2022 Local Gift GuideWhether it’s your favourite time of year or you’re just dreading the snow, chances are you’ll find yourself taking advantage of the upcoming holidays to get out to visit some of your favourite local shops around the HRM. One of my favourite traditions is curating a selection of local businesses and sharing it with you in case there’s a shop on my list you would like to check twice. Where I’m shopping this Christmas:  When looking for a one-stop-shop: If you’re looking for the perfect local gift for anyone on your list, make sure to swing by Downtown Dartmouth to grab a treat at Two If By Sea The Trainyard General Store. This shop specializes in home decor and gifts that fit into anyone’s budget, and they make it a point to work with Canadians so you know you’re supporting local artisans with every gift. Pro tip: If you’re in need of a last-minute secret Santa, you can find the gift, the bag and the card all in one spot.  For the one that loves decorations: If you’re looking for a local gift shop fully stocked with traditional glass ornaments and a little bit of everything for the entertainer in your life, check out Kept Shop in Downtown Dartmouth. Their glass ornaments make the perfect gift for someone who loves decorating for the holidays—they have one for every decor trend.  For the health lover: Located in the heart of the West End, On The Mat is a delightful neighbourhood yoga studio offering just the right mix of warmth, friendliness and fun. Each year they offer an amazing sale leading up to the holidays to help with your Christmas shopping needs. And this year is no different—On The Mat’s holiday class pass sale is back! Buy a 10-class pass for just $105. PS: they won’t judge if you keep the 10-class pass for yourself.  For the little ones: As an avid reader myself, nothing gives me more joy than sharing a love of reading, so I found Woozels “The Gift of Reading” was the perfect gift for the special little ones in my life. "The Gift of Reading" is Woozles' way of helping you send someone you love a special book on a regular basis....every month, or six or four times a year, or on special dates like birthdays, special holidays, and school breaks—you pick the frequency.  For the artistic one: If sitting down with a cup of tea and crafting or drawing for hours is their idea of a perfect afternoon, you’ll find just the right thing at a little-known Downtown Halifax gem tucked beside The Brewery Market called Yu Yo Craft Supply & Tea House. They have everything from bookbinding to basic drawing supplies and helpful staff ready to make your job of finding the right gift easy.  When you’re not sure what they’d like: We all have someone on our list that makes us think, ‘Um, I have no idea what to get you.’ That’s where Cheerfetti comes in. This online gifting company curates boxes full of Canadian goods to wow anyone on your list—curated specifically for their interests. Cheerfetti does the heavy lifting for you, from curating a number of gift boxes for every person on your list to packaging, wrapping, and delivering. So whether you want to skip the post office or wow someone special, you’re sure to find something on their website. And in the rare event that you can’t? You can create a custom box of your favourite items.  For the one who's away:Novabox is perfect for sending some love to friends & family who may not be lucky enough to make it home to the Maritimes this Christmas. They also handle everything for you, taking the stress out of finding the perfect gift for those who are away this year. My personal favourite? Sending someone their very own East Coast Kitchen Party.  For the one who needs a break: One of my favourite things to do to unwind around the holidays is to book a Head in the Clouds facial at Nature Folk in Dartmouth. “The Head in the Clouds facial is not your average facial. This therapeutic upper body treatment is performed by our registered massage therapists and focuses on releasing the tension in the neck, upper back, shoulders and jaw. While you’re there, you can also check out their new nordic spa.  For the fashion lover: For me, nothing says holidays like comfy loungewear. Top of my Christmas wish list this year is some matching basics from North End Business Ana + Zac. Ana + Zac thinks about fashion in a slow and holistic way. They acknowledge trends but move in their own direction, at their own pace. They make things that they both love, can wear every day, and that will last a long time. They are running an amazing promotion right now: subscribe to their first newsletter and save 20% off your first purchase. They also have a promo code for 15% off online orders at Benjamin Bridge (who has appeared on past gift guides) until the end of the year by using code: ANAANDZAC15 How to help those less fortunate this year: If you’re anything like me and firmly believe in having a real tree over a fake one, you’ll be happy to hear that the MRB Christmas Tree Drive is back!  On December 3rd, between 10 am and 3 pm, you’ll be able to drop by 2398 Creighton St. and grab a tree, with all proceeds going to Parker St Food Bank. I’ve heard a rumour that there may also be apple cider. If at the end of your list, you find you have anything left to give back, Adsum House is accepting new unwrapped donations at 2592 Agricola St Halifax. (November 29 to Dec 22, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. Closed Sundays.)  Adsum House shelters and houses as many as 120 people each day and more than 300 persons each year. Hundreds more use Adsum services and support without ever staying with us, often related to their basic needs for safe and affordable housing, food, clothing and connection.
