​With the arrival of the first frost of the season, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your home for the colder months. Beyond putting your patio furniture away—which might have already been done a few weeks ago thanks to Hurricane Fiona—here are a few things you can do to prepare your home for the fall. 

CLEAN OUT GARDEN BEDS

Once the weather starts to cool off, it's time to clean up garden beds to get them ready for the winter. Remove annual plants and cut back perennials to prepare your gardens for the winter.  

PRUNE TREES AND SHRUBS

Remove dead or diseased branches on trees and shrubs. Pruning is to help maintain the appearance of the trees and shrubs as well as remove disease before it can spread to the rest of the tree.

Note: Avoid pruning live branches at this time. To check if a branch is dead, scrape off some of its bark on a smaller stem to see if it's green inside. If it's not green and bendy, it's not alive. 

RAKE YOUR LEAVES

To keep your yard looking nice through the fall, rake up leaves and dispose of them as you see fit. You can choose to compost them into leaf mould, use them to protect flower beds over the winter, or you can put them out to the curb.

LOWER YOUR MOWER

Lower the mower to approximately 1.5-2.0" and give your lawn a final cut. In regions like ours, where the season is wet and the snow accumulates, your lawn is susceptible to damage if the snow can bend your grass blades over or there are piles of leaves left on your lawn. 

To reduce fungal growth on your lawn (called snow mould), make sure to cut your grass short for the winter.  

USE FALL FERTILIZER

Apply a Fall fertilizer to your lawn in mid-October. This will stimulate root growth through November and even into early December. Helping roots grow before winter sets in ensures that the lawn will green up quicker in the spring and become more resistant to disease and drought.

PLANT SPRING BULBS

After the first frost, it’s safe to start planting your fall bulbs. Make sure to plant in groups of 5-7 for the most beautiful displays. Spring tip: You can plant in areas normally shaded by trees for some extra colour, as the leaves will not have grown by the time they spring up.

CLEAN OUT YOUR GUTTERS

As the leaves fall, they can clutter up your gutters and break down over the winter into an immovable sludge that causes drainage issues in the spring. Make sure to keep them cleared out between storms. 

CHECK YOUR HEATING SYSTEMS

Depending on what kind of heating you have, this might look like dusting radiators, booking a heat pump cleaning, having your furnace filter changed or having your chimney and fireplace inspected. It’s a good idea to make sure it’s all in working order well before the first cold snap. 

CHECK FOR LEAKS OR DRAFTS

While a visual inspection will often do—checking for cracks, peeling paint, deteriorating seals— around windows and doors, if you have a windy chilly day, it makes for the perfect time to check for any drafts from windows, doors and even electrical sockets. Check your basement after heavy rain for any signs of water, like peeling paint or the wall bowing outwards. And make sure to pop your head into the attic and any crawl spaces to check for signs of damage. 

A recent study by Zillow found that buyers were willing to offer $5,000 more when a home was painted in certain colours.

​It seems so simple, but paint can really change the feeling of your entire home. Just imagine repainting a bright red kitchen with a cool gray. It would make the room feel totally different with just one change. And the best part? Painting a room is fast and inexpensive compared to other renovations.

When repainting your space to maximize the resale value, keep your palette to cool, timeless colours that lean more towards classic than trendy. These colours will appeal to the most buyers and make it easy for people to picture themselves living in the home. 

​While the gallery wall of family photos and shelves of treasures picked up over the years makes your house feel like home to you—it may come across as clutter to a potential buyer. 

Set aside an afternoon to pack up personal items such as family photos, trophies, and sentimental items. Make sure the front of your fridge is cleared of report cards and appointment reminders and that your home is as neutral and tasteful as possible. 

One of the main reasons buyers decide to move is because their current home feels cramped or doesn’t have enough space. When they walk through your home, you’ll want them to see that there is plenty of storage and room to grow into. 

A buyer who comes in and sees that you’re running out of space will feel like they’re likely to run out of space too. Once you’ve packed away all your personal items, see what else you can pack up and move them into a local storage unit away from the home. Decluttering like this can make a huge difference in the number of offers received. 

