July 2016 - Natalie Urquhart REALTOR®

17 High Timber Drive

Welcome to 17 High Timber Drive

Spend your summers poolside! Relax by your own private pool with family and friends while you enjoy the sunshine. This 3 BR + 21/2 bath home is tucked away form the hustle and bustle of city life on over 1.6 acres, in Westwood Hills subdivision.

With it’s functional layout, and design features such as custom windows, hardwood flooring, and upgraded fixtures, this home meets the wants and needs of today’s discerning home buyer. The open floor plan is great for family gatherings.

Spacious kitchen is a chef’s dream with plenty of cupboards and working counter space. Entertain guests at the oversized island while you prepare dinner, or have them kick back in front of the cozy propane fireplace in adjacent family room.

Dining room is located next to kitchen for ease of service and is filled with natural light.

Formal living room, with french doors for added privacy, is perfect for unwinding at the end of a busy day.

Main floor powder room, for your convenience, finishes this level. Upstairs is carpet free! MBED with, walk-through closet, leads to contemporary 3 pc bathroom with custom glass shower.

Two more large BR and spa like bathroom with corner water jet tub complete the upstairs. Lower level has a rec room with access to the attached garage, a separate den/office as well as utility room with laundry.

Property is landscaped with low maintenance shrubs in the front yard while the backyard has large swimming pool with wrap around deck for outdoor living. Roof and oil tank are only 3 years old!

Want to book a private viewing of this property? Click Here.

2 Story For Sale in Westwood Hills, Halifax

Spend Your Summers Poolside!

• 2,094 sq. ft., 3 bath, 3 bdrm 2 story – $374,900.
MLS® #201616476

Westwood Hills, Halifax – Spend your summers poolside! Relax by your own private pool with family and friends while you enjoy the sunshine. This 3 BR + 21/2 bath home is tucked away form the hustle and bustle of city life on over 1.6 acres, in Westwood Hills subdivision. With it’s functional layout, and design features such as custom windows, hardwood flooring, and upgraded fixtures, this home meets the wants and needs of today’s discerning home buyer. The open floor plan is great for family gatherings. Spacious kitchen is a chef’s dream with plenty of cupboards and working counter space. Entertain guests at the oversized island while you prepare dinner, or have them kick back in front of the cozy propane fireplace in adjacent family room. Dining room is located next to kitchen for ease of service and is filled with natural light. Formal living room, with french doors for added privacy, is perfect for unwinding at the end of a busy day. Main floor powder room, for your convenience, finishes this level. Upstairs is carpet free! MBED with, walk-through closet, leads to contemporary 3 pc bathroom with custom glass shower. Two more large BR and spa like bathroom with corner water jet tub complete the upstairs. Lower level has a rec room with access to the attached garage, a separate den/office as well as utility room with laundry. Property is landscaped with low maintenance shrubs in the front yard while the backyard has large swimming pool with wrap around deck for outdoor living. Roof and oil tank are only 3 years old!

Property information

52 Redwood Ave, Halifax NS

52 Redwood Ave is perfect for a growing family who wants great schools, parks, and proximity to the downtown core.

This well maintained 4 + 1 bedroom family home has been cherished by the original owners for the last 40 years!

Main floor features large living room with functioning wood burning fireplace, separate dining area, leading to lovely back deck with morning sun and fully matured landscaping.

The kitchen is warn and inviting with ample storage and classic design. Main level includes master bedroom with powder room and his and her clothes. Three other bedrooms and a 4 piece bathroom complete this level. Lower level offers a 5th bedroom, large rec room, (with room for an additional bathroom, already roughed-in), plus an office/den.

Large furnace room could double as a workroom and houses a brand new furnace, installed in 2015! The laundry room, with functioning bath tub has been used to bath dogs, and would be perfect for dog grooming business. More storage and a cold room complete this level.

Home has enjoyed many upgrades including, new windows and doors, engineered hardwood flooring, decking, as well as a large, heated, aggregate driveway. Other upgrades include roof shingles and oil tank within the past 5 years.

The fully fenced back yard, is perfect for a family with kids and dogs. This homes offers lots of space for a growing family.

52 Redwood Ave is located in the popular Fleming Heights Subdivision. Off Purcell’s Cove Road, in the beautiful city of Halifax, 52 Redwood Ave is approximately 5 kms to the Armdale Rotary and 15 kms to downtown, making it an easy commute. This is a well established subdivision with a great reputation. The properties are full of character, mature landscaping, and on good sized lots. There are great schools in the area, the Royal Canadian Yacht Squadron, and Ashbun Golf Course are all close by. Public parks including the Dingle Park, Sir Stanford Flemming Park and the Frog Pond are all in close proximity to the residents of this neighbourhood.

For more information on this Listing or to book a viewing, follow this link.

Curb Appeal Counts

When it comes to selling your home, curb appeal counts. The outside of your home is your first opportunity to make a great first impression with potential buyers. It’s important to spend some time on curb appeal to draw in all the potential buyers you can. An unkempt yard or peeling paint will scare some buyers away entirely.

