Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Trusted Regina Realty Lawyer shares a tip for home buyers on how to avoid real estate mistakes

MacKay & McLean provides the professional services of a large Regina law firm, with the intimate attention of a small firm. The legal process can be daunting and overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. MacKay & McLean is with you every step of the way.

MacKay &  McLean are TRUSTED REGINA LAWYERS

When looking to buy, sell, or refinance a property, you need to hire somebody who is not a stranger to addressing the real estate needs of individuals and families. 

How to avoid realty mistakes

If you are selling or Investing in a home can be overwhelming and stressful. It is, perhaps, one of the most important decisions you will ever need to make.  It is fraught with potential pitfalls and you must do everything you can to avoid making costly mistakes. the following is list of the biggest mistakes we all make when buying and selling our homes.


Failing to Showcase Your Home and Making Small Cosmetic Changes

When you are selling your house, you have to really look at it objectively and think about it from the viewpoint of the house hunter. Make minor enhancements to the house and maybe hire a professional stager to come and arrange your furniture. 

Staging is about decorating your house for the buyers' taste, not yours.

 A great place to start is with the front of the home and the main entryway. Home staging is designed to increase the potential selling price and reduce the amount of time the house stays on the market.


Setting Too High of a Sale Price

As a seller, it's really important to do your research. To come up with your sale price, look up what comparable homes in your neighborhood have sold for. Figure out what the going price is and try to put yours right in the middle of that, unless you have something extra-special to offer. It's always better to price a home that way than to start too high and have to reduce. Once you reduce, it always looks like something is wrong with the home.


 
Overlooking the Extra and Hidden Costs
  
Buying a home is not just about the money that you spend upfront; it's  about all the rest of the money you have to spend beyond that. Find out what the property taxes are, what your water bill might be and what a standard electric bill is in that home, especially if you have electric heat instead of gas heat. You also need to factor in furnishings you may need to purchase before you can move in.



Buying a Home Without a Professional Inspection

There are a lot of things a home inspection can reveal about a property that are not visible to the naked eye. Be sure to hire someone who comes with a good referral basis, who's been in the business a while and knows what to look for. Look up  Home Inspectors and get a list of qualified home inspectors in your area. 


Be sure to hire a home inspector to thoroughly check out a house you are interested in purchasing.

Once you find an inspector, insist that they compile a written report, complete with photos. Photographs are important because there are areas a home inspector will go that you might not look at.

Falling in Love With the First Property You See

Many homebuyers, particularly first-time homebuyers, fall into the trap of falling in love with the very first house that they see. You need to at least look at three more houses in the area to get an idea of what the comparables are in that price range. You want your real estate agent to show you homes comparable to what you saw. At the end of the day, re-evaluate.

Skipping the Loan Pre-Approval Step

When you are pre-approved, the bank is saying, "we will give you a mortgage of up to this amount, so now all you have to do is find your home." Some sellers only allow real estate agents to show their house if someone has a pre-approved letter. That indicates that the shopper really is serious about buying a home.

Not Hiring an Agent

There's a lot more to selling a house than just putting a sign on the front lawn. If you don't have an agent, you will not get on the multiple-listing service (MLS). That means that other agents are not going to know that your property is for sale. Another thing to consider is if you are willing to show the house each time someone wants to come by and look at it. If you do plan to sell your house on your own, be sure to have a lawyer present at the closing. It's really important to have someone on your side who understands all the complexities.


Not Thinking About Resale

When you are decorating and renovating your home, you need to think about what is going to appeal to a broad section of buyers when it comes time to sell it. Buying houses and being in the real estate market is like chess: You always want to look two or three steps ahead in the game.

Not Researching the Neighborhood

It's absolutely critical that you research the neighborhood before you buy. Check out the area, amenities and the school system to be sure that your address corresponds with the correct school district. Also attend a community meeting, if possible. You're not just buying a house, you're buying a piece of that real estate and the land around it.

Buying a House for Its Decor

Remember that you are buying the house, not the things inside it, so make sure you see beyond the decorations and look at the bones of the home. Focus on the floor plan and the square footage. You also might want to measure the dimensions and graph out how that's going to work with your belongings.

Not Providing Easy Access for Showings

Make your house easily accessible to potential buyers. If there's nowhere to park or it's difficult to get into, buyers may just skip it and look at someone else's property.

When you go about buying your home the right way, you can make it less difficult and ensure success. For more questions and help with any legal property issues consult with our Trusted Regina Real Estate Lawyer Robert MacKay

Here is a list of more consumer tips by Robert MacKay 


Robert MacKay's team provides professional, personalized service and with their assistance, you can rest assured that your real estate transactions will be handled with the utmost consideration and care.

