Mike Giesbrecht

  A slow real estate season is defined as a period of time that has less activity — fewer listings, fewer transactions, etc. — than other times of the year. In many areas, the slow season is in the winter, but it can be at other times as well.  The question you might be asking is, “Does it make sense to sell in a slow season?”  In most cases, the answer is yes.  Why? Consider the followin ...

  Staging is all about dressing up your home so that it looks its best to buyers. This can involve anything from rearranging furniture and doing some home improvements, to painting and redecorating, to even replacing existing furnishings and other items. The goal is to make key rooms look worthy of a magazine cover!  But is it worth the effort? Can’t you just clean and tidy and, perhaps, do ...

  When you’re shopping for a home, you may become interested in a property for sale that someone else is also considering. In fact, there may be several other buyers entertaining the idea of making an offer.  In such a competitive situation, what should you do if you really love that home?  Obviously, you’ll need to move quickly and make some fast decisions.  Start by making certain the p ...

  Your front walkway is one of the first sections of real estate a buyer will set foot on when coming to see your home. So, it makes sense to make that pathway to your front door as appealing as possible.  The obvious way is to make it as clean and clear as you can. Ensure there are no obstacles in the way, such as overhanging branches, kid's toys, or potted plants. What you want is a cle ...

  When you think about selling your property, do you dwell on the possible work and stress involved? You're not alone. Many homeowners share the same concerns.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  In fact, there are plenty of ways to add some fun, anticipation, and even a sense of adventure to the selling process. Here are just a few ideas:  Plan fun things to do when your home is be ...

    If you’re going to be out-of-town, but need to sell your home, you might be concerned about listing your property while you’re away. After all, you won’t be around to show your property, schedule viewings, consider offers, etc.  While it’s ideal that you be close to home when you’re selling, there’s no reason why you can’t list your property, even if you’re going to be out of town.  W ...

   If you’re thinking about selling in the spring, don’t wait until the new year to start planning. In fact, you’ll save yourself a lot of work and get ahead of the game if you start planning now.  What’s that old saying? The early bird gets the worm! In this case, by starting the process this month, you’ll be in excellent shape when you’re ready to list in the spring.  Here are just a few ...

  When you’re shopping for a new home, you probably want the property to be as “move in ready” as possible. That way, you can... well... just move in!  However, there are a lot of fantastic properties on the market that need some work. For example, you might see a home that has everything you need, but the kitchen is long overdue for a renovation. Or, you might view a property that requires ...

  If you need to sell your home in the next month or two, you might be worried. After all, aren’t spring and summer the ideal seasons to list your property? If you list in November or December, you might have difficulties attracting buyers and getting the best price for your home. Right?  Not necessarily.  While it’s true that spring and summer are traditionally busy periods in the real es ...

  When you’re selling your home, you want it to look its best to buyers. Unfortunately, buyers are likely to notice any cracks or stains on your floor. Luckily, there are many do-it-yourself solutions to help make your floors look significantly better. Let’s start with stains. If you have carpeting, there are a number of spot cleaning products on the market. But before you try one of thos ...