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Do These Things Before You Move Into Your New House!

As you approach the closing date of your home, you’re likely looking forward to moving into your new home. But before you move in, there are eight things you need to do. 

1. Celebrate: First things first–a celebration is in order! Make sure to take a moment to celebrate this huge milestone before jumping into the rush of getting ready to move.  

2. Change your locks: You want to feel safe and secure in your new home, so changing the locks and getting new keys will help protect you and your new home. 

3. Service your HVAC and change the air filter: Make sure that the air you’ll be breathing is clean and comfortable. No one wants to deal with a gross air filter or heating/cooling issues when they’re moving in! 

4. Deep clean the fridge: Not every seller will deep clean the home, and you want your fridge to be sparkling clean. It’s worth going over and doing a deep clean of the fridge and freezer before you bring food over. 

5. Paint before moving in or unpacking: If you want to paint any area of the home, doing it before you move in and unpack will make life so much easier! 

6. Set up mail forwarding: Many people forget this when they move, but it’s super easy and important! You just have to file a notice of mail forwarding with the Postal Service and then they’ll forward any mail from your old address to your new home. 

7. Put the utilities in your name: You don’t want to move in and then realize your electric or water isn’t on! Set up your utilities ahead of your move in date–you can schedule it to start on the day you take ownership of the home. 

8. Check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms: The last thing to do before you move in is to check on one of the most important systems in your home–your alarms and detectors! Make sure that all is in working order and that your home is safe to move into. 

Once you’re done with these eight things, your home will be prepped and ready for you to move in!

If you want to talk about how you can find the perfect home to move into in Lloydminster, feel free to reach out and let’s chat!


Harpreet Christie
RE/MAX of Lloydminster
780-205-7654
harpreet@bordercityrealestate.com

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5510 49 STREET in Lloydminster

I have listed a new property at 5510 49 STREET in Lloydminster. See details here

In the heart of Lloydminster's West Neighborhood, there's a charming family home at 5510 49 Street. This house has been a beloved haven for a family whose story is evolving. Nestled in a mature neighbourhood, this home warmly welcomed them as first-time buyers. They fell in love with the sense of community, friendly neighbours, and the convenience of living in an established area. What made this home special was its spacious, landscaped yard stretching from the front to the back. It provided the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures and family gatherings. Alley access added an extra layer of convenience and privacy, and an oversized single detached garage made the property even more appealing. As you stepped inside, you'd feel the inviting atmosphere. The upper level featured two cozy bedrooms and an updated 4-piece bathroom with a oval tub—a relaxing sanctuary. With updated windows and a brand-new hot water tank, this home offered comfort and peace of mind. The basement was a versatile space, featuring a 3-piece bathroom, a cozy bedroom with a walk-in closet, and ample room for a family room or an additional bedroom, ready to accommodate a growing family. Now, as the family prepares to embark on their next adventure, this delightful home eagerly awaits its next chapter. 3D Virtual tour Available.

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Don’t Waste Your Time on These Useless Seller Strategies

Don’t Waste Your Time on These Useless Seller Strategies

There are several so-called strategies out there that often get recommended to home sellers. But these strategies can often be a waste of time and effort and won’t actually help you get your home sold. Let’s go through these seller strategies that you should stay away from while selling your home:

- Completing a full kitchen renovation or big update: Kitchens often sell homes, and they’re many buyers’ favorite room in the house. But doing a full renovation can actually set you back. Buyers have varying tastes, and chances are that they won’t match yours exactly.

This can lead buyers to undo the renovating you’ve done to fit their style. Instead, make the kitchen look presentable and polished, then use the money that you would have put into the renovation to cover closing costs or offer a buyer perk. This goes for any big renovation. It’s best to get your home looking nice and fresh, but stay away from sinking too much money into personal choices.

- Overpricing the property: This is a big one, but it just doesn’t work in our market. Many sellers will go into the selling process with the plan to price their home high and then negotiate down with the buyers to the actual purchase price.

However, this can cause issues as overpricing your home can scare potential buyers away. This lack of interest can make your home become stagnant on the market, which is a huge red flag to buyers. Instead of overpricing, work with your real estate agent to develop a strong pricing strategy.

- Skipping staging: Some sellers think that they can just put their homes on the market without worrying about staging and getting the home looking its best. But to get top dollar from selling your home, staging is key.

Good staging will help drum up interest in your property just from the listing. It also helps buyers imagine themselves in the home during showings in addition to highlighting the best aspects of the home. Don’t skip staging if you want to get the max profit from selling your home!