They  provide a full range of legal services including:

  • Real Estate & Mortgages
  • Wills & Estates
  • Family Law & Divorce
  • Commercial & Corporate Law
  • Litigation & Personal Injury

ROBERT Mackay is your TRUSTED REGINA REAL ESTATE LAWYER!


Trusted Regina flooring store examines some modern natural wood flooring options for your home

Various types of natural wood flooring are trending today or were trending in the past. So if you are wondering if your favourite wood flooring will ' age well'  our latest Regina flooring article should help you make that decision!  

Is Natural Wood Flooring a Good Option for Your Home?


Do you love Dark Wood Floors?

Dark wood floors are still in style and very popular in new builds. You’ll see shades and tones such as, Espresso, or dark walnut installed in many homes. However, one drawback of these floors is that they will make your room look smaller. Also, another problem is every scratch and dust particle is visible on these floors so they don’t ever look perfectly clean. 

If you have pets or young kids...perhaps these shades aren't the best choice for your lifestyle.  

Light Wood Floors your thing? 

For years, light wood floors were considered old fashioned. However, this is not the case anymore as so many homeowners have started installing light shaded wood floors in their home.

 Among different shades of light wood floors, blonde wood floors have become most popular.

It is because these floors offer endless decorating possibilities and are essentially a blank canvas. Another good thing about light wood floors is that they make your room look more spacious. 

Considering all these benefits, it is very likely that light wood floors will become a trend-turned classic in the years to come.

Dream About Whitewashed Wood Floors?

Whitewashed wood floors make your room look brighter and bigger, and if you are looking for a contemporary look this is a great start!   

These floors are becoming increasingly popular in kitchens and farmhouse style homes.

However, a drawback of these floors is that if the dark wood starts peeking out from underneath, it will somewhat ruin the whitewashed floor’s look. To prevent this be aware that it may not be the best choice for high traffic locations ( such as hallways or near main entrance doors)  - also pets claws and small kids toys may not be a good match! 

Desiring Honey Wood Floors?

This wood shade is just slightly darker than the popular blonde wood. 

As suggested by the name, it is a warm, rich honey wood floor shade that gives a cozy look to your rooms. 

These floors make your rooms look bigger and more open, just like blonde wood floors, but they also add warmth and coziness to them. Another benefit of these floors is that they’re available in many popular wood species. Honey is a natural color so it is very easy to find. 

Honey floors are a classic - so they are ALWAYS going to be in style. 


Trusted Regina Landscaper shares a tip on Fall landscaping

Rapid Lawn Landscaping Solutions Regina is a family owned business that has helped their customers achieve sod quality lawns at less than half the price.They also do conventional seeding and are suppliers of all types of turf grass seed, native grass seed and low maintenance grass seed products...and REGINA' BEST  SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES!  

Rapid Lawn - The EASY and ECONOMICAL way to GROW GRASS

Rapid Lawn Landscape Solutions are your Trusted Regina Turf and Lawn Experts!

GET READY FOR FALL LANDSCAPING

10 Things Pro Landscapers Do to Their Yards

Fall is the forgotten season when it comes to caring for your lawn and landscape. Many people just focus on cleaning up leaves and don’t realize that their yard still needs care in order to keep it in good health for the next spring. Here are some tips to keep your yard healthy.

1. THEY GIVE THEIR LAWN ONE LAST CUT.

Continue to mow your lawn until it stops growing — yes, even if it’s cold. 

“If grass blades get too long, they shade the other blades around them,” says Scott Olivieri of Michael and Sons Nurseries in the New York City area. “Also, at snowfall, the too-long grass will get packed down and promote snow mold.” 
The general rule of thumb? Keep grass around three inches tall — all year — so there is enough surface area for the sun to hit.

2. THEY TEST THEIR SOIL.

This is good time to apply grass seed, but there’s a crucial first step: “The soil should be tested to determine pH and nutrient availability,” says Matt Owens, president of the Landscape Contractors Association. “Necessary deficiencies need to be corrected or you’re just wasting time and money.” Sending a soil sample to a professional for testing will cost about $15 — and it’s well worth it. “Soil plays such an important role in the landscape, yet it often gets overlooked.”

3. THEN THEY RESEED THE LAWN.

Once the soil is tested — and any deficiencies are corrected — it’s time to aerate and seed the parts that are stressed from the summer’s sun or trampled from foot traffic. It depends on the condition of the lawn, but you typically need about three pounds for every 1,000 square feet of lawn, says Josh Kane, president of Kane Landscapes in Northern Virginia. 

“I like to use certified seed, which means it’s almost purely grass seed with very little weed seeds and no fillers.”

