Gail's Blog

Some people become very attached to their home and after deciding to move can get upset and have difficulty accepting the loss of this personal space.  Below are some tips to help ease the feeling of loss. Don’t think of your house as your home but as real estate property that is to be bought and...

  The real estete market usually livens up in the spring.  People want to move before the new school year begins.    Some of the most common reasons for their decision are listed below.  Changes in the family dynamic may be a reason to move.  Having a baby or other addition to the family may incr...

Planning to buy your next property before selling your current one is a difficult decision, especially if you have found the perfect home at a great price.  There are advantages to buying first but there is a risk.  Buying before selling gives you the opportunity to paint, redecorate or renovate ...

I was going through an open house once and the smell of chemicals was overwhelming.  You could tell there was a baby in the home and we told the selling salesperson to pass on to her client how unhealthy it was for the baby using these strong cleaners.  I know the homeowner wanted a clean smellin...

Many renters don’t think they can afford to purchase a home, when in fact, the month mortgage costs will be no more than they are paying in rent.  I always encourage someone who is thinking of making a purchase in a few years to go and consult with a mortgage broker.  A broker can go over all the...

Burlington sales for the month of December dropped slightly from December last year but prices were up over 2010. Residential Only 2010 2011 % change 10-year average         Listings 88 96 9.1% 101         Sales 151 134 -11.3 141         Average Sale Price $384,827 $412,461 7.2% N/A              ...

Aldershot is located at the western edge of Burlington on Burlington Bay.  Known for its sandy soil Aldershot was especially suited to growing melons.  The term “Aldershot melon” grew in fame as did PEI potatoes and BC apples. Aldershot along with the town of Nelson amalgamated with Burlington in...

Last weekend we had the grandchildren for 5 days.  We had them help put up the tree (I need all the encouragement I can get these days) and my grandson and I made an Advent calendar. My friends and I each made an Advent calendar when our children we small and they were great.  No constant asking ...

When you are selling your home, the one thing that you should be prepared for is the home inspection.  Be aware ahead of time of any serious problems that may cause your home to be rejected and be prepared to deal with it.   Have any past renovations damaged the structure of your home?  Is there ...

When we purchased our second home it was new and had aluminum wiring.  At the time copper was expensive and the builders were substituting aluminum wiring.  After a few years, it became apparent that there were some issues with this wiring.  We didn't have any problems and sold our home after 19 ...