All Blog Entries by Justin Havre

For a seller, a seller’s market is the ideal time to put their home up for sale. It means that there are far more buyers looking to purchase a new home than there are homes available, which in turn means that prices are likely to be driven up by the demand. However, for buyers, a seller’s market can be tricky not only because there’s more competition, but because many of the normal guidelines for buying a home no longer apply. Here are five essential tip every home buyer needs to know when trying to purchase a home in a seller’s market.

1. View Homes As Soon As Possible

When it comes to home showings, most people like to do them on weekends when there aren’t as many obligations to juggle. However, in a seller’s market, waiting until the

There's quite a bit of heavy consideration that should be put into determining whether buying a house in Canada versus renting is the right step to take next on life's journey. Many potential buyers approach the subject with the mentality that “it needs to be a solid buyers market” before taking that step. Others just want a change of scenery as they attempt to find a find a dream home amid a surreal environment. Whatever the reason is for considering buying versus renting or renting versus buying, there are pros and cons to each that need to be taken into account before taking the plunge either way.

The Pros and Cons of Renting

Let's face it, not everyone is cut out for the buying lifestyle and there are reasons to rent that abound—depending

With so many companies developing smart technology in an attempt to get in on the "smart" fad, homeowners can be forgiven for not flocking to every new addition on the market. And yet, there are certain products that are truly proving their worth to homeowners who want to save a little of their hard-earned cash. From slashing the final totals on utility bills to catching potential problems before they turn into expensive catastrophes, see which products make the cut.

Moisture Sensors

A smart moisture sensor will tell homeowners when there's too much moisture in the air, which can go a long way to preventing mold. It's not unusual for a homeowner to pay up to $6,000 for mold remediation, especially because it has a tendency to spread unnoticed

When selling a home, homeowners generally want to sell a home quickly and for optimal value. As languishing homes on the market may result in a homeowner having to reduce the price of a property to get an offer, an agent may make a number of suggestions for to help homeowners before listing and during the home selling process. What should Canadian homeowners realize about selling their Bearspaw home to increase their chances of attracting the right buyer and easily get through a closing?

Understand more about how to get a home ready to sell and what to expect from Canadian buyers after an offer is accepted.

Prep a House before Listing

Agents may offer a number of suggestions for homeowners looking to sell a home. In a buyer's market,

While moving into a new home can be a hassle, the overall experience doesn't have to be as stressful as many new homebuyers expect it to be. Whether moving across town or across the nation, managing a stress-free move is easy as long as you know the timeline and prepare a calendar accordingly. Follow this weekly moving checklist for a smoother experience.

Eight Weeks Until Moving Day

Professional movers and even private truck rentals can be scarce during popular moving periods such as summertime, so owners will want to start looking for a reliable and experienced provider two months before the target date. Movers are a big help, especially when moving a long distance from a home. Individuals being relocated by their company should explore

Home improvement projects can be a fun challenge for many homeowners. It teaches them new skills and interesting facts about their home while creating an even deeper connection with their property. But to really get the most out of each new upgrade, homeowners should learn which ones will make all that time and effort worth their while. See how to spend as little as possible to reap the greatest rewards.

What Buyers Want

When it comes to buying a home, many buyers are more and more often coming to value practicality above glamour or luxury. They want excellent protection from the elements, working plumbing, and safe electrical components. Insulation has the best ROI for home improvement projects, typically returning more than 100% of the cost

Checking the roof isn't usually on a homeowner's honey-do list because of the nature of the job. From faulty ladders to slips and falls, it's the component of the home that's most often overlooked until it's too late. Homeowners who are looking to be a little more proactive can save themselves a lot of time, money, and energy if they take more of an interest in their roof. Use these three tips to get a better idea of what to do about roof damage (and how to fix it before it even becomes a problem in your Varsity home).

Look for the Signs

There are a few ways to tell if the roof has a structural problem without having to get up on a ladder. Check the attic or the crawlspace for any moisture or water damage. If the shingles are starting to curl

Mandatory paperwork for a home sale in each province can vary significantly, though all sellers will need to follow a few basic rules when it comes to the documents they produce. In addition to required forms, there are some documents that buyers may 'expect' in certain regions (even if the documents aren't technically necessary to sell a home.) Learn more what buyers want, so you can start gathering up the necessary documents.

Costs and Considerations

Selling a home in a high-demand area is almost always going to be easier when it comes to paperwork. A buyer may not care as much about the utility bills, the property tax history, or the renovations that have been completed on a property, which means a seller may not have to dig out all that

Vacation home owners who want to sell may find that this is the perfect time to consider doing so, particularly if their vacation home is located in a popular vacation destination area. According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), low inventories of vacation homes have pushed prices to the highest level seen in a decade. While these prices will likely push some buyers out of the market on the lower end of the scale, sellers should still be able to benefit from the lack of competition from other listings at the higher levels. But it is important to remember that selling a vacation home successfully requires an approach that is far different than the one used to sell the standard owner-occupied residential home.

Determine the tax

Depending on how you look at it, home buying contingencies offer protection and peace of mind to home buyers—or they allow buyers to weasel out of contracts, leaving sellers holding the bag. People often have strong feelings about home buying contingencies, but what do home buyers really need to know about contingencies when buying a home?

What are Home Buying Contingencies?

In a general sense, contingencies are simply terms or conditions that have to be met before the home sale can proceed. If the contingencies are not met, the deal could fall through.

Both the home buyer and seller can ask for contingencies to be written into the contract; when this happens, there's usually a time period by which the contingencies must be satisfied. If