Vancouver Real Estate with Matt Collinge, Port Moody, BC (2026)

02/28/2025

4 Ways to Make Your Home More Liveable, AND More Sellable -

You are living in a home you love. You love where you live. Your family has grown and now things aren’t working with this home. There are toys, and baby stuff everywhere, and never mind your work-from-home set-up!

1. De-clutter

This is HARD! My wife and I have raised 3 kids in homes much smaller than the homes we grew up in. Our younger 2 kids (a boy and I girl) shared a room for about 9 years. The only way to make raising a family work in a small space is to be ruthless in keeping the STUFF under control.

2. Off-site Storage

Have you tossed everything you can and there is still too much stuff? It might be time to consider off-site storage. There has been a boom in the construction of mini-storage locations in recent years. I bet there is one within 15 minutes of your home.

3. Co-working Offices

You want to work from home, but it isn’t working. It could be time to consider a co-working space. Co-working spaces offer flexible desks and offices. This can offer you the space and quiet you need to get some work done in an efficient manner. These are also very popular now and there may be one in your neighbourhood.

4. Hire a Professional

Professional organisation experts can do magic. They can help you organise and tidy your space in ways that you hadn’t thought of. They will find a place for the items that you can’t. The organisation solution that you keep meaning to come up with; they can help. They will even help you with number 1 on this list.

DM for a free home sellers guide for more tips!

02/23/2025

4 Ways to Make Your Home More Liveable, AND More Sellable 👇

You are living in a home you love. You love where you live. Your family has grown and now things aren’t working with this home. There are toys, and baby stuff everywhere, and never mind your work-from-home set-up! Here are 4 ways to make Your home more liveable, AND if it’s time to sell it’ll be more sellable too.

1. De-clutter

This is HARD! My wife and I have raised 3 kids in homes much smaller than the homes we grew up in. Our younger 2 kids (a boy and I girl) shared a room for about 9 years. The only way to make raising a family work in a small space is to be ruthless in keeping the STUFF under control.

2. Off-site Storage

Have you tossed everything you can and there is still too much stuff? It might be time to consider off-site storage. There has been a boom in the construction of mini-storage locations in recent years. I bet there is one within 15 minutes of your home.

3. Co-working Offices

You want to work from home, but it isn’t working. It could be time to consider a co-working space. Co-working spaces offer flexible desks and offices. This can offer you the space and quiet you need to get some work done in an efficient manner. These are also very popular now and there may be one in your neighbourhood.

4. Hire a Professional

Professional organisation experts can do magic. They can help you organise and tidy your space in ways that you hadn’t thought of. They will find a place for the items that you can’t. The organisation solution that you keep meaning to come up with; they can help. They will even help you with number 1 on this list.

Comment or DM me for our free Seller’s Checklist.

02/19/2025

When buying a brand new home we like to expect that it will be perfect. The truth is that no home, new or used, is perfect.

Homes are built by human beings. Even the best-intentioned contractor, builder, or tradesperson can make a mistake.

Sometimes it’s a mistake, but sometimes a builder could be in a hurry.

The market could have changed since you signed the deal and now their profit margin is getting thin.

And some builders and developers are inexperienced or lack competency.

Before you take possession of your brand new home you will have the opportunity to do a deficiency walk-through.

I recommend that you bring a certified home inspector with you. They will be able to spot issues that might be easy to miss.

Remember you have a home warranty, but it has limitations. Be aware of the dates and terms of the different parts of the warranty. If in doubt, report a deficiency immediately, and in writing.

02/15/2025

Do you love to travel? I travelled internationally for the first time the day before my 2nd birthday. Kids were free if they were under two.

After that experience, I think it’s safe to say my parents wouldn’t recommend taking an active 1.99-year-old on a 9-hour flight.

I guess I was not well-behaved!

We were going to England to see my English grandma. My mum had immigrated to Canada in the 60’s and one didn’t go back and forth much back then, so it was a special trip.

We wouldn’t return to the UK as a family for another 11 years and from that time forward I have loved to travel.

We spent 2 months travelling throughout England and Wales, with a side trip to Paris.