4. THEY FLUFF UP THE MULCH.

Officially, it’s called turning the mulch. Fluffing it up gives flowerbeds a fresh look and cuts down on (or even eliminates) the need for more, fresh mulch. If you end up adding new stuff, keep the pile around two to three inches thick, Owens says. More than that, and the mulch becomes a hiding place for insects and plant diseases, and water could have a harder time being absorbed.

5. THEY MAKE THEIR OWN MULCH.

If you find that, after you turn the mulch, you still need more, try making your own. There’s no shortage of fallen leaves this time of year. 

“Run your lawnmower over your leaves a few times and use them as mulch for your flower beds,” says Owens. 

“This is an excellent source of organic matter that your plants will love you for.”


6. THEY DO SOME PLANNING AND PLANTING.

“Fall is a great time to plant,” says Kane. “See what plants need to be divided or re-spaced (especially perennials like Hosta plants and daisies) and what areas of the landscape need to be filled in to make next year look even better.” If you have summer annuals, swap them out for fall-appropriate mums and pansies.

7. THEY GIVE THEIR DRIVEWAY AND WALKWAYS SOME TLC.

Your lawn’s overall look includes your driveway and walkways.

 “The fall is an important time to fill cracks in asphalt or concrete, and apply a sealant to help prevent water penetration damage from freezing and thawing,” 

says Kane. Any time water gets into cracks and freezes, you are at risk for even more damage.

8. THEY WATER THEIR EVERGREENS.

“Make sure all evergreens are sufficiently watered in September and October to reduce the possibility of dehydration in the winter,” 

says Kevin McHale of McHale Landscape Design in Maryland. How much water do you need? That depends on the recent weather. “If it’s starting to be a rainy fall, no water is necessary. If it’s less than four inches for the month, you’ll need one or two thorough hour-long waterings once a week for up to three weeks.”

9. THEY DO SOME PRUNING.

Trees and shrubs typically need a heavy pruning before the cold winter. “Some may need it to help prevent damage from snow and ice storms and some just for looks or to control size for next spring,” says Kane. Just don’t prune certain flowering plants like hydrangeas, lilacs and viburnum, because it could spoil the spring bloom.


10. THEY PACK UP FOR THE WINTER.

When your chores are done, bring in all of your tools, sprinklers and, especially, hoses. “Water in the hose will expand when it freezes and damage the hose,” says Olivieri. 

“And don’t forget to have all irrigation lines blown out so lines, heads and valves don’t crack.”

Rapid Lawn Landscape Solutions Ltd. is a Regina landscape and a Saskatchewan hydroseeding business that has helped their customers achieve sod quality lawns at less than half the price.They also do conventional seeding and are suppliers of all types of turf grass seed, native grass seed and low maintenance grass seed products.

Rapid Lawn Landscape Solutions Ltd. – The EASY and ECONOMICAL way to GROW GRASS

Rapid Lawn Landscape Solutions Ltd. Also Offer :

See Hydroseeding in action  for yourself on our YOUTUBE Channel here


Rapid Lawn Landscaping is a Trusted Regina full service landscape and hydroseeding business that has helped our customers achieve sod quality lawns at a much better price! We also do landscaping, hardscaping and hydroseeding! 





Trusted Regina Fireplace Experts at Wheatland Fireplace Kitchen and Bath have an amazing line of wood burning stoves

Your first step into the beautiful Wheatland Fireplace Kitchen and Bath showroom will help you understand why Wheatland has been given the Thumbs up by Trusted Regina. This really is where your Fireplace, Kitchen, Bathroom and Outdoor living dreams meet in spectacular surroundings! Wheatland Fireplace is a Trusted Regina company that sells products that make your life better. Wheatland Fireplace services and installs their high-quality fireplaces, barbecues (bbq), grills and smokers from industry-leading manufacturers. Wheatland Fireplace Kitchen & Bath is your Exclusive Trusted Regina fireplace store.

Have you considered a wood-burning stove?  Wheatland Fireplace Kitchen and Bath has a solution for those chilly evenings and cool rainy days. 


A wood stove has been the traditional way to heat a home over the years and it often is the centrepiece of turning a house into a home. Even though we’re nestled deeply into the 21st century, this type of home heating still makes a lot of sense. Using wood to heat a home has many benefits, from added beauty and ambiance in the home to independence from fluctuating utility bills. 

Wheatland Fireplace, Kitchen, & Bath is proud to carry Jotul products. Jotul is one of the world’s oldest producers of stoves, inserts, and fireplaces. Building on a proud Norwegian heritage, they have combined fine craftsmanship with the art of coping with the cold for 160 years.

As a Jotul dealer they carry the following products:

Jotul GF 305

Worldwide, the Jotul Group has earned a reputation for designing and producing award-winning, fine quality, cast iron stoves. 