A clean home shows potential buyers that you've taken good care of the property. Ideally, you should clean every part of the house, from the floors to the ceilings—and everything in between. 

Your aim is to make everything look brand new, so pay special attention to all the nooks and crannies where dirt might hide. I personally recommend hiring a professional cleaner. 

Every room should have its own purpose and function as it was originally to be. An example, if a dining room is being used as a children’s playroom, then the children’s toys should be moved to another location in the house, and proper dining room furniture should be set up. Only 10% of the population can see the room’s potential if being used for an alternative purpose. 

​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. 

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. Also, rake out any old/discoloured mulch from your garden beds.
 
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. 

For an extra special touch, adding potted planters to the front of your home can accent the entrances of your home.

​Despite the changes in real estate across the country, it is still a seller's market here in Nova Scotia, and we are seeing an increasing number of new listings each week. In this post, we're addressing common questions homeowners have before they list. 

• Commission - Sellers are responsible for paying their brokerage a percentage of the purchase price, a flat fee, a fee for services, or a combination of any of these. Sellers often choose to compensate the brokerage representing the buyer as well.  Individual brokerages set their remuneration so sellers can select the compensation model that best suits their needs.
• Buyouts on equipment - If you financed heat pumps, solar panels or even your furnace, buyers may expect you to buy out the rest of the lease or pay off the loan on closing.
• Betterment charges or special assessments - A betterment charge is a fee levied by the city for improved services like road paving or a municipal water connection, whereas a special assessment is an additional charge that condominium owners are required to pay on top of their regular monthly maintenance fees for any unexpected expenses the condo faces. 
• Legal fees - You will require a lawyer to represent you in the sale. The standard costs for the legal work involved in the sale of your home will be $1000-$1250 plus HST. This includes $650-$1000 in lawyer fees on top of the tax certificate, administration fees, deed registry and any courier fees.
• Mortgage prepayment penalty - If you have an existing mortgage, you will most likely have to pay a prepayment penalty for paying off your mortgage early.​
• Pre-listing improvements - You may want to do household repairs, landscaping, or apply a fresh coat of paint to ensure you get the best price for your house, all of which are costs that are best to be budgeted for.

Want detailed information on what costs you could be looking at when putting your home up for sale? I wrote a whole article on it here. 

​In Nova Scotia, the buyer is responsible for paying the closing costs, except for the legal fees incurred by the seller. This can be confusing if you watch a lot of HGTV because in the US S closing costs are often negotiated as part of the agreement of purchase and sale. 

A: A full-service brokerage may include some or all of the following services as a part of the commission paid:
​

• Professional photography: Listings with professional photography receive an average of 139% more clicks compared to similar listings—making high-quality real estate photography one of the most important tools to market your home in the online era.
• 3D Tour or Video: Real estate portals are reporting an increase of between 200% to 500% in requests for virtual home tours since early 2020. According to a survey done by Local Logic, 3D home tours help potential buyers understand the layout of the home, better grasp the room sizes and even allow for buyers to take measurements!
• Aerial Photography: When dealing with sprawling oceanfront properties or country lots, it's impossible to get a true sense of a property from the ground. Nothing gives you a truer picture of a property than a birds-eye view. 
• Staging Consult: A stager can provide tips for simple decluttering, making basic repairs, and arranging furniture. Sellers who don’t stage a home before it’s listed risk losing out to comparable staged homes. Most buyers these days will be looking at your home online first. So photos of your space that are cluttered or poorly arranged may cause buyers to not book a showing. Sellers see about a 5% return on investment when it comes to staging.  
  
• ​Pre-listing professional clean: You only have one chance to make a great first impression, and property cleanliness has been ranked as the most important factor in making a positive impact on buyers.

• Pre-inspection: A pre-inspection lets you know in advance if there is anything in or about your home that needs fixing so that you can remedy the deficiency before a buyer catches the problem.

Over the past two years, the home has become more important than ever. It has become a classroom, workplace, fitness studio, and much more. As a result, we've seen an increase in home renovations as people adapt their living space to meet their ever-changing needs.

