Your home may have met your family’s needs when you first bought it, but needs change. Eventually, the time will come to upgrade your home to a more spacious option that’s better suited to where you’re at now. 

Upsizing to a larger house can make your day-to-day life even more comfortable and convenient. Although moving to a new place takes a lot of work, it’s well worth the effort involved. 

If you’re ready to move up to a bigger home in Calgary, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading for important advice on how to navigate your upsizing journey easily and successfully. 

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Laying the Foundation

One of the nuances of upsizing to a new family home is that it brings two separate real estate transactions: buying and selling. When done back-to-back, these steps can feel like one smooth transition, but they’re really two different processes – each requiring careful planning and forethought.

  • Hiring a Calgary Real Estate Agent

When you’re ready to upsize your home, step one is finding the right Realtor for you. Keep in mind that you have two major transactions ahead of you, and the agent you choose to work with will significantly influence the outcome of your upcoming purchase and the sale of your current home. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to do your research and consider multiple options before hiring someone. 

A great agent will have years of experience in the Calgary market and a strong professional track record. You’ll also want to choose a Realtor who has direct experience buying and selling in your neighbourhood. 

  • Choosing Which Step Comes First 

If you plan to move, you’ll need to decide whether to buy or sell first. There’s no universal answer as to which path is best – instead, you’ll want to consider your personal goals and overall risk tolerance. Both options have their advantages, but they come with drawbacks too.

Choosing to sell your home first means you’ll have greater peace of mind and a better idea of your budget as you start house hunting. However, it can also come with the pressure to buy a place before the closing date of your current home. On the other hand, buying a new home before selling could leave you managing two separate mortgages until you’re able to find a buyer. 

About to sell your home? Read these blog posts next!

Getting Ready to Sell Your Calgary Home

  • Spruce Up Your Home

If you want to sell your house quickly and for a great price, you’ll want to do everything you can to make buyers feel like it’s their dream home. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to accomplish this. Such as:

  1. Cleaning and decluttering the home
  2. Making repairs and selective value-adding upgrades where needed
  3. Staging
  4. Pricing based on market data and buyer trends 
  5. Marketing effectively to Calgary buyers – and the right buyer type

Once again, the most important detail in your home sale is the Realtor you choose to work with. It’s their job to plan and execute the majority of your selling plan – including your pre-listing optimizations. 

  • Pricing Properly 

Pricing is an essential yet often overlooked part of selling a house successfully. For example, some sellers think they can simply price their house on the higher side and wait for buyers to negotiate down. This may sound foolproof on paper, but in reality, it doesn’t work. The higher you price your home, the more buyers will pass over it on their home search.

Pricing on the low end is also risky. Although you’re opening the door to a larger buyer pool, there’s no guarantee that above-asking offers will come in. Eventually, you’ll be leaving money on the table. 

In any market, setting the right asking price is about strategy and balance. Your agent will know how to price your home based on the current market, neighbourhood trends, and any other unique factors that may play a role. 

  • Be Showing-Ready

Once your home is on the market, you need to keep it in excellent condition. This isn’t always easy, especially if you have kids, but it is important. Have a daily routine in place to ensure your home is clean, clutter-free, and showing-ready at all times – you never know when a buyer may request a viewing. 

If your home is struggling to sell, it’s crucial to actively seek and heed feedback from potential buyers, their agents, and your own agent. Be prepared to adapt your strategy if buyer interest remains low.

Want more home-selling advice? Explore these related readings.

Finding Your Dream Home in Calgary

  • Know Your Needs 

When you’ve got two real estate transactions to navigate, efficiency is key. One of the best ways to set yourself up for success as a buyer is to determine what you’re looking for in a home before you head to the market. Sit down with your family and outline all of your needs, wants, and preferences, especially the features that will be non-negotiable. 

When it comes to finding the perfect family home, few characteristics are as important as functionality. You’ll need to think carefully about factors like size, layout, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, storage space, and any other features that will be important to your family. As the hub of everyday life, your home should support your lifestyle rather than hinder it. 

You’ve already experienced what it’s like to live in a house that’s too small, so it’s a good idea to consider how your family’s needs may change or evolve in the future as you’re house hunting. 

  • Think About Community 

Picking a neighbourhood is especially important when it comes to finding a house you’ll love for years to come. Beyond just being where you live, your community will have a big impact on your family’s overall quality of life. For instance, your neighbourhood determines where your kids will go to school, what extracurricular activities will be available to them, and your family’s access to essential amenities and services like grocery stores, healthcare, public transportation and more. 

Some of Our Favourite Calgary Neighbourhoods For Families

Luckily, Calgary has lots of great communities – many of which were specifically developed with family living in mind. As real estate agents, some of our most recommended family neighbourhoods in Calgary include:

  • Aspen Woods
  • Discovery Ridge
  • Springbank Hill
  • West Springs
  • Building Your Budget 

Compared to real estate in other major Canadian cities, homes in Calgary are fairly affordable; however, they’re not undervalued. 

As you approach the purchase of your next home, having a well-thought-out budget is essential. 

Don’t forget – buying a home comes with costs other than just the property itself, including legal fees, land title transfer, title insurance, and home inspection. These can add up to several thousand dollars, depending on the property value and characteristics of your new home.

One easy way to find out what you can afford to spend on your new home is to apply for a mortgage pre-approval. You can do this at any major bank or through a mortgage broker. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage tells you how much financially you qualify for and, ultimately, how much you can afford to spend on a house. 

  • Elevating Your Offer

If you’re serious about landing your dream home, you’ll want to do everything you can to make your buying offer stand out. 

Sellers often prioritize offers with fewer contingencies and flexible timelines, so you may want to consider waiving non-essential conditions and being open to different closing and possession dates. However, be cautious about skipping major protections like a home inspection. 

A lot of sellers feel a strong emotional connection to their home, and they want to make sure it ends up in good hands. A well-written letter about you and your family could be the difference between your offer getting accepted and being turned away. Touch on what you love about the home and neighbourhood, why they’re perfect for you, and any other personal insights that will give the seller a glimpse into your family’s world. 

Upsize Your Home With Dolce Real Estate Group

No matter what time of year you head to the market, the easiest way to reach your goals is with the help of an experienced Calgary real estate agent. That’s where we come in – Dolce Real Estate Group.

Starting with a well-planned home sale, we’ll help you earn the greatest return possible and, in turn, amplify your buying budget. Next, our unrivalled knowledge of Calgary’s dynamic communities and housing market will match you with the perfect family home for your next chapter.

Searching for a local team to help you upsize with ease? Look no further than Dolce Real Estate. Call 403.999.5882 to get in touch or send us an email at info@dolcerealestate.ca.

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