As you may know, curb appeal refers to how your property looks from the street, where potential buyers first see it. Your home’s curb appeal can have a big impact on the sale of your property.
In fact, it’s not uncommon for a buyer to drive by a listing, rather than stop, because they don’t like what they see. So, how can you improve your home’s curb appeal quickly? One way is to do some outside cleaning. Start with the main entryway. Wash down the front door and sweep (or power wash) the front steps. It only takes a few minutes, but you’d be surprised by the impact it can have. Sweep or power wash your walkway too and you’ll improve the overall look of your home — sometimes dramatically. Clean your front windows to brighten the look of your home’s facade. It doesn’t have to be an arduous chore. In fact, there are washing products available that attach to your garden hose. You don’t even need a ladder! Ask your local home improvement retailer for recommendations. If you have hedges and shrubs, give them a trim. To keep your trimming level, use a wide board, or even a piece of cardboard, then cut to the desired height. Pull off any dead leaves or branches. Of course, also mow the lawn! Finally, inspect your property from the street. Can you see anything else you can do to quickly improve the look? Do you notice anything that is unsightly or distracting, such as garbage bins that could be relocated? |
If you’re selling your home and there are other listings in your area, buyers will naturally compare your property to those other listings.
Is there something about your home that you’re concerned will be seen as a competitive disadvantage? For example, do you have a small kitchen or fewer bedrooms than most other homes in the neighbourhood?
There are a few things you can do to compensate for such disadvantages.
First, highlight the advantageous features of your home. Chances are, there are characteristics that make it stand out. For example, the look and style of your home may be cozy and enchanting. Or, you might have a desired feature, such as a terrific view.
Next, do everything you can to ensure your home makes the best impression possible to buyers. Remember, most buyers will only see your property once. So, pull out all the stops. That means decluttering, cleaning, painting, getting any needed repairs done, and staging effectively.
Finally, make sure you set the asking price strategically. That doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be low. But, it does mean that the price should reflect the market value of your home.
Saskatchewan reported 1,216 sales in April, down 21 per cent year-over-year and slightly below long-term, 10-year averages. Aligning with seasonal trends, sales and new listings trended up above levels seen earlier this year. Although inventory levels experienced a 4 per cent year-over-year decline and remain over 30 per cent below 10-year trends, the adjustments in sales and new listings have resulted in the months of supply rising to nearly five months.
“Our market continues to struggle with supply and has since the start of the pandemic,” said Association CEO, Chris Guérette. “While inventory challenges remain a concern for us, recent trends point to potential supply relief. Should these trends persist, we may see more balanced conditions play out in the market in the second half of the year.”
The provincial benchmark price reached $323,600 in April, up from $321,400 in March and slightly below prices recorded last April.
“As province-wide figures are showing signs of more balanced conditions, it’s important to keep in mind that there is variation depending on location and price range. Conditions remain exceptionally tight in lower-priced products, while more balanced conditions exist in higher price ranges,” said Guérette. “Higher lending rates have driven more purchasers to seek out lower priced options, while it is proving more difficult for existing homeowners to move up in the market.
Regional Highlights
Both sales and inventory trends varied across different regions of the province in April. Year-to-date sales levels improved in Melfort, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Yorkton, and Weyburn. Additionally, inventory levels improved over previous months across all regions except Humboldt and Weyburn. That said, most regions still report inventory levels lower than the previous year and below long-term, 10-year averages.
Overall, when considering both sales and inventory levels, some regions of the province are not seeing a shift toward more balanced conditions. Melfort, Prince Albert, Yorkton, and Meadow Lake reported further tightening compared to levels reported last year.
Price Trends
Benchmark prices varied across different regions of the province in April. All regions except Prince Albert and Swift Current posted stable to modest gains in benchmark price compared to the previous month.
City of Regina
Year-over-year sales activity in Regina slowed for the fourth consecutive month. Despite the decline, sales levels are only slightly below long-term, 10-year averages. Inventory levels remain over 25 per cent below long-term averages, while the months of supply increased to 3.43, up from 2.96 in March.
Regina reported a benchmark price of $311,200 in April, up from $307,100 in March and nearly 5 per cent lower than April 2022.
City of Saskatoon
The City of Saskatoon reported declining year-over-year sales for the fourth consecutive month. However, sales levels remain slightly above long-term, 10-year trends. Inventory challenges persist in Saskatoon, with supply levels nearly 37 per cent below 10-year averages, the lowest levels reported in April since 2008.
Saskatoon reported a benchmark price of $375,600 in April, slightly down from $376,300 in March and 1.4 per cent higher than April 2022.