Welcome to summer! Hopefully there will be plenty of nice weather over the next couple of months so you can enjoy barbecues, picnics, deck parties, and other outdoor activities.
Without a question, it’s the perfect season for socializing. The long sunny days and warm moonlit nights are the perfect setting for sharing interests or discussing ideas with friends and family. You might even find yourself talking about the possibility of buying or selling a home.
If that topic comes up, remember that I’m always available to help with any questions you – or your friends or relatives – may have. Call or email me anytime.
My best wishes to you and your family. Have a great summer!
“Facelifts” that Boost Resale Value
If you plan on putting your home on the market, you obviously want it to look as attractive as possible to
potential buyers. Improving the look of your kitchen or bathroom is a great place to start.
You don’t necessarily have to invest in a major – and potentially expensive – renovation. There are many simple, do-it-yourself ways to give your kitchen or bathroom a facelift and make it look (almost) new.
Here are some ideas to consider:
Instead of installing new cabinetry, just replace the cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Those alone will significantly improve the look of the room. In fact, even just replacing the door pulls can make a big difference.
Replacing the sink is also an easy renovation. You can purchase a sparkling new kitchen sink and faucet kit for far less than the benefit they will deliver.
Replacing the countertop in the kitchen is a more complex renovation and, in most cases, will require the help of a contractor. But, a handy person can probably tackle replacing the countertop in a bathroom without too much difficulty.
Want more ideas for making your home more saleable? Need help finding a contractor? Call or email me today.
Real Estate and the Price of Apples
Consider this scenario. Say you’re at your local supermarket and notice that apples are on sale for $3.95 
each. If you’ve ever purchased apples before, you know that’s a pretty hefty price.
However, you’ve heard about the “national apple market” on the news, so you’re not surprised. After all, they’ve been saying that apple prices will be higher this year.
Now, let’s say you’re driving home and decide to drop by a farmer’s market. One of the stands, run by a local family farm, is selling their apples for just $1.95 each.
Why is that?
The reason is pretty simple. The national apple market doesn’t always reflect what’s happening locally. In fact, the local market may be very different.
So, what does all this have to do with real estate?
Well, the same scenario can play out in real estate. You may hear news about the national market… about bubbles and rebounds and ups and downs. But that doesn’t necessarily mean your local market – the market right here in your neighbourhood – is the same.
So before you make a decision about whether or not to make a move, find out what the local market is doing.
Click here to set up a search and start receiving new Winnipeg MLS® listings or all recent Winnipeg home sales in your MLS®area.
Using the Internet to Shop for a New Home
There’s more information on the Internet than in the entire collection of the U.S. Library of Congress. 
(And that’s the largest library in the world!) So it makes sense to use the Internet as a resource when shopping for a new home.
You can search for the kind of property you’re considering, view pictures of available properties that meet your criteria, and, in some cases, even watch virtual tours of those properties.
The Internet is a useful home shopping tool. It can save you a lot of time. But it can’t replace working with a good REALTOR®, and actually going to see the various properties.
Think of it this way. Would you marry someone you met online but never got to meet in person? Of course you wouldn’t. That would be a recipe for disaster!
The same holds true when shopping for a new home.
The Internet can help you shortlist the properties you would like to see, and perhaps provide a sense of the area. But only by working with a good REALTOR® that is familiar with and understands new home construction can you get the real insights you need into the homes available on the market, and then determine the ones that would potentially be ideal for you.
So when shopping for a new home, don’t hesitate to call or email me today to find out how best to use the Internet. I can direct you to websites and web tools that will help make the home shopping experience much more enjoyable and productive, while at the same time, provide you with the personal attention you need to ultimately purchase the home of your dreams.
notable, quotable… quotes!
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
Maria Robinson
“People may forget what you said or what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou
“Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us.”
John N. Mitchell
It pays to know the average price of homes for sale in your neighbourhood, as well as that of homes that have sold, including both over-list and under-list sales. We track all Winnipeg neighbourhoods daily, which allows us to more accurately set list prices on the homes we sell, while also making intelligent offers. If you would like a Free Home Value Appraisal in River Heights, Tuxedo, Fort Garry, Linden Ridge, St. Norbert, Bridgewater Forest, Headingley, St. Boniface, St. Vital, River Park South, Windsor Park, Southdale, Island Lakes, Royalwood, Sage Creek, East Kildonan, North Kildonan, Eaglemere, Sun Valley, Kildonan Meadows, Transcona, Birds Hill, East St. Paul, West Kildonan, Riverbend, Garden City, Deer Lodge, St. James, Grace Hospital, Optimist Park, West. St. Paul please Contact Us or Call (204) 792-6453.
Track the Winnipeg Real Estate Market!! Free Automated Email Service allows you to track the MLS market in real time. Follow the values in any neighborhood in Winnipeg. Find out what your neighbor’s house down the street sold for. Follow Winnipeg MLS listings in real time. Visit Winnipeg Market Tracker!
Royal LePage Top Producers
Winnipeg MB
Phone: (204) 792-6453
maybe even envies. It could be a spacious kitchen with an island and upgraded appliances… or a stunning backyard with a wrap-around deck and beautiful landscaping… or rustic hardwood floors that contrast with elegant, high-end ceramics.
the idea that, besides being a place to sleep and eat, the purpose of a home is essentially to store all the stuff you accumulate over the years.
the property itself. So, before listing your home on the market, it makes sense to think about your neighbourhood and its key characteristics.
