“Should we stay or should we move?” – this is a question that many homeowners face. Whether it's adding children to the family, becoming empty nesters or just craving a change, knowing when to improve a home or move altogether isn’t an easy decision. There are many factors to consider, like finances, timing, emotions and more. To help you make the best decision, here are five questions to consider. 1. Do you still love your neighbourhood?  In real... [read more]

The single most important factor to any successful home sale is choosing the correct price. This is not a number that you can pull from the air – or from within your heart. It needs to be based on real and actual criteria and data, otherwise your listing will fall flat with buyers and stay on the market for a lot longer than you hoped. Need some advice on how to price your home for sale? Here are three tips to consider: Tip 1: Consult with an Expert First and foremost, a realtor is... [read more]

Most homeowners find satisfaction in making improvements to their home. But, sadly, not all upgrades will pay off. There is a risk of over-improving a property, which is when an owner puts more money into a home than they can get out of it once they sell.  The reason being? Improvements are only a portion of a home’s value. Other factors come into play, like location, square footage and nearby comparables. If you undertake a massive renovation and outfit your home with high-end... [read more]

Deciding on a proper asking price based on the actual value of your home is one of the best sales tools in real estate. As soon as you list your property for sale, there is a short window of opportunity to capture a buyer, so you want to capitalize on that by having a fair and attractive price.  Buyers pouring over available listings are waiting for the right home to come on the market. If your home is priced right from the beginning, you'll be in the ideal position to attract the... [read more]

The months of November through January get a bad rap in real estate for being a difficult time of year for putting a home on the market. But selling a house during the holiday season does have its advantages.  For one, buyers tend to be more serious because of unusual circumstances, such as a job transfer or a deadline, like the end of a lease. Secondly, this time of year often sees less competition with fewer active listings, meaning there could be more eyes on your... [read more]