When you’re preparing your home for sale, you obviously want your property to look its best for buyers. That means fixing things that are broken, and, possibly, making a few improvements. But, how do you decide whether to invest in fixing or improving something versus just leaving it as is?Say, for example, the walls throughout your home are a bit faded. (They’ve gone through a lot of living!) You...
If you want or need to sell your current home, one thing you might be wondering is, “How will we find and buy our next dream home?” Fortunately, there’s no mystery to how to do that. Simply follow the “golden rules”! Create a profile. Decide what kind of home you want to buy. Consider the type of building, size, number of bedrooms, property features, and other details. When you have a...
Unless you’re in a seller’s market where you can expect many offers, quickly, it might make sense to get a pre-sale home inspection. It can give your listing a competitive advantage. What is it? It’s simply a professional inspection you get done on your own home. Assuming only a few inconsequential issues are identified, the passed inspection becomes an appealing selling feature of your...
It seems like every month there is a new website offering deals on everything from electronics to travel. In fact, the “coupon industry” is booming. This trend has conditioned people, more than ever before, to look for bargains and become determined to pay well below the market price for merchandise. There’s nothing wrong with that. We all want a deal! But when it comes to shopping for a home,...
Have you ever had a formal photo shoot? Perhaps you’ve had one for work or arranged one for your family. If so, chances are you dressed up and made yourself look your best. That’s the right mindset to be in when selling your home too. You want to make every room look as attractive as possible because, these days, many buyers will view pictures of your listing – usually online – before they...
Have you ever seen a product at a store and thought, “Whoa. That price is outrageously high. It’s just not worth it!” Conversely, you might have also reacted to another product with, “That’s awfully cheap. The quality must not be good.” Welcome to the psychology of pricing! According to research, people tend to draw conclusions about a product based on its price. If it doesn’t reflect...
Chances are, you’ve heard the expression, “Your home is your biggest investment.” For most homeowners, that’s true. So, when you’re shopping for a new home, it’s important to consider the financial opportunity of any purchase. Ideally, you want a home that is likely to increase in value over time. In other words, you want a home with a strong potential return on investment. But dollars...
Imagine your coffee maker switching on by itself, staying on for hours, overheating and becoming a fire hazard. That’s not science fiction. As more and more appliances incorporate Wi-Fi, the opportunities for hackers to play havoc with your home gadgets increase. How do you prevent that from happening? Here are some safety tips: If your gadget uses a password to access the settings, change that...
If you’re relaxing on a Caribbean beach, or enjoying a bus tour through historic Paris, the last thing you want to worry about is your home. Most people know the basics of keeping a home secure while away. Here are some additional tips that are easy to miss: Tell your kids not to boast about your fabulous vacation plans, especially on social media. The fewer who know that the house is empty, the...
As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, it's time to ensure your home is ready to face the challenges of winter. Whether you live in a snow-covered wonderland or a milder climate, taking these steps to winterize your home can save you money on energy bills and prevent costly damage. Here's a quick guide to getting your house ready for the winter season: Inspect Your Roof: Start at the top by...