Home Trends from Maria Senajova

direct 604.657.1110 MARIA SENAJOVA

web VancouverUrbanHomes.com email maria@vancouverurbanhomes.com office 604.398.7999 | 36 East 5th Ave Vancouver, BC V5T 1G8

Building relationships... one square foot at a time

MARIA SENAJOVA

4 PLACES IN YOUR HOME YOU’RE PROBABLY FORGETTING TO CLEAN Already did your spring-cleaning for the year? Well, there may be a few things in your home you forgot about. Check out this list of the most common items homeowners forget to check off their spring-cleaning list. • Baseboards. Not the most fun thing to clean, which is why most of us “forget” about them. However, if you have a handheld vacuum with a narrow attachment cleaning your baseboards can actually be a breeze. If not, grab a bucket of soap and warm water and give them a wipe. • Light fixtures. Light fixtures add such personality to our homes. Unfortunately they can get really grimy. If you have light fixtures that include a glass piece, see if you can remove it and give it a good clean. For fixtures made from natural fibres like rattan or bamboo, give them a dust and then vacuum the floor below. • Plants. Yup – your plants need to be cleaned too. They collect dust, which doesn’t look very nice and also can block out the sunlight plants need to grow and flourish. • Top of fridge. How long has it been since you peeked on top of your fridge? If it’s been awhile, brace yourself. Dust, dead bugs and random toys may have made themselves at home. Thankfully, a quick vacuum or wipe will have the top of your fridge just as sparkling as the front of it.

VancouverUrbanHomes.com

MARIA SENAJOVA

HOWMUCH DOES IT COST TO HIRE A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT? A landscape architect is much like an architect for your home – except they focus on the exterior spaces of your property. A few reasons you may want to hire a landscape architect is if you want a beautifully designed outdoor space, if you need help with permits, or if you lead a busy life that leaves little time for you to carry out the project yourself. And while the cost of hiring a landscape architect can vary widely, one way to budget is to set aside 10-20% of your estimated project cost. Meanwhile, some landscape professionals charge a flat fee ranging from $1,200 to over $10,000, whereas others charge an hourly rate that on average works out to be $150 per hour. As for when you pay the landscape architect, typically you’re billed based on phases in the project – but all of this information should be lined out in your contract.

VancouverUrbanHomes.com

MARIA SENAJOVA

BOLD PAINT COLOURS ARE IN! Whether you add a matte black feature wall to your living room, paint your whole bathroom teal, or paint patterns on your wall with a variety of colours – bold paint choices are currently trending. Most likely a result of the constant popularity of white, beige and grey, some homeowners are taking a risk – and loving the reward. Are you ready to be bold? Here are three tips for adding statement colours to your walls. • Create contrast. One way to make bold colours really pop is by using contrast. Grab a colour wheel and choose two colour families on opposite sides of the wheel. For example – blue and orange. Choose one of the colours for your walls and then add in orange accents like furniture and curtains. • Create balance. Bold colours are fun, but they need to be anchored if you want your space to still feel calm and homey. Instead of picking two contrasting colours, select just one and then balance out the space with neutral accents. • Create intrigue. There are ways to add interest to a space without painting entire walls. Try painting a large circle above your couch in a bold colour. Or, if you have a living space that opens up to another room, leave the living space neutral and paint the back room a bright shade. This will draw the eye through the living space and make it seem bigger.

office 604.398.7999

MARIA SENAJOVA

ALL ABOUT BUILT-IN GRILLS If you’ve always dreamed about adding a gorgeous, outdoor kitchen to your exterior space, you’ve likely also thought about what kind of outdoor grill you’d install. Grills are usually defined by the type of fuel they use and gas and charcoal are the two main choices. While a gas grill is the easiest to use and most flexible, a charcoal grill gives you the traditional barbeque taste and smell. You can also install an electric grill, which can be a great solution when the other two options aren’t available. An electric grill does need a plugin nearby, but if you’re creating a built- in space you can plan around your existing outdoor outlets. And because of their smaller size, an electric grill often costs less than gas or charcoal. No matter which way you go, make sure you follow your municipality’s regulations about where you can and cannot install a grill!

office 604.398.7999

MARIA SENAJOVA

SUPPLY RESPONSE EMERGES IN METRO VANCOUVER’S ACTIVE HOUSING MARKET VANCOUVER, BC – May 4, 2021 - Home sellers have become increasingly active in Metro Vancouver’s* housing market this spring in response to heightened demand and rising home values that have materialized during the pandemic. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totaled 4,908 in April 2021, a 342.6 per cent increase from the 1,109 sales recorded in April 2020, and a 14 per cent decrease from the 5,708 homes sold in March 2021. Last month’s sales were 56.2 per cent above the 10- year April sales average and is the highest total on record for the month. “Our housing market has changed considerably from one year ago when COVID-19 concerns brought activity to a near standstill,” Keith Stewart, REBGV’s economist said. “This was followed by a well-documented spike in home buyer demand across the region. So far this spring, we’ve seen a corresponding supply response from home sellers.” The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,152,600. This represents a 12 per cent increase over April 2020 and a 2.6 per cent increase compared to March 2021.

BENCHMARK PRICE SFD 1 $1,755,500

BENCHMARK PRICE Apartment $729,600

ACTIVE LISTINGS 10,245

SOLD LISTINGS 4,908

Source: REBGV Market values stated are of the average of Vancouver and surrounding region. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

CLICK FOR FULL REPORT

OR CALL WITH YOUR REAL ESTATE MARKET QUESTIONS

office 604.398.7999