Category: Owner

Five renovation challenges that make upsizing a great option

If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of selling your home or renovating, there’s a temptation to stay in place, shying away from the commitment of finding a new home in a highly active and competitive market. As an experienced agency, we’ve worked with many clients who began their home-selling journey by renovating. They…
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How your home can ease cost-of-living pain

With a focus on cost-of-living pressures since the post-Covid spike in inflation, many homeowners have been investigating the benefits of downsizing or taking out a reverse mortgage – and sometimes both. The impetus to downsize usually strikes so-called “empty-nesters” – those couples whose adult children are no longer living in the family home. But levies…
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10 ideas to make your home eco-friendly

As more people become increasingly aware of their environmental footprint, sustainable living is gaining momentum.  This translates into a growing interest in eco-friendly home renovations and upgrades. By making conscious choices, homeowners can significantly reduce their impact on the planet while enjoying a comfortable and healthy living space.  And just as importantly, you’ll be adding…
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How to entice buyers into your tranquil haven

When owners begin thinking about their homes, many will overlook the importance of their garden. It’s not just an area that should be neat and tidy but somewhere that will entice buyers. When preparing your home for sales, it’s important to let buyers understand that your garden is a true extension of your home, not…
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Look before you leap into a swimming pool project

A home with a swimming pool is on the bucket list for many homeowners. It offers respite from the summer heat, and it’s a fantastic space for family fun.  Before you take the plunge, it’s important to understand the costs involved. Building a pool is a significant investment, and various factors influence the final price…
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Gutter tips that come from the top

If you enjoy the occasional bizarre language and statements in the current presidential campaign, try this one – “the most neglected part of homeownership is the gutters. It’s personal for me”. The “me” is Democratic vice-presidential pick Tim Walz, who reckons he has had some bad gutter experiences. “You get your basement wet. You get…
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Regulator eases burden on borrowers seeking to switch lenders

Switching your loan to another provider is never a simple task, but it will become easier thanks to a prospective policy change promised by our banking regulator, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). It has announced it will drop the requirement for a stress test when homeowners renew their mortgage as they…
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If your home feels ‘blah’, give it a dopamine hit

Does your home make you happy? It’s a simple yet incisive question aimed at revealing whether you truly enjoy your sanctuary. If you quietly confess that, actually, you don’t love your house or apartment, then ask why not. What’s the problem? How can you change your mood towards your home? Ambivalence or disappointment are emotions…
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Why painting can give you the summertime blues

With the days warming and summer approaching, it’s understandable if you think it’s a great time to repaint the exterior of your home. Surely, summer is the best time of year to break-out the brushes because there’s less threat of the rain and damp that would compromise the drying of the paint?  Admittedly, one downside…
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If your home feels ‘blah’, give it a dopamine hit

Does your home make you happy? It’s a simple yet incisive question aimed at revealing whether you truly enjoy your sanctuary. If you quietly confess that, actually, you don’t love your house or apartment, then ask why not. What’s the problem? How can you change your mood towards your home? Ambivalence or disappointment are emotions…
Read more