b-LOG: 2018 – The First Half
The first half of 2018 has been a mix of predictable and surprising across most municipalities of Niagara. Here is…
b-LOG: Mortgages 101. A Pocket Guide to the Types of Mortgages in Canada
Mortgages. There likely exists no other subject that causes more angst among those looking to purchase real estate. And it…
b-LOG: Compared to What
To quote the title of the classic jazz tune by Eddie Harris & Les McCann, when comparing anything to something,…
b-LOG: Apple to Statistical Apples
Is the market changing? Yes. Phewf. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s discuss the market, stats…
b-LOG: Sherlock or Sure Thing
Let’s start out by agreeing that there is no such thing as a sure thing in the home buying process.…
b-LOG: When the Market Winds Change Direction
If there’s one thing we all know for sure is that all markets are temporary. As much as a serious…
b-LOG: Empathy and the Real Estate Negotiation
One of the biggest mistakes made by both REALTORS® and their clients alike is the inability to put themselves in…
b-LOG: Does Pre-Listing Preparation Still Matter?
In a heated sellers’ market like we are currently in, there is a tendency for people to think that everything…
b-LOG: Timing the Race
First, I realize that the runner in lane 1 is either a false start or getting warmed up so they…
b-LOG: The Market Numbers to Pay Attention To
A lot of people will say there is nothing for sale. That we in Niagara, specifically St.Catharines, Thorold and Niagara…
b-LOG: Coming Soon….Exclusive….Sneak Peek…
There is clearly a growing trend in our industry, at least locally, where new listings are coming soon, exclusive and/or…
b-LOG – The Flipping Deficit
Maybe its just timing at the moment but there seems to be more ‘flipped’ houses out there on the market…
b-LOG: Sometimes the Grass is Brown
Everyone has their own perspectives that help shape their day to day existence. Perspective on quality. On value. On movies.…
b-LOG: Is now the Best Time to Sell?
This is one of the most common questions that we hear. In the busier times of the year (spring for…
b-LOG: What If We Told You…
… that less houses sell in February and March when compared to April and May but the houses that sell…
b-LOG: The 3 Types of Buyers
1. The Browser 2. The If It Happens It Happens 3. The Hunter THE BROWSER: As a home seller, it…
b-LOG: 11 Things That We Niagara Realtors Should be Thankful For
11. AFFORDABILITY – we live in a region where a single person just starting out can buy a condo for…
b-LOG: Perspective From Over the Pond
During a recent trip to England, I had the pleasure of chatting with numerous locals about how homes are bought…
b-LOG: The Your-House Hotel
Think of your house as a hotel. Overall, it’s quite the nice place. A lovely entrance and charming lobby with…
b-LOG: BUYER POINTS: How Many is Your Home Worth?
Look at it this way. When a buyer comes to your home, your home is worth 100 points in their…
b-LOG: The Downsizer: Timing the Right Time
Quite often, the easy-out, go-to approach for marketers is fear of loss. If you don’t buy this widget by that…
b-LOG: Things to Consider for the Seller in 2014
Looking back over the last several years, we seemed to have been in this perpetual cycle of ‘the economy is…
b-LOG: What if Open Houses Didn’t Exist
What purpose do open houses hold? Some will tell you that less than 5% of homes sell through open houses.…
b-LOG: “But What About…”
When you’re buying virtually anything, questions should be asked. Clarify. Enquire. Verify. Plan. Question. Pause. Proceed. Etcetera. There are 3…
b-LOG: What is it Worth?
What is our home worth? This age old real estate question is one of the toughest questions to answer. Really,…
b-LOG: Reduce Stress and Bridge It!
There is a reason bridges were invented. They allow safe and easy passage over a river or canal or hole…
b-LOG: Waiting for the Waiting to Be Done
Often the biggest challenge that a seller or buyer faces is the waiting. Waiting to get the home ready for…
b-LOG: Find the Five
As we move through July and into August, some home sellers will see decreased activity and interest in their home.…
b-LOG: July – When Sellers Become Buyers
Quite often this time of year, a decent part of the market loosens up (or has loosened up already). As…
b-LOG: Is Smoking the Ultimate Way to Personalize Your Home
Not sure if it is “let’s talk about smoking” season but we have heard and read numerous articles recently discussing…
b-LOG: The Spring Tipping Point
Every spring we see that definite point in time when the influx of new listing activity is clearly upon us.…
b-LOG: Which is Better…100 Pennies or 4 Quarters?
I saw a graphic on social media today comparing quantity versus quality, using the pennies versus quarters comparison. The question…
b-LOG: The FEAR FACTOR of Competing Offers
We have had a few situations recently where a buyer (not our buyer) has backed off of a property because…
b-LOG: The Process of Real Estate. You Never Know When
We are often asked to give a guarantee or an assurance of when we think a home will be sold.…
b-LOG: Is today’s busy lifestyle influencing the home we buy?
Thinking back over the years of marketing and selling homes in Niagara, we have noticed something in recent years. In…
b-LOG: Is the ‘low ball offer’ really the best approach?
We constantly go on about the need to put yourself in the shoes of the person(s) that you are negotiating…
b-LOG: Ask Questions…Then Ask Some More
Can I live with that? Can I fix that? Am I living with that already? What would life be like…
b-LOG: The Mid Season – Keep the air moving!
Just a quick thought. In the post-heat, pre-air conditioning season, often people turn their furnace off. That’s fine but if…
The Waiting Game – Do yourself a favour and plan ahead
Buying or selling, everyone is waiting at some point. Waiting to see the house. Waiting for showings. Waiting for offers.…
When New Isn’t New Anymore
In the business of selling used goods, often, a part or parts of the product have been improved or updated…
Welcome to the Sprinter Market
As the weather forecast shows sunny with temperatures between 0 and 10 over the next week, the strange false-winter trend…
We Got a Guy
Whether you are moving or not, it always helps to know people! Part of our day to day existence as…
Pictures – The Good, the Bad & the Deceiving
If you’ve browsed the internet looking at homes, I’m sure you’ve noticed the wide range in the quality of photos.…
Questions…and More Questions
The most important questions we can sometimes ask are the questions that we may not even be aware of. When…
Get on the Other Side of the Table
All too often we get stuck on our side of the table. Discussions with spouses, co-workers, friends can easily end…
Timing is Everything…Sort Of
We are in the portion of the year where the question is always asked, “is now a good time to…
The Power of Influence
The action of an individual is largely affected by outside influence. Whether it is the individual’s personal moral code or…
The “Right” One
Is the correct course of action to hope ‘the right one’ comes along or is it to improve what you’re…