If you want more information on which selling strategies you should be using to sell your home in Lloydminster and area, Let’s connect!


Harpreet Christie
RE/MAX of Lloydminster
780-205-7654
harpreet@bordercityrealestate.com

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4714 19 STREET in Lloydminster

I have listed a new property at 4714 19 STREET in Lloydminster. See details here

Welcome to this charming raised bungalow built in 2007 in the popular Wallacefield neighbourhood of Lloydminster. This home offers a great location, steps from a park with basketball diamonds and scenic walking trails, making it perfect for active families. The property features 2+2 bedrooms, no carpet throughout, an electrified island in the kitchen, a large dining area, and double closets in the primary bedroom for added convenience. The basement is almost completed, with a spacious family room, 2 additional bedrooms, a roughed-in bathroom, and plenty of storage space. Outside, you'll find a triple concrete driveway for ample parking and a fully fenced oversized yard for privacy and security. Take a virtual tour with our 3D tour available for a closer look. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to make this house your home!

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What to Do with Your Low Interest Rate?

What to Do with Your Low Interest Rate?

If you scored one of the historically low interest rates on a mortgage from 2020-2022, you probably feel like you should hold onto it. Many homeowners are in the same situation and feel like they can’t upgrade their home and move because their interest rate is too good to let go. 

But you don’t have to give up your low interest rate to get into a new home! 

In fact, you can play this scenario out in a way that will allow you to become a real estate investor and build your wealth. Here’s how to put that low interest rate to good use while also upgrading to a new home. 

The idea is to keep your original mortgage and rate, turn your first home into a rental, and then buy a new home. 

To do this, you’ll pull the equity out of your current home with something like a home equity loan. Your lender will be able to help you find the best option for how to tap into your equity. Then, with the equity you pull out, you’ll be able to put a down payment on a second home. 

In the negotiation stages of buying the new home, you can take advantage of sellers with high equity and ask for an interest rate buydown. The buyers will buy your interest rate down by a certain number of percentage points, giving you a lower interest rate on your new mortgage.

You’ll then move into your new home and turn your first home into a rental. Turning your home into a rental will provide passive income that will cover all of your mortgage and maintenance costs along with profit that can go towards your new home’s mortgage payment. 

This will allow you to build equity back up in your first home and your second home, all while keeping that low, low interest rate. 

Using this plan will help you retain your original interest rate while also becoming a real estate investor and building equity in two homes at the same time, creating a way for you to build wealth quickly.

If you want to talk more and see if this is something that you can do with your home in Lloydminster, feel free to reach out so we can talk more!  


Harpreet Christie
RE/MAX of Lloydminster
780-205-7654
harpreet@bordercityrealestate.com

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Want to Buy a Home This Spring? Then Get Started Now!

Want to Buy a Home This Spring? Then Get Started Now!

If you’d like to buy and move into a beautiful new home this spring, then your countdown has already started!

While the spring might seem far away now, the rush of real estate’s biggest season will be here before you know it. There are many things you’ll need to do to get prepped and ready to buy a home. 

Here are a few things you should get started on now in January so you’re ready for the spring market! 

- Get your finances in order: Now is the time to pull up your budget, your paystubs, your debt, and your credit score. First, make sure that your credit score is strong and that your debt is in a manageable spot. Your lender will look closely at both of these things and it will play a part in your interest rate and your qualification for a mortgage. Then make sure that your expenses, income, and budget are all lined up. Lastly, check on your savings account for your down payment and closing costs and make sure that it’s in good shape.

- Get organized: You’ll need all of your financial paperwork around your taxes, income, debts, and assets handy for your lender. Gather all that paperwork now and organize it in folders or a binder so you’ll be prepared to get pre-approved when you’re ready to start looking at homes.

- Start doing your real estate homework: Your agent will guide you through every step of the buying process, but it’s so helpful for buyers to have some background knowledge of the real estate process. You’ll feel much more confident and informed if you read up on the steps of buying a home and what you should be looking for as a buyer.

- Find the right agent: It’s recommended that you interview at least 3 real estate agents so you can get an idea of what communication and working style best meets your needs. You’re looking for a knowledgeable, experienced agent you can trust and feel comfortable working closely with!

If you want to get started on your journey to buying a new home this spring in Lloydminster, Feel free to reach out and let’s get started!


Harpreet Christie
RE/MAX of Lloydminster
780-205-7654
harpreet@bordercityrealestate.com

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Data is supplied by Pillar 9™ MLS® System. Pillar 9™ is the owner of the copyright in its MLS®System. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Pillar 9™.
The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.