Figuring out how much time you should spend viewing properties for sale is a little like asking, “How long should I spend trying on shoes?”

The answer seems obvious: As long as it takes to make a decision!

Buying a home is significantly more complex than purchasing shoes – and the stakes are higher too! You need to make sure you have all the information necessary to confidently make the best decision.

There are basically three stages to viewing a property:

1. Macro

2. Micro

3. Professional

When you view a home on a macro basis, you’re looking at it from an overall perspective. For example, you may do a general walk-through to get a first impression and determine if the property has the basic features you need, such as the number of bedrooms and the size of the backyard.

Macro viewing is often the fastest stage in the viewing process and can sometimes take just a few minutes.

If you like what you see, then it’s onto the micro stage. At this stage you take a closer look at the details of the property. You might, for example, spend extra time in the master bedroom imagining how your furniture would look and fit.

The micro stage takes longer simply because the home is now on your shortlist. You’re interested and are considering making an offer.

Finally, the professional stage involves getting a qualified home inspector to go over the property with a fine tooth comb. That typically occurs after you’ve made an offer. As your REALTORS®, we will guide you through a viewing so you’ll know what to look for and can make a smart, informed decision. Call today.

When considering which of two or more competing offers to accept for your home, there is no doubt price plays a huge role. After all, if Offer #1 is $10,000 higher than Offer #2, that’s an enticing difference that puts thousands of extra dollars in your pocket. However, price isn’t the only thing you should think about when comparing multiple offers. There are other factors you need to consider as well. For example, what conditions are in the offer? If Offer #1 is conditional upon the buyer selling his current property for a specific amount, then what if that doesn’t happen? You could end up with an offer that dies and be forced to list your home all over again. In that circumstance, accepting the lower offer may be your best move. There’s also financing to consider. Most buyers will attach a certificate from their mortgage lender to show that they can afford the home and will likely secure financing with little difficulty. If you get an offer where the ability of the buyer to get financing is in doubt, that’s a red flag. The closing date is another important factor. Offer #1 might propose a closing date that’s perfect for you, while Offer #2 is four weeks later. If you’ve already purchased another home, you might require a month of bridge financing if you accept Offer #2. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but the costs and additional hassle are factors you should consider. As you can see, assessing competing offers isn’t as easy as it looks. Fortunately, as your REALTOR®, we will guide you toward making the right decision.

As some of you may know, I have joined the board of directors for the Broadmead Area Resident’s Association (BARA) this year. BARA has organised the following two events for this summer; Saturday Afternoon Music and the BARA Annual Community Day. The afternoon music will be taking place every Saturday in August, starting at 1:00pm in Broadmead Village. The community day will be taking place Saturday, September 11th in Broadmead Village. The Dodd Team is looking forward to taking part in the BARA Annual Community Day for our second year! We enjoyed seeing some familiar faces and meeting new ones, we hope to do the same this coming month.

Also, please feel free to contact me anytime if you have any questions about the association or the events mentioned above.

Summer has officially started and if you have neglected your home during the winter months it will now show. Get on top of your summer home maintenance now! Summer is the best time to do outdoor improvements such as landscaping. The way your home looks upon entry is everything! A bright and flourishing garden is inviting and will put a smile on the faces of potential buyers. Another very important factor is that everything should look pristine. Power wash the exterior of your home and make sure your windows are sparkling. This will also enhance the natural light coming into your home. Other factors to look at are repairing your driveway, refinishing wooden surfaces, pest control, cleaning your gutters and your roof. Your home naturally shows best in the summer months, so why not take a few extra steps to have it look perfect!

“You must be making a fortune!”

This is what we here from most friends and clients these days. People are very aware that the market right now is extremely hectic and busy. As realtors, we are thriving in it for the most part. Just the other day I spoke to a colleague who told me they had made more income this year to date then the last two years combined. Things are definitely moving fast and we expect prices to keep rising. However, due to these factors it is harder to price homes and tougher for people to find suitable properties.

Our phone may be ringing off the hook, but we always have room for more clients. Contact us today if you are thinking of buying or selling property.

The majority of people buying local property may not originate from where you think. 70.54% are from right here in Greater Victoria and 97.97% are from Canada. Yes, you heard me right. Many people are under the impression that the majority of buyers are coming from the United States or Asia. In reality, buyers from outside Canada make up only 2.03%. Now these stats are true for 2015, but we expect that with the loonie being down and a very active market the numbers for buyers outside of Canada will likely rise.

