Ready for a Change?
As a Big White vacation property owner you know that your ski home or condo is worth more than ever before. At the same time, Big White Ski Resort continues to grow both in its offerings and its global awareness, leaving future potential for new investors. So if it’s time for a change, there is a fantastic market for real estate at Big White.
Below is some solid information to get you started and some answers to some common questions asked by those considering putting their Big White home or Big White condo up for sale.
Listing Your big white property for sale
The first step any property owner needs to take before listing their Big White home or Big White condo for sale is to get an accurate idea of what the property should sell for in today’s market. There are different ways to establish this value but ultimately you want to consult a professional real estate consultant. Joshua Elliott, a licensed REALTOR® with RE/MAX Kelowna says the most important consideration is to know the market, “You want to take a look at the data available to you through a professional and not rely on your gut feeling or what you heard your property is worth. It’s also important to remember data is only data until it’s been interpreted leaving room for error if not analyzed correctly .”
Once you know what your property should sell for, you can identify if you do in fact want to sell or are able to sell and can start to think about the next steps like selecting a REALTOR® to engage with on the listing. An important consideration to consider as you begin to think about selling is how quickly you want to sell. Some Big White properties are likely to sell much quicker than others with condos under $500,000 selling reasonably quickly and private homes in excess of $1 million sometimes taking up to several years before the right buyer comes along. Price can, but will not always play a factor in this.
There are a number of brokerage that operate offices at Big White including RE/MAX Kelowna. Any REALTOR® licensed in British Columbia could theoretically do the job though so choose someone who you feel is a fit for you and who has a process that gives you the confidence you’ll achieve your real estate goals.
start with a No-Charge
Pre-Sale Property Valuation Analysis
When is the best time to sell Big White real estate?
This is a very common question with all types of real estate in all markets with an answer that can be just as unique to each. Big White has two strong “selling seasons” and two slower seasons, though that doesn’t necessarily make for a bad time to sell. The strong selling seasons are the Pre Ski Season which runs from roughly July 1st to September 30th and the Mid Ski Season which runs from December 1st to March 31st. The Pre Ski Season sees buyers and investors purchasing Big White real estate before the start of the season while the Mid Ski Season is driven by resort visitors who catch the “Big White Lifestyle” and want to make their visit an annual affair.
Ultimately, the best time to sell your Big White home or Big White condo is when the market conditions are in line with your desire to sell. Your life is the key factor. If it makes sense for you to sell now and the market conditions support you doing so, then get it on the market. If you want to use your Big White ski property for another season and the market outlook is still strong for the upcoming spring, wait it out and - again - sell when the time is right for you!
How to be prepared for the sale of your big white home or condo
As with selling any real estate, you’ll have the most success and least amount of stress if you are well prepared. Start with getting a pre-sale property valuation analysis so you know with confidence where your Big White home or Big White condo’s value sits. Here are a few other quick tips to help you prepare:
Repair - take care of any noticeable defects so you’re not giving discerning buyers any reason to look for a different property. Look for peeling or chipped materials like caulking around sinks, and dents and gouges in walls. You want to present your Big White ski home as best possible.
Paint - if your home has not had a paint refresh in some time do not overlook having it painted. Be careful about the paint colours selected. Choose colours that are on trend, that reflect the style of the home, and that will appeal to as many possible purchasers as possible.
Furniture - is your furniture outdated or does it look like something someone would buy today? Take some time to make sure that your furniture and accent furnishings enhance the look and feel of your home. If furniture is outdated consider purchasing some new pieces or having the home professionally staged. Now is also a good time to decide whether you want to include the furniture in the sale of your vacation home.