ONLY HEART CAN BUILD A HOME
You know what they say – home is where the heart is!
If you’re looking for a new place in the Grey Bruce area for you and your family to call home, reach out so that we can discuss your next move 🙂
Buying a Home
WHEN PUSHY COMES TO SHOVY
Clear communication is an important element in any relationship.
Nobody wants to deal with a pushy real estate agent who constantly hounds you for feedback.
At the same time, you don’t want an agent who’s never in touch and fails to serve your needs in a timely fashion.
In the early stages, many home buyers shy away from asking too many questions as they don’t want to waste the agent’s time since they’re just getting started.
The truth is, your agent wants to hear from you every now and then so that they can continue to grow with you as your house-hunting journey evolves.
Everyone’s needs are different though. Some clients require daily property updates while others who are just getting started prefer a more relaxed approach.
Your circumstances may change as time goes by so it’s important to adjust your search criteria as well as how often you receive notifications so that you’re not overwhelmed with unsuitable listings.
Effective communication is essential when it comes to forming and maintaining any relationship and a client/agent relationship is no different.
As long as you and your agent regularly communicate with one another during your house-hunting journey, you’ll feel neither pressured nor abandoned.
If you’re looking to relocate, whether it be now or a few years down the road, please don’t hesitate to reach out so that we can discuss your next move!
NEIGHBOURHOOD NAME GAME
Remembering someone’s name is the best compliment you can give!
People love it when you remember their name as it makes them feel as though they made a memorable impression on you.
Halloween’s a great opportunity to try and learn the names of people in your neighbourhood as everyone’s out trick-or-treating with their kids.
One of the best ways to remember someone’s name is to say it out loud right away while working it into a conversation, i.e. “Hey Jim, I think I’ve seen you out walking your dog”.
Another trick is to visualize an image that relates to the sound of their name. For instance, if you meet someone called Abby, picture a bee.
Finally, you can always try to associate their name with a famous celebrity. There are many different tricks but at the end of the day, it’s important to focus on their name instead of what you’re going to say next.
It feels great when someone you hardly know remembers your name so this Halloween, make it a point to get out there and name some names!
GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE UPDATE Sept 2022
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!
REAL ESTATE WISDOM
Real estate has its ups and downs but in the long run, it’s a very solid investment.
If you’re looking for a new place to start building memories, reach out so that we can discuss your next move!
THINK OUTSIDE THE LUNCH BOX
A little creativity goes a long way when it comes to school lunches!
It’s frustrating when the lunch you lovingly pack for your kids is either traded or comes home uneaten. Here are a few fresh lunch ideas that they’ll look forward to:
Mix It Up
Variety is key so keep them guessing with fun items such as turkey tortilla pinwheels, apple butter bagels or greek pasta salad.
Do the Dip
Mix up custom dips such as greek yogurt with a dash of mild hot sauce and serve with sliced carrots, cucumber or celery.
Keep It Healthy
Use healthy ingredients like dates or dried fruits in baked goods such as banana bread. Just be sure to make extra for the freezer!
Compartmentalize
Instead of a boring lunch box, pack things up in a bento box so that each part of the lunch is spread out into different sections.
Make Their Own
Kids love to assemble things so try putting in all the fixings such as cheese, veggies and mayo so that they can build their own creations.
There are so many quick and easy ways to jazz up the contents of a lunch box. A little creativity goes a long way to help ensure your children’s lunch is lovingly packed with fresh food that will keep them happy and healthy.
INSPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Buying a home can be very emotional, especially if it’s love at first sight.
Imagine that you’ve finally found your dream home and you’re feeling on top of the world!
Your mind’s made up and you just want to put in an offer as quickly as possible so you don’t lose it to another buyer.
Now, think about how you’d feel once you’re all moved in only to discover that your dream home’s nothing but a money pit.
Hidden surprises are the last thing you want to deal with but it’s easy to overlook potential problems when you find a home you love as most buyers tend to focus on the positive features.
Over the last few years, the frantic pace of the Grey Bruce real estate market forced many buyers to forgo a home inspection so that they could submit a stronger offer, but now that things have slowed down, it’s no longer as much of an issue.
Taking the time to have the home professionally inspected will help you see the full picture as home inspections help identify both existing and future problems.
There’s no such thing as a perfect house though so don’t be alarmed when minor issues arise. Look at it instead as a learning experience as most inspectors will discuss the home’s systems and how they should be maintained.
Home inspections aren’t just for buyers though. Sellers often have inspections completed before they put their property on the market so they’re not caught off guard and forced into a vulnerable position at the negotiating table.
Knowing the condition of a house is key when it comes to selling real estate so it’s important to be fully aware of any existing problems beforehand so they can be dealt with accordingly.
Not everyone chooses to have a home inspection but if you want to potentially avoid buying a home riddled with problems, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Just be sure to choose a certified home inspector who comes highly recommended and confirm that the cost includes a detailed written report. The knowledge and peace of mind you’ll gain will almost certainly be well worth the expense.
GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE UPDATE, August 2022
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!
THE MAGIC OF BAKING SODA
The uses for baking soda around the home are endless!
Everyone knows baking soda helps keep the inside of your fridge smelling fresh but did you know it’s also an amazing environmentally friendly cleaner?
Here are a few other things you can use baking soda for:
- Use as a dry cleanser to scrub tubs, tiles and toilets.
- Wash your hands with baking soda to eliminate the smell of onions or garlic.
- Sprinkle on your carpet or mattress and then vacuum to eliminate odours.
- Pour a little down the sink followed by some vinegar to clear clogged drains.
Once you’ve finished cleaning your home, you can go and enjoy a nice, relaxing soak in the tub. Before you climb in though, add half a cup of baking soda to soften your skin!
YOUR HOME’S HIDDEN FIRE HAZARD
It’s important to make sure your dryer isn’t full of more than just hot air.
Did you know that dryers are responsible for over 15,000 fires in North America each year?
Most people aren’t aware of the danger clothes dryers can pose which is why dryer maintenance is often overlooked.
Fires can occur when lint (a highly combustible material) builds up in the dryer or more commonly, in the dryer’s exhaust duct. This blockage causes excessive heat to build up in the dryer.
Some warning signs that your dryer vent may be blocked are:
- a musty smell
- excessive heat and moisture
- fogged up windows and mirrors
- large amounts of lint and debris
- clothes that remain damp after a cycle
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important that you take steps to clear your vent right away.
You’ll first want to unplug your dryer and then pull it out from the wall. Next, disconnect the exhaust hose and remove the lint with a brush or vacuum.
If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself or if the vent isn’t accessible, have your dryer inspected and cleaned by a qualified service technician.
Ignoring your dryer is like playing with fire. If you regularly clean out your dryer’s exhaust vent though, you’ll not only reduce a common fire hazard but you’ll also save money as your dryer will last longer and run much more efficiently.