Home Sales
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.
BUYING FIRST VS. SELLING FIRST
The Grey Bruce real estate market continues to shift so it’s important to plan your next move.
If you’re a current homeowner who’s thinking about making a move, you’ll have to decide whether to sell your existing home first or risk carrying two homes at once.
Selling first means you’ll know exactly how much you’ll be able to put towards your next home.
It also allows you to present a much stronger offer as it won’t be conditional on the sale of your current home.
Finally, selling first helps eliminate the air of desperation that both buyers and agents can sense.
Once your home sells though, the clock starts ticking. You’ll only have a limited amount of time to find the perfect place. You don’t want to overpay or settle for something less than ideal so you may have to be somewhat flexible when it comes to moving dates.
If you’re looking for a very specific home that only comes up occasionally, you may have to buy first and arrange a longer closing to allow time for your current home to sell. To avoid carrying both homes at once, your house should be priced competitively from the start in order to generate maximum interest.
Local market conditions are also an important factor so it’s important to determine whether it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market and whether or not prices are rising or falling.
In a buyer’s market where there’s a wide selection, people usually prefer to sell first so they have a bit of breathing room.
In a seller’s market where good homes are hard to find and sell quickly, you may want to buy first in order to lock down your dream home.
There’s really no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to buying first vs. selling first as it depends on your personal circumstances, your financial situation and local market conditions.
Whatever your thoughts may be, it’s important to seek professional advice from a knowledgeable, local real estate agent as market conditions can change rapidly.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you ever have any questions about the Grey Bruce real estate market, or real estate in general – it’d be great to hear from you!
GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE – July 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!
GRILLED PINEAPPLE ON THE BBQ
Grilled pineapple is an easy yet delicious finale to any backyard BBQ!
Almost everyone loves pineapple as it’s healthy yet sweet but it’s even better on the BBQ because when you grill it, the natural sugars caramelize which creates a sweet/smoky taste. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 pineapple, cored and peeled
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tbsp. melted butter
Lightly oil the grill and preheat the BBQ to medium. Cut the pineapple into 1-inch slices.
Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Brush pineapple with butter and then pat on the sugar mixture. BBQ for 5 minutes, turning occasionally until they’re slightly grilled.
This simple yet scrumptious dessert tastes even better with a side of vanilla ice cream – enjoy!
PUPPY-PROOFING YOUR HOME
Are you and your home prepared for the adventure of a new puppy?
Bringing home a new bundle of fur is an exciting time but it’s also a lot of work. The first thing you’ll need to do is puppy-proof your home.
Start by getting on your hands and knees so you can see things from their perspective and put everything away that a pup might chew on such as shoes and hats. Here are a few other handy tips:
Think Inside the Box
It’s a good idea to crate-train your puppy right from the start so that both of you can get a good night’s sleep.
Power Down
A teething puppy may try to chew on electrical cords so tuck them away so that they’re out of reach.
Pack Your Poison
Gather up any poisonous items such as chocolate, xylitol, bleach or ibuprofen and put them in a secure spot.
Trash Talk
Keep your garbage can out of reach so that your pup won’t come into contact with bones, plastic bags or other choking hazards.
Champion Chewer
Stockpile a wide variety of puppy-friendly chew toys to help redirect their focus away from your shoes or your couch.
Yard Time
Make sure there aren’t any holes in your fence and look out for poisonous plants such as azaleas and daffodils.
Bringing a puppy home is a wonderful, life-changing experience but it can also be a lot of work. It’s therefore best to prepare your home ahead of time so that you can offer your pup the constant love and attention it deserves.