Since then I have been lucky enough to travel internationally a number of times.

These experiences piqued my love for travelling and exploring other cultures.

I’ve visited many countries in Europe over the years. Including a year in the UK and Western Europe after university.

More recently we spent 3 weeks in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and Portugal 🇵🇹 in 2021.

A couple of weeks on Maui in 2022. 🏖️

And 2 weeks in Japan 🇯🇵 KID FREE last summer!

Where should we go next? Where do you want to go?

02/14/2025

How to Find the Right Neighbourhood For You and Your Lifestyle

This can be a challenge, but by working together we can find the right area for you. Using our Hinge Method will set us on the right track, but what can you do?

You can start by touring neighbourhoods that might interest you. Check out the parks and playgrounds.

Where is the school? What is the high school catchment? Is there a community centre or recreation centre nearby? Stop by these places and see if you like them. Chat with people who already live there.

Do you want to be able to walk to the shops? Check Google Maps, or look up the Walkscore online.

How about the commute? How would you get to work from this area? Would you drive, take transit, ride your bike, or some combination?

When we are ready we can start exploring the homes for sale in the area and find the one that is right for you.

02/11/2025

Health and wellness are very important to me and my wife. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that both our fathers were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes during our childhoods.

They were dependent on insulin for the rest of their lives. Fortunately for us we also have some natural inclination to sports and fitness.

I played soccer from the age of 5 to 19 and was lucky enough to have some success in my final years of youth soccer. I also played high school football. After high school I went away to university and became very involved in the early days of mountain biking. I dabbled with weights in the gym, but never really got a routine going.

As we’ve raised 3 children we’ve struggled at times to keep a regular fitness program, but we always try to eat well. We would exercise when we could. Often running on the Vancouver Seawall. My wife started going to yoga.

As our kids are growing up we have more freedom to keep fit. Now there are also aging parents to help out, but we find the time. In the last few years we have added some weight training to our routines. My wife combines cycling and Skytrain in her commute.

Living in a walkable community has been essential to our fitness journey. A shorter commute, and a pleasant place to run or walk makes it just that little bit easier to lace up and get out the door!

02/07/2025

You live in a place you love, in an area you love, and you are trying to make it work with the first child. ⁠
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They were sleeping in your room at first, and then in the den, or the walk-in closet. As they get older they need their own room, a place for a proper crib or big-kid bed. ⁠
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They need a quiet, separate place to sleep. They aren’t having proper naps and you often wake them up when you go to bed, or even move around your place. ⁠
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This is no way to live. It isn’t serving you or your child. It is only going to get worse as they get older and more active. ⁠
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They need a place to rest.⁠
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You need to be able to relax and enjoy your downtime so you can be a great parent when they wake up. ⁠
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Making the move to a bigger home while staying in the neighbourhood you love might seem like it is impossible. but I have helped many families make a move just like this. ⁠
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Using our Hinge Method our clients have been able to find their new family home and continue living the lifestyle they love. Request the Hinge Method Guide today.

02/05/2025

Real estate is as much about relationships as it is about buildings and land.

Relationships with other agents are vital. A good relationship and reputation within the REALTOR community can be critical to getting you the home of your dreams.

Some agents will try to take advantage of that. They will try to close a deal by getting your agent to reveal your motivation or budget.

Others may try to avoid disclosing everything they should about a property.

I always keep in mind that my loyalty to you, the client, is the most important thing!

It might take a little longer. It might be a bit more work. In the end, I will know that I did everything I could to get you all the information to make the right decision.

So here’s something to keep in mind;—--
Be careful what you say!
When we go to see a home for sale the listing agents might ask questions.
They might ask me.
They might ask you directly.

These questions might seem innocent, Sometimes they are, but sometimes they are looking for something. They are looking for something they can use against us if you decide to make an offer.

Whenever I speak to another agent I am always on the lookout for these questions. Some will be really pushy.

You and I must tread carefully. We want a good relationship with the other agent. We do NOT want to give away our negotiating power.

When you go see a house, be friendly, but be careful.

02/05/2025

4 ways to find the best deals in your real estate market

It is no secret that finding a home you can afford in Metro Vancouver can be a challenge. Here are some tactics I use to try and find my clients that diamond in rough.

