Spring Showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring an influx of new listings to the market. Thinking of listing this spring? I've gathered some of my top tips from local experts to maximize your sale price when the time comes. 

Whether you’re selling or simply looking to maintain your purchase, Ed Pottie of Greener Inspections recommends doing a pre-inspection before you list so you can be aware of any issues that may pop up before a potential buyer does their own inspection. 

When I asked Ed what some common things that are found during pre-inspections, he told us:

1. Most people don't go into their attic so things like mould growth, minor water intrusion, etc. can go unnoticed until they become bigger issues. Issues like these can spook potential buyers, so make sure to pop your head up there a couple of times a year with a flashlight to make sure there aren’t any issues hiding up there. 
2. Another common thing would be general maintenance; whether it's annual maintenance on your furnace/boiler or cleaning your mini-split heat pumps, etc. These things often get pushed down our to-do lists, which will usually end up shortening the life span of these large items. Getting them checked out during a pre-inspection mean your buyer will know they’re coming to the end of their life during the showing and can factor that into their offer.

In this hot seller’s market, home staging is one service that sometimes gets overlooked. Staging is about making your home visually appealing and welcoming to prospective buyers and in many homes, only minor tweaks or temporary adjustments are needed to make your home more presentable. Maureen Kennedy of Stage Right Design, for her top tips about preparing your home for sale: 

1. Clean up your home. Ideally, you should clean every part of the house, from the floors to the ceilings—and everything in between. 
2. Depersonalize. Remove personal items such as family photos, trophies, and sentimental items.
3. Declutter. Simply pack away items that you don’t need until after the move, to make more space in the house. 

The first thing buyers see when they pull up to your home is your yard. This gives the buyer their first impression of whether the home has been taken care of, or not. Rob Corey, owner of The Gardener Halifax, works with homeowners to do a full clean-up service to prepare your home for listing, and this is what he recommends to DIY your yard before listing: 

1. Prepare your yard a couple of weeks before showings. You’ll start with a deep rake of your lawn, removing any debris and removing the dead layer of thatch around the roots of your grass. As well, rake out any old/discoloured mulch from your garden beds. 
   
2. Turn over the soil in your garden beds with a cultivator and plant some annuals if the season allows so your garden beds are brightly coloured and in full bloom by the time your home showings are scheduled. Apply a 2-3” layer of fresh black mulch to make your yard look crisp and clean. 
   
3. For an extra special touch, adding potted planters to the front of your home can accent the entrances of your home. As well, they can be added to hide away anything you don’t want focused on during the showings.
   

One of my favourite parts of being a real estate agent is sharing my passion for this city and all things local with Haligonians or soon-to-be Haligonians. For this special Easter edition of the newsletter, I hunted up a few hidden 'eggs' for you to find and enjoy this Easter season. 

If a short drive along the lighthouse route is in your weekend plans, make sure to stop by Rosa Rugosa Seaside Market in Hubbards. This year-round farmers' market has a little something for everyone, featuring a restaurant, general store and vintage shop. They offer a wide variety of local products sourced from all over Nova Scotia, including edible market goods, antiques, vintage clothing, flower bouquets, plants, and a full-service restaurant offering lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

If you're following me on Instagram, you know I love hunting for new coffee shops to try all over the city and Narrow Espresso Cafe may be Halifax’s narrowest coffee shop. Tucked in between two buildings on the corner of Fenwick and Queen Street, Narrow Espresso is a  great place to pick up a coffee before exploring the South End.

Narrow Espresso serves drinks made with premium quality, organic, fair trade & locally roasted coffee beans, which are delivered fresh weekly. In addition to their traditional coffee menu, they also offer a rotating menu of seasonal drinks, tea and smoothies, plus a variety of local baked goods and treats. Make it your destination to meet up with friends before going for a weekend walk through Point Pleasant Park or checking out what's new at the Seaport Market. 

Something brand new is coming to North End Dartmouth. Today we're welcoming Ori Foods Co. to the corner of Wyse Road and Russell Street in North End Dartmouth and I can't wait to check it out. This new resto-bakery is offering a selection of pastries, lunch fare, wine, beer, and coffee featuring quality local ingredients. You can expect to see favourites like key lime pie, cream puffs and creme brulee cookies on the menu. 

Ori will be located near the Dartmouth commons, making it the perfect place to grab a treat before walking down Park Avenue to see if the Cherry Blossoms have bloomed (the surest sign that winter is actually over in Nova Scotia!) ​

Looking to make plans with friends for the Easter weekend? The annual Easter Egg Hunt Wine Tour is back,  after being temporarily paused in 2020 and 2021. Go North Tours is currently offering this unique Easter Egg Hunt-Wine tour experience for private groups of 8. You’ll stop at three wineries: Grand Pre, Planters Ridge and 1365 Church Street, for guided tours and tastings, and compete in easter egg hunts to win prizes. Transportation to and from HRM is included in the price. Click here for more info and to book your spot.