Searching for a luxury home can be a very different process from typical house hunting. There are many particular considerations at play. Common methods used by most home buyers may be altered, depending on the situation.

Without the proper know-how, you might miss out on a house that could fit your needs or provide an amazing investment opportunity. To avoid this pitfall, here are some tips for not letting the perfect house pass you by.

Go Beyond the Listings
Many people selling their luxury home will forgo listing their property on common sources to protect their privacy. Instead, they will work with a network of specialized realtors and marketers in order to get the word out.

This fact means that the home you have been looking for might not be located on the multiple listing service or any public search engine. You will have to find these properties the old-fashioned way: person-to-person communication and closely-held lists. Home owners that prefer to conduct business this way are usually more accommodating to buyers who can communicate through the proper channels.

Take Photos with a Grain of Salt
Larger homes or homes with sprawling layouts have lots of subtlety and nuance to their architecture. A front-facing picture might not always be the most flattering for this type of home.

Furthermore, many homes have features that would be nearly impossible to fully document within the limited space most photo albums provide. Subtle amenities like fine materials or a partially-secluded lot are hard to document with pictures alone.

If you are on the lookout for a luxury home and you see an eye-catching description with lackluster photos, then you should probably still consider giving that home a second chance. Many luxury homes cannot be fully appreciated until they have been viewed in person.

Get an Experienced Luxury Buying Agent
Agents who lack expertise in buying luxury homes may have difficulty adjusting to the higher-level market. They might forget something important, or fail to keep you in the loop about unsearchable listings.

With a professional luxury home agent, you can have confidence that your needs will be taken into close consideration. You will also be able to prepare for tasks that you were unaware of, such as documenting the extent of sheltered and invested income before negotiating.

When looking for a luxury Burnaby real estate property, getting help from those who have the knowledge and contacts to find the house you have always wanted can make a huge difference. Contact Eddie Yan for your luxury home buying needs.

When you’re hosting your Open House, you want your house to look its best.  You want it to be clean, inviting and depersonalized so the potential buyers can picture themselves there.  It can be hard to figure out how to get all of those elements into your home. That’s where a professional home stager comes in. Here are the reasons why your Burnaby real estate’s Open House will benefit from being staged by a professional.

They can Strike a Balance Between Depersonalized and Cold

When you’re depersonalizing your house, there’s a danger that you’ll go too far and you’ll accidentally make your home seem cold. You want your house to feel like it’s been lived in, but you also don’t want it to have so many of your own personal touches that your potential buyers can’t picture themselves there.  This is a hard balance to reach if you’re trying to stage your home yourself. A professional home stager will know how to make your home feel warm and inviting in a way that will appeal to all of your potential buyers.

They know how to Downplay your Home’s Weaknesses

You probably realize where your home’s weaknesses are. Maybe your living room is small, or your master bedroom tends to be dim. A professional home stager will find ways to hide those weaknesses. They’ll be able to figure out how to give your living room the illusion of being larger, and they’ll be able to find ways to make the master bedroom seem lighter than it really is. When a professional home stager is done with your house, you’ll forget that the weaknesses even existed.

They Can Highlight your Home’s Strengths

Once your home’s weaknesses are hidden, the home stager will be able to play up its strengths. They’ll move your furniture into formations that make your rooms seem spacious. They can also help you decide on decorations, and they’ll add some of their own finishing touches to complete the staging. A professional home stager knows what the buyer wants to see, and they’re able to transform your house into something that will intrigue and excite them.

Staging your home is a very important part of getting ready for an Open House, and just getting rid of clutter and depersonalizing isn’t enough to intrigue buyers. A professional home stager will be able to use their skills and knowledge to transform your house into something that will get buyers interested. After the stager is done with your house, your buyers will be ready to start bidding immediately.

If you have any more questions about home staging or Burnaby real estate, please contact my office and I’ll be happy to help.

