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Puddles.

So many puddles. They are great as a kid – jump around in them, make mud pies, have all the fun! For some reason, it seems they aren’t as great when we get older.

The pooling water on our yards and our roads can only mean one thing. It won’t stop raining! Certainly, it appears that’s the cycle we are in now, with sun one day meaning that almost guaranteed rain is happening the next.

It’s interesting how something that can bring so much joy as a child, can also bring on some stress as an adult. Especially if you’re a homeowner. Even more so if you happen to not be home when the storm rolls in.

The worries start popping in our heads – how much did it actually rain? Are my downspouts actually down, or did I forget them after cutting the grass last time? When did I last check my sump pump? Are the dogs going to run away if it starts to thunder?

These are all valid – and some of those questions have turned out not so great for me. Downspouts have been forgotten, pumps have failed, dogs have run away…

Let’s make sure these don’t happen to you. If you haven’t already, check the sump pump in your home, ensure those downspouts are down (and clear of debris), and if need be, make sure the pets are taken care of!

Looks like we may see some sunshine again soon but we may be fighting with puddles until this time next week – so today is a great day to check that list.

Let’s keep these basements as dry as possible as we likely stay indoors and if you’re like me, enjoy the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

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Free!

With the economy lately, and prices of nearly everything headed up, I’m quite certain every one of us appreciates a good deal, a great deal, or even better, hitting the jackpot… and getting something for FREE!

It seems those free deals don’t come around nearly as often as we’d like, and so often, when they do, we’re worried there’s going to be some sort of catch. Am I right?

I’ve got great news for you!

As a buyer working with me as a Realtor, you get my professional, prompt, and friendly service absolutely free!! The only catch is that you get a great home for you and your family to enjoy. Sounds like a pretty great deal, if you ask me!

No matter which agent has the home listed, as long as it’s marketed on realtor.ca, I can show you the home as your buyer agent. And by working with me early in the process, I can refine your search and provide you up-to-the-minute alerts on properties that hit the market and meet your defined criteria.

When you find potential matches you’d like to see, I will set up showings, personally tour you through them, find out additional information if needed, and then take care of the paperwork when you find the one that you feel is perfect for you.

So give me a call, let’s get that started for you.

All for freakin’ free!!

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The First Impression.

You only have one chance to make one. Some say it takes only seconds for that impression to stick. Sounds pretty important, if you ask me.

In our day to day, we focus on taking care of that for ourselves. We curate our clothing, we do our best to look good, and try to present the best version of ourselves to the world – especially to those we are meeting for the first time.

For your home, one of the things I focus on as your realtor is to help make those first thoughts of the next potential owner be as positive as can be.

I am working with a couple of clients with listings coming to market in the near future. I was in both of those homes this week – one could use a kitchen facelift, the other needs some tidying up and addressing those lingering little things that always seem to find their way to the bottom of the list.

Admit it – you have that list too!

My advice – let’s take a bit of extra time to present the best version of your home, so we can get the interest your home deserves, and ultimately, get the best price possible. After all, money talks, right?

If you’re considering selling – I’d love to help you. And it helps to get me involved early in the process, so we can talk about those things that will provide the best return for your unique situation.

When those potential buyers first walk in your home, let’s have them saying WOW!
In the best way possible.
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Green!

The spring season seems to bring out the most vibrant green colours that we get all year long. The leaves are starting to bud, the grass has woken from its slumber, and the sun just seems to make it pop that much more.

The warmer, longer days bring a renewed energy to all of us – and it’s a great time to take on those projects we’ve dreamt about all winter long. Doing some landscaping around the yard, finally putting that addition on the house that you’ve been waiting so long to do, or maybe you want to do some exterior updates or shingles this year.

(Pssst, if you have some green trim on your house and you live in town, it might be time to consider changing that up!)

The other thing that’s heating up lately is the real estate market! We’ve still got a back load of buyers looking for their new home, who are looking to move in summer (I mean, sounds more fun than hauling boxes and couches in the snow right?). While we have more listings coming on the market, there are still many communities with very low inventory (Morris, St Jean – I’m talkin to you!)

So if you’re considering a move in the next while, let’s chat about what that could look like for you. I’m happy to do an in-person evaluation of your home and provide my professional opinion of how much equity you really do have right now. (It might surprise you!) I mean, we could all use a little more green in our life, right?

And for those of you content to take on that project, tackle that next big thing, or just need to have a little encouragement to get started or keep going, don’t worry…

You got this!
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Tick, Tick, Tick… BOOM!

It seems like that’s the timeline. Things have been humming along for years, building momentum, and then seemingly, in the past few months, it seems like the whole thing just blows up and has taken the world by storm.

Female sport.

Yep, real estate can hope that it feels the surge that female sport has. We’ve seen it at highest levels with professional leagues taking hold, many of us locked into NCAA basketball playoffs and watched Caitlyn Clark elevate her game (again) and bring millions along for the ride on TV, and we see it happening at the grass roots level with female athletes growing in our home towns.

It’s amazing to watch, and so fun to be a part of!

I get to experience it first-hand. My older daughter plays soccer & volleyball… my younger daughter just finished her first year of hockey on an all-female team and practices setting a volleyball against the wall pretty much every day, and my stepdaughter plays high level female hockey & softball (and manages to slide volleyball & badminton into the mix too!). The energy and the team interaction are just different with the girls.

Good different. They constantly encourage and support each other and truly cheer for the success of every one of their teammates.

I was able to take in my first PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) game this past weekend with my 2 girls and a few of their hockey teammates. The atmosphere was fun & energetic, and honestly, a notch or two above the NHL game experience. It was so great to see so many young female athletes there while they dream of what could be in their own futures in a few short years.

So as a proud girl-dad, I’m blessed to watch the growth of sport through the unique lens of these girls. They work hard, they make great friendships, they learn so many awesome life skills and even if the scoreboard sometimes tells us otherwise, I’d say they are winning.

Big time.
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