[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”0|0px|54px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0|0px|0|0px|false|false” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.19.18″]<\/p>\n
By Jennifer Lynn Walker <\/span><\/p>\n One of the most important steps in getting your home ready for sale is often the most overlooked. People can spend so much time and money on the kitchen and bathrooms, they forget about the exterior of the house. <\/span><\/p>\n Remember, your goal is to sell the property as quickly and seamlessly as possible. The better your property looks from the curb, the more you\u2019ll attract buyers and the likelier you\u2019ll be to sell your property faster. <\/span><\/p>\n To help you get started, here is a general list of what to assess when deciding how to spruce up the exterior of your building. This list does not replace a professional building inspection. <\/span><\/p>\n When people see areas of disrepair, they begin to wonder whether there may be other unseen problems. Even having a piece of tape on a light switch will make a buyer wonder if there are electrical issues. Repairing as many problem areas as possible will give the buyer confidence in their purchase and help mitigate potential renegotiations after an inspection.<\/span><\/p>\n The first point of contact for buyers or brokers searching on behalf of buyers is the exterior photographs on the internet or in the newspaper. And many prospective buyers do a drive-by to see if a visit is worth their time. Your building should entice them to book one. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.19.18″ link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.montreal-realestate.ca\/english\/customized-property-search\/” link_option_url_new_window=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.19.18″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.montreal-realestate.ca\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Do-a-customized-property-search-knob.jpg” _builder_version=”3.19.18″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0|0px|27px|0px|false|false” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.19.18″]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n When selling, it\u2019s equally important to take care of the inside of the house as well. Once you are done with the exterior, move on inside. Here are tips <\/span>To Make Your Home Sell Faster.<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Ask any home stager, real estate broker, or other professional in the field and they\u2019ll tell you that curb appeal and attention to those small repairs make an impact on prospective buyers. It will give you that competitive edge and ultimately help you fetch top dollar. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.19.18″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”3″ include_categories=”4,40″ _builder_version=”3.19.18″][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.17″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.17″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17″ text_font=”||||||||” text_orientation=”center”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This article was featured in:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.17″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.montreal-realestate.ca\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/The-Suburban-1.png” _builder_version=”3.17″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Jennifer Lynn Walker One of the most important steps in getting your home ready for sale is often the most overlooked. People can spend so much time and money on the kitchen and bathrooms, they forget about the exterior of the house. Remember, your goal is to sell the property as quickly and seamlessly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9218,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" By Jennifer Lynn Walker <\/span><\/p> More and more people are turning to Airbnb for rental income. Some are creating a full-time or part-time side-business while others use it as a way to cover housing or condo costs while away on vacation. The potential income can outweigh a traditional lease by double or even triple in a month. The short-term rental industry is so hot right now that there are property management companies who specialize in this type of real estate. <\/span><\/p> There are other websites that offer short-term home rentals but Airbnb is the largest with 150 million users and 4 million hosts, making it a $31 billion business recognized and trusted around the globe.<\/span><\/p> Before embarking on this real estate niche, there are some facts you will want to know.<\/span><\/p> Depending on where you live, Airbnb could be seasonal. David Yifi, an Airbnb property manager, who specializes in renting rooms and apartments for tenants in Montreal, says that he only offers his services in the spring, summer, and fall.\u00a0 <\/span>Business drops off drastically in the winter. The closer your rental is to tourist attractions, hospitals, and metros, the longer your rental season will be. <\/span><\/p> Many condo associations have made it part of their by-laws that short-term rentals are prohibited. Some have even gone so far as to implement a fine \u2014 as high as $1,000 per day. More and more buildings are adopting this rule. They take it quite seriously because there is a possibility building insurance will not cover short-term rentals.<\/span><\/p> Smaller buildings (six doors or less) where there aren\u2019t any common hallways are much more likely to allow short-term rentals. Before you purchase a property, read over all of the agreements carefully and examine the insurance policy. If you buy your own multi-door building, you can be assured control. It\u2019s not unusual to see a mix of short-term and long-term rentals in one building.<\/span><\/p> <\/b>As of 2018, the City of Montreal is trying to change its by-laws on how many short-term rentals\u00a0are permitted\u00a0in the heart of downtown, creating restrictions for certain areas. The City is also trying to pass by-laws to ensure Airbnb-type\u00a0rentals are farther than 150 metres apart. It\u2019s best to find out about zoning laws and business licensing beforehand.<\/span><\/p> According to the laws of Tourisme Qu\u00e9bec and the R\u00e9gie du logement, rentals that are less than a month and don\u2019t have a traditional lease are considered a bed and breakfast and proprietors must obtain a permit. This also obliges you to undergo inspections, pay taxes, get special insurance, and conform to certain fire code regulations.<\/span><\/p> Insurance companies can also pose a threat to a short-term rental business.\u00a0 <\/span>Before starting up, make sure your insurance company is aware of your plans. If your insurance agreement forbids short-term rentals, the company will probably not cover damages if something goes wrong. <\/span><\/p> Even though short-term rentals take more of your time, the return on investment is exciting for beginner investors who are getting their feet wet. Following the rules will allow you to have peace of mind and build a strong business.<\/span><\/p> It\u2019s in your best interest to do as much research as possible. The Corporation de l\u2019industrie touristique du Quebec (citq.qc.ca) and the\u00a0R\u00e9gie du logement<\/a> (www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca<\/a>) are two great places to start. Consulting a tax professional and your insurance company should be on your list as well.<\/span><\/p> Jennifer Walker has been active in Montreal Real Estate since 2003. She founded the Montreal Real Estate Investor\u2019s Group, which has more than 1,200 members. She specializes in buying and selling, eco-friendly homes, and helping real estate investors.<\/i><\/span><\/p> For more articles and e-books and to sign up for her newsletter, visit her online at: www.montreal-realestate.ca.<\/i><\/span><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,40],"tags":[44,34,20],"class_list":["post-9221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-renovations-inspections","category-selling","tag-montreal-real-estate","tag-real-estate","tag-real-estate-investing"],"yoast_head":"\nRepairs<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Curb Appeal<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
Here\u2019s how to achieve great curb appeal:<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
Some seasons busier than others<\/b><\/span><\/h3>
Condo associations may prohibit short-term rentals<\/b><\/span><\/h3>
Smaller buildings more likely to accommodate an Airbnb business<\/b><\/span><\/h3>
Cities are starting to crack down<\/b><\/span><\/h3>
Insurance companies are also cracking down<\/b> <\/span><\/h3>
Do your research<\/b><\/span><\/h3>