*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 West Island 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, the […]
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?
Selling homes 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 farthest in a negotiation. […]
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 […]
We Have Too Much Crap: When Downsizing is Right-Sizing
This post is eighth in the series on my family’s decision to downsize. Links to previous posts can be found at the end of this article. So you’ve decided to downsize. Whether it’s for financial reasons, peace of mind, an ego check, simplifying your life, or moving to a neighbourhood that better suits you, sooner […]
Pick Your Poison and Buckle Up: When Downsizing is Right-Sizing
This post is seventh in the series on my family’s decision to downsize: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Links to previous posts can be found at the end of this article. What sounds worse to you: owning and paying for two homes at the same time, not knowing how long that will go […]
The Next Reality Check: When Downsizing is Right-Sizing
This post is the sixth in a series on my family’s decision to downsize. Links to previous posts can be found at the end of this article. By now, my family and I had decided that it was time to downsize. We had even planned where we wanted to move AND — talk about putting […]
