Real Estate Blog

When it comes to smart technology, there are a lot of great ways to add it to a home. The more options a homeowner has to choose from, the more different selections they can consider. With that in mind, here are four of the greatest ways to build smart technology into a home. Using these, any homeowner can add value to their home whether they are preparing to sell or they plan to live there long-term. Just be sure to focus efforts on getting quality products and having them installed correctly, so any smart technology installed will work the way it is expected to for a long time to come.

1. Smart Thermostats Keep a House Comfortable

For anyone who is looking for both quality and comfort at an affordable price, there are smart thermostats that

Are you thinking of selling your home? Start taking initial steps to get your home ready, including repairs, improvements and marketing of a home. Learn more about a few ways Canadian homeowners can get started on preparing their home to go to market today.

Make a List of Repairs

Sellers need to begin to note potential home repairs and maintenance tasks. Write down repairs and other projects to make management easier. Repairs may include items such as cracked windows, leaking pipes and flaking paint. A real estate agent can help prioritize repairs and upgrades. They may also be able to assist with which repairs would be able to completed by an estimated “launch” date.

Select Repairs Wisely

Sellers may not be able to make every repair or

Life in a single family home is far different from life in a condo. For people who are thinking about buying property and aren't sure which type of home to buy, knowing the major differences between these two types of properties can help.

Condos: Pros and Cons

Condos are similar to apartments in terms of layout and design. Like apartments, condos are often housed in large buildings that have been divided into individual units. The difference between a condo and an apartment is that the condo is owned by the individual, not by the landlord. People who own condos are responsible for maintaining the inside of their condo, but are not responsible for exterior maintenance. In other words, if the furnace breaks down, the owner is responsible for

There are a number of great homes throughout Canada, and when it is time for a buyer to start looking for a house there are several steps that need to be taken before putting in an offer. First, determining whether a house is the right choice is very valuable. Not everyone wants to own a home, and some people prefer to rent.

Before buying a home, there are also credit and financial issues that should be addressed. Until all of the main concerns have been handled, buying a home may be something that should wait. Working through the process can help any buyer be prepared and get the right home for their needs.

Determine if Home Ownership is the Right Choice

When I buyer is ready to purchase a home, they should consider all of the

How much home can you afford? First time homebuyers or those looking for a new home may be impacted by the changes to the down payment minimum and may need to save up a little longer for the Mountainview home of their dreams. What should buyers know about the Canadian down payment as it applies to different home prices?

Understand more about down payment minimums and changes to the Canadian housing market.

A New Minimum Down Payment

Homebuyers may have a difficult time coming up with money for a significant down payment on the purchase of a home. It appears lenders may get their way and the minimum down payment may soon rise. This may make it harder for first-time home buyers to get into a desired home and they may have to go for a more

Navigating the mortgage market successfully can be just as difficult as finding the perfect home to buy. With scores of available mortgage options available, prospective applicants can find the process confusing, to say the least. The following guide is designed to help clear away some of this confusion and offer sound basic information that buyers can use to select the best possible mortgage option for their specific situation.

The Conventional Mortgage

The conventional mortgage is the "plain vanilla" option for the Canadian home buyer, as it has been for decades. Borrowers who are considering this traditional mortgage option should understand that they will need at least twenty percent down, with even larger down payments considered optimal

When it comes to paint, there’s a lot of different choices. For someone painting for the first time, it can be overwhelming to walk into a hardware store and find dozens of different types of paints. To make painting easy, here are all the different types of paint and how to best use them. It's a fun way to refresh your home's look, and it has a great ROI for home sellers looking to spruce up their place.

Primer

Many painting guides will say a wall should be painted with a primer before putting colored paint on a wall. This is because the primer will help cover old paint and create a blank surface for the new paint so the old color doesn’t come through it. Recently, it’s become common to find paints with the primer already mixed in to help cut

Lead based paints are a health hazard. For industrial or residential structures built between 1950 and early 1970s, chances are the paint on the structure is lead based. Health and environmental experts have in the past pinpointed the health effects of exposure to lead which can range from minor annoyances to potentially being deadly. The EPA has great resources for more detailed study at https://www.epa.gov/Lead.

In a bid to adhere to the regulations and protect their employees, industries have embarked on a mission to remove the lead-based paints from their structure. It’s however important to realize that lead paint is not like your ordinary everyday paint; this one is a dangerous paint which requires special care in dealing with the removal as well

You've probably heard that your home will sell for more money if you can make improvements before putting it on the market. This can be tough when you're on a tight budget. Fortunately, there are several budget-friendly DIY projects that can make your home stand out to home buyers, leading to faster and bigger offers.

Carpet Tear Out

Carpet can start to look worn and dirty over time. Under the right circumstances, tearing out your home's carpeting and cleaning up the flooring underneath can be an inexpensive way to freshen and beautify your home.

To tear out your home's carpet, simply lift the edge of the carpet starting from a corner of the room, then pull. Carpet can be easily cut into strips with a blade, rolled up into bundles and hauled

While the vast majority of prospective home buyers today first go looking online, it's still the personal visit that seals the deal. Unless a house is appealing on that first "drive-by," a buyer is apt to just drive on by.

Here are 5 simple ways to boost your home's curb appeal:

Paint the Front Door

It's not only the colour that will beckon visitors, but the style, the hardware and the feeling created by your front entry. Redoing the front door can improve the curb appeal of the home with just a few small updates. You want it to feel bright and fresh, as if pleasant times await within. Look at the total picture, including trim, shutters and fascia. Pick colours that complement your home's architecture but draw attention to the entry.