The Assiniboine River in Brandon, MB. I was driving north on first street when this caught my eye. On my way to Mark's Work Warehouse to buy socks which by the way is peculiar since I almost NEVER wear socks. Especially ones that go any higher than the bottom of my ankles because that makes me feel like I'm wearing shackles. Again. Kidding. I knew I'd be waiting until next Christmas to make a left hand turn back onto 1st street on account of the construction on 1st street bridge. There's this huge metal wall/brace structure there for the new bridge and every time the kids and I drive past it my 8 year old asks me if that's Donald Trump's wall......oh boy. I'm gonna tell him Donald Trumps socks are obviously too tight. Love those big rolling clouds.

This week Chris is tackling one of our frequently asked questions "Can't I just add money to my mortgage to pay off all my debts?" There are many reasons people want to refinance their home and this video briefly explains what needs to be considered when refinancing your mortgage.      

You put your home up for sale. You work hard to make it look attractive to potential buyers. Then, you finally get an offer. But there’s a catch. The offer comes with a string or two attached… a couple of “conditions”. Should you be worried? First of all, don’t panic. It’s common for offers to come with a condition or two. Sometimes an offer is conditional upon the buyer securing appropriate financing, or your property passing a home inspection. These types of conditions are usually dealt with in just a few days and then the offer becomes firm. (In other words, you’ve likely sold your house!) However, there are some types of offers that can be worrisome. For example, a buyer may make an offer to buy your home “conditional” upon him selling his current home for a specific price. Of course, there is the concern that the buyer won’t sell his home. Then the deal will fall through and you’ll have to put your home back on the market. As your REALTOR®, I can help you decide if a particular offer is worth accepting.

When you’re putting your property on the market, you want to make it seem as big and comfortable as possible. After all, buyers are attracted to space. However, you probably have at least one room in your home — and perhaps even more — that feels small and a little cramped. Of course you don’t want the buyer’s first impression of the room to be its size. Since it isn’t practical to be knocking down walls and renovating, what should you do? Here are some ideas for making small spaces seem larger and more comfortable: Remove any items and extra furniture that make the room feel smaller than it really is. Remove any obstructions near the entranceway. You should be able to open the door fully and walk in without bumping into a desk or bookshelf. Don’t use heavy curtains on the windows. Let the light in. Use soft light bulbs with enough wattage to fill the room with full and pleasant (but not blinding) light. Less is more. Keep knickknacks, pictures and other décor items to a minimum. Keep the door fully open during viewings. Make sure there’s enough space for two people to walk in and move around without bumping into each other. Give the room a purpose. “This is the home office.” Or, “This is the comfy reading nook.” If a small room doesn’t have a reason for being, it will seem like wasted space. Want more ideas for preparing your home so that it will sell quickly and for the best price? Call today.

If you’re planning on moving, you’re probably focused on how much your new home is going to cost. However, it’s also a good idea to understand the real costs associated with selling your current property. In fact, there are some costs and expenses you may not have anticipated. Here are a few examples: Home inspection. You might think you’ll only need a home inspection for a home on which you’ve made an offer. However, it might also make sense to have a home inspection completed on your current property in order to identify potential issues that might get in the way of a sale. Buyers feel more confident when considering a home that has had a recent professional inspection. Cancellation costs. There may be extra expenses associated with canceling internet services, newspaper subscriptions, home security systems, and even lawn care services. Repairs. You should budget to get any maintenance issues, such as a broken door handle, dealt with before your home goes on the market. Staging. Tasks like getting rid of clutter, arranging for the carpets to be professionally cleaned, having the hedges trimmed, and doing other things to make the property look attractive to buyers all fall under the umbrella of “staging”. You can do much of this work yourself, or hire a professional. Moving. It’s a good idea to budget for the costs of moving. Even if you’re using a friend’s truck and planning to do most of the packing and hauling yourself, there may still be costs, such as packaging materials, gas, and perhaps even pizza for your crew. At the end of the day, these costs may turn out to be negligible when compared to the value of your property. As your REALTOR®, I can help you understand all the costs and help make the selling process go smoothly.