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A house sale is most likely to fall through during the conditional period, when the buyer still needs to sort out things like financing or a home inspection. But while getting through those conditions is a big step, it still doesn't guarantee the sale will close. So, when can you actually stop worrying about a deal falling through? Well, things can still go wrong right up until closing day, and the...

A final walkthrough checklist typically involves confirming that nothing major has changed with the home and that any items the seller agreed to take care of have been completed. It’s usually a pretty straightforward list to work through. However, it can save you from discovering an annoying surprise after you already have the keys. In this post, we’ll walk through when to do your final...

You should typically bring a few things to a house viewing: your phone for photos and notes, a list of questions, key measurements, your must-haves and deal breakers, and your real estate agent. After all, you’re usually there to do more than just get a feel for the place. A little preparation helps you make better use of the viewing and come away with a clearer idea of whether the home is actually...

Open house etiquette is mainly about respecting the seller’s home, following the host agent’s instructions, and being considerate of other buyers. It may sound pretty straightforward, but toeing the line between being polite and getting the answers you need can be easier said than done, especially if you want to look closely, ask questions, take photos, or discuss the home while you’re there. In...

Before making an offer on a house, it helps to know what you can afford, what the home may be worth, and which terms you’re comfortable with. After all, once you find a place you really like, things can move quickly, and that’s not the best time to start figuring out your limits. In this post, we’ll go over six things to do before making an offer so you’re ready when the right home comes...

There’s no set amount of time you have to live in a house before selling it in Canada. But since selling sooner can affect how much money you walk away with, timing is worth thinking through. In this post, we’ll look at what affects how long you should stay, whether selling after only a few years is a problem, and when selling sooner can make sense. What Factors Affect How Long You Should Live...

There’s really no set number of times you should view a house before buying it. In practice, many buyers feel confident after 1–2 viewings of a specific home, and some experts recommend at least two for serious contenders (first emotional, second methodical).  Basically, though, you should just aim to attend enough viewings to be comfortable with the property and be sure you haven’t left any...

There are lots of reasons a seller may reject an offer. It may be because of the price, conditions, closing date, competing offers, or other terms that don’t work for them. The frustrating part for buyers is that an offer can look perfectly reasonable on paper and still lose out for reasons that have little to do with price. In this post, we’ll look at the main reasons sellers reject offers,...

In most cases, you should consider buying a house with a shared driveway if the legal access, maintenance responsibilities, and parking rules are clear and workable. Sure, a shared driveway may not be ideal, but it isn’t automatically a problem either. You just need to understand how it is owned, used, and maintained before making an offer. In this post, we’ll explain how shared driveways work,...

To sell a very small house, you should focus on making the space feel as functional, open, and easy to live in as possible. Buyers will still notice the square footage, of course, but that isn’t always what decides how they feel about a home. A small house can still make a great impression when it seems practical, comfortable, and well thought out.  In this post, we’ll walk through five simple,...