Vancouver Real Estate Services
 Olga Lassu
Bachelor of Economics - REALTOR®
 
 
Olga Lassu
Cell:(604) 780-1102
Fax:(604) 408-6648
Royal LePage City Centre
#204 - 345 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 6B3 Canada

Selling

Get the Straight Facts About What Can Make or Break the Sale of Your Home.

Choose an Experienced, Professional Realtor!

Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Your home is likely your largest asset - this may be the biggest financial move you've ever made, one that requires significant thought and strategy.
 
Countless questions are unearthed during the process. How much is it really worth? How long will it take to sell in the current Vancouver real estate market? How do you handle buyers making undesirable offers?
 

As a top Vancouver Realtor with years of experience and a proven track record, it is my job to guide you through this complicated process, from beginning to end. I want you to get the maximum value for your home, within your own time frame.

Here are some tips to help you begin:

1.  Establish the Reasons You Want to Sell Your Home.

Before you begin the selling process, closely evaluate why you're moving. Do you have too little space or too much?  Has your company transferred you to a new city and you're relocating from Vancouver? Or are you simply looking for a change?
 
A complete analysis of your current position will set a good foundation for your home-selling strategy, as well as for your next home hunt. If, for example, you have already purchased a new home and your goal is to make a quick sale on your current home, this reason will chart the path you take in the home-selling process. If, on the other hand, you aim to net the highest price possible for your home, you need to prepare yourself for a potentially slower process.
 

Be clear about these reasons, as they will directly influence the amount of time and effort you put into preparing your home for sale, and the amount you set for your asking price.

2.  Buy or sell first? Be clear.

This can be a tricky question. After all, if you find a purchaser for your existing home before you've found a new home, you may find yourself living out of a suitcase if convenient closing dates cannot be negotiated. On the other hand, if you find your dream home before you've sold your old one, you may be faced with having to finance both homes and shoulder the extra debt until you sell.
 
So how do you manage? It can be quite simple. Do your homework and have a good idea about the Vancouver neighbourhood and type of home you're looking for. Do an honest evaluation of your family's needs and budget.
 
Speak to me start your new home search in Vancouver as soon as your existing home hits the market.
 
If you've found a home before you've sold your existing one, use "sale of your existing home" as a condition on your offer. If you don't sell your house within a fixed period of time, you can choose not to go through with the offer. This, however, is a difficult condition for many vendors to agree upon and you may find that you have to forgo your price negotiating power.
 
Purchasing a home before you sell could be a risky strategy if you're counting on the proceeds from the sale.
 
If you've found a purchaser before you've found your next home, use "purchase of a new home" as a condition when you sign back the agreement.
 

Again, it will only be for a fixed time. Even if you have not found the ideal next house by the time the deal closes, you may still wish to proceed with the offer. As a buyer with a "sold house" you will be in a better position to negotiate price.

3.  Pricing:

The competitive nature of the current Vancouver real estate market means that over-pricing by a few thousand dollars could make the difference between your home selling quickly or not selling at all.
 
Overpricing your home might mean minimized offers, fewer showings, fewer agent responses, limited financing, limited buyers qualified for your type of home, or a smaller net price. Avoid these outcomes by setting the price of your home at its market value when you first list on the Vancouver market.
 
Contact me I'll help you price your home competitively to attract qualified buyers. The first step I'll take is to generate a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report, which will show you a range of prices being paid for homes in your area.
 

Visit my short online Home Evaluation form that will give you an initial idea of your home's market value.

4.  Make Your House More "Sellable"

While we all believe that our home is our castle, our personal tastes may not appeal to everyone. I will work with you to provide you with an impartial analysis of your home - how it relates to other "competing" homes on the Vancouver real estate market and how your home reflects current design and style trends. I'll also closely evaluate the general condition and upkeep of your property.
 