The first time you move will be hard for your kids. They’ll be nervous about having to deal with a new neighbourhood, school and friends. It will also be hard for them to get used to their new home. Here are some ways to help your kids adjust to living in your new Burnaby real estate.

Take Breaks from Setting up the House for Family Time

When you’re in the middle of the frenzy of moving, you may not have as much time for your child as you usually have. This could make them feel unimportant and even unhappier about the move. This is why it’s important to put down the paintbrush or the furniture you’re moving and spend some time solely focusing on your child. You can do something together in the house, or you can go out and walk around the new neighbourhood or in the park. Just be sure to give your child your full attention for a little while before you turn back to your home.

Let them Help Decorate the House

You want your child to feel as comfortable in your new house as they did in their old house. One way to achieve this is to let the child help decorate. You don’t have to do anything as big as letting your kid decide what colours to paint the walls. Instead, you could simply let them decide if a picture should be hung in the living room or the dining room. Your child will be excited to be part of putting the house together, and they’ll be proud that they were able to help.

Get Them Excited About the new City

In the first few weeks after the move, your child will be constantly comparing their new city with their old city. This is why it’s important to give your child reasons to love their new home. Take them to some of the city’s best parks, stores and attractions. This will show your child that there are plenty of fun things to do in their new home, and it will help them begin to feel more comfortable in the city.

Sign Them up for Activities Where They’ll Meet Friends

One of the things your child is probably most anxious about is the fact that they don’t know anybody. There’s a pretty easy solution for this: signing them up for activities that they already like. This way, they’ll get to do something they love and they’ll get to meet kids with similar interests. They’ll also feel more connected to the community if they’re taking part in an activity.

Kids are always going to be nervous when you move into a new house, but there are many ways to ease their worries. Doing these things will help your kids adjust to the move. Soon, they’ll love their new home as much as their old one.

If you’re ready to find your new Burnaby home, please continue checking the listings on my website and contact me.

If you just bought your first Burnaby real estate, you’re probably wondering what there is to do in your new neighbourhood. Burnaby is the third largest city in population in British Columbia, and it also borders Vancouver. This means that are plenty of interesting sights to see. Here are some places to check out around Burnaby.

Burnaby Village Museum

This historical village takes visitors back to the 1920s. The village has actors in period costumes, a historical general store and a carousel from 1912. You can also see demonstrations from a blacksmith and at a print shop. If you want to see what life was like in Burnaby almost a hundred years ago, this is the place to go.

Burnaby Art Gallery

Burnaby Art Gallery is a great place for any art lover to check out. It has many different temporary exhibitions, so no two visits to the gallery will ever be the same. You’re sure to find something interesting at Burnaby Art Gallery.

Metropolis at Metrotown

Metropolis is one of Burnaby’s biggest tourist attractions. It’s the largest mall in British Columbia with over 400 stores, a ten-screen movie theater and a large food court. If you need to buy some furniture or decorations for your new Burnaby home, this is where you should head. Metropolis is sure to have what you need.

Deer Lake Park

Deer Lake Park blends together nature and art. It has hiking trails, designed gardens and boat rentals. It’s also home to Deer Lake Gallery, which has art in a variety of mediums including acrylics, photography and multimedia art. If you want to experience culture and the great outdoors at the same time, Deer Lake Park is where you should head.

Burnaby Mountain Park

If you want beautiful views of Burnaby and Vancouver, head up to Burnaby Mountain Park. This park has plenty of hiking trails and places to have picnics. It’s also home to Simon Fraser University, which houses the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology and an art gallery. If you visit the park in the evening, you’ll be able to catch a beautiful sunset over the city. This park also features the Playground of the Gods sculptures, which are a symbol of Burnaby’s relationship with its sister city Kushiro, Japan.

Burnaby is home to a wide variety of parks, art galleries and places to shop.  If you can’t find what you’re looking for in Burnaby, Vancouver is right around the corner. You’re sure to never be bored in Burnaby. 

If you’re ready to start searching for your Burnaby home, please look through my listings or contact me.