When you set a budget for a new home, you’re obviously hoping — maybe even expecting — to find the ideal property within that price range.But, it doesn’t always work out that way.

In fact, there are many circumstances in which you might have to rethink your budget and possibly even increase it, to get the home you want. For example, you might find that properties in neighbourhoods you’re targeting are selling for more than you expected.

In that circumstance, you might have to look for a home in a different area, or see if you can bump up your budget. Another scenario that often comes up is changing wish lists. You may view a few homes for sale and realize that a particular feature is more important to you than you initially thought. For example, you might have budgeted for a three-bedroom home, but once you’ve seen a few properties with four, you think, “Okay, we definitely want four bedrooms!”

That might result in a budget bump. Finally, you might find that you view a property and fall in love with the place. It’s perfect. It has everything you need. You’ve got to have that home! But, its price is outside your budget. In that case, you’ll need to weigh paying a bit more against getting a home that will have a significant and positive impact on your lifestyle and happiness.

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when shopping for a home and trying to stay within a budget.

When searching for a new home, many buyers will focus only on the list price and what they may need to offer to get the property. For example, a buyer might think, “We can get this house for $XX. That’s within our price range!” Of course, the selling price plays the pivotal role in whether or not you can afford a particular home.

But, carrying costs should also be considered. Carrying costs include any regular expenses related to the property. The obvious ones are gas, hydro, water, garbage, and taxes. But there may be others. For example, a home may also have a subscription-based alarm system, high-speed internet, and hot water tank rental. If there are common elements, such as a private street or some other neighbourhood feature, there may be an annual maintenance fee. It’s also smart to factor in predicted maintenance and repair costs, especially when buying an older home. A property that hasn’t had its asphalt roof shingles replaced in 20 years may be due soon.

So, when shopping for a new home, consider what the carrying costs will be. That will help you make a more informed decision. That being said, having to pay a little more in monthly costs may be worth it if you love the place and it (as well as the neighbourhood) has everything you want.

After your home has been cleaned from top to bottom, it’s natural to want it to stay that way.

Don’t you wish you could just wave a magic wand and the place would clean itself? Unfortunately, even Harry Potter can’t manage that! However, when you’re preparing your property for sale, you really do need to keep it clean and ready for showings.

There are several ways you can make doing that a bit easier.

Try these tips:

• The one-minute rule. If a cleaning or tidying task takes you less than a minute, consider doing it right away. For example, keeping the foyer clear of clutter.

• One room a day. After you’ve cleaned and tidied your home, maintain it by focusing on just one room a day. That’s manageable for most people.

• Prioritize the floors. If you can keep the floors clean, everything else will tend to fall into place. Consider a routine where you do a quick sweep or vacuum of the floors each evening.

• Declutter as much as possible. Clutter is the enemy of cleaning! When a room is free of clutter, it’s easier to keep it clean, tidy and looking great.

• Get extras. Buy an extra mop or broom so other household members can help with the cleaning. Also, be sure to stock up on cleaning supplies so you don’t run short just before a viewing appointment.

• Hire a cleaning service. Having a professional cleaning service come once a week—or twice a week when you’re showing your property frequently—can take a lot off your shoulders.

Think of it as an investment in selling your home. Keeping your home looking “guest-ready” makes your home show better and gets more buyers interested. But, the task doesn’t need to be daunting. Try these tips to make it easier.

There are many reasons why you might suddenly need to sell your home. It could be an unexpected work relocation, a change in family circumstances, or simply a desire to move.

Whatever the reason, selling quickly requires some fast action on your part. But that doesn't mean you need to get into panic mode. You can list and sell your property, quickly while still enjoying the process! The first thing you need to do is figure out how to make your home show its best.

In addition to cleaning and decluttering, that might include getting any needed repairs done, sprucing up the place by painting and perhaps even doing some minor improvements. How much you need to "stage" your property depends on many factors, including what conditions are like in the local real estate market. For example, you may not need to make each room look like a page from a decorating magazine if you’re in a seller’s market.

So, before you start any work, talk to me about what needs to be done to make your home ready to be seen by buyers. The next thing you’ll need to consider is the list price. Your list price is especially important if you want to sell soon. No, you don't need to low-ball your listing to attract interested buyers — in fact, doing that might actually have the opposite effect.

But you do need to price your property competitively. In addition, it's smart to line up the resources you'll need, especially if you're also buying a new home. For example: get recommendations for a real estate lawyer, contractor, mortgage advisor, cleaning service, pet daycare, etc.

I’m well-connected in the local home industry, so I can recommend you to reputable professionals I know and trust. A final tip: If you want to sell quickly, you need to start the process now. Give me a call to get the ball rolling.