In The News

Throughout my real estate career, I’ve found there are two small phrases that are at the same time both the most powerful — and the most difficult — words you can say to a client.

As agents, we often have to deal with insincere people who are not serious about purchasing or selling properties. Here's how to spot them and prevent them from wasting your precious time.

During Inman Connect Las Vegas, the founder and CEO of Shred Media shared a cost-effective Facebook ad strategy to build brand awareness for just $2 per day.

Ready to grow your subscriber list? At Inman Connect Las Vegas, Grant Wise shares tips on how to make your life easier and ramp up your business by leveraging automation platforms.

The National Association of Realtors is calling on the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau to improve the qualified mortgage definition and government-sponsored entity patch as well as support an extension before figuring out the long-term solution.

Kathy Hunnan began her career in renewable energy in a Google tech incubator. She now runs a leading residential heating and cooling system company in New York.

Skyline Tower, a 67-story new development in Long Island City, has surpassed the Citigroup Building.

The 147-acre property features a three-bed, three-bath Federal-style home built in 1790.

The smart home of tomorrow is the functional home of today. We need not wait, we need not promise, we need not predict what will be—what may be—when we know what is: that we have the means to create smart kitchens without buying new appliances, that we can improve our health and make our homes models of healthy living, that we can add value to the price of a home without spending a lot of money.  Real estate agents should champion these facts.  Real estate agents should apprise clients of these facts, so as to reveal how real estate appraisers consider these facts. On a practical level, homeowners should invest in technology that is as substantive as it is stylish. To distinguish between the two—to know the two are not always the same—is to invest in those things people want and need.  For example: Rather than buying an appliance that is expensive but no better than the cheapest product on the market, rather than wasting an egregious sum on an everyday item—something people use every day, for years if not decades—it pays to look beyond how a product looks and feels.  Forget the logo, the badge, and the emblem. Put aside the symbols of wealth, including the status symbols that have no currency among the wise and frugal, because a homebuyer is in the market for real estate, not products worthy of a high-end estate sale. The homebuyer has an eye for value, not personal validation.  The real estate agent, in turn, has particularly good eyesight. He sees what others do not notice; she notices what others may never see, that a costly appliance does not justify the advertised cost of a home, that the cost of an appliance does not always reduce the cost—in food and power—of running a home, that less costly products match or exceed the features of the costliest appliance. Take, for instance, Fridge Eye: a durable, rechargeable (via USB-C), water-resistant camera that transform a refrigerator or cupboard into a smart appliance. Install the camera and download the Fridge Eye app, and streamline food shopping instantly. I mention Fridge Eye not to tout a product, but to promote a way to shop and live more productively. I mention this fact to change the facts, because the average U.S. family throws out about $2,275 in food annually. We cannot afford such decadence. We cannot sustain so much waste amidst so much squalor. We cannot continue to fill our stomachs and starve our souls. We can, however, assuage our concerns.  If we concern ourselves with saving lives by saving money, if we have more money to feed the hungry and help the homeless, if we have the intelligence to know and the strength to do, if we have the smarts to apply ourselves, there will be no question about the value of smart appliances. The expense is minimal, the total expenditure minor, the benefit of maximum importance. The future awaits us.

The World Health Organization says falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injuries worldwide after road traffic crashes. Here are some easy ways to make your stairs safe for everyone in the family. Scary but true: there were more than 50,000 emergency visits for injuries from falls on stairs in Ontario in 2015, according to Ontario Injury Compass, which analyses and discusses injury issues in the province. “In B.C., stairs were involved in approximately 8.2 per cent of all hospitalizations for fall-related injuries, with 68 per cent of these falls on stairs happening in the home,” says a 2013/14 Ministry of Health Report. And it gets worse: a 2011-2015 B.C. Vital Statistics report says, “On average, 38 people are killed every year in B.C. by falling on stairs.” Who’s at risk? The young and the old are most prone to stair-related injuries, although everyone must be vigilant. Ontario Injury Compass says Ontarians 75 and older had the highest rate of emergency visits for stair fall-related injuries. The report also says females had a higher number of emergency department visits in all age categories, except for children younger than 10. Whether it’s a long flight of stairs or just a step or two, falls happen.There are three main contributing factors to why people fall on or from stairs. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) says they are environmental factors such as poor design, construction and maintenance; health factors, for example loss of balance, weakness or vision problems; and behavioural factors including wearing unsuitable footwear or carrying something that obstructs vision when using the stairs. How do you prevent stair-related falls? - Experts recommend removing reading glasses when travelling up or down stairs. They also recommend caution when wearing bifocals or progressive eyeglasses. - Install handrails. CMHC says occupational therapists recommend handrails be installed on all staircases, even if they have three steps or less. Have at least one handrail. Two is even better. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says, “You should be able to run your hand smoothly along the entire length without having to adjust your grip.” - Use handrails: Neglecting to use your handrails defeats the purpose of having them. Teach children to navigate stairs using the handrail so they can learn good habits early. - Proper lighting is crucial, especially for people with vision problems. Having a light switch at the top and bottom means stairs can be well lit whether a user is travelling up or down. - Make sure the edges of the steps are visible. CMHC recommends painting a contrasting colour on the edges of wooden or concrete steps, or on the top and bottom steps. Special strips that can enhance the visibility of each step are also recommended. - Wearing proper footwear helps reduce the chance of falling on the stairs. Heels may get caught on the edge of a step, says the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. “Such mishaps are a routine cause of twisted ankles, sprained knees or more serious injuries incurred by a total fall.” Slippers that are loose or slip-on footwear is also not recommended. - Pay attention when you’re using the stairs. This is especially important when you’re not familiar with the stairs or the staircase has uneven or narrower steps, such as those on a circular staircase. - Rubber, metal or slip-resistant paint can help reduce the slipping risk. - Make sure your stairs are in good repair and ensure stair treads are non-slip and are properly fastened. - Consult an occupational therapist for advice about changes that can be made to the home to reduce the risk of falling on stairs, CMHC says. “Simple modifications can be made to increase the safety of stairs, for example, adding a second handrail (or) installing visual contrast strips at the edge of stairs for easier visual detection.” - Use baby safety gates at the top and bottom to keep very young children off of the stairs. - Ensure stairs are kept clear of clutter and other tripping hazards. - Do not carry bulky objects that block your vision. - If you’re building or renovating a home, ensure stairs are built to code, with uniform steps. Handrails should be on both sides and continue one foot past the top and the bottom of the staircase, according to Fall Prevention Programming, a book by V. Scott. - If stairs are too much of a challenge, install a stair lift or elevator. - The majority of stairway falls result from a loss of balance, so be aware and take precautions. - Experts also suggest removing loose carpets or throw rugs from the stairway landing. The World Health Organization says falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injuries worldwide after road traffic crashes. “Prevention starts by keeping in mind that there are risks in using stairs. Good planning and simple strategies can help prevent falls and injuries,” says CMHC.

The 2020 National Electrical Code recommends whole-house surge protection to safeguard appliances and smart devices from storm-related power surges. Find out what that will mean for your clients.

Homeowners’ estimates for costly remodeling projects tend to be off by thousands of dollars.

Up to a quarter of married couples sleep in different beds, while 10% admit they have their own bedrooms.