Buying a Home
FOOD FOR THOUGHT IN GREY BRUCE
Buying locally grown “farm to table” food helps support our amazing local farmers!
Supporting local businesses has been extremely important to our community over the past few years.
Buying locally grown “farm to table” food from our local farmer’s markets also helps support our amazing local farmers. Here’s some food for thought on buying locally-grown produce:
Nutritious
Minimizing the time from the farm to the table ensures that fruits and vegetables retain the maximum amount of nutrients.
Greener
Transporting food long distances is detrimental to the environment as it requires extra packaging and increased emissions from fuel.
Tastier
With no need for long-distance travel, produce is picked at peak freshness so it’s loaded with taste, pardon the pun.
Preservation
Buying locally grown food helps protect farmland and wildlife from sprawling urban development.
Convenient
Many neighbourhoods have agricultural groups such as Eat Local Grey Bruce that provide a weekly box of fresh, locally grown produce that can oftentimes be delivered right to your door!
So there you have it – buying local is miles better! For a fun day out, visit a “pick your own” fruit farm. Not only will you be able to eat the tastiest fruit around but you’ll also help support our hardworking farmers and local businesses.
OLD OR NEW WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU
There are various pros and cons when it comes to newer vs. older homes.
When you’re out on the hunt for the perfect home in the Grey Bruce area, you’ll be faced with countless decisions. One of the first things to consider is whether you’d prefer a newer home or an older home.
Deciding between a newer home and an older home can be tricky as it comes down to individual preferences and priorities. Here are a few advantages of OLDER HOMES:
- Established Location – Older homes are often located in well-established communities with mature trees. They’re also usually close to popular downtown amenities.
- Classic Character – Older homes usually boast unique architectural features such as crown moulding and stained glass windows.
- Solid Structures – The craftsmanship and quality of materials that went into building homes years ago were usually second to none.
- Outdoor Space – Older homes tend to have larger lots which is important if you value your privacy or wish to add an addition in the future.
Newer homes, on the other hand, have their own unique set of perks. Here are a few advantages of NEWER HOMES:
- Customizable – You’re able to easily customize a brand-new home to suit your style with unique features such as heated floors or granite countertops.
- Functional Features – Newer homes are laid out with functional features such as attached garages, practical storage and ensuite bathrooms.
- Low Maintenance – You’re not likely to encounter any serious issues as everything will be brand new. The home’s exterior will also be much easier to maintain.
- Energy Efficient – Better windows, insulation and overall sealing mean newer homes are more energy efficient which translates into lower monthly utility bills.
You may already have a good idea of what you prefer but try to keep an open mind as you start to become familiar with the pros and cons of older vs. newer. This is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make so take your time before signing on the dotted line!
GRILLED FRUIT SKEWERS
Mix things up on the grill this summer with a healthy, tantalizing dessert!
The heat of the grill turns fruit into juicy, sweet goodness that’s a grand finale to any backyard feast. Here’s what you’ll need to make this simple yet delicious dessert:
- skewers
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- melted chocolate
- an assortment of fresh fruit (pineapple, peaches, mangos, etc.)
Lightly oil the grill and preheat the BBQ to medium. Cut up the fruit and thread it onto the skewers. Grill for a couple of minutes per side.
Once they’re off the BBQ, drizzle the skewers with either the honey/cinnamon mixture or melted chocolate just before serving. Enjoy!
GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE UPDATE – July 2023
Please don’t hesitate to reach out for detailed stats that are specific to your neighbourhood, or even if you’re just curious about what the house down the street sold for – it’d be great to hear from you!
DON’T GET LEFT OUT IN THE HEAT
If your A/C’s going to fail, it’ll likely happen in the middle of a heat wave.
If your air conditioning fails during a heat wave, you could be stuck roasting for days until a technician’s able to come out and when they do, the repair cost may make your blood boil!
A neglected air conditioner will be both unreliable and inefficient so it’s important to have it serviced regularly to help ensure its optimum performance.
The service check should include a full inspection as well as checking the amp draw of the compressor, cleaning the coils, adjusting the belts and topping up the fluid.
