How To Winterize Your Home Your home can be deeply affected by cold weather, so it’s important to make sure your property is well-maintained for the winter season. Below are some ideas on how to keep your home cozy and safe for the winter. Watch That Thermostat Make sure you’re using the right amount of heat, especially during the colder times of year. Turning down the heat when you’re away from home, either on vacation or whenever you leave the house, can help maintain your heating system and reduce costs. Maintain Your Pipes Freezing pipes can be a concern during wintertime. To avoid this, k ..read more

How To Create The Perfect Home Office With remote work more popular than ever, it’s important to have a dedicated work space in your home to help you stay organized. However, not every home has the extra space or rooms for a full home office. Below are some tips on creating a home office with the space you already have. Natural Light Access to natural light helps with well-being and productivity, so any area with a nearby window or skylight would work best for a home office. Multi-purpose Furniture Furniture with multiple uses work especially well if your home office is in a shared space, such ..read more

4 Signs You’re Ready to Buy a Home Being able to own a home is a dream for many and with the right strategies and budgets in place, that dream can become a reality. Owning a home is also a great way to build financial security and equity. Here are some signs that you might be ready to buy a home. Down Payment Saved One of the biggest factors in determining if you’re ready to buy a home depends on whether you have a down payment saved. The down payment, a lump sum that a buyer pays up front when purchasing a home, varies greatly depending on the type of property and the size of the mortgage. Th ..read more

How To Keep Your Home Well-Maintained This Winter It’s always smart to keep your home as clean and functional as possible, whether you are planning to sell or simply want to keep your home looking its best. Here are some ideas on how to keep your home well-maintained and in good condition during the winter season. Keep The Floors Clean Avoid tracking in water, dirt and snow on your floors to maintain their condition and lifespan. Using floor mats and rugs can help with this issue. Clean Furnace Filters During the winter you may use your furnace frequently, so remember to clean or change the f ..read more

Ways to Give Back Locally This Holiday Season As we approach the season of giving, now is the time to give back to our friends, neighbours and those in our community. Here are a few ways to donate and help out this holiday season. Donate Consider donating items you no longer need or want to local charities. Bring pet food, blankets and toys to local animal shelters. Donate gently used clothing, books and household items to local shelters and thrift stores, such as the Nanaimo Hospice Thrift Shoppe and the Nanaimo Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store. Shop Local Support local and buy some holiday gi ..read more

The Tax-Free First Home Savings Account The Federal Government is introducing a Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA), combining the idea of an RRSP and TFSA. You will be able to contribute up to $8,000 per year, to a total of $40,000. You will get a tax deduction benefit when you invest the money and won’t pay tax when you pull the money out for a down payment on a home. This is a great way for first time home buyers to save for their purchase! Design of the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account Contact your financial advisor for further details.   The post What is an FHSA? appeared f ..read more

Whether you are retiring, relocating to a new city, or simply downsizing, moving to a new home can be a challenging process. Before you make the decision, consider whether you are ready to move at all. Here are some thoughts to consider and ask yourself before you decide to move. Will your current home meet your needs as you age? Many factors can affect your living situation as you grow older, including location, accessibility, and house size. If you have health or mobility challenges, will you be able to easily navigate your home, such as climbing stairs? Are you near amenities and health ca ..read more

If you are thinking of giving less expensive gifts to friends and family this holiday season, here are some ideas on how to show it is more about the heart than the price tag. Thoughtful Gifts When giving a gift it’s always important to think about what the other person would like and what you think they might enjoy. Try and pick a gift that suits their interests and personality, such as a scarf in their favourite colour, a book by an author they admire, or a mug with a slogan that will make them smile. Shop Local Shopping local is always a good idea, especially this year. Try and shop local b ..read more

Remember Sunday is "Spring Forward" Time to start preparing for spring cleaning season! The post Spring Forward appeared first on Miller Real Estate Team - Nanaimo Real Estate ..read more

Your home deserves the best, so make sure it stays in good condition by keeping it well-maintained. Here are some ways you can maintain your home this winter season. Cover Your Air Conditioning During the wintertime, or whenever you’re not using it, cover your central air conditioning unit or remove your window air conditioners. Change Those Filters To make sure you properly maintain your home and heating systems, remember to clean and change your furnace filters regularly. Clean The Kitchen For many people the kitchen is the center of activity and one of the most used rooms in the house. Mak ..read more