Consider these tips before diving head first into the investment property market:

1.       Determine what you can afford to buy, you’ll need a minimum down payment of 20 percent for a small rental property.
2.       Do some research on the areas your considering and find out what the going rents are.
3.       Just like your home, a rental property is a valuable asset.  Ensure you choose the proper insurance to help protect you from the financial impact of any unforeseen events.
4.       Consider a property manager.  While this will cut into the cost of your rental revenue, it could help to minimize your stress level
5.       Good tenants are hard to find.  Property managers will screen potential tenants for you, but as a landlord, you’ll need to know

Declutter – clear off all of your counters and ensure any unnecessary decorative are packed away.  Don’t forget to declutter your garage too!

Keep it clean – A deep clean before even listing your house will help to make upkeep easier for you.

Deal with minor repairs – They may seem minor, but cracked caulking, a torn screen or a dripping faucet could give buyers the impression that your house isn’t well maintained.

Tidy the bathroom – Put away your personal toiletries, along with old towels and toothbrushes.

Head out – It can be awkward for the potential buyers if you’re at home during a showing.    

Most of us have great intentions when it comes to saving money and being more conscious of our purchases.  But sticking to a budget is harder than it looks, here are a few tips to stop overspending:

Understand your spending triggers – evaluate things like time of day, environment, mood, peer pressure and your lifestyle to determine if they affect your spending habits.

Track your spending – Small purchases can really add up, so make sure you are tracking each of those little purchases as well.

Pay with cash – Try to avoid using credit or debit cards.  If you carry cash you can physically see exactly how much money you have left within your budget which will help you stop spending money you don’t have.

Set short-term goals – Setting attainable

Now that we’re full swing back to school and other activities, keeping the house clean can feel like a huge task.  The last thing we want is to sacrifice an entire Saturday’s family time for cleaning.  If you can manage about half an hour each day you can stay on top of chores! Take a look at this handy list from Hollen Home:

Winter is coming! Is your House Ready?

It’s that time of year Saskatoon and surrounding areas, to get the last of all your fall chores done around the yard. As much as we hate to admit it, the cold weather is coming and we should be prepared! Take a look at the list of tips and pointers to assist you in getting your home winter ready!

• Check your furnace and to make sure your heating system is working
• Check all weather stripping on windows and doors
• To offset winter dryness, check your humidifier and change out the filter and increase the humidistat
• Turn off outdoor taps and drain sprinklers and garden hose lines
• Clean out gutters and downspouts to avoid flooding and check flashing along eavestroughs and the roof to ensure water cannot