Regularly servicing your air conditioner will prevent wear and tear plus it’ll increase the efficiency of your unit which will in turn reduce your electricity bills.
Don’t leave it until it’s too late. Schedule your check-up today so you can avoid being left out in the heat.
SAFETY TIPS FOR THE QUE
It’s that time of year when the kitchen starts to slowly edge its way outside!
There’s nothing quite like the mouth-watering aroma of a backyard BBQ but safety is key. Here are a few tips to keep in mind so that your food sizzles safely:
Light It Up
Always light a BBQ with the lid open. If it doesn’t ignite right away, turn the valves off and wait a few minutes before retrying.
Pests’ Nests
Insect nests are the number one cause of BBQ fires so make sure you regularly clean the burner tubes to prevent blockages.
Make Room
Place your grill on a stable surface in an open, well-ventilated area away from buildings, trees and any flammable materials.
Roll Up Your Sleeves
Make sure apron strings, scarves and other clothes don’t dangle over the grill and always use long-handled utensils to avoid burns and splatters.
Turn It Off
Always remember to turn the gas off at both the grill and tank as soon as you’ve finished cooking.
Now that the safety stuff’s out of the way, it’s time to focus on the food! After your amazing steak dinner, tantalize your taste buds by serving up a mouth-watering melody of grilled fruit. It’ll be the perfect finale for your backyard feast!
SETTING THE STAGE FOR YOUR SALE
You only get one chance to make a great first impression when selling your home!
When you put your home on the market, your goal is to sell it quickly and for the most amount of money possible. Properly staging your home will create an amazing first impression that will generate a huge buzz!
Staging isn’t so much an expense as it is an investment. Not only is your home likely to sell for a higher price but it will probably sell much faster which is important because homes that sit on the market for too long can generate an irreversible stigma which diminishes its value.
Staging starts with an ultra-clean, de-cluttered and de-personalized home. Buying a home is an emotional decision, so it’s important that buyers are able to envision themselves living in your home which is why photographs, trophies and kids’ artwork have to go.
A professional stager also ensures your home is inviting to buyers by enhancing the functionality and flow of each room. They can remove and store furniture so the house looks as spacious as possible and also use lighting and other tricks to warm up the feel of your home.
A properly staged home will also look much more appealing to those who are browsing homes online, which will in turn help to generate more showings and create more demand.
If you want to try and stage your home yourself, you’ll need to go beyond the basics but start by cleaning your home inside and out including the front yard, the porch, the garage and the back garden.
Buyers have a tough time visualizing themselves in unfurnished rooms so turn your craft room back into a bedroom or transform an awkward nook into a reading spot by setting out a comfy chair and nice lamp to give it a comfortable feel.
Buyers will also be snooping through your cupboards and closets as storage space is usually an important factor so don’t forget to stage those areas as well.
A well-staged home is much more likely to make a great first impression and capture the hearts of homebuyers.
Whether you pay a professional to stage your home or do the work yourself, staging is a worthwhile investment that will massively increase the odds of your home selling quickly and for top dollar!
GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE UPDATE – June 2023
Please don’t hesitate to reach out for detailed stats that are specific to your neighbourhood, or even if you’re just curious about what the place down the road sold for – it’d be great to hear from you!
THE POWER OF LEMON AID
The lowly lemon can make quite an impact around the house!
Load up on lemons if you’re looking for a powerful, environmentally-friendly cleaner that can tackle virtually any household chore! Here are a few ways they can make your home naturally sparkle:
- use lemon juice to remove stains on countertops
- mix lemon juice with baking soda to create a scouring paste
- soak carpet stains with lemon juice for 20 minutes, then rinse and blot
- heat a bowl of water with sliced lemons in the microwave before wiping it down
A great tip for squeezing as much juice as possible from your lemons is to microwave them for 30 seconds, wait a minute, then cut and squeeze.
Lemons are an excellent alternative to traditional toxic cleaning solutions and they’ll fill your home with a refreshing citrus scent that won’t leave a sour taste behind!