Based on the award-winning Jotul F 305 woodstove, the Jotul GF 305 DV IPI offers the same modern, cast iron styling in a freestanding direct vent gas stove. Smooth cast iron lines and sleek curves frame an extra-large fire view that only Jotul can produce.  Fueled by the new ceramic JotulBurner III, the Jotul GF 305 presents the perfect union of high efficiency and modern cast iron design.


 

    

Jotul GF 160  

Inspired by the immensely popular Jotul GF 370, the compact Jotul GF 160 DV IPI offers the same spectacular three-sided fire view, but with a truly unique tripod base. A modern design marvel, the Jotul GF 160 DV IPI strikes the perfect balance between form and functionality.
 





Jotul GF 500 DV IPI Portland       


A descendant of our signature best-selling Jotul F 500 Oslo wood stove, the Jotul GF 500 DV IPI Portland offers the same whole house heating capabilities at the push of a button.  Fueled by the new ceramic JotulBurner™ III  the Jotul GF 500 presents the perfect union of high efficiency and timeless cast iron design.





Jotul F 602     

Over 1,000,000 of these fine stoves have been produced and sold throughout the world – making the Jotul F 602 CB the best-selling woodstove ever produced. From the beautiful glass door to the sculpted charging lion on the side plates, this stove is truly a timeless work of art. In fact, you can own the best for the lowest price of any EPA-approved cast iron woodstove!







Jotul F 50 TL Rangeley   

Leading the way in clean combustion technology, Jotul now offers the convenience of top-loading in a non-catalytic wood stove.  Utilizing Jotul’s patent-pending rotating baffle, the Jotul F 50 TL Rangeley, can be easily loaded from the top with the turn of a handle.  For those looking for long overnight burn times, the Jotul F 50 TL Rangeley also has a convenient front-load option that allows for our legendary front-to-back “cigar burn”.
 
 



To see more Jotul Wood Burning Stoves Click Here

To see all of Wheatland Fireplace Kitchen and Bath products check out all of their products here

Wheatland Fireplace Kitchen and Bath have much to offer:

Skott Enns Trusted Regina mortgage broker explains the First Time Home Buyer Incentive program

Skott Enns's goal isn’t to simply help you get a mortgage with the best mortgage rates, it is to help you figure out a plan to pay off your mortgage as quickly as possible!  Has been voted Regina’s best mortgage broker for 2013, 2014, and 2015 & 2016 by Prairie Dog Magazine and named to the Summit 20 group, which means that he is in the Top 20% of all TMG Mortgage Brokers in Canada for the last two years. If you are looking for honest, unbiased advice from a mortgage broker in Regina they would love to talk with you! TMG The Mortgage Group Skott Enns is a Trusted Regina Mortgage Broker



Skott Enns sat down with CBC and explained the First Time Home Buyer Incentive program.



In a recent interview with CBC News our Trusted Regina Mortgage Broker  Skott Enns sat down and explained the new features of the First Time Home Buyer Incentive Program.  In addition, Skott goes on to examine some potential pros and cons of this program.  


He begins by stating that:


Starting September 3rd for any homes where possession is starting in November if a potential first time home buyer has the minimum 5% down payment, CMHC will provide them with an additional loan of 5% for an existing home or an additional 10% for a new build for the down payment.  


He also states that outside of being a first-time home buyer the maximum household qualifying income that they can use for mortgage approval is $120,000. per year.  So if your household makes more than this you will not qualify for this program.  Additionally, the largest purchase price for approval is four times the amount of your qualifying income.  



Something buyers need to note is that when you do choose to sell the home the monies that CMHC provides will need to be paid back to them though the loan is interest free.


Benefits of the Program


When asked as a Regina mortgage broker what are some of the benefits you see to a program like this Skott detailed his perspective as follows:


  • It allows a first time home buyer to keep their cost as low as possible when considering principle and interest payments
  • The program will reduce your CMHC premium

Negatives of the program

Skott goes on to outline some potential negatives of the Program:

  • People forget - If you sell your house in 10 years you may forget that you need to re pay the loan to CMHC.
  • People have general concerns about being in partnership with CMHC who is part of the Federal Government on the biggest investment which is their home.


To be honest this is the first bit of good news that we have had in terms of qualifying for a mortgage.  
The news coming out about mortgages and from CMHC has been about how difficult the newest changes make it for not just first-time home buyers but anybody to qualify for a mortgage.  It seems that every change has been making it more and more difficult. But this bit of good news will help keep payment down for a segment of the market.

Watch the entire interview here


If you are looking for honest, unbiased advice from a mortgage broker in Regina Skott would love to talk with you!

TMG The Mortgage Group Skott Enns is a Trusted Regina Mortgage Broker


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