If you’re looking to be out-with-the-old and in-with-the-new before the school year starts back up, follow these tips. By MARIE DINSMORE As the weather heats up, so does our affinity for tasks such as laying by the pool or sipping iced tea in the shade. However, while the higher temperatures and long summer days are often conducive to relaxation and even a little—gasp!—laziness, if you have a house to sell, your down time may need to be cut a bit short. Plain and simple, your property isn’t going to sell itself—even with a fantastic real estate agent in your corner—so it’s wise to operate under the assumption that you’ll need to get your hands a bit dirty to move things along. Therefore, if you’re looking to get top dollar for your home before school resumes in the fall, consider the following steps: HIRE YOUR OWN HOME INSPECTOR. I know what you may be thinking. “Why would I drop a few hundred dollars to hire my own inspector if the buyer will be bringing one in anyway?” In truth, it gives you the fantastic opportunity to deal with your home’s imperfections before they have a chance to destroy a fledgling home deal. Depending upon the age and condition of your home, the inspector may leave you with a long list of findings that will require some work, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to remedy every single item. Start by working with your real estate agent to tackle the most pressing issues and establish which ones can wait. BRING IN THE SUN! If you’re attempting to sell your home during the warm, sunny months, why not capitalize on the spirit of summer by showing buyers just how enjoyable your home can be at this time of the year? To set the stage, consider these ideas: ×  Bid Farewell to the Clutter – Too much clutter will cause your home to feel closed-off and stuffy. The goal is to make your home feel like a breath of fresh air, so give buyers room to breathe by getting rid of those extra piles of papers, trinkets, and toys. ×  Foliage is For Inside, Too! – There’s nothing wrong with bringing in the outside. In other words, places things like vases of garden blooms, lush plants, or bowls of fresh fruit in every room. ×  Cheer Things Up – Yes, the standard advice is to keep your surroundings a bit more on the neutral side; however, add a bit of cheer by incorporating bright accents or pops of color in the form of interesting throw pillows, beachy or nautical décor, or colorful candles. ×  Beautify Your Outdoor Spaces – What’s better than a summer barbeque? Nothing! Therefore, make a point to...

Understanding the Value of a Realtor BY KAREN SALMON Real Estate Agent with Royal LePage Benchmark Share: June 28, 2015 09:31 AM   Whether you are shopping for a home or looking to sell your current home, you will need to consider all of your options. You can work with a REALTOR, or you can attempt to navigate the process on your own. Some people believe that a REALTOR is simply an overpaid person who tours you around neighborhoods, unlocks doors, and comments on paint colours. The reality is that my job is much more extensive than that.   Here are just a few value-added benefits of hiring a professional REALTOR:   Marketing and Matchmaking   When you put a house on the market, you need people to see it. If you approach this by attempting to sell your home on your own, you may face some significant challenges. Outside of classified ads and online real estate websites, options for individual homeowners to market to potential buyers are limited. As a REALTOR, I have the connections, experience, and a continual database of buyers looking for homes to help you sell your home faster. As an aside, pricing your home accurately is of paramount importance.   An undervalued home will sell quickly in this marketplace. This often leaves you wondering if you could have in fact gotten money more for it – not the best feeling in the world once the ink has dried on the contracts. In the alternative, overpriced homes tend to sit on the market much longer, with very few showings. If a home is not being shown, it is not going to sell.  Showings bring offers. Typically, the longer a home sits on the market the less attractive it is to potential buyers. Sellers attempting to go it alone will sometimes stigmatize their homes for no reason, simply by overpricing it. In this case, they usually end up with much less money in their pocket than they would have otherwise had, had they just paid for professional representation from the onset.   If you do decide to attempt to sell your home yourself, also keep in mind that you will be responsible for the open houses, showings, and all aspects of facilitating access by yourself. Constantly running home to let buyers in for showings can quickly become a real drag. REALTORS use a secure lockbox system which lets them know exactly who has accessed their listings, and at what times of the day.   Permits, Title Registrations, Disclosures, and other Legal Concerns   When you buy a home, there are certain contracts and legal procedures you will have to deal with. Do you know where to obtain...