Real Estate

Do you have an extra bedroom that you’ve converted into a home office, arts/crafts room or other non-slumbering use? If so, you may be wondering if you should convert it back into a traditional bedroom. Especially before you list. According to home staging experts, that may be a good idea. Although buyers will know the space was designed as a bedroom, there will be a psychological response to seeing...

Have you ever considered selling your home and moving out-of-town? One concern that might be holding you back is the uncertainty involved in finding a home in an unfamiliar place. What are the best neighbourhoods? What are homes selling for in that area? And what is it like to live there? There are many ways to find out. If possible, spend a day in the area. Walk some of the neighbourhoods. Visit...

Imagine finding a home that is perfect in every way, except for one nagging thing. That “thing” might be a smaller kitchen than you want, fewer closets than you need, or flooring that you dislike. Should you buy it anyway? How do you know if you should take a pass? It’s not an easy decision to make and depends on a number of factors. Trying to answer these questions might help: How likely is it...

Remember the last time you had a family discussion about what to have for dinner? Chances are, there were some disagreements! In fact, it might have been agonizing trying to get everyone to settle on the same dish. Now imagine getting everyone to agree on what type of home to buy! Obviously, you want family members to be in harmony when looking for a new home. The more everyone is on the same page, the...

Buying a home is different than purchasing most other “products” in one important respect: agreeing to the price tag doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the property! There may be competing offers. Fortunately, there is plenty that can be done to increase your chances of getting the home you want.  The most effective strategy is to be proactive. Get alerted to and go to see properties that...

You’ve heard of “buyer’s regret”. It refers to purchasing a pricey item, like a fancy sweater or a new car, and then regretting it the next day because you think you paid too much. Fear of buyer’s regret can actually dissuade people from making a purchase, even when the price is right and they really want the product! In the real estate world, buyers can sometimes hesitate to make an offer...

Regardless of whether the overall housing market is up or down, there can be fierce competition when it comes to buying a home in a desirable neighbourhood. So, if you want to live in a “hot’ area, how do you gain an advantage? Here are some tips: Schedule viewings of homes for sale in the neighbourhood as soon as they go on the market. Have you ever heard the expression, “The early bird gets the...

Like most homeowners, you probably don’t think of your property as just a building with rooms and a backyard. To you, it’s much more than that. It’s a home. When you walk into your dining room, for example, you don’t merely see the table and chairs. You see memories. You recall laughter with family and friends. It’s emotional. That’s what a home is all about. However, buyers don’t want to...