Real Estate

Imagine you find a home on the market that checks all the boxes. There’s only one issue. It needs work. Perhaps the paint has faded, or the kitchen is old, or there are repairs needed. Should you make an offer on that home? That depends on many factors, of course. The first thing you should consider is whether or not the home is otherwise ideal. If it has everything you want — location, size,...

When you sell your property and buy your next dream home, closing day can come faster than you might imagine. Before you know it, it’s just weeks away! So, it’s important to make the proper plans to ensure everything goes smoothly. Here are the most common plans you’ll need to make: Contact the post office to get your mail forwarded. No matter how thorough you are in updating your address...

As you may know, staging involves setting up the furniture, art and accessories of each room so that, overall, your home looks as appealing as possible to buyers. It’s similar to what furniture stores do when they create displays of model bedrooms, kitchens, etc. Consider using mirrors to make the bedroom seem larger and more comfortable. Put a new comforter on the bed. Update the wattage or...

You might be surprised to know which spaces in a home most buyers look at when viewing a property. If you’re preparing your home for sale, make sure to consider the following places that are likely to be checked out: Inside closets. Buyers want to get a sense of the size and capacity of all your closets. Make sure they’re clean and well organized. Avoid the “overstuffed” look....

You can’t call yourself a dentist unless you have specific hard-earned credentials. Just about anyone, however, can hang a shingle and call themselves a home improvement contractor. That’s why choosing a reputable one is so difficult. Here are some tips: Find out if they are truly in business full-time. A part-time or occasional contractor may not have the experience necessary to do a great...

Interest rates are on the rise. While they’re still historically low, they’re definitely higher than they were a year ago, which can be less than optimal for buyers. Many of the buyers we’re seeing in the market today are very cognizant of this shift. Today’s buyers still have the same access to the upfront money for down payments and closing costs as buyers from the past couple of years. But...

Spoiler alert: even though the market is shifting, you can still win whether you’re a buyer or a seller! When you work with the right real estate agent, you can make good real estate decisions that fit your lifestyle needs and set you up for financial success–yes, even in our crazy market. Sellers, you’ll want to consider getting your home on the market soon to meet the highest demand. Because our...

Is it really possible to improve your kitchen’s look for about the cost of a takeout gourmet dinner with the family? Obviously, you’re not going to be able to do anything major, such as replace the cabinets within that budget. But there are many surprisingly low-budget ways to spruce up the kitchen. Here are a few ideas: Do you have old cabinets? You’d be surprised by how much newer they can...

When you have a buyer coming to view your property, you want to make the best impression possible. So, you do the usual things. You clean, tidy and declutter. However, some details are easy to forget. For example: Is there a mat by the front door for shoes, umbrellas, etc.? Did you air out the home as much as possible to get rid of any lingering odours from a pet, recent cooking, etc.? Did...

When considering whether or not to sell their home, many people think about market conditions. They consider whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market. They look at trends. They try to time the sale to get the best price for their property. While market conditions certainly can play a role in deciding whether you should sell now rather than later, many other factors can influence that decision...