors.

            3: Pay close attention to the “little” things that might draw the eye of a prospective homebuyer. Go around your home with a pad and pencil and inspect each room for things such as small holes in the wall where a painting used to hang, outlets that are missing a cover or doorknobs that are loose and squeaky. Also, be sure to check all of the caulking around sinks, faucets and tubs, as well as any grout in tile counters or bathtubs. As you take the time and the small amount of money to fix these items you reduce the reasons for someone not liking your home.

            4: Power wash your driveway, walkway, siding and deck. You don’t need to invest in the money of buying a new power washer as they are easy to rent from stores such as Ward’s. Power washing removes layers and years of dirt and grime from stone and cement, including mildew stains from the winter. Power washing the porch, a fence or deck clears away all the dirt and debris and makes the home instantly seem cleaner. If the outside of your home looks dingy, you may be setting the impression that you didn’t keep up the home itself well, so make sure to have everything looking top notch.

            5: One of the first pieces of advice you will get from your real estate agent is to reduce clutter in your home. Spring cleaning is the perfect excuse to get rid of things you don’t really need. Go through all your closets and bag up all the clothes that don’t fit, are out of style or you simply don’t wear anymore and donate them to a charity. Take your old books, the kids’ toys they no longer play with and those kitchen knickknacks and hold a garage sale. A de-cluttered home is always more attractive to the homebuyer.

Jeff van de Bennet can be reached at (403 ) (327-5555). Prudential Top 5 Real Estate is an independently owned and operated broker member of BRER Affiliates, Inc. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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Maybe that’s why when selling a house; the laundry room is one of the most forgotten areas to get in shape. The machines are often dusty, with detergent dripping down the sides and lint and old socks on the floor. Yet it’s an area that doesn’t’t take too much time to clean and can really make a difference when showing your house to prospective buyers.

The easiest way to make a statement with a laundry room is by adding more energy-efficient washing machines and dryers.Recent statistics by the Canadian Department of Energy show that installing machines with the ENERGY STAR label will decrease water costs by up to 50 percent. There are also machines that automatically adjust the water temperature and the amount of water used for each load to prevent excess and waste.

Many new models are available with designer colors, pedestals and sleek designs, which can make a bold statement. When purchasing a new washer, you’re also going to need to choose between front- or top-loading machines. While a top-loading machine requires enough water to cover all the clothes in its drum, a front-loading washer needs only a third of that amount because its drum is set horizontally in the machine. It requires less water and allows for larger loads,
and it looks great.

On the downside, a front-loading washer is more expensive and can develop mold because it doesn’t empty dirty water as efficiently as a top-loading machine.

When it comes to dryers, new sensor technology is the rage. Dryers with moisture sensors recognize when laundry is dry more quickly than traditional machines and shut down sooner.
This saves energy, cash and wear and tear on your clothing.

The use of steam washers and dryers for greater energy and water efficiency is also a growing trend.Steam machines offer enhanced clothing-care options such as short, steam-only cycles that help to reduce wrinkles and remove odors from clothing without using water and detergent.

Laundry rooms used to be relegated to the basement, but today, people are finding space for washers and dryers in more convenient areas of the house like the kitchen or upstairs, near bedrooms. Housing experts agree that installing a laundry nook will raise the value of a home,
and make it more convenient as hauling baskets of clothing up and down flights of stairs
become a thing of the past.

Jeff van de Bennet can be reached at (403 ) (327-5555). Prudential Top 5 Real Estate is an independently owned and operated broker member of BRER Affiliates, Inc. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential. Equal Housing Opportunity.