In 2021 Adusm was able to provide an entire sack of gifts, PJs and stocking stuffers to every child in their housing program, not to mention gifts, PJs, socks, essentials and gift cards to the 321 adults they support. You can find their Christmas list here: https://adsumforwomen.org/christmas-wish-list
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Impact of rising interest rates While interest rates increase and fall in expected cycles, the speed at which the Bank of Canada has increased interest rates in the past few months has left many homebuyers and homeowners with questions. To answer these questions, I reached out to three local Mortgage professionals to get their thoughts. Starting with returning contributor Alex Lavender, Mortgage Broker at Centum Home Lenders: What are you expecting to see happen with rates?I’m not an economist, so I follow the guidance of the economists of the big 5 banks and share that with my clients. The outlook is that interest rates are expected to increase a bit more into early 2023 (by around .50%). After that, they are expected to level off in 2023 and begin their decline late in 2023 or early 2024. What products are you recommending for buyers?Right now, I am recommending a variable-rate mortgage. If the forecasts are correct, then we are nearing the peak of this interest rate cycle, and variable rate holders will pick up on the savings as rates decline. However, it is all a matter of personal preference; if someone is going to lose sleep at night because they are worried about the interest rate on their mortgage, then fixed is going to be the better option for peace of mind. Is your advice different for that re-financing?My advice for refinancing is the same as purchasing. However, for those that are refinancing into an adjustable rate mortgage, I do suggest that they take some additional funds and set them aside in a savings account. That way if interest rates go up further, they can offset some of the payment increases using the funds in that savings account. Lola Gentile, Associate Mortgage Broker at Premiere Mortgage Centre Inc. WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TO SEE HAPPEN WITH RATES?Most experts we've been listening to agree that we're nearing the top of the rate cycle, with likely another .5% rate increase by the Bank of Canada before the end of this year and potentially another smaller increase of .25% in early 2023. If inflation continues to rise into the first quarter of 2023, then there could be additional increases, but it's still too far out to predict with any certainty. We are entering a recessionary period which will likely last through 2023 into early 2024. However, the historical trend is that the government will begin lowering rates to help stimulate the economy to pull us out of the recession, and one of the first things to be impacted will be mortgage rates which will start to drop, but we are still 12-18 months away from that. It's highly unlikely we will ever see mortgage rates as low as they were during 2020/21, as they were a historical anomaly which couldn't have been predicted, however rates should normalize to the mid 3% range in late 2024. WHAT PRODUCTS ARE YOU RECOMMENDING FOR BUYERS?This is a difficult question to answer as every buyer is different. The most common theme from consumers that I've seen is safety and stability. People want to know what their payments are going to be and not have to deal with payment fluctuations and rate increases that would come from holding a Variable rate mortgage versus a Fixed rate mortgage. Surprisingly, the majority of experts agree that although volatile right now, Variable rate mortgages are still an attractive option because "what goes up, must come down," and even though there may be short-term pain in the near future, historically Variable rate mortgages still outperform Fixed rate mortgages in flexibility and interest costs in the long term. If clients still want the certainty of fixed payments, then they should consider a 2-3 year fixed rate term, rather than a 5-year term, in order to try and time their renewal period to capture what should be a lower rate environment at the time of renewal. Of course, there are no guarantees, and sadly between Covid, the war in Ukraine, continued supply chain issues globally, etc. all of these factors have had a direct impact on the rate environment we are currently in. IS YOUR ADVICE DIFFERENT FOR THAT RE-FINANCING?The first question for those wanting to refinance is what the immediate need for the money is. If a customer is refinancing to access equity to pay off debts and create more cash flow, then there is no time like the present. The cost of living has risen, and interest rates on credit card debt are rising, leaving people with less money each month. If consumers are considering a refinance for these reasons, then there is no time like the present. A refinance can give people the breathing room they need to stabilize their monthly costs and have some additional funds put aside in case of an emergency. If someone