COVID has made the home office a must-have item. Even as things are slowly returning to the ‘new norm’, remote work is here to stay and will continue to increase through 2023. *Source So, if you’re moving to a more permanent remote work situation, you need to start investing in your home office to avoid burnout and boost your productivity. Here are 5 tips to help you get the home office of your dreams: Pick The Perfect Spot  If you’re short on space, you’ve probably dedicated the kitchen table as your work area. This may have been alright for a few months, but forever? Maybe placing a ..read more

When you sell your home, you want to sell it as quickly (and profitably!) as possible. And, depending on the state of your property, that may mean making a few upgrades before you put it on the market. But what upgrades can actually help you sell your home more quickly? According to a recent study from homeownership resource Knock, homeowners that tackle improvements before putting their home on the market sell, on average, 30% faster than those that don’t—and certain upgrades can help homes sell more quickly than others, including: Repainting kitchen cabinets. Adding a fresh coat ..read more

Spring has officially sprung—which means we’re about to enter the busiest home-buying season of the year. So, the question is—what, exactly, are homebuyers looking for this spring? A recent data analysis from realtor.com identified some of the most sought-after home features buyers are searching for in 2022. Which features make the top of buyers’ wish lists you ask? Some of 2022’s most popular home features include: Water features. With spring and summer on the way, people are getting excited to spend more time outdoors—and many of those people want to enjoy the outdoors with t ..read more

If you’re in the market to buy your first home in this market, it’s probably felt like an uphill battle. There aren’t a lot of houses to choose from, and the minute a house gets listed there are a ton of offers to compete against. Adding to the stress, now you’re probably worrying about the news that interest rates are going up and you’re hoping to scoop up a house before rates go up too high and make buying a house even less affordable. But then there’s the news about pending home sales dropping over the past couple of months, which may sound hopeful to buyers. Is there light at the end of th ..read more

Do-it-yourself projects are in vogue these days. From HGTV and Pinterest to Instagram, you can find advice online for everything from investing in crypto-currency to renovating the kitchen. And while there are many pros like saving money and many projects that are perfect to ‘do-it-yourself’ and don’t really require a professional, selling your home isn’t one of them. We know that when considering your costs to move, everything comes into play, including commissions for real estate agents. While a good agent will make it look like selling your home can be effortlessly completed, selling it you ..read more

For most of the real estate’s long history, real estate photography was virtually nonexistent. Nowadays, with the Internet, e-mail, the MLS, and social media, you could say that professional real estate photography is the most powerful marketing tool at a Realtor’s disposal. The reason for this is obvious, photography is usually the very first thing buyers see when viewing homes online. Homes that use high-quality professional photography tend to sell for more than homes that don’t. That being said if your realtor uses listing photos that look like garbage you might want to consider finding a ..read more

We get it; as soon as the market starts to go crazy, we see record-breaking home prices plus lower than low-interest rates, and some of us start to wonder, “Is the market going to crash? Maybe I should just wait for the market to slow down so I don’t waste my money!”  While it is natural to think (or hope) this way, history proves those theories wrong (at least in Nova Scotia, Canada). Getting Priced Out: Let’s say you were pre-approved last year for $300,000. The market just started going crazy and houses that were listed at $260,000 were selling for close to $300,000. You may have thou ..read more

Do you know the three limitations that come with doing your most active looking during periods of the year where real estate is traditionally quiet? Do you know what the off-seasons are? Let’s discuss. Limitation Number One: Distressed Properties The first limitation is distressed properties. A distressed property is a home on the brink of foreclosure or already owned by the bank. Investors often seek these properties out because of the opportunity to buy a home at a discount. However, these properties tend to need significant repairs. Properties during the winter and summer months tend to be ..read more

Scammers Capitalize on Coronavirus Fears. Protect Yourself. When the Coronavirus news started spreading, normal people took steps to protect themselves and their families. Scammers spotted an opportunity. They’ve already capitalized on people’s fears with fake ads, phishing emails, and promises of miracle cures. So in addition to guarding your health, you also have to protect your computer and your wallet. Beware of links Don’t click on links from information sources you don’t know. Even if someone says they’re sending important health updates, be suspicious. Someone may be trying to install ..read more