Chances are, you know that you should change the batteries in your smoke detectors at least once a year — even if you suspect the batteries are still good.

But that isn't the only fire safety check you should do annually. Here are some other recommended tips to help keep you and your family safe.

• Clean your stove burners and oven regularly. Hard grease build-up can become combustible.

• Check your cupboard for cleaning products, paints and other liquids that are flammable. Read each label carefully. Use and store each product only as recommended.

• If you keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen — and you should — confirm that it is still good. Extinguishers are like food. They have expiry dates!

• Go over your fire escape plan with your family. Make sure everyone knows exactly what to do if a smoke detector goes off or if there's a fire. (Don't have a fire escape plan? Make one!)

• Check that all windows open easily, especially upper floor windows.

• Check appliances you use often, such as hair dryers, for worn or frayed cords.

• Regularly clear away lint build-up in the clothes dryer. Check the outside dryer vent annually to make sure it's clear and working correctly.

• If you have a wood-burning fireplace or stove, get it cleaned and inspected by a licensed technician once a year.

Many local fire departments offer homeowners free tips and even in-home advice and inspections at no cost. Contact your fire department and ask about programs available to you.

Why is making a big change in life often so difficult?

According to psychologists, maintaining the "status quo" is one of the most powerful motivations we have. If things are "okay", even making a change for the better can be difficult. Our brains resist.

You may have experienced this if you’ve thought about selling your current property and finding your next dream home. Your house may be "good enough" for you now and the neighbourhood might be "okay" too. So, even if your dream is to get into a better home that's more suited to your family and lifestyle, you may be hesitant.

That's just the way the psychology works.

One way to get around this psychology is to get your dream out of your head and on to paper. Write down the kind of home you'd love to live in next. For example, you may want a detached home, with 3-bedrooms in a family-oriented neighbourhood. Also jot down the specific features and characteristics of the property and neighbourhood such as a goodsized backyard, family-size kitchen, and an easy commute to work. That will help you see the real possibilities.

Next, find out whether getting into a home like this is doable for you right now. Avoid making assumptions. Get the facts. Find out what you can expect to get for your current property, and what you'll need to spend for the new home.

If you discover that moving to your next dream home is something you can swing this year, your hesitancy will likely vanish! I can help you get the information you need to make the best decision. Call me.

As the province continues to re-open, the real estate sector is experiencing a strong recovery. Year-over-year sales across the province were up close to 50% from June of last year (and only down 0.3% year-to-date showing that we’ve nearly recovered all of the sales lost during the lockdown), new listings were up almost 8% (down 14.5% year-to-date), and the median home price was up almost 2% (down 1.5% year-to-date). Inventories were also down in 17 of the 19 markets that the SRA tracks, suggesting that people are quite eager to buy now and make up for lost time due to the pandemic.

This recovery was expected as physical distancing restrictions were loosened and as people’s confidence began to return. With the economy getting back to “normal”, people are getting excited to buy homes. “We’ve seen properties in some markets sell within days of being listed,” said SRA CEO Jason Yochim. “And we’ve even seen bidding wars start to break out”, suggesting that people are quite motivated to buy and may be willing to pay more than full listing price. This could help to further drive Saskatchewan’s recovery as people are encouraged to list due to rising prices.

Prices and the number of new listings are still down in some markets (and some markets have seen an increase in the number of days for properties to sell), which continues to reflect the local nature of real estate. Despite the relatively sluggish performance compared with the rest of the province, however, these markets appear to be headed for a recovery as well and may soon return to pre-COVID level activity as the province and the economy re-open and return to normal.

Although Statistics Canada has not released the latest employment figures, employment rose 1.8% in May (while full-time employment rose 1.6%) suggesting that more people are returning to work and that a number of jobs are relatively secure despite the higher levels of unemployment created by the pandemic. Rising employment levels are promising since it means that people have the money needed to buy and help support a broader recovery.

While the future is uncertain and the recovery may slow down if we see a spike in COVID cases over the next few months, the government’s phased re-opening plan should help to minimize any potential new threats. This is boosting confidence and allowing the real estate market to recover now and help the economy to recover. “The multiple offers that members are getting,” and the low levels of inventory currently available suggest that the market has recovered and is well on its way to making up for the losses that the pandemic brought. “We may not have as good of a year as last” says Yochim, “but we should do pretty well all things considered.”