is considering a refinance to take on large renovation projects, etc., it may require more discussion because construction material costs, supply chain issues, lack of the availability of qualified trades, etc., can have a huge impact on project costs, which in turn could leave them in a more difficult position. It would require a more in-depth look at the overall financial picture of each individual consumer before making the decision to refinance. And finally, James Mckeown, Associate Mortgage Broker at Premiere Mortgage Centre added: WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TO SEE HAPPEN WITH RATES?Fixed rates have actually come down from their peak as they are set by the Government of Canada 5 year bond yield and not the prime rate. Now that doesn't mean we won't see fixed rates increase further; however, there is an interesting disconnect where the variable rate products are actually more expensive. If you listen to the economists, most are suggesting we will see a decline in rates in the next two or three years. The problem with the shorter fixed terms is they are not usually discounted to the same extent as the 5-year fixed terms, making them more expensive. This also means that the variable rate product could likely still be the best option if you are comfortable and have the capacity to ride out any additional increases. WHAT PRODUCTS ARE YOU RECOMMENDING FOR BUYERS?First-time home buyers are still best to consider a 5-year fixed rate mortgage as it provides stability when entering home ownership. For repeat buyers who have the comfort and capacity to take a gamble on what will happen, I would suggest a shorter fixed rate term or a variable rate mortgage. I would personally take a variable today over a fixed term. IS YOUR ADVICE DIFFERENT FOR THAT RE-FINANCING?It depends on why you are refinancing. The accumulated equity in many people's homes is a great opportunity to get rid of other debts, and set yourself up for long term financial success if done appropriately. I would be hesitant to suggest a less stable option in this scenario so the variable is likely off the table in favour of a fixed rate term, probably 5 years.
If you are refinancing to purchase an investment property, etc. then I would still suggest a variable rate, but cautious borrowers are always best to take the longest fixed rate term they are comfortable with knowing it may cost more in the long run. In general, 7 and 10-year terms are dangerous as most are broken well in advance of their maturity and come with a higher rate. The current rate environment is like selling an investment as it declines and buying it when it goes up. People are more likely to lock in when rates are high because they are worried about rates going even higher. Although I do not think we will see a return to 2% mortgages, I also don't think we are on our way to 10% rates either. You should take the term you are comfortable with, variable for the biggest risk takers, 5 year for the most risk averse, and a 2 or 3-year term if you want to try and get a break but still want some stability. 📣 SMALL BUSINESS SHOUTOUT 📣: Cakes by neh If you're looking to make a statement at your next event, look no further than local specialist @Cakes By Neh. Q: What's the story behind why you started your businessAlthough baking began as a hobby and stress reliever for me it soon became a passion. I decided to start Cakes By Neh when I realized I am my happiest self when I am creating something to share with others to make them happy. Food is one of the greatest ways to show love and care in my culture and I combined this with my passion for cake, that's how Cakes By Neh was born! Q: What can customers expect?My little business is a one woman workshop! I am the baker, cake decorator, dishwasher, and delivery person. You can expect to find artistic cakes for all occasions that have been customized to your liking and made specially for you. I operate my commercial kitchen out of my own home so any cakes that I make have been ordered by my clients in advance. Q: Can you share an insider tip about your neighbourhood?Working from home in Spryfield has been absolutely delightful! I love my neighborhood and area, it has been home to me for the past 3 years. It's multicultural and friendly. My neighbourhood has some of the most scenic trails in the area. You have the option of walking on the gorgeous rocky terrain of the Osprey trail head or taking a stroll next to a flowing river on the McIntosh Run Community trail ! Q: What are some other local businesses people should check out if they’re in the area?Our area has amazing restaurants and businesses owned by local folks, Station six, Sushi cove, Halalifax Gummies, and Khans to name a few! We are also super excited to be getting a branch of one of the yummiest ice cream spots in Halifax, Flynns Dairy Bar! Q: Are you working on any new projects?I have many plans for the future and am actively working on them while keeping my bustling business going! I am excited to grow and continue to serve our lovely community!
