Brendan Connolly

Vancouver Real Estate: Westside, Eastside & Downtown

Residential Real Estate Consultant
RE/MAX Select Properties  604-833-8793

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Staging your home yourself

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Staging your house is incredibly important! After all, you wouldn’t sell your car without making sure it looked its best. So, why wouldn’t you make sure your house is in tip-top shape before you put it on the market? Staging is one of the best ways to add value to your home for very little money. So what should you focus on first? Decluttering! Everywhere. From counters to walls to floors, you want potential buyers to see the house, not your knickknacks. Scrub everything from tile … [Read more...] about Staging your home yourself

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Metro Vancouver housing market off to a quieter start than last year

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VANCOUVER, BC – February 2, 2017 – Home sales and listings trends are below long-term averages in the Metro Vancouver* housing market. This is due largely to reduced activity in the detached home market. Residential property sales in the region totalled 1,523 in January 2017, a 39.5 per cent decrease from the 2,519 sales recorded in January 2016 and an 11.1 per cent decrease compared to December 2016 when 1,714 homes sold. Last month’s sales were 10.3 per cent below our 10-year January … [Read more...] about Metro Vancouver housing market off to a quieter start than last year

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Reasons why staging makes a difference

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We’ve been told not to judge a book by its cover, but first impressions usually impact our decision-making, whether we care to admit it or not. Therefore, a well-staged home typically has a better chance of selling at a higher price than one that hasn’t been staged. We reached out to our RE/MAX Influencers—a panel consisting of RE/MAX Sales Associates from throughout Canada—to discover why sellers shouldn’t have “stage fright” when it comes to selling their home. Faster sale, higher … [Read more...] about Reasons why staging makes a difference

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Metro Vancouver property assessments

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Property owners received their 2017 assessment notices the first week of January. In Metro Vancouver, increases of 30 to 50 per cent are typical for detached homes in Vancouver, the North Shore, Squamish, Burnaby, Tri-Cities, Richmond, and Surrey. Property owners with a significant increase received a warning assessment in early December 2016. Commercial and industrial properties will likely see increases in the 15-40% range, according to Jason Grant, regional assessor, … [Read more...] about Metro Vancouver property assessments

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Why moving in the winter is actually awesome

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It might seem counter-intuitive, but moving in the winter—from house-hunting to getting all your worldly belongings from point A to point B—can actually be easier, cheaper and more convenient than any other time of the year. Here’s why it pays to move during the colder months. It’s a buyer’s market Spring has always been considered the best time to put a house on the market; warmer weather inspires buyers to get out and hit the open house circuit, while gardens and outdoor areas tend to show … [Read more...] about Why moving in the winter is actually awesome

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A heated year for Metro Vancouver real estate draws to a close

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VANCOUVER, BC – January 4, 2017 – The Metro Vancouver housing market had its third highest selling year on record in 2016, behind only 2015 and 2005. Sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in the region reached 39,943 in 2016, a 5.6 per cent decrease from the 42,326 sales recorded in 2015, and a 20.6 per cent increase over the 33,116 residential sales in 2014. [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njfK2hYuL8c[/embedyt] “It was an eventful year for real estate in Metro … [Read more...] about A heated year for Metro Vancouver real estate draws to a close

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Features that date your home

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Raise your hand if features in the interior of your home are a tribute to the 80s or 90s. Whether we care to admit it or not, many houses are dated with features and accessories that were popular 20 years ago. But when you put your home on the market, you want to put your best foot forward. If you are thinking about selling, there are some features of your home that can date it and make it less appealing to buyers. Learn what they are so you can ensure they are fixed before … [Read more...] about Features that date your home

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Finding a family doctor in Vancouver

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One of the great challenges people encounter when moving to Vancouver is finding a family doctor. You will probably find that your preferred GP is not accepting new patients because they are already so busy. This is a well known dilemma, which the province is taking steps to remedy. A GP For Me is a joint effort of the Government of BC and Doctors of BC as part of an integrated approach to provide primary health care services for all British Columbians. Meanwhile, here are a few … [Read more...] about Finding a family doctor in Vancouver

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Fail-proof tips to sell your home

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We’ve all heard the fresh baked cookies trick, but the truth of the matter is, potential buyers really are paying attention to things like the smell of your home. A few days before your open house, you should literally open your house. To really air out your home, you’ll need to do this for at least a couple of hours for a few days leading up to the open house. Burning a candle can be potentially off putting, depending on the scent you choose, but sprigs of fresh herbs, like lavender, basil or … [Read more...] about Fail-proof tips to sell your home

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Home sales and listings just below 10-year average

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VANCOUVER, BC - December 2, 2016 - Home buyer and seller activity remains near historical averages in the Metro Vancouver housing market. Residential home sales in the region totalled 2,214 in November 2016, a decrease of 0.9 per cent from the 2,233 sales recorded in October 2016 and a decrease of 37.2 per cent compared to November 2015 when 3,524 homes sold. Last month’s sales were 7.6 per cent below the 10-year sales average for the month. “While 2016 has been anything but a normal year … [Read more...] about Home sales and listings just below 10-year average