Whether your planning on renovating a newly purchased home or updating your family home, making sure you have a realistic and detailed budget is key.  A well-planned budget to follow and modify as needed should be established before any purchases are made or contractors are hired.

It is no secret to anyone watching the housing market that within just the past year, the sales of new homes have increased to the highest level we have seen in over a decade.  For anyone currently looking to become a homebuyer, this news puts more of a strain on the process, which can quickly lead to heartache and frustration. 

In this current market, you need to be aggressive in your search and in your offers.  There is no time for procrastination.

Lowering our energy usage not only contributes to lowering our carbon footprint, it also reduces our household energy costs. 

There are benefits to both scenarios.  Understanding the factors that are involved in each will guide you to make the right decision for your particular situation.  Finances, the real estate market, and even personalities are factors in which to consider when trying to determine if you should buy or sell first.  Both scenarios have pros and cons worth considering which we’ll look at below.