If you're considering an update to your home this year, here are 5 design trends to keep in mind for 2022. ​

Despite the shift toward bold colour, don’t throw out all your beige just yet. Minimalism and neutrals are still relevant, and an added twist can make them feel fresh again. 

Wendy Friedman of the Independent Mercantile and Biscuit General Store says one way to do this is by adding in pops of colour in a room’s textiles—minimalism and maximalism can coexist in the same space by keeping your white walls, but adding print and colour in rugs, throw pillows, and accessories. ​

Whether you love it or hate it, working from home seems to be here to stay with many offices opting to choose smaller spaces and keep their teams working remotely. With this change in working arrangements, the appeal of a beautiful and functional home office has never been stronger. 

Unfortunately, the steadily increasing prices of our housing market results in buyers opting for smaller spaces with less options for that spacious, standalone home office. 

This means maximizing the space you have, with flexible floorplans featuring stylish and airy room dividers, well designed storage to hide office and school supplies, and multi-purpose furniture. ​

​While the New Year may have looked a little different this year, the one thing that remains the same is the renewed sense of hope you get as the calendar year rolls over. The start of a new year offers a blank slate or fresh start. 

Instead of the usual New Year's Resolutions, this week we're looking at resolutions for your home. 

Throughout the year, most of us acquire a mountain of stuff—and too much stuff can clutter up your home, making it look untidy and dated. 

This year, resolve to go room-by-room and gather anything that you don't use, wear, or love and donate it to charity. 

And in 2022, think twice before bringing more items home. Try the 'one-in, one-out' rule. For example, if you buy a new pair of running shoes, donate the older pair. This will help keep your home free of clutter all year round. ​

​Cleaning the house can feel like an overwhelming task; it only takes a few days for things to pile up. Make a resolution to work out a weekly system for keeping your home clean. 

Resolve to put your dishes in the dishwasher every night before going to bed. Put your clothes away each day instead of piling them on the chair and fold laundry as soon as it's out of the dryer so it doesn't pile up in the laundry room. 

Break things down into smaller, more manageable daily tasks so deep cleaning doesn't feel as overwhelming when you have the time to tackle it.

Make a resolution this year to reduce your utility bills and conserve energy throughout your home. This could be as simple as turning off the lights when you leave the room, turning down the heat or AC when you go out and making a conscious effort not to leave the tap running when you're brushing your teeth or doing the dishes.

Consider changing your light bulbs to compact fluorescents to help save up to 75% of your energy usage and upgrade larger appliances—like your washer, dryer, or oven—to energy-efficient appliances to save money on your monthly bill. If replacing appliances isn't in your budget, make sure to clean and maintain them as required so they perform at their best. (For example, if you clean your HVAC filters every 1-3 months, your system will be able to push that air through the filter easier, making sure the motor doesn't work too hard, thereby reducing its energy cost.)

You can also take this opportunity to also make sure air isn't escaping from your home. Warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer can escape through doors, windows, and ducts that aren't insulated properly. Make sure you're caulking and adding weather stripping to places that could be areas for drafts. ​

​There's nothing quite like cleaning out kitchen cupboards and organizing your pantry after the chaos of the holidays. Check expiration dates, donate any extra food you don't normally incorporate into your meals—like the extra boxes of stuffing or canned green beans you didn't get to use this year—and organize your spices and baking goods. 

Go one step further and add baskets and clear jars to organize your dry goods and make it easier for the whole family to keep the pantry organized moving forward. 

Having your offer accepted is only the first step in hanging the sold sign on your dream home. Once your offer is accepted, it's time to get your Real Estate Lawyer involved. 

This week, I caught up with Charlotte Edwards, Associate Lawyer at Kennedy Schofield Lutz Lawyers to break down what your Real Estate Lawyer will do during this vital time in your home purchase: ​

A real estate lawyer helps clients who have an accepted offer to buy or sell their property complete the transaction. The initial step is for the lawyer to review the purchase and sale agreement and discuss it with the client to confirm all details.

