Staying put this March Break? That doesn't mean it can't be an adventure! One of my favourite parts of being a REALTOR® is exploring neighbourhoods across the province, so here are my top picks for family-friendly March Break activities in Nova Scotia. 

Did you know there are over 20 Murals located in Downtown Halifax? A self-guided tour of these murals and other public art pieces can be found on the Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s website.

I recommend starting your exploration at 5151 South Street where you can pick up one of Rousseau Chocolatier’s famous house hot chocolates before heading North to the downtown core. Make sure you have your camera ready! ​

Cabot Shores
​Make the most of winter on the Cabot Trail! Snowshoe by day, then curl up by the fire and watch the stars in a spectacular dome skylight. Cabot Shores has packages that include meals, snowshoe rentals, yurt or chalet accommodations, outdoor hot tub access, and a morning meditation or Qi-Gong session. 

The Prince George Hotel
​Treat your whole family (Dogs included - they have pet-friendly suites available) to a bit of luxury at The Prince George Hotel. Pretend you’re someplace sunnier and take your staycation poolside (indoors.)

In competitive offer situations, the first thing the listing agent wants to know is if the buyer is pre-approved.

​Being able to send in a pre-approval letter with your offer proves that you are serious and gives the sellers confidence that the deal won’t fall apart on financing down the road. 

While you’re at it, be sure to gather the income documents your lender requires (proof of income, proof of assets, and employment verification) in advance of submitting an offer.

In order to make your offer more competitive, you will want to shorten the condition deadlines as much as possible, which doesn’t leave much time to track down these documents after your offer is accepted.

I’ve talked about lending questions with Alex Lavender, Mortgage Broker previously and you can find out more about getting pre-approved here. 

​Having a little less competition can go a long way in landing the right home. Some buyers tend to hibernate during the winter months in favour of waiting for the infamous ‘spring market’ when the real estate industry kicks it into high gear for the warmer months. 

Winter is a great time to shop as sellers who list mid-winter are often more motivated and you’ll face much less competition.

​This ensures that you get an email alert the minute a property that matches your search criteria hits that market. You don’t want to miss out on “the one” because you went out to grab a coffee on your work break instead of checking Realtor.ca.

​Once a property you like becomes available, it probably won’t last long. Make sure you give yourself an opportunity to get in on the action by going to see it as soon as possible, even if it means being a little flexible in other areas of your schedule.

​Unfortunately, a seller’s market is not the time to try and score a deal.

Ask yourself how upset you’ll be if you lose out on this house, and then write your offer accordingly. If you really love it, don’t be afraid to go in above the asking price. (And a heartfelt letter to the sellers included in the offer never hurts.)

​Don’t get swept up in the seller’s market. Hiring a neighbourhood expert means having someone working in your best interest, so you’re not overpaying for a property or relying on over-offering to get the property you love. 

There are lots of ways to write an attractive offer and working with a professional means having insight into the market so that you can write a winning offer.

Whether you're looking to maximize your sale price or increase equity, there are many small projects that will boost the value of your home. 

Here are a few cost-effective home improvement options that will result in an immediate return on your investment: 

With rising energy costs, energy efficient upgrades are a huge hit with today’s homebuyers.

We asked Karynne of Efficiency Nova Scotia for her top tips on increasing energy efficiency at home. Her first recommendation was to install a cold climate heat pump. Compared with electric baseboard heat, high-efficiency heat pumps can be up to 200% more efficient. And best of all, rebates are available through an easy-to-complete application through Efficiency Nova Scotia’s Heating System Rebates service.

She also recommended taking advantage of the Canada Greener Homes Grant and stackable rebates through Efficiency Nova Scotia. For only $199+HST, you can receive a personalized Home Energy Assessment on your home’s energy performance and customized recommendations to improve the comfort and efficiency of your home—lowering your bills and improving the resale value of your home. Rebates are available for upgrades such as:

• Insulation
• Air sealing
• Windows and doors
• Efficient heating systems
  
  

Smart thermostats are another way to boost home value in an easy low-cost way. You can get up to $35 off in-store through participating retailers, and you will have instant access to your energy usage at your fingertips through smart thermostat apps like Nest and Ecobee.

