C21 Life Hacks - buyers

Home Valuation VS. Property Appraisal

What's the difference between a home valuation and a property appraisal? 

If you've begun the process of selling your home, you've likely already come across these two terms. While it's easy to get confused - because they are similar - there's a difference that sets these two terms miles apart in the eyes of the law. Put very simply, that difference is estimate vs. exact. Let's delve further into this difference:

Home Valuation

Home valuations are done by real estate professionals in order to estimate the value of a property. The method they use to do this is called a Comparative Market Analysis, also simply known as a CMA. A Realtor will examine previously sold properties with similar features in the area to create a report. This report…

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13 Commonly Missed Home Maintenance Tasks

Are you one of the many homeowners who procrastinates maintenance tasks? Or are you simply not sure about everything that needs to be done in order to maintain your home?

There are small problems all around your home that can be fixed quite easily, if caught in time. Those same issues, if neglected, can turn disastrous and expensive in a matter of months. Clogged gutters could turn into water-damaged walls, chipped paint can lead to wood rot, and dirty filters will shorten the lifespan of your furnace. Fortunately, we've put together a list of common home maintenance tasks that are often overlooked to help you protect your largest investment with a routine maintenance schedule!

1) Regrout and Recaulk Bathroom Fixtures 

…

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Buying A Brand New Home

Newly built homes appeal to buyers for many reasons, one of the most important being that they have no issues from previous owners. Whatever the reasons are though, if you're considering buying a brand new home, it's crucial to understand the good and the bad. Let's take a look at the pros and cons together:

The Pros

1) Interior & Exterior Customization

You get the luxury of laying our your home the way you want it to look! Some builders offer pre-designed packages with layout and color scheme options. Working with a custom builder will allow you complete freedom with every choice, from light fixtures to flooring layout.

2) Pristine

Every detail is clean, shiny and untouched. Everything in that new place was put there for…

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5 Tips On Keeping A Cleaner Home

With a new school year in full swing and summer vacations at an end, we fall back into our routines (seasonal pun intended!). Everyone's life demands different things at different times, and this can leave our homes in a mess. It doesn't take long, either! Cleaning ends up feeling like a monumental task by the end of the week. The last thing you want to do is sacrifice your weekend, your time to relax, to washing, drying and tidying. The secret to keeping a cleaner home is to complete simple tasks on a daily basis, so that clutter never gets out of control. Here are five tips on how to do it: 

1) Empty Your Dishwasher Every Morning

If you've got one, use it! Put away the dirty dishes before bed, so that they don't have to sit on the…

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8 Ways To Organize Your Moving Process

Moving is exhausting! It's especially exhausting if you're a procrastinator. However, we've got the tips that'll turn this task from daunting to launching! That is, to say, our tips will make your move much more efficient:

1) Create a Schedule for Packing

As soon as you have a general date of when you'll move, start developing a packing schedule - trying to stick to it as much as possible. There is no perfect schedule, you just have to find what works best for you. This could be packing 3-4 boxes each day, or you blocking a certain number of full days for packing. Another good schedule to create is one of moving-related tasks, like transferring utilities and changing your address with the post office and other services. If you have…

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How To: Purchase Land

Peace..

Quiet..

Fresh air..

Close to nature..

All of these things come to mind when one thinks of rural living, and at least one of them is a main reason for people that choose to own rural property and/or land. If you're thinking of owning your own piece of land, here are some tips to guide you in the right direction:

1) Avoid Unsuitable Land By Choosing A Realtor

Some Realtors only specialize in residential properties, others are strictly commercial. If you find a Realtor who dedicates their time to selling a majority of rural properties and land, you'll want this Realtor with you for the whole process! Not only do they probably possess years of experience, but they also keep their finger on the pulse of the land -…

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10 Reasons To Move To Yorkton

What makes this small dot on the map a fantastic place to call home? Why would an average-sized Saskatchewan city be better to live in than a larger centre like Saskatoon, or the capital, like Regina? Here are ten reasons why one should make the move to little ol' Yorkton, Saskatchewan:

1) Small Town Mind, Big City Body

Yorkton possesses the highly sought after small town charm: where the whole community is close-knit. This is rare to find in a city, mainly because of population size. Once you reach a certain number of people, it's not possible to know everybody. Even though this city numbers nearly 17,000, there's a neighbourly demeanour about the people. Maybe it's the layout of the place, maybe it's the proximity to so many farms,…

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Creating Your Backyard Oasis

Spending summer at home? Or, looking to revamp the backyard for a better home sale? In both cases, you've come to the right place! Creating the perfect outdoor space doesn't have to cost you tons of money, nor does it have to be a large space. Here are some tips for you on creating your perfect backyard oasis:

Start With A Focal Point

Every yard, no matter its size, needs a focal point. A focal point directs attention and interest to one area or one spot. This is used in our indoor spaces all the time. For example, in our kitchens, the focal point is where we prepare our food - the stove, the fridge and the countertops. In our living rooms, the focal point is usually the T.V. All of the design will point, lead or be otherwise neutral to…

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The Open Concept Floor Plan: Pros Vs. Cons

Open concept floor plans make up the larger part of new residential house builds, and have been since the early to mid 1990s. This floor plan is the go-to design for home renovation projects in older homes that want to maximize space and appeal to new buyers. It allows for individuals and individual activities to co-exist with others; families can enjoy doing their own thing(s) in one area, while other family members could be doing a completely different activity in another area, but still be able to communicate effectively. In addition, the blending of a kitchen, living and dining room makes for a great party space - perfect for those who entertain as a part of their lifestyle. However, this floor plan isn't ideal for every person...and that's okay!…

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Quit Overspending! Save Up For Your Down Payment

We all have good intentions when we start out budgeting. Once a few weeks go by, it's difficult to fight the urge to spend! Sticking to a budget is harder than it looks for most of us. We want to save the money for, in this case, that down payment on a house, but the draw of retail therapy is strong. We get it. That's why we've put together a list of everyday tips that will stop your little purchases from turning into a big problem.

Understand Your Spending Triggers

The key to tackling any problem is doing some introspection first. Take a look at yourself before beginning any external changes. Overspending is almost always a coping mechanism we use to stave off uncomfortable emotions and physical sensations. It can be something simple,…

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