A home is one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime, and it’s no wonder you may feel anxious about ensuring that you’re making the best choice with your funds. Unfortunately, sneaky sellers may not have your best interests in mind. Watch out for these sneaky tricks home sellers use to pass inspections. Paint Over It Perhaps the most common and the most obvious trick in the book...
Sure, there are plenty of people ready to offer you advise and share stories of their home-buying experience, but you’ll need to make the final call on everything, and that often means thinking with your head and not your heart. Here are some things that you should consider when in the process of house hunting. Be Willing to Walk Away You may have come across the perfect house, but no matter how...
The decor in your home says a lot about you. Your favourite sports teams, colours, even your political beliefs often make their presence known through your home’s decor. And when it comes time to sell your home, potential buyers can be easily swayed by the decor rather than the home itself. So before you open up your home for a tour, even for video or photos for the listing, be sure to remove these...
Over the summer of 2020, refinances of existing mortgages rose over 200 percent, according to Realtor.com. Driven by the lowest interest rates and the highest home prices in recent history, many homeowners are opting to skip the frustrations of moving in favour of lowering their current monthly mortgage payments. Investopedia.com warns that refinancing could be a bad idea if it’s done for the wrong...
Some people are happy with a room full of neutrals. Others want their home to make a statement. Whether you are diving into a remodel or want to freshen up your living space with a new coat of paint, you may want to look into the trending paint colours that today’s designers are recommending most. Blissful Blue – Sold at Lowes and other retailers, this intense grey-blue is perfect for dreamy...
If you are one of the Canadians / Quebecois who is working from home at least half of the time, you have probably set up a home office. Whether it’s at the kitchen table, in the corner of the living room or a designated room of its own, health professionals and interior designers say the right office gear can boost health and productivity and are well worth the splurge. Quality Task Lighting –...
It’s common for an interested buyer to request concessions when negotiating a deal. These concessions may come at a financial cost to you, but it may be in your best interest to agree to the buyer’s terms under some circumstances. What Types of Concessions Can a Buyer Ask for? Many people, especially first-time homebuyers, struggle to come up with enough money to cover down payment and closing...
When you’re looking for a real estate agent to help you buy or sell a house, you should seek out someone with in-depth knowledge of the local area and a successful track record. An agent’s reputation and relationships with fellow agents and other professionals involved in real estate transactions are also important. Take those factors into consideration when selecting an agent. How an Agent’s...
If you’re thinking about selling your house, you naturally want to know how much it’s worth. Numerous websites estimate home values, but the figures they provide can be inaccurate for multiple reasons. A real estate agent who has experience serving your area can give you a much more accurate figure. An Online Estimate May Not Consider Several Key Factors Estimates available online are based on...
Searching for the right house can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. If you stumble upon one that seems like it checks all the boxes, you may be tempted to make an offer immediately. That may be a smart move in some cases, but not in others. When to Make a Quick Offer If a house was just listed recently, it’s safe to assume that you’re not the only person interested in buying it. Under...