For a client who is buying a property, it is important for the real estate lawyer to review the title in detail with their client to make sure things like access, easements, and restrictive covenants are clear, and to answer any questions the client may have. The lawyer will also prepare all mortgage documents to sign with the client, in addition to the documents necessary for the purchase. The lawyer is responsible for collecting money from the client and bank, and transferring it to the other side in exchange for the deed and confirming that all mortgages and secured interests currently impacting the title will be cleared prior to closing.

For a client who is selling their property, the lawyer will prepare the deed for execution, as well as payout the mortgage. If the property is not migrated, it will also be important to migrate the property to the land registration system prior to closing. Regularly people are not familiar with migration, which requires a detailed title search confirming a clear root of the title. The migration process became a requirement on sale in the early 2000s.

Throughout the process, the lawyer works collaboratively with the real estate agent to ensure the transaction runs as smoothly as possible, including responding to questions from the opposing party and negotiating holdbacks or credits on closing day.

The most common way I find that people come to me is through recommendations of someone they know and trust – like a family member, friend, realtor, or mortgage broker. However, you can always search online for a lawyer as well.  It is important for you to be comfortable with the real estate lawyer, and typically I organize an initial phone call to speak with the client to answer any questions they have. Throughout the process, there is an open dialogue that occurs through phone calls or e-mails to answer questions. Closer to closing, the lawyer will schedule a meeting in-person or by zoom to review all documents necessary for signature and collect everything needed to close.

A lawyer will often provide a list in their retainer letter of the specific items needed for your transaction. A lawyer will always need to see a valid government-issued photo ID to verify your identity.

For a purchase, some of the things your lawyer will need are contact information for your mortgage broker or bank, confirmation of insurance, copies of satisfactory water tests, proof of assumption of leased equipment, and a certified cheque or bank draft with your down payment and closing costs.

For a sale, some of the things your lawyer will need are a copy of your most recent tax bill and confirmation of payment, a recent statement noting your mortgage account number so a payout can be ordered, a fuel top-up slip if there is oil or propane as a heat source on your property, a septic pump-out receipt, and receipts for any renovations required to be completed prior to closing.

Every real estate transaction is unique, so these are just a few common items, but never be afraid to ask your real estate lawyer a question – it’s their job, and the job of your real estate agent to help guide you through the process of your real estate transaction and make it as smooth as possible.

I started my first market update of 2020 with a series of news headlines:

• “Housing prices hit record high in Halifax,”
• “Nova Scotia average home sale prices took a big jump in the past year,”
• “This Hydrostone home sold for $80,000 over the original asking price.”

Housing prices in Halifax have been just as newsworthy in 2020, with 7 properties in the urban core selling for over $100,000 above asking.

In 2020, we saw the average house price in Halifax rise by 14.6% (compared to the norm of 4-6% annually) leaving first-time buyers with fears of being priced out of the market. 

What didn’t happen: Back in the spring, CMHC CEO Evan Siddall forecasted a 9-18% drop in average house prices over the next 12 months. This prediction was based on the belief that we would see a high number of foreclosures once homeowners were no longer able to defer mortgage payments. 

With prices on the rise and increasing homeowner equity, it is unlikely we will see a high number of foreclosures as sellers in financial trouble will opt to sell rather than foreclose. Several Canadian economists have spoken out and said the CMHC Housing Market Forecast is no longer relevant.

​We started 2020 with record low inventory levels in Halifax, entrenching the sellers’ market that had been building in our city since 2018.

Add in a pandemic and we saw the number of new listings drop between 65-70% each week as sellers held off on listing their properties amid uncertainty in the market and fear of community spread.

What’s causing these record low inventory levels? Millennials.

The Demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z, are now 27-40 years of age and have entered their peak home-buying years. Millennials make up 31% of the population in North America and represent 45% of new mortgage applications. What we are experiencing is termed the Millennial Draw Down. 

As such a significant portion of the population enters the housing market for the first time, we are seeing Millennials buy up home inventory at a faster rate than the inventory comes to market.

What slim pickings mean for buyers: Low inventory means you need to be on your toes when you go house hunting—the best homes will likely be snatched up fast. Check out my post on buying a home in a seller’s market for more tips.

