Imagine you’re shopping for a used iPhone 11 that’s in good condition. You visit a resale website and discover that most are selling for approximately $350. Would you be willing to pay $400? Probably not. The market value is obviously well-established. There would be no reason to pay more. Pricing your home for sale is similar. Your home has a market value and, if you were to list it, buyers would...

The kitchen is one of the spaces that buyers tend to remember. They may forget the size of the third bedroom or whether or not there’s a closet in the front foyer, but the impression buyers form of your kitchen will linger on. That’s why, when you’re selling your home, staging the kitchen to look its best is so important. Here are some tips: Remove cookware, small appliances (like the...

You’ve probably heard the expression, “The early-bird gets the worm.” It refers, of course, to those who get in early and reap the rewards. For example, if you arrive early to a retail store for a big blowout sale, you’re likely to get the deals before the inventory runs out. The stragglers who come later will miss out. Well, this same wisdom can be applied to selling your home. Starting the...

Chances are, you know that you should change the batteries in your smoke detectors at least once a year — even if you suspect the batteries are still good. But that isn’t the only fire safety check you should do annually. Here are some other recommended tips to help keep you and your family safe. Clean your stove burners and oven regularly. Hard grease build-up can become combustible.Check your...

If you’re thinking of selling your home, you may have walked through it and discovered that you’ve been ignoring work that needs to be done to make your home look its best. For example, you may have been living with a cracked floor tile that needs to be fixed, or a damaged closet door that requires replacement. Is it a good idea to get these maintenance issues dealt with before you list? Typically,...

Buying a new pair of shoes is relatively easy. Once you find the style you like, all you need to do is try them on and see if they fit. If they do, you go to the cash register and pay. When it comes to size, buying a new home can be trickier! Whether your intention is to upsize or downsize, figuring out the right size can be especially challenging. Say for example, you’re downsizing from a large...

As you probably know, when you’re preparing to move, you’ll need boxes and tape — and, perhaps some bubble-wrap or old newspapers to use as protective wrapping for delicate items. But that may not be all you need. Take a look at this list and see if you want to have any of these on hand while you’re packing or on your moving day: Colour markers for labelling boxes. (Tip: Colour coding boxes...

Outdoor lighting has come a long way from the days of patio lanterns and strings of lightbulbs. These days, there’s an exhaustive array of options available to illuminate your outdoor space, and make it more appealing and comfortable, particularly in the evenings. Here are just a few ideas: Solar garden lights. These lights are on stakes that can be easily inserted throughout the garden....

For most people, smoke detectors are simply taken for granted. But, when it’s time to replace your smoke detectors, be sure to understand the differences between the two main types. Ionization types use a battery to create a small current that charges the ion particles inside the detector. If that current is disrupted by smoke, an alarm is triggered. Though they are designed to detect all types of...

“Staging” is about setting up and decorating each room of your home so that it looks as attractive as possible to potential buyers. Studies show that a property is more likely to sell quickly and for a better price if it is effectively staged. Even if you haven’t heard of staging before, you probably already know the basics, such as eliminating clutter and making sure everything is clean and...