It’s easy to assume that you don’t need a Realtor™ to sell your home. But using an experienced Realtor™ can bring a lot of value to your sale. Here are a few benefits to using a Realtor™:

1: You’ll probably make more money.

A July 2017 study by Collateral Analytics found that For Sale by Owners (FSBOs) rarely make any savings, and in some cases the sale may end up costing more. The study showed that FSBOs sold for around 6% less than similar properties sold by Realtor™.

2: You’ll get greater exposure with a Realtor™.

Only Realtor™ are allowed to market homes for sale on the MLS, consequently, homes sold without a Realtor™ will not show up on the MLS, which is...

There’s no doubt about it. Buying a home that is “move in ready” is a real convenience. All you need to do is get your belongings in place, and you’re ready to enjoy living in your new home. You don’t even need to paint. That’s why move-in-ready homes tend to attract more buyers.

However, there are advantages to buying a property that needs work. And, if you’re currently shopping for a new home, a listing that requires some repairs, upgrades, or renovations might be worth considering.

Why?

Properties that need work tend to be priced lower than comparable movein-ready listings. Depending on market demand, the price savings can range from modest (just a few thousand dollars) to substantial.

Also, homes...

We all know how stressful moving can be, with so much to think about and so much to do, but it’s how moving can impact those who are closest to us - our children and pets that we need to really be aware of.

Here’s some advice on how to make a successful family move.

Moving with Kids

These tips can make it easier for your kids to cope with the move and help make it more of a fun experience for the family.

1. Talk to your kids about the move.

The best way to prepare your kids for the move is to talk about it. Have a family meeting and explain why it’s best for the family and encourage them to talk about their feelings. Don’t wait until the last minute to talk to them as your kids will need time to digest the information...

When preparing your property for sale, you want to make it as attractive as possible to buyers. After all, the more buyers like what they see, the higher the probability you’ll get good offers.

That’s why it’s advisable to clean, declutter, decorate, fix, and improve as much as possible.

But how far should you go with fixing and improving? For example, should you tear down the old deck and build a new one? Or should you just leave it as is?

Should you paint the main floor? Or is it okay to leave the faded finish and few wall dents just as they are?

Those can be difficult questions to answer because many factors come into play.

• What is the traditional return on investment for that home improvement? In other words, how much will...

Spring is often associated with moving, but now is the time to start preparing your home if you want to sell a house fast this coming springtime.

Sure, you can wait until the weather starts turning warmer if you just want to put your property on the market and hope for the best. However, clever sellers know there’s more to be made with a bit of forethought than simply selling a house ‘as is’ once spring is already here.

So, if you are wondering how to sell your home fast this springtime, here are some hints and tips.

1. Do your spring cleaning now

If you are planning to sell your property before the summer, now is the time to start getting it ready for sale...and that includes spring cleaning.

Not only will cleaning and decluttering...

Are you thinking of selling your home this year? If so, you might be paying extra attention to housing market news covered by the regional and national media.

While that news can be helpful information, it can sometimes say little about what’s happening in your particular neighbourhood. In fact, it’s possible for there to be a balanced market nationally or regionally, while at the same time your street may be experiencing a hot seller’s market!

That’s why it’s important to understand what’s happening in your local “micro” housing market when you’re selling your home.

What do you need to know about your local real estate scene? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Is our neighbourhood...

Unless you’re selling in a strong sellers’ market, you should take advantage of every opportunity to show your home. Say, for example, an interested buyer would like to see your property tomorrow evening. If you say no, they might see another listing in the meantime — and make an offer!

So, being prepared to show your home at the drop of a hat is important.

That doesn’t mean you should agree to be inconvenienced constantly. However, if you can put up with some disruptions in your plans now and then, you’ll increase your chances of selling your property.

Consider these tips:

• Avoid restricting showings to a particular weekday, such as Monday evening and Saturday afternoon. What if an interested buyer isn’t available...

If you are thinking about selling your home this coming spring, one factor that may hold you back or delay your preparations is time. You may be worried that you won’t be able to find the time in your busy schedule to prepare your property so you can sell successfully.

If so, here are four strategies that can help:

1. Understand what needs to be done

Do you know what you’ll need to do in order to sell your home? Do you understand the steps involved? Do you have a clear idea of how long it will take to complete these various tasks, such as getting repairs done, decluttering, and doing some ‘staging’?

The more accurately you can anticipate your tasks and how long it will take to complete them, the better you’ll be...

Have you ever had to go last-minute gift shopping? If so, you know what that can be like. You don’t have time to amble casually through numerous stores in hopes of coming across something suitable. The clock is ticking. You need to find the right gift, now!

A similar thing can sometimes happen when shopping for a new home. You may not have a lot of time available in your schedule. Yet, you need to view properties and find the right home, quickly.

So, how do you do that on a tight schedule?

One way is to be clear on the type of home you want to get into. The more narrow your search parameters, the more likely you are to view properties that are strong candidates.

Create a profile of your dream home, including property type, number of bedrooms,...

Until a couple of years ago, internet access was a nice-to-have for most homeowners. But these days, it’s fast becoming a necessity. Kids need good internet to do homework assignments. You may need reliable internet to work from home and attend online meetings.

So, when shopping for a new home, it’s wise to check if the property which you’re interested in making an offer on has good internet available. The last thing you want is to move into a home only to discover that the internet service is slow and faster options are unavailable.

There are many ways to do find out.

For example, most internet services websites have a feature where you can type on the address and find out what type of internet services are available. Pay attention...