They love it! your realtor says And your heart, it swells. We're going to sell, Their financing's through, they love the pool... But wait! Don't pop the cork too soon, You're not done with the woo-and-court, There's something new they want to see: Your Home Energy Rating Report. What if the report card isn't good?! Your oldish house has uninsulated wood, Your windows drafty, doors not sealed - ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on October 1, 2009
The "Working with a Realtor" brochure is one of the most misunderstood documents I work with. Some people think that by signing this document they are committing to work forever with the Realtor who got them to sign it. This is NOT the case!
The "Working with a Realtor" brochure is simply a signed confirmation the Realtor has explained the Agency Relationship to the client.
By signing this brochure, ...
Posted by Mike Stewart
on September 30, 2009
If you're an AIR MILES collector, you may have discovered the AIR MILES "community" (social networking website), and maybe you even entered their "Who Wants to be a Mile-ionaire" contest - the prize of which was 1 million AIR MILES reward miles. Enough to fly to Australia and back more than 50 times from Canada! And the prize goes to.... Roy Enger, 74, of Chilliwack, BC (right, with wife Mabel). ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on September 28, 2009
Bill and Shirley sold a home they had owned for 2 ½ years, netting $100,000. Unable to fin a home to buy, they decided to temporarily rent. Within months, their realtor found a home that Shirley fell in love with.
Bill insisted on making a cash offer. They had been approved 2½ years ago by their bank for a mortgage on a home purchase for the same price, and saw no reason for not ...
Posted by Eugene Pilato
on September 23, 2009
Selling a house can be stressful in the best of times - but what about in the worst of times... like as a result of a divorce?
At such an emotionally turbulent time in your life, it may be difficult to keep your head - but you have to if you want the best deal out of the matriomonial home. The key is due diligence early on in the separation from your spouse; real estate and financial experts will ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on September 22, 2009
When a young woman goes shopping, she doesn't mess around; finding the best deal is worth taking the time and doing it right, and that may include using a professional shopper. Apparently, shopping for a house mortgage is not much different for Canadian 20 and 30-something women; they are the demographic most likely to use a professional mortgage broker, according to the 2009 Mortgage Consumer Survey ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on September 17, 2009
Most buyers state that the neighbourhood is their top priority when selecting a home - ahead, even, of price - according to research by the National Association of Realtors. The following is a checklist of questions to ask yourself as you investigate your prospective new neighbourhood:
Is the neighbourhood stable, improving, or declining?
Do sales in the area support the home's price?
What ...
Posted by Eugene Pilato
on September 16, 2009
The next time the cost of building materials goes up - or your energy-efficiency retrofit estimates are high - maybe you should consider a radically different construction format....the humble Lego block. OK, so maybe that won't help, but it sure would be fun!
Fun is the feeling right now in southern England, where construction of the world's first full-size Lego home is just being completed. The ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on September 15, 2009
It's a big decision whether or not to relocate for a job - in some cases, moving spouse and kids across the province, the country, or even offshore. In the current economy - with both spouses needing their jobs and an affordable place to live - making that relocation decision is harder than ever. For example, last month my colleague's sister-in-law, a lawyer with Nortel, was relieved to learn she ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on September 10, 2009
Sustainable technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal heating are starting to take off. But which ones are best to use? Are they all truly "sustainable"? For example, some renewable energy technologies require batteries, which require mined metals and minerals that are non-renewable.
Many "sustainable" technologies are incredibly waste-intensive during their manufacture, distribution, ...
Posted by Rebecca Sargent
on September 9, 2009