Guides

20 Tips Before you List your Home
Created by Kale Blakely | Flex Realty Group

Thinking about selling your home in BC? Here's your go-to checklist to prepare, maximize value, and sell with confidence.

🏡 1. Understand the Local Market
Research current trends in your neighborhood. Know the average selling price, days on market, and what similar homes are offering.

🧾 2. Review Your Mortgage Terms
Check for any penalties or discharge fees if you’re breaking your mortgage early. Some lenders charge substantial amounts.

👩‍💼 3. Find a Knowledgeable Real Estate Agent
Choose a BC-based REALTOR® familiar with your local market (like Kelowna or Vancouver). A great agent is invaluable.

💵 4. Get a Home Evaluation
Get a professional opinion on your home’s current market value — it may surprise you (in a good or bad way).

🛠️ 5. Make Necessary Repairs
Fix minor issues like leaky faucets, loose railings, and squeaky doors — they impact perceived value.

🧽 6. Deep Clean Everything
From baseboards to ceilings. Clean homes photograph better and show even better in person.

🎨 7. Neutralize the Paint
Repaint bold walls with neutral tones to appeal to the widest range of buyers.

📸 8. Invest in Professional Photography
High-quality images (and videos) are crucial — first impressions are made online.

📹 9. Consider a Video Tour or Drone Footage
Especially in BC’s scenic areas, drone shots or walkthroughs can wow out-of-town buyers.

🪴 10. Enhance Curb Appeal
Power wash siding, paint the front door, add potted plants — small exterior touches = big perceived value.

📋 11. Pre-List Home Inspection
Optional, but it can help uncover deal-breaking issues early and position you as a proactive seller.

📂 12. Gather All Documentation
This includes the title, property disclosure statement, permits, strata documents (if applicable), manuals, warranties, etc.

💼 13. Talk to a Lawyer or Notary
Get ahead of any legal questions, especially regarding title transfer, taxes, or estate sales.

🧾 14. Know the Taxes
Understand Property Transfer Tax (PTT), possible GST on new builds, and Capital Gains implications if it’s not your principal residence.

🛋️ 15. Declutter + Depersonalize
You’re moving anyway — box up family photos, excessive décor, and anything that makes the home feel “yours” instead of “theirs.”

🕯️ 16. Stage for Success
Whether full staging or light enhancements, a well-staged home sells faster and for more.

📅 17. Plan the Timing
Spring and fall are typically strongest in BC. Coordinate listing around market highs, school schedules, and weather.

🌐 18. Prep for Online Exposure
Make sure your home is optimized for Realtor.ca, social media, and virtual showings — your agent should handle this.

🚪 19. Be Flexible with Showings
The more accessible your home is, the faster it will sell. Try to say yes to every showing request (even short-notice ones).

💡 20. Emotionally Detach
Start thinking of it as a product, not your home. You’re selling a space for someone else to dream in.

The 123’s of Strata and Bare Land Strata Properties

Created by Kale Blakely | Flex Realty Group
In British Columbia, there are traditionally two types of strata property, these are:
▪ Strata (Regular / Traditional Strata)
▪ Bare Land Strata
What is a "Strata" (Regular / Traditional Strata)?
In BC, a "strata" property is a form of ownership where individual owners own:
• Their unit/lot (for example, an apartment or townhouse)
• Plus a share of the common property (hallways, roofs, parking garages,
etc.)
The Strata Property Act governs this. In most traditional strata:
• The building exterior, roofs, roads, landscaping, etc., are collectively
owned and maintained through a monthly strata fee.
• The strata corporation (the owners collectively) purchases a master
insurance policy that covers:
• The structure (building itself)
• Common property
• Liability
Unit owners typically just need:
• Condo Insurance (contents + personal liability), and
• Deductible coverage to protect themselves if a claim is made against the
strata

About Kale
Kale Blakely was born and raised in Revelstoke, BC, where he developed his love for the outdoors. Whether he was skiing, hiking, biking, or doing any outdoor activity, Kale always loved adventuring the world. After spending a decade assisting in the managing and running of the Revelstoke McDonald’s, a family business, Kale moved to Kelowna, British Columbia to pursue a Bachelor of Management degree at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. He graduated in 2021 with honours, immediately shifting his focus to real estate. Altogether, Kale has 15 years of McDonald’s experience, and has dabbled with many facets of the business, along with having years of experience with RE/MAX Kelowna before making the move to Flex Realty Group. Motivated and slightly competitive, Kale is not hesitant to rise to any challenge ahead to prove his worth. He has learned and instilled a business mindset and has a professional
and mature personality that has allowed him to network with people of all ages. His upbeat energy, in combination with his logical and pragmatic mindset keeps him grounded in high pressure and sensitive situations, allowing for optimal decisions to be made. Kale’s success at such a young age can be attributed to his disciplined lifestyle and success-orientated frame of mind, that continues to lead him each day.
Kale takes pride in working with his clients and providing a truly unique and enjoyable experience. He puts his client’s best interests far beyond his own and will ensure success and happiness with any transaction. His knowledge of both the market and the ins and outs of the real estate world had led to multiple successful sales. After all, Kale’s primary goal is to always ensure the process of buying or selling real estate is the simplest and best experience.

What is a "Bare Land Strata"?
A bare land strata is completely different in terms of ownership and insurance responsibility.
In a bare land strata:
• You own the building (your home) AND the land your home sits on.
• The strata plan only defines the outer boundaries of each lot (the land), not the buildings.
• The common property is usually just the roads, fences, gates, street lights,
or sometimes a clubhouse — NOT your home or lot itself.
This means:
• The strata corporation’s insurance only covers the common property
(roads, clubhouse, fence, etc.).
• The homeowner must personally insure their own home and lot — as if it
were a detached house.
• You need a full homeowner's insurance policy (fire, flood, building
replacement, liability, etc.).
• Plus contents insurance for your personal belongings.
Figure 1: Comparing Traditional Strata Vs. Bare Land Strata