Blog by Michael Giesbrecht

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Should You Renovate Or Move?

September 4th, 2018
  If you need to upsize or you’re simply ready for a change, it’s tempting to consider a major renovation. After all, renovating means you don’t have to go through the process of selling your property and buying another more suitable home. You just fix up the one you’ve got! However, you need to carefully consider the pros and cons of renovating before going this route. You don’t want to in ...

Barbecue Maintenance That Will Save Your Life

August 22nd, 2018
  According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than 160 people are injured each year in BBQ mishaps. That doesn't sound like a lot considering the thousands of people who flip burgers on their backyard grills each year. But, you certainly don't want to be one of those injured!  The best way to prevent fire and injury is maintenance. Remarkably, few people are even awar ...

3 Not-So-Obvious Indicators It's Time To Sell

August 8th, 2018
  There are many good reasons to put your property on the market. Some examples include a relocation, the kids leaving the nest, the need for something bigger or smaller, and the list goes on and on.  However, there are also some less-than-obvious indicators that it may be time to sell. Consider the following:  1. Your Property is no longer a Good "Fit"  Your home may have been perfect fo ...

Lowering Shipping Fees When Shopping Online

July 30th, 2018
  Online shopping is growing by an average of 20 million new shoppers each year. That's a lot of people clicking and buying! You may be one of them.  However, there's a cost to online shopping that's all too easy to overlook. Shipping fees. Imagine saving $10 on a luxury cookware set, only to be hit with a $15 delivery charge. Ouch.  So how do you avoid those fees?  First of all, always ch ...

Four Things You Should Know About Staging

July 10th, 2018
  You've probably heard about "home staging". As the name implies, it's all about arranging each room in your home in a way that will make the best impression on buyers. Here's what you need to know about staging if you're thinking of listing your property. 1. Staging can get you a higher price. On average, a fully-staged home tends to sell for 17% more than an unstaged home of the same t ...

Watch Out For Carbon Monoxide In Your Home

June 23rd, 2018
  Carbon Monoxide (CO) is invisible and odourless, so you can't actually "watch out for it". However, you should monitor for it because an excessive build-up of this gas in your home can be deadly.  Fortunately, there are many types of Carbon Monoxide detectors you can purchase — and most are effective and affordable. Some models simply plug into an outlet. (Many also have a battery backup.) ...

What Type Of New Home Are You Qualified To Buy?

June 12th, 2018
  When you think about looking for a new home, one of the first questions that probably comes to mind is: "What type of property can I afford?" That's an important question because your price range is a major determining factor in the types and sizes of homes you should be viewing.  You don't want to waste time looking at properties that are beyond your price range. At the same time, you don ...

Thoughts On Love And Summer

June 12th, 2018
"A life without love is like a year without summer." - Swedish Proverb

The Basics Of Do-It-Yourself Video-Based Home Security

May 29th, 2018
  According to law enforcement experts, a video-based home security system is significantly more effective than a simple alarm system. The reason is obvious. Burglars don’t want their crimes captured on video, which can then be used as evidence in court. So it’s no wonder that many homeowners have, or are considering, video-based security. These days, most video-based home security systems ...

Beware of Over-Downsizing or Over-Upsizing

May 15th, 2018
  Buying a new pair of shoes is relatively easy. Once you find the style you like, all you need to do is try them on and see if they fit. If they do, you go to the cash register and pay. When it comes to size, buying a new home can be trickier! Whether your intention is to upsize or downsize, figuring out the right size can be especially challenging. Say for example, you’re downsizing from ...
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