It may not seem to be the best idea to decorate or buy for your Halifax home's backyard now that winter is creeping up on us, but now may actually be a great time. There are always end-of-fall sales and projects you can do, especially now that you will be indoors more for the winter. Your outdoor living space should be an extension of you and your indoor style coming outdoors. One of the first things to add to any outdoor area is colour. You can do it with furniture, accessories or planters. Don't get carried away with too much stuff, however. Buying things off season can definitely beautify without breaking the bank. You can always find furniture sets after season but also look for attractive storage units to hide bikes, garden hoses and gardening tools. These storage containers can al... 11/17/2010

You don't need to be an expert to draught-proof your home in time for winter. By insulating and draught-proofing, you can make your Halifax home more energy efficient before winter. You will not only cut heating costs this winter but also protect your home from water damage. Here are some simple steps to not letting your home fall victim to our harsh Halifax winters. Start with Entry Doors The best place to start is with the entry doors or storm doors. By adding a little tension to the door, you can keep the door pulled tight without air leaks. Add a threshold to both the storm door and outside entry door. A threshold sweeps the bottom of the door against the floor keeping cold air out and warm air in. They can be found at any home improvement store and are inexpensive and easy to insta... 11/13/2010

When selling your Halifax home, you want your home to stand out above the rest. If it's within your budget, some remodeling to update your home can bring great resale value to your home. Remodeling can get expensive though, so think smart to reduce some of your costs while increasing your home's value. You are your Own ContractorWhile it may be nice to give someone else your projects to handle, you will be paying a hefty price. By doing some research and word of mouth, you can find that plumber or electrician yourself. By breaking down your remodeling projects into separate tasks, you can easily get quotes yourself. You may even be able to do a lot of the prep work yourself. Be sure to check with your local building agency and obtain any permits you will need. Keep it SimpleYour ideal w... 11/10/2010

You are ready to buy your first Halifax home. It's an exciting time in your life and it's one of the biggest purchases you will ever make. Of course, being a homeowner is a proud achievement, but it also means investing a lot of time, energy, money and a whole new set of responsibilities. Before you get caught up in the excitement of looking at homes, make sure you're ready, and prepare yourself to make a knowledgeable decision. It's important to look at some basic pros and cons for homeownership. PROS: Freedom: Having a place of your own means not having to be restrained by restrictions. You can renovate and decorate your home to suit your own personal tastes and needs. You make your own set of rules. Financial Benefits: Your home can provide you will more financial security by gaining... 11/07/2010

Old Man Winter is right around the corner and sneaking up quickly! Make sure your Halifax home is ready to take on the harsh elements of our Canadian winter by performing some fall maintenance chores. Before you take on these tasks, make sure to walk around the entirety of the home and create a checklist so that nothing is forgotten. Exterior First, examine the roof for leaks and damaged shingles. You may want to incorporate the services of a professional for this chore. While on the roof, be sure to check vents, louvers and chimney caps for any birds' nests or other animals. If you have a wood-burning fireplace or stove it would be in your best interest to have the chimney cleaned of creosote by a WETT-certified professional to eliminate any chimney fires. Next, clean the gutters, eave... 11/05/2010

When you are ready to sell your Halifax home, lighting can play a very important part in staging it. You want your home to have a lot of light flooding in from doors and windows, but when fall comes, natural lighting isn't always an option. Therefore, you may need to use different types of lighting and accessories to improve your home's image.Always utilize natural lighting whenever you can, so keep the drapes open when showing the home during the day. This includes windows, French doors, and sliding glass doors as well.Recessed or pot lighting can improve the overall effect of a room. If you do not have this type of lighting currently, this may be a fairly inexpensive projec to improve the image of your home. Floor and table lamps can lighten up dark corners in rooms where lighting is ... 10/31/2010

When you are ready to sell your Halifax home, you focus on the renovations and the cosmetic updates to create selling points. In an era when consumers are more conscious of the environmental impact of our Western lifestyle, adding some updates to make it more green might make it more saleable too. There are many not-so-obvious green things that make great selling points. As the seller, you may not notice the green qualities in your home that are adding value to the sale. Roy Thomas can bring some of these things to light that will make your home stand out above the others.Starting from the outside in, the landscaping of your home may make it more energy efficient. For example, deciduous trees to the south will block the hot summer sun while coniferous trees to the north will block that ... 10/30/2010

