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Home Improvements to Add Value To Comox Valley Properties

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Home renovations are a great way to add value to Comox Valley properties. Or, make the space more inviting. However, not all home renovations are worth your time and money. It is important that you choose the right home renovation projects so that you can get a sufficient return on your investment. Because of such high-interest rates, it is expensive to afford home renovations. Materials and lending rates are through the roof. Thus, forcing homeowners to pick and choose their renovation projects. In this article, we will be going over the top renovations that you should make to your home before the year is over. Follow along below to learn more!

Add Space to Comox Valley Properties.

Since the onslaught of the pandemic, buyers are looking for space now more than ever. This means homeowners need to make their properties feel as spacious as possible. Adding outdoor spaces, workspaces, and recreation spaces to your home is a sure way to add value. Any kind of remodel that increases your square footage or gives the illusion of more space, will be a worthwhile investment. 

One of the ways you can achieve this is by creating a home office. If your property doesn’t have a workspace, it is a good idea to add one. Whether you build a detached building on your property or convert a room is up to you. However, there are a lot of folks looking for a home with adequate office space. An in-home office is a great addition that is certain to add value to your property. According to HomeLight, a home office can add over $10,000 in resale value. In fact, if you decide to add a detached office space it can provide about $66,000 in value to your home. 

Another way to add value by making space in your home is to finish your basement. If you have an unfinished basement, you’re practically throwing away valuable space. Take charge and make it your winter project. A finished basement can add $50,000 in value to the asking price of your home. You can leave this space blank or turn it into a gym, office, or lounge area.  

Next, is opening up the floorplan. If your home is dated and feels cramped because of the walls, consider knocking some of them down. Free-flowing space in the kitchen and living areas is essential to buyers. Open layouts are the key to good workflow.

What About the Outside?

Curb appeal and outdoor spaces are another big draw for buyers. A lackluster exterior will make buyers question how you’ve taken care of the interior. Don’t make this mistake! An attractive landscape will entice buyers from the moment they see the property. And, it will give them the idea that your home is well-taken care of. Performing simple tasks such as weeding, cutting the grass, and replanting dead plants, can make all of the difference. 

If you want to take your home’s outdoor areas to the next level, consider hiring a professional. Investing in a rock wall or raised garden beds can help enhance the look and feel of your home. Moreover, adding or re-building a patio in your backyard will provide buyers with more usable outdoor space. This is great for those who want to entertain guests or enjoy the Comox Valley weather. 

Another way that you can add curb appeal to Comox Valley properties, is to get new doors and windows. A bright and bold front door can make a big difference in the overall look of your home. And, it can help improve the home’s energy efficiency. The same thing holds true for windows. Brand new windows on your home not only look great but also help to insulate the home. 

While we are on the topic of doors and windows, consider replacing your garage door. These large features have a big impact on the look of your property. If your neighbours have newly renovated garage doors, consider jumping on the bandwagon. HomeLight has found that a new garage door will give you a 133% ROI. Upgrading your garage door is a simple way to make Comox Valley properties stand out!

Contact Us About Comox Valley Properties!

Improving the look of your Comox Valley properties will help you add value to the asking price o your home! By choosing your renovations wisely, you can stand to make a great ROI! If you have any questions about renovating a property in Comox Valley, be sure to reach out to us! We are excited to get your fall real estate goals on track. A property in Comox Valley is a great life-long investment. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any concerns or inquiries about real estate in Comox Valley. Be sure to check back next month for more real estate related content! We look forward to working with you in the near future.

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New Measures in Place for Buying a Comox Valley Property

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After a rocky start to the housing market in Canada, many government officials have been working to reduce high-pressure sales. There have been several efforts made in British Columbia over the past few months to combat the scorching real estate market. However, despite their efforts, B.C’s finance minister has declared that there will be another measure put into place that will affect the property market in B.C. In May, there were several recommendations made in an effort to slow the intense competition in the market. Now, one of these measures will be put into effect this coming year. Follow along below to learn more about buying a Comox Valley property with these new measures. 

3-Day Cooling Off Period to be Introduced When Buying a Comox Valley Property.

British Columbia will be implementing a new homebuyer protection period that will go into effect on January 1, 2023. This period has been implemented in order to prevent homebuyers from skipping key aspects of the home buying process. Moreover, this 3-day period will be the first ever introduced in Canada. Government officials are hopeful that the 3-day period will allow buyers the opportunity to have a home inspection, secure financing or take any other steps needed. 

It is evident that many homebuyers have been forced to skip these important steps in order to try and secure a home. Because of how the market has been, the government of British Columbia has decided to take BCFSA’s suggestion to implement a 3-day homebuyer protection period. The plan will help buyers in today’s market and in the future. 

The homebuyer protection plan includes a number of clauses. For example, buyers can still make offers on a home that is conditional on home inspections or financing. Furthermore, there will be a fee for buyers who back out of a deal. The fee will cost $250 for every $100,000. So, a $300,000 property would have a recission fee of $750. 

By giving buyers the opportunity to do their due diligence, officials are optimistic that it will reduce the risk of purchasing the wrong property. This way homebuyers can have an inspection done and avoid purchasing a home that has costly problems. Overall, the protection period is being put into place to ensure that buyers have enough time to make a sound decision on such a life-changing purchase. 

Speculation Tax Expanding to Vancouver Island?

In addition to the announcement of the cooling-off period, there has also been news about B.C expanding its speculation tax to some areas on Vancouver Island. The speculation tax was first introduced in British Columbia in 2018. However, the tax only applied to select municipalities. Come January, the government decided to add six more municipalities that will be subject to this tax.

Speculation and vacancy tax has been designed to help British Columbia turn empty homes into housing for residents. It also ensures that non-Canadians contribute to Canada’s tax system. Specifically those with a foreign income. That being said, most B.C residents are exempt from this tax if their home is their primary residence.  

At the moment, anyone with a vacant residence is required to pay 0.5% of their assessed property value. This increases to 2% for foreigners. The municipalities currently affected by the tax are Kelowna, West Kelowna, Nanaimo, the District of Lantzville, most areas in the Lower Mainland, and Southern Vancouver. 

Once the new year arrives, the provincial government will expand the speculation tax bounds to Lions Bay, Squamish, North Cowichan, Duncan, Ladysmith, and Lake Cowichan. This means that newly affected homeowners will need to declare and claim an exemption for January of 2024. This decision was made in an effort to relax housing markets where pressure was high. 

The B.C finance minister declared that the tax has worked well to help people find places to live. Moreover, the tax aided in lowering the price of the properties. Between 2018 and 2020, there were 18,000 new condo units available for rent because of the speculation and vacancy tax. 

Contact Us Today if you have questions about the new housing rules in Comox!

For more information on these newly added policies on housing in British Columbia, contact us today. We’d be happy to help you find a Comox Valley property that is within your budget. For those who are interested in learning more about real estate in Comox, reach out to us today. We’d be more than happy to help answer any questions that you may have about buying or selling real estate in this area. Let our team of experts help you achieve your real estate goals. We look forward to working with you in the near future!