The Real Estate Centre Blog

A home is a person’s safe haven and an extension of themselves. After buying a home, it’s important that new owners implement safety measures to keep their homes safe from potential problems, ranging from poor air quality and mold to insects and contamination. There are several ways new owners can keep their homes healthy and [...] More...

Many homeowners choose to get their properties appraised before selling a home. Having an appraisal can help sellers determine how to price their homes to avoid asking for too much or too little. Appraisers examine a variety of factors when valuing a home, including market conditions, the surrounding neighborhood and the home itself. So when [...] More...

Flowers have bloomed, the weather has warmed up and the animals have come back from their winter hibernation, signaling the beginning of spring. For most homeowners, this means getting out the cleaning supplies and garbage bags to clean their houses from top to bottom and get rid of unused or unwanted items. Spring cleaning is [...] More...

When buyers start looking for their dream home, many start with the available real estate listings in their area. A home listing is the first place most sellers show off all the best features of their homes, ranging from their master bedroom and bathroom suite to their wraparound porch and deck. Because homeowners may only [...] More...

Coldwell Banker Survey Finds Women and Men Make Home-Buying Decisions with Head and Heart Square-footage and price are important elements to consider when selecting a home but according to a new survey from Coldwell Banker Real Estate of 1,000 men and women, they both also rely on how they feel and how their lifestyle fits [...] More...

A picture is worth a thousand words and the photos an owner takes of his or her home can be the key in attracting a large number of prospective buyers. Some buyers judge properties by pictures alone and others may hesitate to even attend an open house at a home that has no pictures listed, [...] More...

Whether individuals currently own or are selling a home, making improvements around the house can add more character, charm and utility. There are several projects that may not only add dollar value to a home, but can also make it more enticing for potential buyers. And what’s more, many of these improvements can be completed [...] More...

The push to “go green” is a common trend among prospective homebuyers, and many may seek out ways to become more environmentally-friendly after buying a home. Making improvements and upgrades, whether the home is new or old, can not only help buyers be more environmentally conscious, but it can also save them money on utility [...] More...

Buying a home can be an expensive endeavor, and many potential buyers choose to shave a couple bucks off the final price by purchasing starter homes or properties that need a few repairs. And while this strategy can be an effective way to save money and, in some cases, personalize the house, knowing which repairs [...] More...

Coldwell banker REAL ESTATE SURVEY reveals GROWING FAMILY nO. 1 lifestyle motivator for north american home buyers Survey Finds Sellers More Willing To Make Changes To Increase Buyer Appeal BURLINGTON, ON March 8, 2012 – A recent survey of 700 Coldwell Banker Real Estate professionals across North America revealed home buyers are motivated by lifestyle [...] More...

February 8, 2012 Selling a home can seem like a tedious task and it’s common for homeowners to feel discouraged if their home doesn’t sell right away. But the truth is, image is everything and making small changes to spruce up a property can make a home much more appealing to the general public. After [...] More...

February 7, 2012 When faced with winter cold, homeowners can take a number of steps to reduce how much they spend staying warm. According to HouseLogic, lowering the thermostat three to five degrees and turning it off when no one is home could reduce heating costs as much as 30 percent, depending on where the [...] More...

While the best way to deal with damage resulting from winter weather conditions is to protect and prepare a home beforehand, that may not be possible. If it is too late to get ready and a home is damaged in some way, homeowners will likely want and need to take steps to remedy the situation. [...] More...

A good real estate agent can support and assist his clients, but how they handle the process of searching for and buying a home will affect how helpful he or she can be. One agent told MSN Real Estate that he once had clients refuse to enter eight out of 10 houses they were scheduled [...] More...

First-time homebuyers may have a unique perspective of real estate agents, and sometimes their inexperience may lead to misconceptions. It is also common for first-time buyers to overestimate how much an agent can do for them and fail to realize the degree to which they must remain involved in the process. Buying a home for [...] More...

THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BUYING A HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME While beginning the search for a new home can be very exciting, often times, the process can seem a bit overwhelming, especially for those who are new to the world of real estate. Since purchasing a home will likely be the [...] More...

When shopping for and buying a home, one way to narrow down a search is to consider what aspects of a given property can or cannot be changed. For example, if a family wants yard space for children to play in, that may limit their prospects. If money is unlimited, then the only thing that [...] More...

With a substantial amount of homes for sale on the market, homeowners looking to put their home up for sale have a number of other home sellers to compete with. However, homeowners can gain a leg up on their competition with some low-cost home repair and redecorating projects that can significantly improve the aesthetic and [...] More...

One factor some home buyers look for, particularly in cities, is walkability. The Wall Street Journal notes that walkability is closely tied to a home’s location and the culture of the surrounding area. Walkability can allow residents to spend less time worrying about traffic congestion and make regular outings, such as shopping trips, much more [...] More...

Wise and cautious homeowners who purchase insurance coverage for their residences may not fully understand the differences between competing policies. If such a misunderstanding occurs, they may find out at the worst time that their coverage does not apply to their current circumstances.   If they are planning to stay in a home, this could [...] More...

Homeowners planning to sell are often aware of repairs and upgrades their home could benefit from. This presents a dilemma, since competing pressures encourage and discourage such actions. On the one hand, the expense of work on a home can be significant, and if the current homeowners are planning to move out it may seem [...] More...

Houses have always been a central element in the spooky and scary tales of Halloween. There’s something about a house with Gothic architecture, boarded up windows or even the aura of the supernatural that can send tingles up your spine. I’m sure all of us can think of that one house in the neighborhood that [...] More...

Home sellers can easily find themselves in a difficult position when trying to negotiate with buyers. Unwillingness to compromise can present a major obstacle in negotiations, but giving too much away during them or beforehand can amount to an unacceptable price for closing a deal. Real estate agents can provide needed perspective that homeowners, who [...] More...

Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Centre expands their network to grow their presence in Ontario’s Barrie real estate and Innisfil real estate markets; Grand Opening celebrations to include national management and local business figures (BARRIE / INNISFIL, ON – SEPTEMBER 16, 2011) A world-renowned real estate brand is growing its presence in the Ontario market, [...] More...

Consider This Before Selling Your Home On Your Own Selling your own home may seem like a piece of cake: just take a few pictures, post them online, perhaps even take out an ad in the local newspaper, and stick a “for sale by owner” sign in your front yard once you’ve taken a look [...] More...