1️⃣ Shop in the Day Old Bin - When we look for a deal on a loaf of bread, or a bag of muffins (not talking from experience here at all 😉 we might look in the day olds section.

When we are looking for a deal on real estate we can do something similar. By looking at listings that have been on the market for a little longer, say 3 weeks or more, we might find a deal.

2️⃣ Consider homes with no pictures: Studies have shown that the more photos a listing has the higher the selling price. Listings with no, or only a few, photos will attract less attention.

If a home with just 1 photo ticks a few of your boxes maybe you should go see it. This might mean going to see some listings that you aren’t sure about. Doing the work that others are not willing to could mean a better deal for you.

3️⃣ Expand your search - Home buyers tend to have certain boundaries in mind when searching for a home. By expanding your search by a few blocks you can unlock some listings that you might have overlooked.

This will generally not significantly impact your lifestyle and might even save you some money.

4️⃣ Look at messy homes: These listings may have a good selection of photos, but the seller clearly hasn’t put much effort into preparing the home for sale.

These listings will also attract fewer buyers than the well prepared and presented listings. Maybe you’ll find a diamond in the rough here.

This style of home search can be a little more work, but the rewards are worth it! You could save thousands of dollars. You could shorten your home search. You could avoid the competition.

If you’re ready to start your home search? Comment or Message me for my buyers checklist.

02/05/2025

My 3 Favourite Walkable Neighbourhoods Outside of the City (in no particular order):

Do you need more space? Would you love to maintain a walkable lifestyle in your new neighbourhood?

This used to be almost impossible, but new developments have now created walkable neighbourhoods in the traditional suburbs of Metro Vancouver.

These areas offer home buyers a more affordable option when they need more space within their budget.

It might be possible to live a walkable lifestyle in the suburbs.

Check out my 3 favourite walkable neighbourhoods outside of the city.

1. Port Moody Centre. You can walk to shops, parks, and the library. Inlet Park offers a waterfront walking path. The library and recreation centre are also within walking distance. Port Moody also has excellent public transit options.

2. Burnaby Heights. Here you can do your shopping along a few blocks of Hastings Street. Rapid bus service to Downtown Vancouver is available, but there is no rapid transit in this area. Schools and a rec centre are also close by.

3. Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver. It is easy to walk to the shops that line Lonsdale Street. More shopping and dining are available on the waterfront. The Seabus offers frequent service to Downtown Vancouver.

There are lots more walkable areas in the Vancouver area. Want more information? DM me.

02/04/2025

Lifting Heavy Things: I had been meaning to start lifting weights for 5+ years.

With a busy family life and work going to the gym never seemed to be in the cards.

I was running, and I flirted with Crossfit, but never had a consistent weightlifting program.

Over the past few years, things have come together. I have finally built a consistent weightlifting program.

Like so many people I have listened to a lot of the Huberman Lab podcast. The information he provided motivated me to get going.

My sister-in-law invited me to the Peloton app. I don’t have a Peloton bike, but the app has some great weight training programs.

I can do these right in my living room, or kitchen, or wherever I can find a little space in my home.

Finally, I broke down and bought some adjustable dumbbells.

We live in a small space. The dumbbells are beside me right now.

It’s not the living room look my wife was dreaming of, but we don’t have room for a big rack of the weights.

Is there something you have been meaning to add to your life to make you healthier? Let me know in the comments.

02/04/2025

From Dreamer to Realtor: My Real Estate Journey 🏡💭

Many think diving into real estate is hard and scary. But I believe in chasing dreams, even when they feel out of reach.

Over 20 years ago with a 2nd baby coming, I knew I needed a career change. Real estate pulled at my heart - a perfect blend of my passions for helping people, architecture, and urban life.

I found an amazing brokerage that provided stellar training and support to help me launch. The journey wasn’t always easy, but it’s been incredibly fulfilling building a career around what I love.

Curious to hear more about my path from hopeful dreamer to proud realtor? Follow me here or send me a message - I’m always happy to share!

Vancouver Real Estate with Matt Collinge

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