Happy New Year from all of us at Century 21 Colonial Realty! Hoping you had a chance to take a few moments to reflect on 2011 and to ponder what lies ahead in 2012.
For some of you, 2012 is the year you will buy or sell a property and make a major change in your life and the lives of your family. This is a very exciting time, but with the excitement comes the stress that every buyer and seller experiences. ...
Posted by Joel Ives
on January 5, 2012
Heading into the holiday season people who have been thinking about putting their home on the market will often hesitate listing until after the holiday season. One very obvious and understandable reason for that is simply because the holidays are hectic. The thought of adding showings and open houses into the mix is daunting. Also, some potential sellers may take the opinion that people typically ...
Posted by Joel Ives
on December 7, 2011
Summer time is one of the best times on Prince Edward Island and for many, there’s nothing better than having a cottage near a beach so you can enjoy a different pace of life. There are so many areas around PEI to choose a cottage that already exists, or to choose a lot and build your own. Whatever your choice, it is very important to discuss your situation with a lender as seasonal home financing ...
Posted by Joel Ives
on August 4, 2011
If you are a homeowner, you have probably asked yourself, how can I make my home more energy efficient? With fuel costs rising and increased awareness about environmental conservation, more of us are searching for ways to decrease our fuel costs and energy consumption. People will often question the method of heating their home. Is it efficient? What would be better? When In fact, most of us ...
Posted by Joel Ives
on August 1, 2011
Home inspections are a very important part of the home buying process. Although it's not's mandatory on PEI when purchasing a home, it's something that should be done if you want to get a "report card" on the home you are looking to buy.
For both parties in the sale, a home inspection is important as it can identify potential issues in the home. A home inspector will check to see the current condition ...
Posted by Joel Ives
on July 28, 2011
Closing costs can be extremely confusing when purchasing a home. We've gotten a lot of questions on them since we've started the PEI Real Estate Report, so we figured it would be a perfect time to answer them head on. Here are a list of the closing costs you can expect when entering this process:
1. Land Transfer Tax. When you purchase a house, you must pay what's called the land transfer tax. This ...
Posted by Joel Ives
on July 21, 2011
As life goes on, housing needs change. Whether your family is getting bigger, you're downsizing or just looking for a change, there comes a time in the lives of many homebuyers to purchase a new house. This is something many homebuyers have to figure out for themselves and every case is different.
In most cases, people need the money from the sale of the current home they're in to purchase ...
Posted by Joel Ives
on July 14, 2011
Choosing an agent to represent you in a very important decision. Whether you are buying or selling a property, you have many important decisions to make.
You need to have someone working with you who makes you comfortable, who is knowledgeable about the market and understands what you are looking for. Here are some things to look for in your agent:
How long have they been in the business?
Are ...
Posted by Joel Ives
on July 7, 2011
When placing your home on the market it is important to set a reasonable asking price. If you price it too high, potential buyers who have been watching the market will know it is priced too high. You may choose to price your home high using the strategy that you will negotiate a lower price, however, you may not get that opportunity as some potential buyers won't pursue a property out of their price ...
Posted by Joel Ives
on June 30, 2011
When looking to sell your home, first impressions are extremely important. Landscaping is a great feature of your home that people will consider in this first impression of your home. Even though the internet is becoming the biggest source for searching for homes, many prospective home buyers drive by homes to take a look.
If you are thinking of selling your home in the near future, you will ...
Posted by Joel Ives
on June 23, 2011