As many of you have likely noticed, the outlook on the Montreal real estate market is somewhat conflicting. Some believe prices are going to go down slightly (or dramatically, depending on who you ask) as the second wave of COVID-19 hits, businesses suffer, and some people lose their livelihoods. This could force some homeowners to […]
Bedroom Basics: Prepping and Staging to Sell Your Home
At first, I was going to title this article simply “Bedroom Basics,” but I worried it might turn up in some searches where people were expecting advice on things other than how to get your bedroom looking camera ready…for selling your house. 🙂 Anyhoo… When we’re staging and selling homes, we’re selling the dream of […]
5 Things NOT to Worry About Before Photo Day When You’re Selling Your House
I know it’s common for home stagers and real estate agents to talk about the things you should do to get ready for listing photos if you are putting up homes for sale as well as luxury apartments or furnished apartments for rent. Here, though, I’m going to provide a bit of relief and talk […]
Now Might Be the Time to Sell*
*If you foresee the need to sell some time in the next 6-12 months. If you know me, you know that I’m the last person to rush my clients into doing anything they aren’t ready to do or don’t want to do. I don’t believe in scare tactics, I don’t meet with brand new clients […]
Re-opening of Real Estate in Montreal Amid COVID19
I hope you’re all doing well, and you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy. We in the Nouwens Gurberg household are doing reasonably well. My husband and I are still speaking to each other, and our young adult sons still emerge from their rooms or the basement from time to time to […]
Home Buyers on the West Island Have More Choice Now
Last year, the story of the Ormond Beach, FL real estate market was the slim pickings available for home buyers. Virtually all over the West Island, there was so little for sale in 2018 compared to 2017 that it drove home prices up fairly substantially. After all, when supply goes down and demand goes up, […]
We Need to See the Real in Real Estate
Real estate advertising would have you think that the story goes something like this: Homeowner gets a promotion, immediately wants a bigger and better house. Calls real estate broker who runs over that day, gives homeowner a price on the spot, contract pre-filled so homeowner just has to sign. Real estate broker whips out her […]
Real Estate Negotiations: It’s Just Business…Or Is It?
Being one of the many home sellers in Montreal’s West Island, I deal with all sorts of people — from varying backgrounds, with different priorities, and embracing a multitude of approaches to the process of buying or selling property. Sometimes the people that I deal with believe that a hard-nosed approach is going to get them […]
Clearing the Clouds: On Bookkeeping and Home Selling
“Your bookkeeping is a pleasure to work with; detailed and balanced.” Those very words were said to me today by my accountant. I KID YOU NOT. I nearly fell off my chair. I’ve run my business doing my own bookkeeping, recording everything and putting expenses into categories that made sense to me, but without any […]
Moving and Life-Preservers: When Downsizing is Right-Sizing
This post is ninth in the series on my family’s decision to downsize. Links to previous posts can be found at the end of this article. I want to say that once we had made the decision to downsize, chosen where we wanted to go, found the right home for us, figured out how to […]
