Blog Articles

Step 4: Alerts & Notifications

Mar 24, 2022

Step 4: Alerts & Notifications

  You just finished making a wishlist on all the things you want and need in a home. Now those listings have to be sent to you. This takes us to Step 4 where we will set up Alerts & Notifications.     Now that your realtor has all the information of your wants and needs from your wishlist it’s time to ...

See More

Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Realtor Over for Sale By Owner

Mar 14, 2022

Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Realtor Over for Sale By Owner

    There are pros and cons to selling your home by yourself. On the one hand, you can save some money. But on the other hand, you might not get as good of a price for your home, and you might not have as much help in terms of getting your home ready for sale or finding a buyer. Here are the Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Realtor Over for Sale By Own ...

See More

Step 3: Creating Your Real Estate Wish List

Mar 10, 2022

Step 3: Creating Your Real Estate Wish List

    You've found a realtor, and you know how much you can afford since you've been pre-approved for a mortgage. With this info, you're ready to move on to the next step. Today, we're going to look at Step 3 in the 10 Steps of the Home Buying Process: Creating Your Real Estate Wishlist.     Making your wishlist is one of the mo ...

See More

February 2022 Housing Market Update

Mar 04, 2022

February 2022 Housing Market Update

  347 active listings   February 2022: 120 sales, and $70 million in volume.   February 2021: 153 sales, and $77 million in volume.   Feb. 2022: average 12 days to sell. Feb. 2021: 25 days to sell.   Average sale price was around $580,000, vs $510,000 in February 2021   14% price increase on the average home from Fe ...

See More

Asbestos in the Home

Feb 24, 2022

Asbestos in the Home

  The idea that a home has asbestos can feel a little unsettling, especially for first-time homebuyers. Most people just know to avoid breathing it in. But what is asbestos? And should you be concerned if a property has asbestos in it?     What is asbestos and where can you find it in your home? Asbestos is a naturally occurring miner ...

See More

10 Tips for Screening Tenants

Feb 17, 2022

10 Tips for Screening Tenants

    When trying to find tenants, it is best to make sure they are the right fit for you and your property. That is why landlords need to screen tenants. But what does screening tenants look like? Here's a list of 10 Tips for Screening Tenants.     #1. Determine their budget. One of the very first screening tools for screening tena ...

See More

Step 2: Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Feb 10, 2022

Step 2: Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

    Getting pre-approved really should actually come before step 1. Why? Because before your realtor can start sending you customized listings based on your needs, we need to know your price range.     Pre-qualifying vs pre-approval Getting pre-qualified is similar to getting pre-approved, but pre-qualification simply means ...

See More

January 2022 Housing Market Update

Feb 04, 2022

January 2022 Housing Market Update

    January had 347 active listings and 81 sold, totalling $39 million in sales volume. Compare this to January 2021 where we had 86 homes sold, totalling $37 million dollars in sales volume.   January 2022 had an average of 19 days to sell, versus last January where it took an average of 31 days to sell. The average sale price was around ...

See More

10 Tips for Cutting Energy Costs at Home

Feb 03, 2022

10 Tips for Cutting Energy Costs at Home

  We all want to save money, and one of the best ways to do so is by reducing the amount of energy we use and waste. Here are 10 Tips for Cutting Energy Costs at Home.     1. Change your light bulbs. First, Change your light bulbs. Swap out your traditional light bulbs for LED or CFL bulbs. They may be a bit more expensive to buy upfr ...

See More

Tips for Storing Wine at Home

Jan 25, 2022

Tips for Storing Wine at Home

  If you are a big wine connoisseur or just saving a few bottles to crack open on special occasions, it’s impo tant to understand how best to store them until you’re ready to partake. Tips for Storing Wine at Home.     Temperature Temperature is the primary factor that ensures your wine will be ready to drink when you are ...

See More

The First Step: Researching and Reaching Out to a Realtor

Jan 20, 2022

The First Step: Researching and Reaching Out to a Realtor

  Step One: Researching and Reaching Out to a Realtor. Here you are at the starting point. You recognize your need to purchase a home and want to know what action to take next.     Think & Discuss Short & Long Term Goals The first action I'd recommend is thinking about what you want and need. Chat with your partner about plan ...

See More

Step 1: Researching and Reaching Out to a Realtor

Jan 20, 2022

Step 1: Researching and Reaching Out to a Realtor

  You've seen the overview video of the 10 Steps of the Home Buying Process, and now it's time to look closer at each step individually. Here is Step One: Researching and Reaching Out to a Realtor.     Here you are at the starting point. You recognize your need to purchase a home and want to know what action to take next.   Tho ...

See More

6 New Year's Resolutions for Homebuyers

Jan 13, 2022

6 New Year's Resolutions for Homebuyers

    Are you thinking about buying a new home in 2022? Then check out some New Year's resolutions that will help you stay on the right path and improve your homebuying luck.     1. Avoid Big Purchases Your first new years' resolution is to avoid big purchases. Taking on large amounts of debt from vacations or vehicles i ...

See More

Senior Transitions Made Simple

Dec 31, 2021

Senior Transitions Made Simple

  When the time comes in later life where big changes are bound to happen, many seniors find themselves concerned. Here are some common questions seniors face:   What do I do when I can no longer adequately take care of myself or my property? Will I outlive my pension and savings? Will I need to rely on the government or my family to assis ...

See More

Using Scent to Sell Your Home

Dec 23, 2021

Using Scent to Sell Your Home

  There is a lot of information on how to sell your home, from staging to landscaping.But there is an important element of home selling you might never have considered: Scent.   Our sense of smell can be very powerful and has been shown to bring back memories, conjure up new ones and actually even change moods. When it comes to selling a ...

See More

The Best Tools for DIY Projects

Dec 16, 2021

The Best Tools for DIY Projects

  Every home project - even the small ones - require some tools to accomplish the task. Tools come in a variety of shapes and sizes which can make it a challenge to figure out which ones you need. Thankfully, we have found the thirteen best tools for do-it-yourself projects around the house to help you get started on your next project!   ...

See More

Protecting Your Elderly Loved Ones - The Ryan Out Loud Podca...

Dec 09, 2021

Protecting Your Elderly Loved Ones - The Ryan Out Loud Podca...

Protecting Your Elderly Loved Ones     As Canada's population continues to age, there is an increasing chance that your parents or elderly loved ones may become frailer, suffer an illness, require medical attention, and fall prey to financial predators. Unfortunately, when it comes to protecting your loved one's interests, many people don't th ...

See More

How to Generate Multiple Offers

Dec 08, 2021

How to Generate Multiple Offers

        When selling your home, multiple offers are what every seller hopes for. But what can sellers do to help make this happen?  Let's take a look at How to Generate Multiple Offers.     1. Price Your Home Aggressively First, sellers can price their homes aggressively. Auctions work well because the prices ...

See More

November 2021 Housing Market Update for Sarnia-Lambton

Dec 03, 2021

November 2021 Housing Market Update for Sarnia-Lambton

    November had 374 active listings and 145 sold, totalling $67 million in sales volume. Compare this to November 2020 where we had 164 homes sold, totalling $59 million dollars in sales volume.   November 2021 had an average of 22 days to sell, versus last November where it took an average of 28 days to sell. The average sale price was a ...

See More

Hacking Your Home

Dec 02, 2021

Hacking Your Home

  Living costs have risen in North America, and many Canadians are finding it harder to get by. Lots of young people dream of breaking into the housing market but aren't so sure if homeownership is affordable anymore.   So, what can buyers do to ease their financial burdens after they become homeowners? There are multiple ways to make homeowne ...

See More