Bev MacLean's blog

When potential buyers step into your home, warm and welcoming are two words you want them to associate with your home. The feeling of warmth is especially important in the cold winter months. At the same time, you want your home to feel fresh and on-trend while appealing to a wide audience. Keeping your home neutral and on-trend is a science. We will be sharing five ways to make your staged home feel warm and welcoming while staying on-trend.

When implementing trends, it is best to stick to ones that are versatile. For instance, although Maximalism may be trending, it is not ideal for...

When you’re selling a home, you only have a few seconds to make an impression and convince buyers to look further. That’s why home staging is so important, especially in a market with tough competition.

Home staging presents your home in its best possible light, and if done right, gives it an advantage over similar homes in the area. But if done wrong, you could actually be turning potential buyers away. So here are six home staging don’ts every seller should be aware of and avoid. 

DON’T Forget the Curb Appeal

Don’t get so wrapped up in staging the inside of the home that you forget...

Get ideas and inspiration on how to celebrate Family Day in Ontario.

On this page

• Family getaways
• Things to do with toddlers and kids
• Fun activities for tweens
• Winter adventures for teenagers

Families, in all their shapes, forms and sizes, are at the heart of our communities. In Ontario, a day is set aside to reflect on the importance of families and to celebrate with loved ones.

Family Day is a provincial holiday on the third Monday of February, extending the weekend for one extra day. In 2024, Family Day is Monday, February 19.

Whether you’re looking for fun activities to do with...

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When February 14 comes along, we can expect to exchange messages of love through thoughtful cards, flower bouquets and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. While these actions are small, they're sure to make your loved one's heart skip a beat. But as sentimental as the holiday may be, have you ever thought about why we celebrate Valentine's Day in the first place? Believe it or not, it wasn't always a celebration of love....

Do you remember the 2020-2021 cottage boom?

Well, if not, then it is likely because the entire Canadian real estate market was booming during the coronavirus pandemic amid a historically low interest rate environment.

However, during this period, the cottage industry was enjoying tremendous growth as many households were exploring many residential possibilities. Since families were working from home or studying remotely, there was a major urban centre exodus, allowing people to flee to rural communities and live inside a cottage or chalet on a permanent basis.

The low-rate climate was...

Congratulations! You’ve received an offer on your property. But how do you know if it’s the best possible offer for you? Your REALTOR® will be your guide: they’ll take you through it step by step, review all the pros and cons, and make recommendations based on your personal situation. If there are multiple offers, they’ll walk you through each one, highlighting your best options, and negotiating on your behalf to get the best possible result.

Knowing that, there are still things you’ll want to be prepared for when the sale gets to this point, including price, conditions, and even how...

OK, so you have made the decision to sell your home—congrats! You are about to embark on an exciting journey, one that will surely lead to lasting memories. But before you can get going, you will need to get your home in top shape for prospective buyers. 

Getting your home ready to sell can take some work, but it is worth it to help maximize your opportunity for the best offers possible. 

Here are suggestions on what to do around your home to prepare it for walkthroughs and open houses. 

Less is more

Decluttering as much as possible during the process of selling your home is crucial when...

There are many professionals you’ll encounter during the purchase and sale of your home, the top of the list typically includes your REALTOR® and a real estate lawyer.

Real estate lawyers are responsible for ensuring the transaction is in your best interest and clear of any legal issues. They help stickhandle everything from leading the title search and registration process, providing title insurance, and drawing up mortgage documents, to prepping the deed and statement of adjustments, and ultimately handing you the keys to your new home. 

We spoke with a real estate lawyer to get...