The warmer days of summer lighten the heart but also promise one of two challenges for your home maintenance, especially if you’re preparing to sell in the current, re-emerging market. Summer storms are always a risk, and you should certainly consider clearing out your gutters and downspouts to make sure any big rains don’t overflow…
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Are we seeing the story of a “tale of two cities” and even a “tale of two islands” playing out in our market as buyers continue to enjoy favourable conditions while many agents now talk optimistically about “green shoots” of value growth? The latest data from the OneRoof-Valocity housing report shows the South Island performing…
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When preparing your home for sale, one element that can undermine your efforts and ambitions of a successful sale is dated furniture. Buyers are definitely focused on the core elements of your home – such as available space, the number of bedrooms and location – but they can be distracted. Clutter, bold color schemes, worn…
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One of the most important elements of a buoyant real estate market is the participation of first-time buyers. They are the bedrock on which home values continue to grow. If there is less demand at the entry-level end of the market, everyone else suffers. The good news is that property portal Realtor.com is reporting that…
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There are many myths in real estate. One favorite is that only spring and summer are good times to sell. This is absolutely not true, of course. There’s never a bad season to upsize or downsize. The only criteria should be when your own personal circumstances align so a property transaction makes sense in your…
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As home sales across America increase and we track toward 4.03 million deals a year, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says American buyers are waiting for the Federal Reserve to cut mortgage costs to give the market a boost. NAR’s latest data says the average price of a home in America was $422,800 at…
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Life can throw the occasional curve ball, forcing us to make decisions at a speed we had not anticipated. When that happens and it means you have to sell your home, there are several strategies to maximize the value of your property. If you need to make a move quickly right now, this is the…
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Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, and it’s also an opportune moment to assess how you feel about the interior of your home – is it really “doing it” for you? Is it time to step it up a notch? Interior design fashions come and go, and so it’s easy to think…
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Preparing your home for a winter sale can be the critical factor in whether you’re able to maximise the value of your property. In warmer months, you can get away with ignoring poor insulation and underpowered heating. However, winter tends to focus buyers’ minds on the ability of the home to cope with the elements.…
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As any homeowner will know, this is the time of year when mowing the lawn becomes a weekly chore and weekend plans must accommodate the need to ensure the grass doesn’t get out of control. There are a number of steps you can take to reduce the time and energy needed to mow your lawn,…
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