Consider this…

If you were shopping for a new blender and there were two blenders side by side, with virtually identical features and price, but one of the boxes had been opened and had a big hole in the front of it, while the other box was unopened and undamaged, what blender do you think you would buy? My bet is on the blender with the undamaged packaging. Sure the blender inside the damaged box may be perfectly fine, but this is an example of a bad first impression.

You already believe that someone may have returned it, because it was defective, or the item was damaged during shipping. If you do consider buying it, you most likely will ask the vendor for a discount. See where I’m going with this?

When selling your home you need to prepare your homes curb appeal to establish a great first impression. Once you put your home on the market it becomes a product available for purchase just like the blender. Also, the outside of your home is most often the first picture seen in a real estate search by potential buyers. This is the picture that gets them to click through to see other pictures and eventually book a showing.

Here are my top “TO DO’S” when it comes to maximizing curb appeal prior to listing your home:

Freshen up the landscaping to reinforce the impression that your home is well cared for. This includes mowing the lawn, weeding, re-edging and mulching flower beds. If you have planters, make sure they are manicured as well. Planting a few annuals to add colour and vibrancy can make a world of difference, making the yard look inviting. If selling in the fall or spring, rake leaves to keep the yard tidy looking and in the winter make sure drive and walkways are clear of snow for easy passage.

Declutter the outside of your home as you would the inside. This includes anything from taking down a trampoline to make the yard look larger, putting away kids toys, or throwing out old tires that may be laying around. Christmas in July? Are you Christmas lights still up? If so take them down. Take a look at your lawn/deck furniture and decide if it looks overcrowded. You want things to appear spacious. I’m a believer in the adage, “Less is More”.

Touching up paint is a great way to freshen up the exterior of a home. It may not be practical to repaint the entire exterior, so focus on decks, front steps, trim and doors. While on this topic, choosing neutral paint colours will be appealing to more homebuyers. Select colours in keeping with current trends. These might not necessarily be to your taste, but remember you are trying to appeal to the masses and get your home SOLD.

Does your roof need replacing? Statistics show that replacing a worn roof or old front door offers some of the best return on investments when it comes to outdoor renovations. Consider small upgrades such as replacing worn exterior light fixtures, or having your driveway resealed. These changes will all add to improving curb appeal.

I always try to remind my sellers that once they decide to sell their home, they need to start looking at it differently. It’s now a HOUSE for sale on the market. Today’s buyers are savvy and they are making a big investment. Your home is in competition and you want TOP DOLLAR! Invest a little time and money now and reap the rewards at the time of sale.

It’s In the Details

When it comes to home decor, it’s in the details. The living room is often the area in a home where family gathers and guests are entertained. Therefore, it needs to be as warm and inviting as possible. Part of making the room feel welcoming is through proper accessorizing.

This ocean front condo holds breathtaking views of the Halifax Waterfront but unfortunately, the living room lacked a certain luxury look and feel. Here are some tips to help create a well put together living room.

Plan First – Shop Later: Don’t make the mistake of going to your local home decor shop and spending a ton of money on a pile of accessories before you make a plan. I find going on houzz.com is a great way to search thousands of photos to find your inspiration. Remember, imitation is the highest form of flattery! Before you head out the door to shop, take some photos of your room at various angles with your smart phone and refer to them often.

Accent Your Floor: You can place carpets or rugs on the floor to give the room a softer, lighter feel. Use a rug that is large enough to support the size of the room. In a large open concept area, rugs will help to define the space and anchor the room. The rug in the above photo is too small for the space and layout of the condo. Choosing a solid, neutral colour rug, will give you more options when it comes to accessorizing with accent pillows and art work.

Lamps and Other Lighting: In addition to giving off good light, the right lamps will enhance you living room decor and add interest to the space. Depending on your room design, you may even want to consider a chandelier or pendent accent lighting.

Tables & Storage: Use tables and other storage areas to accessorize your living room. You can place displays in cabinets, on open shelving, or on consoles and coffee tables. Be strategic and try not to be too nicknack-y.

Wall Art: I often choose my art work first then build my accessory plan around it. However, this is not a hard and fast rule. The right piece of wall art can transform a space, and should be a complement to your decorating scheme.

A Splash of Colour: Let your personality shine through when it comes to colour. My own taste is to choose a neutral wall colour and furnishings so that I can accent with any colour that suits me. From there, I’ll find a striking throw pillow, wall art, or accent rug, and build my accessory melange around that. I like to choose a hue of colour from the same family then add one (or two) contrasting, yet complementary colours to add depth to the space.

Why Choose One Percent Realty East Inc.

At One Percent Realty East Inc we sell for LESS! We know when hiring a REALTOR®, you want someone to help you sell your property for the highest price attainable, within a reasonable time frame, and to make things as efficient and stress-free as possible. We also know you’d like to keep more of your hard earned equity! My goal is to help you achieve all these objectives. Working for you, with your goals and needs in the forefront, I will help sell your home and ensure a fluid process.