​The timing of the first wave of COVID-19 in our province disrupted our Spring market which is usually considered the hottest season for real estate. We often see the highest number of new listings and highest number of sales in the spring, but this year people pushed pause on their real estate goals—unable to take advantage of the buying or selling process as it once was.

The lack of a traditional spring market didn’t hurt our overall annual sales numbers. A surge in home sales toward the end of 2020 actually made up for the spring market losses.

13,923 properties sold in Nova Scotia over the course of 2020. This was an increase of 13% from the same period in 2019 and marked the highest level of any year in history, beating the previous record set in 2019 by more than 1,500 sales.

​In a sellers’ market, there is always the temptation to push the envelope on pricing; to price slightly above the market and set a record price for your home and the neighbourhood. 

However, pricing your home above market value will decrease the number of showings your home gets when it hits the market—and the key to getting multiple offers on your home is having multiple showings.

When you price your home slightly lower, it can often create a frenzy among buyers and drive up the price. 

Have you ever watched an auction? It's like that, where everyone wants to acquire the home for a bargain, but the demand and attention it gets from other buyers increases the resulting sale price and maybe sets a record price for your neighbourhood. 

This doesn't mean you have to give away the farm. When looking at recent solds for your neighbourhood, it’s best to list your home as a slight discount—not at a slight premium—to attract the most buyers' attention.

In Real Estate, they say Location! Location! Location! But as a seller looking to maximize your sale price, the phrase should be Preparation! Preparation! Preparation!

You're not trying to create a situation in which your home barely edges out the listing down the street in the hearts and minds of your target buyer. If you want multiple offers, you need multiple buyers to fall deeply in love with your home—enough to bid above the list price and enough to compete with others for it.  

And this work starts weeks before you hit the market.

To generate multiple offers, prepare your home by ensuring it is: 

• Cleaned (inside and out): closets, basements, garages and crawl spaces.
• Landscaped: buyers can rule out properties in less than 8 seconds, highlighting why curb appeal is so important.
• Decluttered: reduce closets and cupboards by 50%
• Staged: this includes fresh paint, carpet, countertops and other things that need replacing. 
• In perfect working order: pre-list is the time to take care of all those general maintenance items you have been putting off for years

​And get ready to sing your homes’ praises. If you've done any major home improvements or replaced any appliances or systems lately, market that! Show off how immaculate, adorable and move-in ready your home is now—and tout its great working condition for the long run.

Have a plan to maximize your property’s exposure on the market. The first step is sharing your property BEFORE you list.

‘Coming Soon’ messaging can double your marketing exposure and have buyers lining up the day it lists.

Coming soon or pre-list marketing could include a “for sale sign” with a coming soon rider, a social media teaser campaign or direct mail to your neighbours since they already know how great it is to live on your street.  

With effective pre-list marketing, you can start racking up the showing requests even before you hit the MLS.

Pro tip: Host an agent pre-view the day before you hit the market. Agents love the opportunity to share off-market properties with their clients so an agent pre-view can help generate that buzz you’re looking for. 

If you’re thinking of listing your property and you aren’t sure if right now is the best time, I’d love to chat about some things you can do to prepare your home for listing.

Giving can be one of the most rewarding parts of the Holiday season, but finding the perfect gift can also be quite stressful.
 
So if you're finding yourself in a situation where you need to grab a last-minute gift for your sister-in-law in time for dinner on Friday, I've got you covered. These are just a few of my favourite local gifts to give—and don't fret, I've already checked ahead to see if they still have gifts available for you! 

Their ​Holiday Gift Boxes make the perfect gift for friends, family or colleagues to enjoy that holiday party vibe at home in their own bubble. Each box includes: a bottle of wine (choice of Sparkling, White or Red), 3 x 150g wedges of Cheese (that’s a lot!), their house-made Cold Snap Pear & Cranberry Chutney, house-made Chocolate, and their own Sea-Bound Coast Crisps. All tied up with a ribbon and personalized gift note! You can also upgrade your wine to a special Cellar Selection for $20 more.​
Order yours here by December 22nd to receive it on the 23rd. 