Sales in Saskatoon were up 38.4%, going from 372 in June 2019 to 515 in June 2020, and up 42.7% in the overall region, going from 504 to 719. In Saskatoon, sales were 27.5% above the 5-year average (and 17.7% above the 10-year average), while in the larger region, sales were 29.2% above the 5-year average (and 21.5% above the 10-year average). Year-to-Date (YTD) sales in Saskatoon fell 3.6% over last year, decreasing from 1,842 to 1,776, while YTD sales in the larger region fell 1.0%, going from 2,480 to 2,456.

Sales volume was up 36.1% in the city, going from $126.8M to $172.6M in 2020 (24.6% above the 5-year average, and 15.3% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume in the city was $601.9M, a decrease of 1.4% from last year. In the region, sales volume was down 0.7%, going from $782.1M to $787.4M (28.0% above the 5-year average and 20.3% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume increased 0.7% in the region, rising from $782.1M in 2019 to $787.4M in 2020.

In Saskatoon, the number of new listings in June 2020 rose 5.9%, going from 784 to 830 (5.0% below the 5-year average and 2.9% below the 10-year average), while in the region, new listings rose 4.8% from 1,174 last year to 1,230 this year (3.5% below the 5-year average and 1.3% below the 10-year average). YTD new listings in the city fell 11.6%, going from 4,204 to 3,716, while in the larger region, the number of new listings to date fell 13.6%, going from 6,262 to 5,411. Active listings fell 19.6% in Saskatoon (down from 1,971 to 1,585) and fell 19.9% in the region (down from 3,561 to 2,852).

Inventory in Saskatoon stood at 3 (which is 41.9% below the level last year and 40.6% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 62.0%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in the larger region stood at 4 (which is 43.9% below the level last year and 39.7% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 58.5%, suggesting balanced market conditions.

Homes in Saskatoon stayed on the market an average of 43 days in June—down 12.2% from 49 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 46 days and above the 10-year average of 41 days). Homes in the region stayed on the market longer than homes in the city at 54 days on average in 2020, but also down from an average of 56 days last year (and 1.1% above the 5-year average).

Median home prices in Saskatoon went from $320,000 to $329,900 (an increase of 3.1%) and were approximately 1.0% above the 5-year and 0.7% above the 10-year average median price. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI)—a more accurate measure of house price trends—is up 0.9% from $306,500 to $309,400. Year-to-date, the median home price in Saskatoon was $326,858 which is 1.3% above the $322,600 price from the same time last year.

Median home prices in the region went from $310,000 to $312,500 (an increase of 0.8%) and were approximately 0.5% below the 5-year and 0.8% below the 10-year average median price. Year-to-date, the median home price in the region was $308,171 which is 2.1% above the $301,767 price from the same time last year.  ~ July 2020 SRA News Release

Looking for sound market advice?  As REALTOR® and Nationally Accredited Buyer Representative - ABR®, Seller Representative Specialist - SRS® and Real Estate Negotiation Expert - RENE, I can provide you with this advice. Call today.

As you may know, curb appeal refers to how your property looks from the street, where potential buyers first see it. Your home’s curb appeal can have a big impact on the sale of your property. In fact, it's not uncommon for a buyer to drive by a listing, rather than stop, because they don't like what they see.

So, how can you improve your home's curb appeal quickly? One way is to do some outside cleaning.

Start with the main entryway. Wash down the front door and sweep (or power wash) the front steps. It only takes a few minutes but you'd be surprised by the impact it can have. Sweep or power wash your walkway too and you’ll improve the overall look of your home — sometimes dramatically.

Clean your front windows to brighten the look of your home’s facade. It doesn't have to be an arduous chore. In fact, there are washing products available that attach to your garden hose. You don't even need a ladder! Ask your local home improvement retailer for recommendations.

If you have hedges and scrubs, give them a trim. To keep your trimming level, use a wide board, or even a piece of cardboard, then cut to the desired height. Pull off any dead leaves or branches. Of course, also mow the lawn!

Finally, inspect your property from the street. Can you see anything else you can do to quickly improve the look? Do you notice anything that is unsightly or distracting, such as garbage bins that could be relocated?

One final tip: When a viewing is scheduled, remove your vehicles from the driveway. Buyers like to see an empty driveway because it helps them imagine themselves living there. It also gives them a convenient place to park!