tips: Household Tips for Homeowner - 5 Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide! - 08/15/14 02:43 AM
I am in a crazy cleaning mood this evening and look what I found - loving it and will try right now! Cleaning with Peroxide - easy, cheap, green.



So, here are the uses again:
1. Get Rid of Mold
2. Mouth Wash
3. Whiten your Laundry
4. Highlights for Your Hair! - I highly doubt this would work on my hair...
5. Use as a cleaning solution!
More for your lovely garden:
How Plants Are Having Sex in Your Garden
How to build Wild Life Pond
More on Home Value
Realtor.CA - Did You Know?
Home Appraisal - Why is it Important to Know Your Home Market Value
Real Estate … (0 comments)

tips: 5 Tips for Pleasant Home Shopping Experience - 08/12/14 11:00 PM
This is a quick "5 Tips" list all my buyers receive when we go home shopping for the first time. Some of the things seem pretty obvious, but are still worth mentioning just one more time!


1. 5 Homes Tip. Do not try to see more then 5 homes at a time! I know you are a super hero, but by the time you see house #4 you will be quite exhausted. This Rule does not apply to out of town shoppers - they will have to shop till they drop.
2. Must Wear Socks on the Playground Tip. Most of … (2 comments)

tips: Nailed on 401 or How to Change a Car Wheel - 06/17/14 03:35 AM
This post was suggested by my husband - the man who can do everything himself! Photo credit also goes to him.




                      Here is the culprit!!!!!





So, here it is a nut shell! Looks easy, right?
Do I know how to do it? Sure, I do!
Would I ever try to do it myself? No way!
Same goes about many things in our everyday life - fixing a car, coloring hair, mastering a skateboard, baking a cake, tiling a bathroom, BUYING or SELLING a HOME - you can do it … (2 comments)

tips: How Plants Are Having Sex in Your Garden - 06/11/14 04:59 AM
I am always looking for useful tips and tricks to make my garden look better. Just came across this one today - it is funny, easy to understand and FUNNY again :)




How to choose the soil to plant your flowers?
How to water?
What tools do you need?
What plants to choose?
It is all here!
More for your lovely garden:
How to build Wild Life Pond
More on Home Value
Realtor.CA - Did You Know?
Home Appraisal - Why is it Important to Know Your Home Market Value
Real Estate Bubble, and how Buyers Make It Happen
More Tips for Home Buyer
Offer Presentation In Person
Pros and Cons of … (1 comments)

tips: How to build a Wild Life Pond - 06/01/14 12:12 AM
It is warm enough already to start this sort of project. I got lucky today and found an awesome video, leading you from the very beginning to the very end of this amazing adventure-  building your own backyard pond!


The video is a bit long, but explains everything in great detail. Enjoy!
More on Home Value
Realtor.CA - Did You Know?
Home Appraisal - Why is it Important to Know Your Home Market Value
Real Estate Bubble, and how Buyers Make It Happen
More Tips for Home Buyer
Offer Presentation In Person
Pros and Cons of Buying With Listing Agent
Grow House Anyone? Help yourself - there … (2 comments)

tips: Condo Townhouse vs. Freehold Townhouse - 05/12/14 07:39 PM
I get this question all the time - what is the difference? Ok, lets see!



Condo Townhouse
Cons:
1. You get the house, land belongs to condo corporation
2. Will appreciate less then freehold
3. You have to pay maintenance fee
4. You can not change the exterior without written permition of condo corp.
Pros:
1. Often your maintenance fee covers the exterior maintenance, meaning you don't have to worry about grass cutting, snow shoveling, roof / window changing, pavement maintenance
2. The value of your home will be relatively easy to estimate, based on the upgrades you have done.
3. Due to the condo restrictions, the exterior will always look … (1 comments)

tips: Pros and Cons of Buying With Listing Agent - 05/07/14 10:41 PM
It seems to be a popular idea - if I buy with a listing agent, I will save on buyer's agent commission, get a better deal, etc. Not really. Let's see why....


1. Listing agent is representing a SELLER. He's known Seller for quite some time, they established some sort of relationship and trust. And you are just walking through the door and trying to get a discounted price, guess what?
2. In a dual representation, listing agent will have to do double amount of work. And you think he will give you the buyer part of the commission. Guess what?
3. … (62 comments)

tips: Mr. and Mrs. Home Seller, please, Leave the Premises!!!! - 04/27/14 11:47 AM
I am a firm believer that showing homes to potential home buyers in the presence of home owners is a total waste of time. Usually, the more home buyers like the house, the longer they would spend viewing it. My personal statistics shows that when a buyer hates the house - we are out of there in 5 minutes, but when they like it to the point of placing an offer - the viewing time increases to 30-45-60 minutes and I usually have to lead them out as our time is up. Well, when the home owner is around during the … (2 comments)

tips: 10 Wrong Reasons to Choose a Realtor - 02/16/14 04:27 AM
What are the reasons for you when choosing a service provider? Experience, professionalism, education, recommendations? Those are all important things to consider. But what are bad reasons to choose a Realtor? Let's have a look



1. He/she is a friend or relative. There is actually nothing wrong in working with friends or family, as long as this is not the only reason.
2. He/she offered to do the job for the lowest commission. You want to save money. This is great. We all do. But ask yourself why he/she discounts the services - desperation? poor quality? All goods and services are … (5 comments)

tips: Real Estate Bubble, and how Buyers Make It Happen - 02/12/14 05:11 AM
I am looking for a small bungalow in Alderwood area for one of the clients and the situation on the market reminds an old high school joke:
-  Do you date anyone?
- No
- Ok, then I won't date you either...
But then when someone is "wanted", he/she is "wanted" by everyone.



Property 1 - listed for $499 900, 5 offers, sells for $585 200!!!! "as is" condition - read - falling apart
Property 2 - listed for $489 900, 14 offers, sells for $562 700, again "as is" condition, slightly flooded and smelling accordingly
Please, note that this is an area of old bungalows, … (1 comments)