Imagine driving down the street and seeing a green roof atop your neighbor's home! That's right, a soft carpet of green in place of a traditional roof. It isn't very common yet, and is mostly found atop industrial buildings or in a new construction home. However, even older homes can turn green! In renovating the kitchen of their century-old home, that's exactly what Penni-Sue Smith and Jason Gerhard decided to do. Because the portion they made green was an addition, they were able to increase the structural integrity to hold the extra weight. One favorable feature of green roofs is how rainwater is controlled. Pat Malloy of Duo Building, who supervised the renovation states, "they hold 75% of the precipitation, taking storm water off the sewage system. This creates a smaller runoff tha... 10/26/2010

Per our latest press release, EXIT Realty Metro and EXIT Realty Optimum have joined togehter in partnership to creates the largest real estate brokerage in HRM by number of listings and agent count. EXIT Realty Optimum and EXIT Realty Metro today announced they are joining together under the banner EXIT Realty Metro. This new partnership will be effective October 14, 2010 and joins two of the top five real estate offices¹ in the province to create a premiere real estate brokerage in Nova Scotia."We are partnering to become the largest² and most effectively run real estate organization in the HRM," said Jeremy Cowan, owner EXIT Realty Metro. "We will be unmatched in our ability to serve the real estate needs of our clients and our agents." "Our decision to come together in partnership wi... 10/14/2010

When you are shopping for a new Halifax home, lenders carefully analyze the details of your mortgage loan application to determine whether they will finance your new home.   They determine how likely you are to repay the loan by using a method called "The 5 C's of Credit".  These 5 C's are - Character, Collateral, Capital, Credit, and Capacity; but what do they mean? Character -  The lender makes a general impression of your character in regards to trustworthiness and the ability to repay the loan.  He looks at your educational background, profession, time at your current employment and residence are considered as well. Collateral - By requiring an appraisal of value for the property, the lender is assuring themselves that the property is marketable and can be easily resold in the event... 09/30/2010

JUST LISTED! My latest listing is truly North End Peninsula living at its best! $334,900 | Below is the video. Please call me now to arrange a viewing: Mike | 902.209.6745 | MLS®: 40883001 This bright and airy 3 bedroom executive semi-detached has spectacular basin views! Features include a single attached garage, den/office, rec room and hardwood floors & staircases. End unit is much larger than the others in the area boasting 2100 square feet of finished living area! The main living area has a 2 piece powder room, spacious open concept living/ dining area. A large eat-in kitchen with patio doors opens onto a deck for those who love to BBQ or just enjoy the outdoors. On the 3rd floor you will discover a large Master Bedroom that hosts a 5 piece en-suite bathroom with a large walk in cl... 09/29/2010

For many people looking to buy a home in today’s market, a vacant Halifax home may seem like a great opportunity, but Buyer Beware.  Many times there are hidden costly problems due to just this reason – being empty too long. It used to be that homes became unoccupied due to life events such as death, marriage, or job relocation, but now more than ever it’s due to bank foreclosure.  These situations tend to have a negative impact on the health of the home. The American Society of Home Inspectors suggests that these homes tend to have problems due to regular maintenance being neglected because of financial hardships.  At the time of leaving their house, many foreclosed owners have vandalized the homes by stealing copper wire or fixtures, or damaging appliances and pipes. There are a numbe... 09/21/2010

It's a rare occassion when a condo unit is made available on Heatherwood Court in Halifax, Nova Scotia so I thought it worth mentioning that if you are indeed have been waiting for one to become available, don't hesitate to contact me. It won't last long. The following is a description to help you determine if it is a good fit for you: Only Minutes to Downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia 5570 Heatherwood Court, Unit 205, Halifax, NS B4B 1S7 View Map Enjoy the benefits of living only minutes from downtown Halifax & yet be welcomed by the secure community that is felt at Heatherwood Crt. Relax in a park-like setting on landscaped grounds; entertain your family & friends in the party room or on the large lounging patio boasting a bar-b-que & gazebo & get active in the pool, gym or the tennis cour... 09/14/2010

