Real Estate Blog - homeowners

What to Know About Updating Your Windows

Outside of “are there enough of them” or “will they let in enough natural light,” windows aren’t typically top of mind for most people. Despite being an important detail that can help add to the value of your home, it’s typically not until problems such as physical damage, drafts, water leaks, or noise pollution appear that windows are considered.

Though it’s common in homes 20 years or older still fitted with their original windows, it goes without saying updating or completely replacing windows will be necessary at one stage or another. But how do you know when it’s time to change or upgrade your windows? How do you determine the type of window that best suits your home and their impact on your home’s energy-efficiency? Let’s find out!

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How Do You Buy a House Before Selling One?

The COVID-19 pandemic certainly turned Canada’s housing market on its head. Many had anticipated a significant crash in the early days of the coronavirus public health crisis, but the opposite transpired, with a big change in consumer buying and selling patterns. Many Canadian homeowners experienced enormous equity gains on their residential properties and with remote work taking hold, they chose to sell and move elsewhere, in search of a bigger place, or a quieter way of life. What resulted in a massive demand for homes, coupled with a shortage of listings, created strong seller’s market conditions. With buying a home becoming a challenge, many homeowners decide to play it safe, with a plan to buy a house before selling one. But how do you buy a…

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The Reality of Home Improvement Shows

There’s a certain something about home renovation shows that keeps us glued to the TV. They provide us with inspiration for current or future projects (Fixer Upper). They tell stories that tug at our heartstrings (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition). They also give us hope that even the most demanding renovations can be completed in a blink of an eye (Property Brothers). 

We often see rooms or even entire houses get transformed in what seems to be a matter of days, and the final reveal always appears perfect. How do contractors on these home renovation shows manage to wrap up projects so quickly without issues? How do they obtain permits without delays? Do their renovations stand the test of time? Will the updates actually increase the value of the…

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How Much Does It Cost To Buy A House [INFOGRAPHIC]

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Architectural Trends in New Homes

Design trends come and go each year, and it’s always an exciting undertaking for interior designers to explore the current and upcoming design themes for condos, townhouses and single-family homes. When we think about these trends, however, we often overlook architecture or building design and instead tend to focus on fun, non-structural elements such as colours, materials, textures and accessories.

What’s interesting about this is the fact that architectural trends are a key consideration for both the government and developers when it comes to constructing new homes. 

“Guidelines are developed in collaboration with city staff, developers, planners, and architects,” says Melanie Doytchinova of Kirkor Architects & Planners, based out of Toronto,…

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10 Cleaning Myths and Whether or Not They Actually Work

Everyone has that one friend who swears they know how to fix something using a tried-and-true method passed down from their friend’s cousin’s co-worker’s grandmother but, more often than not, these types of “fixes” are mediocre at best. 

The same can be said for cleaning “hacks.” 

Whether it’s pouring white wine on a red wine stain to remove it, or using wax paper to polish your sinks, we wanted to know if there was any truth to these cleaning myths—and shockingly, there is! Well, to some of them, at least. 

Let’s take a look at 10 popular cleaning myths and see if they’re really worth listening to. 

1. You shouldn’t vacuum too often because it wears out the carpet.

VERDICT: False

Sorry to everyone who hates vacuuming, but this one…

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What Should Your Sellers Do to Get Ready to List?

Your client calls you and says they’re ready to sell their home, but before they list, they want to make sure they get the best possible return on investment. They ask if there’s anything they can do to help prep their home—what do you say?

Maybe a fresh coat of paint? Renovate the kitchen? Declutter the basement?

While listing photos and videos are critical for generating interest in your listing, it’s the work beforehand that can truly make the difference. Your clients trust you to lend your knowledge and expertise as they embark on their home selling journey.

The time and effort that goes into prepping a home is no joke, but we decided to have a little fun on social media to help aggregate some tips. Earlier this year, we asked our…

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What Are the Monthly Expenses of Carrying a Home?

When prospective homebuyers are exploring the Canadian real estate market and searching for a residential property, many typically only concentrate on the sale price, monthly mortgage payments and interest rates. But this doesn’t tell the whole story. To get a more-accurate picture, and create a realistic budget, homebuyers should find out what are the monthly expenses of carrying a home.

In recent weeks, many reports have surfaced suggesting that some buyers regret their decision to buy at the height of the market, which peaked during the pandemic. While the primary concern is that housing prices have started to come down and borrowing costs have begun climbing, potentially eating away at equity, families are also worried…

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How Universal Design and Accessibility Can Benefit Everyone

Covering everything from furnishings and finishing touches, universal design addresses the entire spectrum of needs for anyone who lives in and uses a space. One in five Canadians identify as having  at least one disability, according to Statistics Canada, and as we age the chance of developing mobility issues increases.

Designing accessible spaces that are convenient for everyone provides more housing options for individuals with mobility issues, enabling us to age in place, remain independent, and stay in our homes longer. 

“Universal design enables access and function for all people regardless of size, shape, ability, or disability,” explains occupational therapist Jason Dalton, who is also chair of the board for the Universal Design Network…

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Flood Insurance in Canada: Is Your House in a Flood Zone?

Homeowners have felt the financial pinch of flooding and thus, have questions about floor insurance. Flooding has surpassed forest fire as Canada’s top cause of property damage. Six per cent—and up to 10 per cent—of homes across Canada are already uninsurable for flood risk.

As major floods have become more common in communities across Canada over the last decade, it has brought the issue into mainstream consciousness. However, despite growing awareness, homebuyers purchase homes in flood zones without knowing the risks and the protection they need.

With so many homeowners living in high-risk regions, we wanted to examine the importance of flood insurance and share tools that can help determine if you live in a high-risk area.

What is flood…

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