Kevin Dol Comox Valley Homes Team

Cell 250-898-4158 | EMAIL kevindol@royallepage.ca |

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Should I Include the Appliances In the Sale of My Home?

This is such a good question, and it’s something that a lot of sellers wonder about. Do the appliances in your home go to the buyer or should you take them?

As the seller, you’re free to take anything that’s not permanently attached to the property. But buyers often expect appliances to be included–and if they’re not, it could deter potential buyers.

Ask your agent and look around at other listings to see if sellers include their washer and dryer with the house or if they take them.

Regardless of what you choose to do, make sure that it’s clear to potential buyers what stays and what goes.


If you have questions, simply fill out the contact form below or call/text me anytime. 

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Declutter Your Home in 15 Minutes a Day
It doesn’t take long for clutter to get out of hand. But the good news? In just 15 minutes a day, you can make a serious dent in the clutter.

Here’s all you have to do:

1. Create a drop space for everything, especially your keys, mail, purse, coats, shoes, and get in the habit of dropping things in their homes.

2. Set a timer for 10 minutes every day and clean one area of your home like an entryway table, drawer, or closet.

3. Do a 5-minute pick up before you go to bed each night, putting things back in their homes and throwing away all trash/recycling.

With just a little time and energy, you can have a clutter-free home and keep it that way!

Make sure to save this post so you can start doing a 15-minute declutter today.


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How Much Does It Cost To Flip A House?
Flipping a house can be super exciting. But it can also be a major wallet drainer. Make sure you’re prepared for all the costs before you sign the paperwork on a fixer-upper by accounting for these expenses:

1. Purchase Price of Fix & Flip Property: This is the original sticker cost that you close on when you buy the property. But it’s just one part of the picture!

2. Cost to Rehab a House: This is where you’ll spend a big chunk of your budget, and it includes the fun cosmetic upgrades as well as any structural or systems upgrades the house needs. Make sure to plan for unexpected costs here because they’re sure to pop up.

3. Carrying Costs to Flip a House: You still have to pay the monthly taxes, utilities, and insurance even when you’re flipping a house.

4. Fix & Flip Marketing & Sales Costs: Flipping a house means that you plan to sell it after you remodel. So you have to factor in the costs associated with selling the home, including real estate agent commissions.

If you’re ready to get flipping, send me a message.   I have my eyes on several properties that would be just perfect to flip right now!
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Avoid this Mistake when Purchasing a New Home
So you're buying a new home (or refinancing). Here's one tip that almost everyone needs to hear: once you have been approved for a mortgage, avoid making any major purchases or opening up a new line of credit. Even if you're opening that department store credit card to save 30%, it can impact your loan.

Once you've closed on your home, you can buy what you want, but until then, assume that any impact to your finances could prevent you from qualifying for the mortgage amount or rate you want.

If you have questions, simply fill out the contact form below or call/text me anytime. 
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Property Value is Made Up Of:
Your home doesn’t exist in a bubble. When an appraiser values a home, they take a lot into consideration. Such as the neighborhood, the market, and the location of the home. You unfortunately can’t control these factors of your property. So if you’re buying, pay special attention to these so you make a good investment.

The value is based on the home and aspects you can control. If you keep your home in good condition and make improvements to it, you’ll likely see the property value increase. And that means that when you’re ready, you can sell for more and make a profit.

Have any questions about property value? Simply fill out the contact form below or call/text me anytime. 
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Is Buying a Fixer Upper Right For You?

Buying a home can be difficult in today's market if you are on a budget.

Fixer-uppers are a great alternative to a newer home since they have less competition, more options to customize, and you are in control of choosing who you hire to make renovations.

But, renovations can become costly, unexpected issues can arise, and construction can last a long time.

If you are unsure if a fixer-upper would work for your budget, I'm here to help guide you.


If you have questions, simply fill out the contact form below or call/text me anytime. 

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How to Get Your Offer Accepted
While we are still in a seller's market, here are a few ways to get your offer accepted:

✅ Get pre-approved and have your financing ready to go.
✅ Consider giving the sellers an extra month to move out.
✅ Try offering a larger amount of earnest money deposit or down payment.
✅ Waive contingencies
✅ Use an experienced agent you trust!

For more advice on placing a great offer, give me a call today!
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5 Home Improvement Projects That Add Value to Your Home
Home improvements do not automatically increase the value of your home. Sometimes, it's the small stuff that can have the best impact on your sale price.

According to RIS Media & Zillow, there are five manageable projects that you might want to consider before listing your home for sale:

Upgrade your light fixtures (at minimum, take them down for a deep clean).
Replace faucets to elevate your bathrooms and kitchen.
​ Paint or replace your front door.
Private outdoor space is in high demand this year so, it's important to create a beautiful and functional outdoor space.
Add a fire pit to your backyard. Is it a must-have? No. But it just might give the buyer that cozy backyard vibe they want. (if local zoning allows, of course)

When you bought your last home, what made the biggest impression?

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Inspection vs Appraisal
Know the difference! Inspections and appraisals might seem similar, but they play very different roles in the home closing process.

An appraisal determines the fair market value of the home. An appraiser will walk through the property and take a general assessment of the home. They then use their report and comparable sales to determine the property’s fair market value. Lenders require appraisals to make sure that the home is worth the mortgage amount. They don’t want to lend money on something worth less than the mortgage.

An inspection is an in-depth look through the home to determine its condition. An inspector will go through the house, test all of the major home systems and then create a report with recommendations on repairs and concerns.

If you’re buying with cash, you don’t have to do either. But it’s still worth the time and money to get them done to make sure that you’re putting your money into a safe investment.
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What's the First Step to Buying a Home

Real estate professionals get quite a few questions every day regarding the real estate market.  One of the most frequent questions I get is "What's the first step in buying a home?"  


You might think that finding a home would be that first step in the process but actually, it's getting pre-approved for a mortgage.  Getting a pre-approval letter from a lender is an important first step on your home buying journey. 


Here’s why:


First, you need to know how much you can borrow. Knowing how much you can afford helps narrows down online home searching for suitable properties in your price range.  This reduces time wasted looking at homes outside your price range not to mention, preventing you from falling in love with homes outside of your budget. 


Second, the loan estimate from your mortgage lender will show how much money you will need for a down payment and closing costs.  A clearer picture of these costs will help you assess whether you need more time to save up money or liquidate assets and prevent any unexpected surprises at closing.  



Finally, being pre-approved for a mortgage demonstrates your seriousness as a buyer to both your real estate consultant and the seller of the home.  Pre-approval could even give you an advantage in negotiation as someone who has their "financial ducks" in a row is more appealing than a buyer who doesn't.  


Some real estate agents will require a pre-approval before showing homes, particularly when it comes to the higher end homes on the market.  Sellers of luxury homes want to make sure only serious (verified) buyers are coming to their home and want to keep out the "looky lous" and protect their privacy. 

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MLS® property information is provided under copyright© by the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board and Victoria Real Estate Board. The information is from sources deemed reliable, but should not be relied upon without independent verification.