I'll work with you to position your home on the market so that the selling process will take place as expeditiously as possible. Here's how:

5.  Use my Professional Marketing Program to Sell Your Vancouver Home!

I will work with you to develop a unique marketing program, catered specifically to your needs and goals. This begins with my Automated Internet Marketing System - Online Presence: 24 hours a day! This system allows me to respond immediately and directly to every prospective buyer. On my website, buyers can get information immediately about your home. They can access my site any time and view your property listing!
 
Through my Personal Home Search, your listing will be sent to every prospective Vancouver buyer in my database, where your home meets their personal criteria. I will continue to e-mail it to prospective buyers as long as your home is on the Vancouver market.
 
As soon as you list your home with me, I will enter your listing in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database. Other agents can immediately access your property information by computer. Plus, your property will be included in any printed MLS books.
 
I regularly publish in Vancouver area magazines and newspapers and send out direct mail pieces to potential buyers.
 

Remember, I will be working with you every step of the way to ensure you get the highest possible price for your home in the shortest period of time.


  How to Price a Home Appropriately

If you are planning on selling your home some time in the near future, you are probably very anxious about actually putting your house up for sale. There are so many things to consider when it comes to selling a home. You have to make sure that the house looks just right on the outside and inside. But if you really want your house to sell fast you have to price it just right. Price it too high and buyers will avoid your house like the plague, price it too low and you will lose your equity. Unless you have a great deal of experience buying and selling real estate, the only person who can price your home correctly is a realtor.

  How to stage your Home the Right Way

Selling a home is all about making an impression on buyers. If you want to get the highest price possible for your home it’s imperative that you make a very positive impression on potential buyers. Selling a home priced above average market value is more difficult than selling an average or below average priced home. There are simply not as many buyers who can afford an upper end home. Staging has emerged as a popular means of dressing up high end homes in order to make more of an impression on buyers.

  Selling a House in a Buyers Market

A buyers market is essentially any real estate market where there are more sellers than potential buyers. The disparity in favor of buyers gives them the upper hand in real estate negotiations. Selling while in the midst of a buyers market is never advisable, unless liquidating the property is an absolute necessity. Still, selling a house in a buyers market does not have to be a painful experience. If you are willing to change your game plan a little, there are steps that can be taken to improve the sales process.

  Things to look for when Partnering with a Realtor

Buying or selling a home is a big undertaking for most people. After all, a home is the most expensive purchase an average person makes in their entire lives. Whether you are a buying a home or selling your own, it’s usually a good idea to enlist the help of a realtor. A seasoned realtor can assist you with virtually every aspect of buying or selling a home. The trouble is, finding a seasoned and honest realtor is not the easiest thing in the world to do. When you are scouting for a realtor, remember that there are certain things you need to look for.

  Tips and Tricks for Selling Your Home

Selling a home is a fairly big undertaking and for many sellers the whole process can be very stressful. If you’re in the process of selling your home or are planning to sometime in the future, you may be pleased to learn that there are numerous things you can do to make selling your home easier. Many home sellers make the mistake of relying upon advice from friends and family instead of the advice of professionals. If you want to improve the process of selling your home you need to seek the advice of professional and arrange your home in an appealing way.

  To sell or not to sell, that is the question.

Selling your house is a very tricky business. Regardless of you is home’s condition or asking price there are usually a multitude of steps that have to be taken in order to prepare your home for the market. It may come as a shock, but selling your house now may not best the time to list your home for sale. Ultimately, of course, when you sell your home depends upon a number of factors but if prices have been on the decline in your local real estate market then it may not be a good idea to sell at the present time.

  What to do during a Home Showing

When it comes to selling a home you have to do just about anything to get buyers to look at your home. The best and easiest way to attract buyers to your home is by offering an open house. An open house is a time specified by the homeowner when prospective buyers can come in and look around your home. As the seller you have the power to determine when your home is viewable. Ideally you will want to have a realtor show your home and you will likewise want to make your home as available as possible for home showings.