closing costs you can expect on your new home During due diligence:DepositWhen you think of a ‘deposit,’ most people think about the amount they saved up for their down payment, but they’re not the same thing. The deposit is a showing of good faith to purchase. This is paid to the broker, as a way of saying that if all the conditions of your offer are met, you will proceed with the purchase on closing day. The deposit amount is at minimum 1% of the purchase price—or $1000 for every $100,000 of home value—due within 7-14 days of making an offer on a property. If there are multiple offers, it can be beneficial to increase your deposit to 2-3% of the purchase price to make your offer stand out. The good news is that it is credited toward your down payment on closing day. The deposit can be paid by cash, cheque or email money transfer to the listing brokerage. Home InspectionMost buyers will make an offer conditional on having the home inspected. A home inspection will typically cost between $500 to $750+HST, depending on the size of the building, location and number of units. Buyers will often opt to test for the presence of radon and scope the sewer lateral for breaks/root intrusion. Each of these tests will run you an additional $250+HST. If you are purchasing a home on well and septic, you will also want to inspect the function of the septic and the quality and quantity of the well water. These three inspections could easily add $1000-$1500 in additional inspection costs. At Closing: Deed Transfer Tax (DDT)Deed Transfer Tax rates are set by each municipality and the DTT payable is calculated based on the sale price of the property. In HRM, the deed transfer tax is 1.5% of the purchase price. Note: non-residents of Nova Scotia will be charged an additional 5% provincial deed transfer tax on top of the municipal rate. The good news is that buyers who plan to move to NS within 6 months of taking possession of their new home are exempt from the non-resident DDT. Closing AdjustmentsThere are a number of expenses that you will pre-pay when you own a home (taxes, rental contracts, condo fees and oil or propane are the main ones). On closing, you will be responsible for reimbursing the seller for any of these prepaid expenses that cover the time that you will own the home. For example: Property Tax Adjustment. Property taxes are paid in advance in Nova Scotia twice yearly, therefore the Seller has pre-paid property taxes for the first or last 6 months of the year. The property tax adjustment is to reimburse the Seller for the remainder of the pre-paid amount. Heating Oil Adjustment. The seller will top up their oil tank and you will be responsible for reimbursing them for the full oil tank. I recommend budgeting for a $2200 adjustment on closing if you are purchasing a home with oil-fired heating. Legal feesThe standard costs for the purchase of a resale home are approximately $1300-$1600. This includes $750-$1000+HST for legal fees, plus recording fees, admin fees, and title insurance. Title insurance is sometimes not required by the lender but is highly recommended. Title insurance protects property buyers and mortgage lenders against defects or problems with a title when there is a transfer of property ownership. Property InsuranceIf you are getting a mortgage, your lender will require you to show proof of insurance on closing. Home insurance can cost $1000 and up for the year.
