Mike Giesbrecht

  If you need to sell your home in the next month or two, you might be worried. After all, aren’t spring and summer the ideal seasons to list your property? If you list in November or December, you might have difficulties attracting buyers and getting the best price for your home. Right?  Not necessarily.  While it’s true that spring and summer are traditionally busy periods in the real es ...

  When you’re selling your home, you want it to look its best to buyers. Unfortunately, buyers are likely to notice any cracks or stains on your floor. Luckily, there are many do-it-yourself solutions to help make your floors look significantly better. Let’s start with stains. If you have carpeting, there are a number of spot cleaning products on the market. But before you try one of thos ...

  In the business world, a phrase that’s often used is ROI or Return On Investment. It refers to the regular gain (or loss) you’re getting from a particular asset relative to its cost. When it comes to your home, the gain may be more than financial. It may include the benefit of the lifestyle it gives you. For example, a spacious backyard deck pays off in countless pleasant Saturdays with f ...

  When you’re selling your home, you want it to look its best. You want buyers who view it to say, “Wow, I love this place!” However, what if you have a stubborn stain in the carpet, or a cracked floor tile? An unsightly issue like that can be distracting in your otherwise beautiful property. You have a few options. First, try to get the issue fixed. There are specialty cleaners on the mar ...

  How do you find the home of your dreams within a price range you can afford? Most buyers start by making a “wish list”. But, it’s easy to get frustrated when you have a long wish list and expect you’ll be able to find a home with every one of those features. You might, for example, have “mature backyard tree” as number 23 on your list, and become disappointed when an otherwise ideal prope ...

  If you want to reduce your home energy costs, the easiest way is to turn the thermostat up or down. In fact, you probably won't notice a difference of 2 degrees either way — and the savings can be substantial.  However, if you want to lower your bill even further each month, here are some additional tips that are relatively easy to implement.  Plug or fix the drafts. Even in newer home ...

  There are many reasons why you might suddenly need to sell your home. It could be an unexpected work relocation, a change in family circumstances, or simply a desire to move.  Whatever the reason, selling quickly requires some fast action on your part. But that doesn't mean you need to get into panic mode. You can list and sell your property, quickly while still enjoying the process!  Th ...

  Chances are, you know that you should change the batteries in your smoke detectors at least once a year — even if you suspect the batteries are still good.  But that isn't the only fire safety check you should do annually. Here are some other recommended tips to help keep you and your family safe.  Clean your stove burners and oven regularly. Hard grease build-up can become combustible ...

  Why is making a big change in life often so difficult?  According to psychologists, maintaining the "status quo" is one of the most powerful motivations we have. If things are "okay", even making a change for the better can be difficult. Our brains resist.  You may have experienced this if you’ve thought about selling your current property and finding your next dream home. Your house may ...