Housing Chatter delivers the news you need to know about current events in the housing market in simple terms. We have no political or institutional affiliations so you can be confident that our content and commentary is unbiased. Housing Chatter is brought to you by your professional Realtor®.

Bob Vilas 5 "Must Do" May Projects

May is the month to prepare your house and garden for the dog days of summer. Start at the top—in the attic—working your way out, with a stop in the kitchen, before addressing the yard and your outdoor living areas. 1. PREPARE TO BEAT THE HEAT While it’s been a cold and rainy spring for most of the country, you can be sure that hot weather is just around th ... Read More »

Plan Your Garden Borders

Whether you're looking to revamp your garden, starting from absolute scratch or just after a new-look border, planting plans are all about combining the colour, texture and shape of your favourite plants, alongside the structure of hedges, shrubs or trees and lawn layouts, to create a balanced and striking layout. Here's how to approach it. By Sacha Marki ... Read More »

The Big 6 Banquette Seating Blunders to Avoid

We've had enough experience over the years to know what works and what doesn't with banquette seating, so we've put together this list to help you avoid making those costly mistakes. Take heed of our advice to achieve beautiful and functional banquette seating like this (1) Choosing the Wrong Fabric Slip up here and you could be breaking the law. Did yo ... Read More »

Ceramic Tile Flooring Tips

Counting down from 10, here are the top tips and tricks for installing a tile floor: 10. Bigger isn't necessarily better, but it's definitely easier. Larger tiles are much easier to install than small ones. Larger tiles are commonly used for bathroom walls, but are great for kitchens and other rooms too. The smaller 1x1s are going to take longer to set, so ... Read More »

Clean Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is known for its ability to be a clean surface that resists corrosion and rust. Because of this stainless steel is a popular choice in kitchens and bathrooms. If you've had stainless steel around in your home for very long, you know that it has the potential to live up to its name. Dirt, dust and grime, however, put stainless steel at risk fo ... Read More »

Steps to Remove Ballpoint, Permanent, and Water-Based Ink

The first thing to know about ink stains is that they fall into a few different categories. Water-based ink stains are some of the easiest to remove. These are usually inks like washable markers. Permanent ink stains can be a nightmare to remove. These include most permanent highlighters and markers. Ballpoint ink can be tricky to remove, but responds well t ... Read More »

The 5 Best Steam Mops

Shopping for steam mops can be very confusing due to the sheer number of choices. Which steam mops are actually going to get the job done? It can be difficult to sort between the various bells and whistles, but these steam mops performed well. When looking for a steam mop, the number one priority is how effectively it cleans your floors. The second prior ... Read More »

Remove Fleas In the Home

Our pets are members of our families, but sometimes pets unknowingly invite an unwelcome guest to take up residence in our carpets, couches, and corners. Fleas are one of the most annoying insect infestations that can occur in a home. Find out how to get rid of fleas and keep them from coming back. Difficulty: Average Time Required: Varies Here's How: ... Read More »

How to Insure Your Home

Homeowners insurance protects your home, its contents, and, indirectly, your other assets in the event of fires, theft, accidents or other disasters. A standard homeowners policy (known as an HO-3 policy) will protect you from things like fires and fallen trees. Notice how we didn’t mention floods or earthquakes—those events are specifically not covered by ... Read More »

How To Prepare Your House For Sale

Prepping and staging a house. Every seller wants her home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you? Well, it's not luck that makes that happen. It's careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home that will send home buyers scurrying for their checkbooks. Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an irresistibl ... Read More »