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. 

Obladee 
Obladee ​Holiday Gift Boxes make the perfect gift for friends, family or colleagues to enjoy. This year, Obladee has two options to choose from.

The cheese box includes four Nova Scotia cheeses (with product notes for each), a jar of their house-made festive preserves, special dark chocolate goat's milk fudge, locally-made Sea Coast Crisps, and a local beeswax candle.

Their wine and cheese box includes all of the above, plus a bottle of Sommelier-selected wine (your choice of Sparkling, White or Red) or upgrade your wine to a special Cellar Selection for $25 more!

The wine and cheese box is one of my family’s favourite gifts to give and receive. Order yours here by December 22nd at 12:00 noon to receive it on the 23rd. 

Benjamin Bridge 
Nothing says celebration more than sparkling wine and Benjamin Bridge makes internationally recognized sparkling wine right here in Nova Scotia.

Pick up a bottle of their Brut to toast before dinner, a box of Nova 7 cans to give as stocking stuffers, or even an annual subscription for your favourite wine-lover.

The winery is located in the Gaspereau Valley but for those in the Halifax Metro, they offer contactless free delivery, right up until Dec 21, or pick up as late as December 23. 

Lightfoot and Wolfville 
​Lightfoot & Wolfville is owned and operated by the Lightfoot family who has 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 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.

Lightfoot & Wolfville are offering free, contactless delivery in HRM, the Valley and South Shore. Order by midnight on Tuesday, December 21 for deliveries to arrive on December 23. 

Good Robot 
​Have someone in your life who isn’t a wine lover? Good Robot Brewing Co. offers gift-wrapped holiday boxes with a handwritten card.

Choose from a huge selection of beers and fermented seltzers, or allow the experts to select a variety based on your loved one’s individual tastes.

Order up until December 23rd for guaranteed delivery within 2 hours in Halifax.

In A Box Gifts (1468 Dresden Row, Halifax) 
​In a Box Gifts is a locally owned boutique that features one-of-a-kind clothing, accessories, home goods, and unique giftware. 

Pop in as late as December 24 at 5:00 to pick up a gift you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

Top pick: Their gorgeous wool throws would make the perfect gift to tuck under the Christmas tree.

Trainyard General Store (137 Portland Street, Dartmouth)
​Trainyard General Store offers handcrafted whimsical & practical gifts from Canadian small businesses, holiday gifts, cards and stationery, accessories, kids toys and books, even gifts for your pets.

Best of all, they’re open until 3:00 on the 24th. 

Top pick: Trainyard General is one of six local retailers where you can pick up Brad Hartman’s Pop-Up Halifax. 

Kept Gifts & Housewares (75 King St, Dartmouth)
​Kept Gifts & Housewares offers a balance of locally sourced goods and fine gifts & home decor. They offer an extensive variety of cards, ornaments and holiday decor; there is truly something for everyone!

And, even if you’re down to the wire at 5:00 pm on the 24, they’ve got you covered. 

Top pick: Paper Hearts East Coast Ornaments are the perfect addition to any holiday tree. Choose from one of eight local landmarks, such as the Bluenose, Sullivan’s Pond Geese, the Ferry or Woody the Talking Xmas Tree 

The holiday season is upon us and you might be wondering what to get the special people in your life. This year, consider giving a gift that will leave a lasting impression by supporting local businesses. We've put together our annual Local Gift Guide which includes some of our favourite local businesses, plus where you can find them in-store and online. P.S. Don't forget to check out their Black Friday deals!

​Cheerfetti has a number of holiday items available, both individual gift items as well as gift boxes made up for you, so you can skip the wrapping this year: Holiday Collection 2021

Want to shop for Nova Scotia Artisans specifically? They also have a number of everyday items that make great holiday gifts, many of which are made in our province. You can shop Cheerfetti by theme and choose: Made In Nova Scotia 

Follow her on Instagram to get her Black Friday sale details! 

