Well, Saskatoon, it looks like we’ll be spending another summer close to home. With the real estate market as hot as it is right now, it’s evident that some people are taking the opportunity to upgrade their living situations. Imagine finding a home with a great outdoor space—kids' playset included. Or what if it has a pool? How amazing will your summer be with access to your very own backyard oasis?

If it's possible to change your primary residence to suit your desired lifestyle better, that is a great option. If you are unable to find your family’s perfect home, what can you do to improve your outdoor space? The good news is, there's plenty you can do to enhance the outdoor area you do have while you are waiting to move!

Furnishings: Need a

Some people may make the mistake of rushing into renting or buying a property, only to realize later on that there’s something that they dislike or is missing. I’m not talking about missing shingles or whether it is up to code or not—a proper home inspection can easily catch that. I am talking about those key features and lifestyle elements you and your family are looking for that take the property from house to home. Those should play just as important of a role in your home search as whether the plumbing has been installed correctly.

Below are my best house hunting tips to ensure you choose a property that you will love.  

#1 - Does It Check Your Boxes

My best advice before you even begin your house hunt is to evaluate your current home.

When you have a potential buyer request a viewing of your home, you have passed the first test. Your home meets some or most of their search criteria and the listing looks appealing enough for them to want to see more! One of the most important things you can do now to ensure your home makes a great first impression for buyers, both online and in person, is to stage your home.

Why Stage a Home For Sale?

Home staging has been growing in popularity for many years in the real estate industry. It’s important to understand that staging goes much further than placing furniture in a home that is going on the market for sale. The prime reasons staging has become commonplace is due to consumer demand and the increase of online home shopping.

Most, if

Have you taken the time to browse through the listings in Saskatoon?  If you have, you may have noticed a lack of options available, especially homes ranging in price between $300,000 and $500,000. It’s all thanks to the seller’s market that we are currently experiencing!  

Seller’s Market vs Buyer’s Market vs Balanced Market

Understanding the difference between a seller’s market, a buyer’s market, and a balanced market is important no matter if you’re buying a home, selling a home, or trying to do both at the same time. 

A seller’s market signals that there is more demand for homes than there is supply.  A buyer’s market, on the other hand, happens when there’s ample supply but less demand. In a buyer’s market, not only is there more

There’s more to house-hunting than just going to a few open houses, although getting to know the market in advance is not a bad idea. Before you become a serious “House Hunter,” there are some important things to consider. Whether this is your first house or you have just sold an existing home and now need to find your next home, this will be a helpful guide to ensure you’re ready. The following tips will make house hunting a smooth process. Well...as smooth as possible.

Team Building: Finding Your Real Estate Help

Now’s the time to start assembling your real estate team. These are the professionals whose expert knowledge will help focus your house hunt, seal the deal, and get you the keys to your first home.  

It’s important to find the

Curb appeal is one of the most important selling factors for a home. It’s the very first impression potential buyers ever have, and it can even be the make-or-break factor that decides whether they even step inside the door at all. That’s why, if you’re planning on selling your home, it should be one of the first places you focus your home-staging efforts to ensure a quick and seamless sale!

Give It a Good Clean

Dirt and grime on the exterior of a home very rarely accumulate in just one day, so it’s easy not to notice the subtle build-up over time. To us, it may not necessarily feel unclean because we saw it just yesterday and it looked just the same! But to a potential buyer, that slightly “off” tinge can stick out like a sore thumb. 

Take a

From the day that you move out of your family house, you dream of the day when you finally stop paying rent and buy your first home. But, as you may have discovered, buying a home is not quite as simple as it seems! There is a lot to consider when deciding whether or not to make the move into homeownership.

By buying a house, you’ll be taking on all the pros of being a homeowner versus a renter. But you’ll also be taking on quite a bit of responsibility and giving up on some of the advantages that come with being a tenant. That’s why, before you start your home search, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of both renting and buying to decide whether or not you’re ready to become a first time homeowner.

Should You Buy or Rent: The Pros &

Book Your Move

Whether you decide to hire a moving company or do the move yourself, you will need to make the appropriate arrangements.

When using a moving company you will need to decide what, if anything, you want them to pack up for you and what you want to be responsible for yourself. It is never too soon to begin planning for a move, so make sure to pick your moving day and book your moving company as soon as possible.

If you have chosen to do the move yourself, remember that you may need to rent a truck, pick up your packing supplies and reserve a few friends to help you with your move. Remember, the more organized you are, the easier your moving day will be.

Change of Address
Make sure to fill out a "Change of Address" form at

Beginning a home search is exciting and many people just jump right in without considering all the elements that make a home truly right for them. It is a complicated and personal process. With an unsuitable choice, you could lose money, waste time and effort relocating, or even put your family’s health in danger.

Choosing a Neighbourhood

Remember that you can renovate a house, but neighbourhoods take years to change and there is no guarantee they will change for the better! On the other hand, if you really love a certain part of town but it’s out of your price range, you may way to consider buying a less-than-perfect home then doing renovations. They can be quite expensive so try to make improvements that will be reflected in the value when

Starting out with too high of a listing price will add to the stress of selling your home. 

Ideally, during the first few weeks, your home should be overflowing with activity.  Listing agents will market and promote your home to other agents who are working with homebuyers, increasing your personal sales force. 

If you have overpriced, chances are fewer agents will promote your home to their clients.  As REALTORS®, it is their job to know the market demand and fair market value of a home. If your home was dramatically priced above market value, you will essentially be wasting your time. 

Dropping Your Price Too Late

Your house could take longer to sell if you start with a high list price and then drop it later.  By this point, your house