The good news is that most insurers have monthly payment plans. Where this cost varies depending on the age, condition, size and location of the property (as well as your claim history) it is recommended to get an insurance quote during due diligence to make sure the annual home insurance costs are something you can live with. Additional costs to consider utility hook-up fees and moving expenses. Creating a realistic budget in advance and sticking to it can help you be more confident on closing and avoid unexpected surprises down the road. The more you can map out—and spread out—your expenses and payments, the more effective you will be in managing your overall costs. 📣 SMALL BUSINESS SHOUTOUT 📣: BISCUIT GENERAL STORE If you love old fashioned general stores filled to the brim with unique fashion and gifts, stopping in at Biscuit General Store is a must whenever you're downtown Halifax. Q: What's the story behind why you started your business?When I opened Biscuit General Store, Halifax didn’t have many locally owned boutiques - just chain stores. I had worked in the fashion industry for years, but was inspired to be in a more hands-on relationship with clothing, customers and our community. Q: What can customers expect?We hope that customers will experience personal care in our shop, and will see how we’re constantly curating our selection based on customer feedback and requests. Most things in our shop are found exclusively at Biscuit in Halifax! Q: Can you share an insider tip about your neighbourhood?There IS parking in the North End! The North End Business Assoc. has a parking map on their website—but big hint is Maitland Street! Q: What are some other local businesses people should check out if they’re in the area?Hands down, LF Bakery is the absolute best…and Edna is now serving lunch! For boutiques, check out Meyvn, Ana and Zac and Slowly Slowly. Q: Are you working on any new projects?Haha…always. We just moved Biscuit 1 year ago, and have our sibling store The Independent Mercantile across the street, but my friends are always trying to stop me from starting another business! I’m especially inspired about some volunteer projects these days.
Preparing your home for autumnWith 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.  Preparing your yard: 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. Preparing your home: 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. 📣 SMALL BUSINESS SHOUT OUT 📣: C.G. WatercoloursWith Thanksgiving weekend upon us and the holidays right around the corner, I wanted to highlight C.G. Watercolours as a unique gift idea to keep in mind!  Q: What's the story behind why you started your businessI’ve had a creative mind since I was a child and started painting 15+ years ago using oil and acrylic paint; I mainly painted abstract. I have always loved the way that watercolour looks but was told, “stay away from it. It’s way too hard to paint with,” and for years, I didn’t even bother to give it a chance. About 2 years ago, I finally decided to give it a go and see how it would turn out. I fell in L O V E with it. At first, I was just painting every once in a while and wasn’t very good at it, but eventually, I started to do more detailed work and paint every single day. Last December, I did my first pet portrait as a gift for someone who had recently lost their dog. I posted pictures of my painting on Instagram, and before I knew it, I was painting tons of dogs, cats and even a bird. It has developed into a great small business. I have had the opportunity to paint some unique pieces, and I am now branching out into painting local landmarks. I love that I have been able to make my passion project into a business. Q: What challenges did you face during the pandemic? CG Watercolors began during the pandemic, so I haven’t faced many challenges aside from a few in-person markets being cancelled. My watercolour business is actually my secondary business; I am a self-employed esthetician and work from home. I faced many challenges during the pandemic with my esthetics business. My watercolour business was a great way to still be able to work and bring in income while my esthetics business was closed. Q: What can customers expect to find when they visit? I don’t currently have a storefront, but I do have a website and can be found on Facebook, Instagram and my website http://cgwatercolors.ca. I hope to attend more markets in the upcoming months. Q: What is your favourite part of having a shop in your area? I love being close to so many great shops and supply stores for my business. I live in a very accessible location, so it makes it really easy for customers to pick up their purchases. Q: How can Nova Scotians support small businesses like yours? The best way for Nova Scotians to support small businesses is to continue to shop local, there has been a huge increase in the volume of support for local small businesses since 2020, and I really hope it stays this way.