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.

When it comes to getting your home ready for winter, I would say my top tip would be to be sure that your wood-burning appliances (ie woodstoves, fireplaces and pellet stoves) are clean and ready to go.

The chimneys and flue pipes for these should be cleaned and inspected prior to use, as well as the burning units themselves. A buildup of soot and creosote is a fire hazard and is the main cause of chimney fires.

If you have a propane fireplace, you're in the clear—but remember to get your tank filled before the cold hits. ​

Autumn is an incredibly busy time for getting your yard ready for the winter. If you're looking to have a lush lawn and beautiful flower beds come springtime, now is the time to put in the work around the yard. 

If you have time to do only one thing in your yard, I would recommend removing all of the fallen leaves off your lawn. Piles of dead leaves left on your lawn all winter can smother your grass and cause snow mould on your lawn. ​

If you're keen on keeping your leaves to provide shelter for bugs and food for birds through the winter, consider using a leaf blower to move your piles of leaves into garden beds. Just make sure you clear them out come early spring. 

If you're still not sure where to get started when it comes time to get your home ready for the winter, comment below or set up a free consultation.  

As the fall brings in crisper weather and the leaves start changing, many Nova Scotians are planning their autumn travel to find the best places to enjoy the colours of the season. 

This week, I caught up with Kayla Short, award-winning lifestyle blogger and Instagrammer behind Short Presents. 

​Can I say anywhere in NS? I don’t think you can make a bad choice!!

End to end, Nova Scotia is amazing in the Fall! Definitely can't make a wrong decision when it comes to touring around the province this time of year. With so much nature around us, I would say our province really does come alive in the autumn. If you’re going to twist my arm (lol) some of my faves would be:

1) Cape Breton - I might be slightly biased, because I grew up there, but there’s something pretty spectacular about the crisp fall air coupled with the truly stunning colours of the leaves that’s really worth seeing in person! And those rolling hills?? I mean, what’s not to love? If you happen to do the Cabot Trail be sure to check out the new Gandella at Cape Smokey!  

2) Annapolis Valley - Apple picking, haunted houses, corn mazes, and wineries? It’s a must!

3) Sensea Spa in Chester - arguably amazing any time of the year, but definitely a must if you're looking for some much-needed R&R. Be sure to book early as spaces fill up quickly, but don’t be afraid to check back to the site, as people do cancel! Might I also suggest dining at the Rope Loft while you're in the area? Fun fact, did you know the Rope Loft is the oldest building still in commercial use in Nova Scotia?? Pretty cool right. Food is also pretty great!

4) Halifax - there is always something going on in the city! Our culinary scene here is pretty great and I love that most Halifax restaurants change their menus seasonally, so it’s fun to stop in to see what’s new!!

5) Windsor - known for producing some of the world’s largest, world record-setting pumpkins? I’d say it’s worth a visit in the fall! Do yourself a favour and take the old highways to get there to experience some of the best fall colours!

​Oh my goodness I wouldn’t even know where to begin! I love them all.

I would say start making a bucket list—I have a whole section of my blog dedicated to my travels to get you started!—and every time it’s a nice day, or you feel like getting out and about, tick a few more items off your list.

Be sure to mix it up, visit lots of restaurants, cafes, markets and take time to do lots of activities while they're available. I definitely try to support local as much as I can all year, but some places do close up for the winter so it’s great to get out and support them while you can!!

​So many places!! We tend to visit family on the long weekends in the fall, so you’ll always find us in Cape Breton!

​However, I JUST did an amazing stay at the brand new, La Have Cabin which you should definitely put on your bucket list. Located on the water’s edge, it was seriously the most relaxing place!! It feels like you’re sleeping on the ocean, and listening to the waves of the ocean is so unbelievably calming. The wood-fired hot tub is a nice touch on cool fall evenings too!

Definitely check out my Instagram for more details @shortpresents. You never know where I’ll be headed next!