Lucky Penny is one of my go-to coffee places when I need a pick-me-up between showings. Their gift boxes feature locally made goods including freshly roasted coffee, local preserves, house-made granola and the hard-to-find King North chocolate. These gift boxes are great for giving the experience of a cozy morning cup of their favourite beverage when you can't be there to enjoy it together. 
They have boxes for the coffee lover and tea lover, as well as one for the maritime pantry box for sending to friends away from home. You can check them all out right here. 

Nothing says Christmas quite like taking a stroll down to Inkwell to pick up greeting cards. I had mine custom created by Hello Sweetie this year, but if you're looking to get your hands on cards or gifts by local makers, Inkwell supports over 200 independent artists in this one location. They curate their products with a focus on illustrative items, the boutique showcases an array of handmade products—art prints, homewares, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, apothecary and other great gift ideas—that would make a perfect last-minute pick. Check out their website for details on how to arrange your order for curbside pickup or stop by in person.
​Just be aware they're only allowing for 3 people in at a time and, as always, masks are mandatory. (Find there's a bit of a line? Check out Taiyaki52 next door for a warm cup of tea or coffee while you wait).

Good Robot is a staple for summers in Halifax. Their beer garden is located at 2736 Robie Street in Halifax and their retail hours are between 12 pm-9 pm daily. While the taproom is currently closed, you can still pick up your favourite brews safely. If you have someone who loves craft beer, you can surprise them with Good Robot beer, gift wrapped and delivered right to their doorstep.
​The last day for delivery is December 22nd so make sure you grab yours asap. 

You might know the name Compass Distillers from the beginning of the pandemic when they started producing hand sanitizer to help with shortages across Halifax. In a normal year, they're better known for Artisan Craft Spirits made from scratch, with locally sourced ingredients, by people who have a passion for the process and the result. 
For the gin lover in your life, I recommend their Gin Royal.

​Gin Royal is distilled with Nova Scotian wheat and classic gin botanicals. Slightly sweetened with royal jelly & local honey, this royal blue gin derives its regal colour from an infusion of butterfly pea blossom and a dollar from every purchase helps protect the bees!. Limited retail hours available for pick up. 

Nothing says celebration more than sparkling wine and Benjamin Bridge makes internationally recognized sparkling wine right here in Nova Scotia. Produced essentially the same way as Champagne, with all the labour intensive rituals, craftsmanship, and care, their NV Brut is a premium sparkling wine for  a fraction of the cost of Champagne. Enjoy a glass with your turkey or as a toast to 2021. 

The winery is located in the Gaspereau Valley but for those in the  Halifax Metro, they offer contactless free delivery, right up until Dec 24​. Order online right here. 

Lightfoot & Wolfville is owned and operated by the Lightfoot family who have been farming in the Annapolis Valley for eight generations.  This year I've been enjoying their gift boxes, since it takes a lot of guesswork out of delighting my friends and loved ones. Gift boxes range in price from $50 - $100 dollars and include a bottle of their fantastic wine and some Lightfoot & Wolfville merchandise. Their soy wine bottle candle in Chardonnay, Lemongrass and Tea Tree is one of my favourite housewarming gifts. They are offering contactless delivery in HRM, the Valley and South Shore.  The cutoff for Christmas Eve delivery is Tuesday at midnight.

Nimbus produces more than fifty new titles a year on a range of subjects relevant to the Atlantic Provinces— children’s picture books and fiction, literary non-fiction, social and cultural history, nature photography, current events, biography, sports, and cultural issues.
 
I recommend 'If I Had an Old House on the East Coast.' for anyone who loves old houses or who might be away from home this holiday. With a deep appreciation for the East Coast, This book shares a dream of falling in love with an old house and breathing new life into it and is beautifully illustrated by Nova Scotia artist, Kat Frick Miller They're open until noon on the 24th via the Open Book Coffee next door who stocks their titles!

After a year that marked one of the hottest real estate markets on record in Nova Scotia, I'm looking forward to safe and happy holidays with my family while these local companies help with the contactless delivery of gifts to friends and loved ones across the province.