As for the other parts of Canada, Alberta makes up the next largest percentage of local buyers at a mere 5.66%.

Apparently, we locals love where we live and we wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

   The west shore is divided into five different municipalities, all with their own charm. All five feature gorgeous walking/hiking trails, abundant marine life and a passionate community. Colwood, known as the city by the sea, is making big moves in improving their environmental footprint with their Solar Colwood Project. Langford prides itself with a brand new sport complex that gives residents of the West Shore the ability to enjoy family time all year long. The breathtaking Highlands are mainly a residential community that are passionate about the environment and conservation of the land.  Here you will find native animal and plant life among the vast amount of public park land. Metchosin is your destination if you love being surrounded by marine life. From whale and seal watching to fishing Metchosin will swim its way straight into your heart. View Royal, is the baby of the west shore municipalities, joining west shore last. Their community of 9,500 residents sit at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. View Royal is made up of fantastic parks and waterways with its summer hot spot, Thetis Lake Regional Park.

We had an extremely active market in 2015 and it is expected to remain that way in 2016. With 8,295 transactions in 2015 this marks an increase of 23.8% from 2014. Not only did 2015 bring in more sales, but sales at higher prices. The benchmark value went up 9.4% from December 2014 in comparison to December 2015.

Due to the spike in activity, we now have a low inventory and we are currently looking for new properties to market.  Unlike recent years, you do not need to wait until the spring to put your house on the market. It is a great time to sell now, please contact us if you or someone you know is considering listing one a property.

When showing your home during the winter holidays my number one suggestion is to turn up the heat. Nothing shows worse than a home with a chill. If you have a gas fireplace, turn it on before you leave for the showing. Another tip to do pre showing is to simmer some winter scents (Cinnamon sticks, oranges, cloves or whatever you fancy) to help give your house a festive and cozy feel. Another way to emphasize that cozy feel, place a throw on the back of your couch, preferably one that’s woolen.  One more tip for the inside of your home is to arrange a winter themed centerpiece for your dining room table.

Now moving to the exterior of your home, I suggest hanging a festive decoration on your front door such as a wreath, a star or whatever you think is appropriate. Also, hang some tasteful lights around the exterior of your home as well as inside. No matter what holiday people might be celebrating, every winter holiday celebrates the light.

 I definitely recommend decorating your house, as no one likes a Scrooge, but I encourage you to take a minimalist approach. Do not hang up massive amounts of decorations. Try to keep what décor you do put up to be classy and clean. Please refer to our DIY Holiday Pinterest board if you need some helpful ideas. 

Follow Dodd Team's board DIY Holiday Home Decor on Pinterest.

Gordon Head Statistics

For Sale Now

Single Family Detached    

Listings: 28  

$534,000 - $4 Mill.

Condo Apartment

Listings: 1

$269,900

Townhouse

Listings: 3

$480,000 - $1.2 Mill.

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Sold This Year

Single Family Detached

Listings: 128

$448,000 - $1.9 Mill.

Condo Apartment

Listings: 1 

$287,500

Townhouse

Listings: 12

$335,000 - $684,000

Did you know that Victoria is the second oldest city in Western Canada? It was first home to three groups of First Nations known as the Songhees. The Songhees had named the area ‘Comosack’, which means ‘Rush of Water’. Captain James Cook arrived at Comosack in 1778 as the first non-aboriginal man.

In March of 1843 the area was founded by Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post and fort, they renamed the area Fort Albert. Shortly after that, in June of the same year, the name was changed to Fort Victoria after the queen. Fort Victoria was laid out as a town site in 1852 and the name was changed to Victoria. Victoria became the colonial capital of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, later becoming the Provincial capital when British Columbia joined the Canada Confederation in 1871.

Victoria was the main port of entry to BC in 1858 due to the Fraser Valley Gold Rush and for the majority of the 19^th century Victoria was the largest city in British Columbia. Eventually the Trans Continental Railway was constructed and Vancouver became a terminus making it the major west coast port.

 In the twentieth century Victoria became Canada’s western naval base and home to a major fishing fleet.  Information Technology was the largest industry in the city including marine, forestry and agricultural research centre. Today there are many heritage attractions to explore.

Check out our board to explore them and much more.