Caitlyn Ford

Right now being a buyer in this strong Seller's Market can feel overwhelming but I have some easy tips to help you during your house search. Mortgage pre-approval It is important to speak with your bank or a mortgage broker before you begin to find your dream home. They can give you a mortgage pre-approval so you will know how much you are able to spend and focus on looking at homes within your budget. They can also give advice on changes you may need to make in order to qual...ify or increase your budget. Pre-inspections You just found the perfect home and are serious about making an offer. Before you do, you may want to consider doing a pre-inspection not only so you can present a stronger offer to the sellers but also help you uncover any potential concerns with the home you may not have noticed during a showing. Consider higher deposit If you have the available funds to offer a higher deposit than other Buyers this could be an advantage to you. Sellers see higher deposits as a sign that your financials are in good shape and will be more confident to accept your offer. Remember, if your offer is accepted you will need to be able to provide the funds to the Listing Brokerage in the timeline set out in the offer so this is also important to consider as well. Flexible closing date Being flexible with your closing date could be the thing that makes your offer stand out more to the Sellers. If you can line up with the ideal close date that the Sellers want this should give your offer an advantage. Work with a Real Estate Professional When you work with a Realtor to buy a home they work for you not the Seller. We discuss and analyze your needs and wants against your budget and guide you towards homes that fit that criteria. We coordinate with other professionals you will need during the buying process and make sure all paperwork is in order and complete within set deadlines to ensure a smooth transaction.

Here are the stats from February. We saw the average price in London increase compared to last February but still had fewer listing than February 2021.

Taking a look at last month's Real Estate numbers in London.

Here are 6 great tips to help you keep your home warm this winter. DRAFT-PROOF YOUR DOOR All you will need is some weather stripping along your exterior doors. Use high-quality silicone rubber weather stripping so you can seal gaps and increase the energy efficiency in your home. ... CLOSE YOUR CURTAINS You may want your curtains open during the day, but at night be sure to close them. Windows can be a source of outside cold air coming into your home. Consider switching out your curtains for thermal insulated ones for even better results. INSULATE HOT WATER PIPES Not only does insulating your pipes prevent them from freezing but it also cuts down on the time it takes for the water to reheat. Also, you can fit a cylinder jacket around your water tank to reduce heat loss and save some money on your gas bills. KEEP ITEMS AWAY FROM THE RADIATOR Items around you radiator are a fire hazard and can block heat from circulating around your home. INSTALL RADIATOR PANELS Specify the area that you would like heat to be most prominent instead of having the heat from your radiators bounce off your walls and go in random directions. Installing radiator panels on your ceiling is an easy way to achieve this. Radiator panels also heat up quickly once switched on making your area warm in little time. TRY SOAPSTONE HEATERS Place the soapstone heater next to a heat source to warm up. They quickly absorb the heat and radiate it for hours after. These are great for bed warmers and satellite heating needs as they don't overheat easily.