Mike Giesbrecht

  Imagine going to a restaurant with your family for dinner. You're planning on ordering a nice pasta and salad. Your heart is set on it. But, after you go to the trouble of driving there and getting a table, you discover that pasta is not on the menu.  That’s disappointing!  Of course, it’s only a meal. You can go somewhere else next time. But, what if the same scenario played out once yo ...

You've probably heard the expression, "The early-bird gets the worm." It refers, of course, to those who get in early and reap the rewards. For example, if you arrive early to a retail store for a big blowout sale, you're likely to get the deals before the inventory runs out. The stragglers who come later miss out.  Well, this same wisdom can be applied to selling your home. Starting the p ...

If you're thinking about buying a new home, you may be considering purchasing in a new development.        How does that compare to purchasing a resale property?        Buying a newly-built home has some advantages. Depending on the development, you may have leeway in the style of the home and the lot you choose. Also, when the home is built, you'll be moving into a place where everything i ...

Imagine you’ve dreamed of living in a particular neighbourhood, perhaps for years, and then, when you're finally ready to make a move, finding out that the area is competitive and buying there is definitely a challenge.  A disappointment? Not necessarily.  There is a lot you can do to buy into a popular neighbourhood, even in competitive offer situations.  Your first step is to start tar ...

  On moving day, you'll have a big task. You’ll need to get your possessions from your old property to your new one — ideally without delays or damage! Surprisingly, many people underestimate the time and costs involved in doing that. Careful planning and budgeting are crucial to ensuring moving day goes smoothly. You basically have three options: Hire a moving company to handle everythi ...

Imagine driving through a desirable neighbourhood and, just as you turn a corner, you see the absolutely perfect home. Guess what? It's for sale! But, there’s a problem. Your current property isn't on the market. In fact, until this moment, you hadn’t seriously considered moving.  So what do you do? Your first step is to find out more about the listing. Get a description of the property. Fi ...

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  Ideally you should have a week or two available before you list your property in order to stage your home and make it look its best for buyers. But, what if you listed quickly and within hours of the For Sale sign going up a buyer wants to view your property?  In that scenario, you need to do some quick "staging" to get your home ready. Let's assume your property is already clean and tidy ...

  Imagine this scenario...  You're shopping for a new home. You drive to visit a recent listing. As you walk through the front doors, you're impressed. Every room looks fantastic. You see yourself relaxing on the spacious patio, cooking in the modern kitchen, and enjoying evenings with the family in the cozy living room.  Your emotions are on overdrive. This is your dream home!  Should yo ...

  When you're having a garage sale, one of the toughest tasks is pricing your items. If you put a price tag on your old golf clubs that’s too high, no one will buy them. If you make the price too low, they might sell quickly, but you’ll spend the rest of the day wondering if you could have gotten more!  It's similar to selling your home — except with your home, the stakes are much higher. Y ...