Citizens of Halifax ,take note.! You may think fraud or identity theft happens when your wallet gets stolen or when someone steals information from your mail box box or computer.  However, real estate fraud is a very real problem.  For many people, their home is their largest financial asset.  Because of this, your home may be a key target when you are buying, selling, or renting it out   According to Ray Leclair, an experienced real estate lawyer and vice-president, Title PLUS with the Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company (LawPRO),  "No one is immune to real estate fraud. "Canadian homeowners or purchasers may mistake bogus deals for great opportunities or find themselves the victims of scams, theft or stolen identity." By being vigilant with some key safety precautions, you can pro... 09/05/2010

When it comes time to sell your Halifax home, you want it to appear as appealing to potential buyers as possible.  As we discussed in our last blog, upgrading the kitchen commands great returns in resale value, but so does freshening up the look of your bathroom to make it more inviting.  There are many ways to freshen up the look of your existing bathroom with little money, but with big payoff.   Bathrooms appeal to buyers when they are clean, organized, and look new.  You can spend thousands to achieve this look, but if your bathroom is functional, you may not need a complete remodel to make it appealing.  Try a "remodel-lite".  This is refreshing a room using only a few new items with a minimal investment out of your pocketbook. By replacing a few key pieces and repurposing things yo... 09/01/2010

I had a very interesting experience recently with a potential client who was planning to sell her Halifax  home. She wanted me to come out and look at her property and tell her what price I would list it for. I prepared a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to determine what price the market was indicating her home would sell for and met with her at the agreed upon time. The meeting started off well. She tells me she's impressed with my marketing program and wants to list with me. We just need to determine the price and do the paperwork. So next, I review all the market data and comparable sales with her and advise her that the likely selling price would be a maximum of $325,000 and suggests she list no higher that that. Apparently that shocks her. She can't believe I would suggest such a... 08/30/2010

Okay , after reading the first two blogs in our series about mistakes first time Halifax homeowners often make, you get it. Your first home will probably not be the Taj Mahal. This does not mean that you should buy something that is unsuitable. Your first home should meet your current needs, as well as some of your wants. Mistake #7 Compromising on What You Need Even if you settle for a smaller home than you want or sacrifice a basement that you hoped for, you should not compromise on what you need. If you have a family of 8, you shouldn't buy a 2 bedroom just to buy a house. If you have toddlers, don't buy next to a freeway. If you can't do stairs, don't buy a 3-story urban townhome. When you see the reality of what you can afford, you need to assess what you need in a home vs. what yo... 08/20/2010

When you buy your first Halifax home, you probably want it all.  A big lot, perfect amenities, move-in condition, and lots of space seem like reasonable requests. When you see what you can afford, you realize you have to make concessions, especially if you want to avoid the new homebuyer mistakes mentioned in our first blog. The reality is that the home you are buying will statistically NOT be your last. To find a first home you will be happy with until you are ready for your next move-up home, there are a few things to avoid. Mistake # 4 Not Compromising Many first-time home buyers have the proverbial "champagne taste on a beer budget" syndrome. Granite counters in a gourmet kitchen, a perfect neighborhood, and an extra room all seem like necessities. So buyers are faced with choices: ... 08/16/2010

Buying your first Halifax home is an exciting time. You hope that the end result is a home you love at just the right price. Unfortunately, it's easy to make mistakes that cost you money and lead to grief that can dampen your joy. It's easy to get in over your head.  Mistake  #1 Not Knowing Your Budget  When you are house hunting, you are in a real estate candy store. You may walk past the licorice but there are so many tempting chocolates and nut clusters, you can overbuy before you know it. You can quickly recover from an impulse buy of too much candy, but if you buy a home you can't really afford, you may have 30 years of trouble. When you go house hunting, you need to have a clear understanding of how much house you can afford. Hopefully you've been working from a budget, but if not... 08/14/2010

Are you thinking of selling your house in the Halifax area? And listing it this spring on the MLS®? (The market starts to pick back up this time of year so the time to start the listing process is now). When choosing a REALTOR® find out what they can do for you! Here are SIX ROCK SOLID REASON TO SELL YOUR HOME with Mike. 1. I will post HD video of your house on the MLS® system. This means when people are browsing properties on the MLS® website they can click the "Multimedia" button on your listing and the HD video will launch! What a way to show off your property! Here is an example. Sell your house with Mike, a REALTOR® in the Halifax area. 2. I will pay for a Pre-sale home inspection. Pre-inspected houses often get more showings and offers and they highlight any areas that need attent... 03/17/2010