Another way to support is through social media. Many may not realize but even just liking, commenting, saving and sharing our content can really make a huge difference. HURRICANE FIONA RELIEF AND RECOVERY INFORMATIONSince it’s been a few days since Atlantic Canada was hit by tropical storm Fiona, I wanted to touch base and provide answers to some of the common questions I’ve gotten over the past week and update you on what measures are being provided for homeowners during this period of recovery.  For Nova Scotians, the provincial government announced that families who have been severely impacted by hurricane Fiona will receive the following one-time financial assistance:
Details about these grants and how to apply will be available soon. Disaster relief for uninsurable losses Nova Scotians can also apply for disaster financial assistance related to damage from hurricane Fiona starting September 26, 2022. The program covers up to $200,000 in uninsurable losses per household, small business and not-for-profit organization. It does not replace private insurance, so applicants are encouraged to contact their insurance company or the Insurance Bureau of Canada at 1-844-227-5422 before applying, as the application includes a form to be filled out by your insurance company confirming that insurance was not available for the losses. Applications are available at:
Residents are asked to continue to assess the damage, keep all receipts, take pictures and video, as well as work with their insurance companies. The government continues to post updates on the hurricane recovery effort at: https://novascotia.ca/alerts/ How to make an insurance claim after a natural disaster: If your home or apartment was damaged during the storm, here are some tips for dealing with the aftermath.
For more information on filing a claim, check out this recent CBC interview with Amanda Dean, vice-president of the Insurance Bureau of Canada's Atlantic region. How natural disasters affect your recent home purchase: If you have a firm and binding agreement of purchase and sale on a home, your purchase contract clearly outlines what happens if the home is damaged between firm (the day you committed to making the purchase) and close (the day you take possession of the home):  What this means is:
1) The seller committed to keeping the home insured until closing day. 2) The seller (and the seller's insurance company) is responsible for any damage to the home up to and including closing day. 3) If the seller makes an insurance claim during this period, they are responsible for informing you. 4) If a claim is made at the home, you can a) proceed with the purchase and have the seller's insurance company deal with the required repairs, or if the damage is too great/you are not interested in living through the repairs, you have the option to b) terminate the agreement and have your deposit returned to you. Further, as a buyer, you have the right to complete a pre-close walk-through of the property on closing day. During the pre-close walk-through, you are double-checking to ensure there hasn't been any damage to the home since you last viewed it. This could be damage caused by the sellers moving out (i.e. holes in the drywall, gouges in the floor, etc.), or it could be damage caused by weather (i.e. missing shingles or siding). If you’ve recently closed on a home and you’re feeling anxious about the storm recovery, don’t worry, you are protected. 📣 Small Business Shout Out 📣: Harbourtown Photography  When it comes to selling your home, having professional photography can make all the difference in how long your listing stays on the market. So this week, I’m sharing an interview with Harbourtown Photography. Q: What's the story behind why you started your business? A: Six years ago, I found myself laid off from a job I really didn’t like in the first place. Having had some experience as a hobbyist photographer and a passion for homes and properties in general, I saw an opportunity to take my career in a whole new direction. I took some courses, upgraded my photography equipment and software, began offering my services to Realtors, and never looked back! Q: What can customers expect to find when they use your services? A: Like any successful business, customer service is everything. Expect prompt, professional correspondence, attention to detail and timely delivery. Every property is different. I work with the Realtor to properly showcase each home, and we work together to accommodate the homeowners best and respect their properties. Q: What is your favourite part of having a business in your area? A: Who could not be grateful for the opportunity to live and work in this beautiful province? Our quality of life is second to none, and the people are warm and welcoming. It doesn’t get any better than this! Q: How can Nova Scotians support small businesses like yours? A: We are more and more aware every day of how important it is to support local businesses when you can. Local business owners are your neighbours, and a strong local economy benefits all of us. I would encourage everyone, when shopping for products and services, to seek out local options and to spread the word when you have a positive experience with a local business.
Staging your home for a successful sale  In a 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. According to the National Association of REALTORS ®, most buyers are willing to offer more money for a staged home compared to a similar non-staged home. In this week’s blog, we're talking about how to stage your home for a successful sale. 1. PaintA 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. 2. DepersonalizeWhile 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. 3. DeclutterOne 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. 3. Clean your homeA 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. 4. Give every space a functionEvery 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. 5. LandscapingThe 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. |
Margaret CraigReal Estate Advisor based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I help people buy and sell homes with Engel & Völkers. Archives
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