What you can expect from me and One Percent Realty East Inc:

Full MLS® exposure
1% +$900 total commission for homes over $600,000
$6,900 total commission for homes under $600,000
no upfront or hidden fees
high quality digital photography
progressive marketing strategy
listing and negotiation experience
dealing with all showings & other sales representatives
sales history of saving sellers thousands of dollars on commission
registered service provider with Brookfield Relocation
a SOLD sign on your property

Yes…we are a full service brokerage. We just offer full service at a discounted commission!

Yes…sales representatives from other brokerages will show and sell your home! In fact, statistics show a whopping 70% of our listings are sold by outside brokerages!

Yes…you will save thousands of dollars in commission! That means more of your hard earned equity will stay in your pocket!

Yes…buyers will see your home! All One Percent Realty listings are displayed EVERYWHERE other listings are. Your listing will have the full exposure of MLS®, Realtor.ca, and a plethora of 3^rdparty real estate sites. Buyers are going to see your home.

Don’t let someone else tell you about our system. Let me tell you exactly what I can do to sell your home. I hope you will be delighted with my services and I am excited to start this home selling journey with you.

Small Condo-Kitchen Reno Bedford NS Part 1

When my mother relocated to Halifax for her job two years ago, she decided to buy a small condo in the heart of Bedford, NS. The 1000 SQF condo offered spectacular views of the beautiful Bedford Basin, but the space was in need of a serious make over. Here’s how we went from drab to fab with the help of some top notch professionals.

The kitchen was small, dark, and uninviting. The condo was 27 years old and so was the kitchen! The dishwasher was original to the unit and didn’t even open all the way, do to the depth of the fridge.

With the help of I Love Renovations, Cabinet Works Ltd, and Habitat for Humanity, we transformed this tired looking space into a bright and cozy little kitchen.

Did you know that Habitat for Humanity will come to your house, tear out your old kitchen and cart it away at no cost to you? WELL THEY DO! They will then recycle the products in their RESTORE . This will save you money as the contractor you hire won’t have to do it. Chris MacMullin, co-owner and contractor with I Love Renovations told me about this service. I was so impressed by Chris and his crew, I have referred and used them for other projects since then.

When it came to the actual kitchen design, Norm and Nina from Cabinet Works Ltd. were great to work with. Norm came out to the site to take measurements and Nina did the kitchen design. Once the design was approved the fun began! We got to make our selections for cabinetry, countertop, and hardware, plus any upgraded features such as lighting and storage. From there, Mom and I headed to Ceratec in Dartmouth and selected our tile and backsplash with the expert advise of Ingrid. Now there’s a lady who knows her stuff!

The space went to dark and dingy to bright and breathtaking! We are so happy with all the expert advise and professional workmanship we received from our selected renovation team. As a REALTOR®, I know how important referrals are; that’s why I am happy to endorse all four companies.

List Price vs Market Value

You’re selling you home and want to determine the highest price you can obtain for it. There are three other homes like yours for sale in the neighbourhood. After looking at the photos, dropping in to open houses, and comparing your home to the others, you determine your home is worth at least as much if not more. Below are three reasons to NOT base your home’s market value on LIST prices!

1.) Motivation of the Seller— Does the seller REALLY need to sell or are they just testing the market? Sellers who need to sell their home because they are relocating, moving for work, or have a definitive timeline are considered motivated to sell. Often times they will take the expert advise of a realtor® to determine the fair market value of their home so it will sell in a timely manner. Alternatively, they may have to sell quickly and offer the home at a competitive price. Low motivated sellers may want to test the market to see what they could get for the house; they may not even intend to sell. They are in love with their house and won’t sell it unless they can get an unrealistic inflated price for it. Speculation on a hoped-for prices is nothing more than gambling.

2.) REALTORS® Compete for Listings—Some agents are tempted to “stretch the truth” when they tell home owners the market value of their home. There could be as many as 1500 realtors® fiercely competing for listings in a demographic. The agents with the most listings, often make the most money. Some agents may “buy” your listing at an inflated price, only to ask for a price reduction shortly after you’ve signed to list with their company. Listing your home for an inflated price, hurts your market position, as buyers will overlook your listing and buy homes more accurately priced according to market value.

3.) High Real Estate Commissions—Real estate commissions vary by brokerage but could be as much as 5-6% of the sale price. Generally, sellers are responsible for paying real estate commissions but in actual fact, commission comes out of the proceeds of the sale, and is built in to the price. Sellers don’t like giving away the equity in there homes by paying high selling commissions and often times inflate their asking price above market to recover the fees.

There is only one way to determine the market value of your home, and that is through looking at comparable SALES data. What comparable homes have already SOLD for in the not too distant past, in your neighbourhood. The best comparable homes are going to be like yours in style, age, finishes, and neighbourhood, and should have sold within the last 6-12 months. Some homes are in pristine condition and will sell for top dollar, while others will need some work. In general, eliminate any outliers, homes vastly superior or inferior to yours, and focus on what the average home sold for. A good REALTOR® will generate a detailed comparative market analysis for you. If done properly, the correct list price should just emerge out of the data.

Contact me for a FREE CMA of your home!