Please don't hesitate to reach out for detailed stats that are specific to your neighbourhood, or even if you're just curious about what the house down the street sold for – it'd be great to hear from you!

WATERLOO’S BUSKER CARNIVAL IS BACK!

Waterloo’s wildly successful street performers festival is back this summer!

Mark your calendar for the 31st annual Waterloo Busker Carnival. It’s four days of fun and excitement with a variety of entertaining shows and a wonderful carnival-like atmosphere that the whole family will enjoy!

Visit the midway, enjoy delicious food and watch spectacular one-of-a-kind performers that are sure to astonish, excite and inspire.

Performers from around the world will amaze people of all ages as the non-stop, action-packed entertainment includes comedians, contortionists, musicians, acrobats and much more!

Don’t forget to come hungry as there will be various different vendors serving up an array of delicious carnival-themed eats all weekend long.

The four days of fun runs from Thursday, August 25th - Sunday, August 28th behind Waterloo City Hall at 100 Regina Street South and William Street East in the heart of Uptown.

Make sure to bring the entire family out to the Waterloo Busker Carnival to enjoy the endless variety of fun-filled, heart-pounding shows in beautiful Uptown Waterloo! Hope to see you there :)

BUYING FIRST VS. SELLING FIRST

The K-W real estate market continues to shift so it’s important to plan your next move.

If you’re a current homeowner who’s thinking about making a move, you’ll have to decide whether to sell your existing home first or risk carrying two homes at once.

Selling first means you’ll know exactly how much you’ll be able to put towards your next home.

It also allows you to present a much stronger offer as it won't be conditional on the sale of your current home.

Finally, selling first helps eliminate the air of desperation that both buyers and agents can sense.

Once your home sells though, the clock starts ticking. You'll only have a limited amount of time to find the perfect place. You don't want to overpay or settle for something less than ideal so you may have to be somewhat flexible when it comes to moving dates.

If you’re looking for a very specific home that only comes up occasionally, you may have to buy first and arrange a longer closing to allow time for your current home to sell. To avoid carrying both homes at once, your house should be priced competitively from the start in order to generate maximum interest.

Local market conditions are also an important factor so it’s important to determine whether it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market and whether or not prices are rising or falling.

In a buyer’s market where there’s a wide selection, people usually prefer to sell first so they have a bit of breathing room.

In a seller’s market where good homes are hard to find and sell quickly, you may want to buy first in order to lock down your dream home.

There’s really no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to buying first vs. selling first as it depends on your personal circumstances, your financial situation and local market conditions.

Whatever your thoughts may be, it's important to seek professional advice from a knowledgeable, local real estate agent as market conditions can change rapidly.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you ever have any questions about the Kitchener-Waterloo real estate market, or real estate in general – it’d be great to hear from you!

YOUR HOME’S HIDDEN FIRE HAZARD

It’s important to make sure your dryer isn’t full of more than just hot air.

Did you know that dryers are responsible for over 15,000 fires in North America each year?

Most people aren’t aware of the danger clothes dryers can pose which is why dryer maintenance is often overlooked.

Fires can occur when lint (a highly combustible material) builds up in the dryer or more commonly, in the dryer’s exhaust duct. This blockage causes excessive heat to build up in the dryer.

Some warning signs that your dryer vent may be blocked are:

a musty smell
excessive heat and moisture
fogged up windows and mirrors
large amounts of lint and debris
clothes that remain damp after a cycle

If you notice any of these signs, it’s important that you take steps to clear your vent right away.

You’ll first want to unplug your dryer and then pull it out from the wall. Next, disconnect the exhaust hose and remove the lint with a brush or vacuum.

If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself or if the vent isn’t accessible, have your dryer inspected and cleaned by a qualified service technician.

Ignoring your dryer is like playing with fire. If you regularly clean out your dryer’s exhaust vent though, you’ll not only reduce a common fire hazard but you’ll also save money as your dryer will last longer and run much more efficiently.

THE MAGIC OF BAKING SODA

The uses for baking soda around the home are endless!

Everyone knows baking soda helps keep the inside of your fridge smelling fresh but did you know it’s also an amazing environmentally friendly cleaner?

Here are a few other things you can use baking soda for:

Use as a dry cleanser to scrub tubs, tiles and toilets.
Wash your hands with baking soda to eliminate the smell of onions or garlic.
Sprinkle on your carpet or mattress and then vacuum to eliminate odours.
Pour a little down the sink followed by some vinegar to clear clogged drains.

Once you’ve finished cleaning your home, you can go and enjoy a nice, relaxing soak in the tub. Before you climb in though, add half a cup of baking soda to soften your skin!