Tyler Stevens, Realtor

05/22/2026

1. HVAC Age & Service History – over 15 years old, you’re on borrowed time. No service records? Assume the worst to protect yourself. New furnace & A/C - $12,000 - $20,000

2. Roof Age – look for curling shingles or those pulling away from each other, and don’t ignore the gutters and drains. AND shingles facing east wear out much faster than the rest, be sure to bring your compass. A new roof - $12,000 - $25,000

3. Electrical Panel – If you see Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or generally any panel that looks white(ish), it’s discontinued and can be dangerous. Replacing a panel - $1,500 - $2,500

4. Sewer Line – if the home is over 40 years old, this essential pipe could have issues. Have a camera inspection for $200-$300 for piece of mind. Replacing the sewer line will cost $10,000 before you can blink.

5. Foundation Cracks – a hairline crack is normal. Large gaps or stair-like cracks are huge red flags. Call an engineer to remedy. Repairing base structure starts at $5,000 and goes up fast from there.
Is this something you’re comfortable doing yourself? Comment “DIY” for more tips.

05/19/2026

Your first home usually isn’t your dream home. It is the stepping stone to it.

Buy the home that fits this phase of your life, make it yours, build equity, and let it create options for your next upgrade.

Whether that’s selling and upgrading to your dream home, or keeping it and using it as an investment, the first step is getting into the game!

Who do you know that’s been on the fence about buying, or waiting for the “perfect” home?

👉 Send this to them as a wake-up call!

04/21/2026

I should have said something…. They had cats, 2 of them. I could smell it walking in the front door.

They had the carpets cleaned but there was still an odor. A smack-in-the-face odour. It wasn’t even summer yet, so the smell would probably get even worse.

The house looked great online, beautifully built and only 8 years old - it brought loads of people through the door. And most of those people said the same thing – great house, terrible smell.

And that caused the house to sit on the market for months. People crossed it off their list and moved on.

Since then, I promised myself that I WILL ALWAYS TELL SELLERS THE HARD TRUTH. Because my top priority is getting top dollar for my seller clients. Better to have an awkward conversation than sacrifice being professional, which will cost the seller money in the long run.

That’s just one of many pre-listing issues to perform BEFORE a house gets listed for sale.

COMMENT “PREPARE” and I’ll send you a FREE COPY.

04/19/2026

House hunting can be exciting, maybe fun too… but soon you realize that a buyer goes through the same 5 stages before you find that one “right home”.

Stage 1: Reality Check

The house-hunting starts and the numbers start coming in. Taxes, insurance, interest rates, HOA / maintenance fees… suddenly the budget looks very different from how it started.

Stage 2: Adjustment Phase

Priorities start shifting. A finished basement isn’t as important anymore… but you realize that location is. You start figuring out what actually matters, what’s truly important to you.

Stage 3: Frustration Stage

You tour homes you like, maybe make an offer… but someone beats you out. Now emotions are getting involved and the process gets stressful.

Stage 4: Clarity Stage

After seeing enough homes, everything gets clearer. You understand what fits your lifestyle, your budget, and your timeline.

Stage 5: Finally Found It

Then you walk into a home and it just feels right. Maybe not perfect… but perfect for you. Most buyers go through every one of these stages before they buy the right house.



Follow me and share this with someone who’s about to start searching for a house. ❤️

04/14/2026

Wacky things I might ask you to do before I list your house for sale. (Just go with it)

1. Take 1/3 of everything you own, pack it in a storage container and ship it off site. (Most storage companies provide access to that container in case you overpacked.) This will fall under the category “De-Clutter”.

2. Mini-renovation. I wish you could enjoy the end-result for awhile, but we’re likely just doing this for the next owners. We’ll do high return projects that will not only pay dividends on your hard work, but also get your house sold properly. See my list of high return renovations such as painting, switching out light fixtures, touch-ups of caulking, etc.

3. De-personalize. You love your family photos, but potential buyers only want to picture themselves in your house, pack away the personal stuff.

4. Diffuser, diffuser, diffuser. There is a psychology to smell, trust the research. Now you can justify buying that pricey diffuser to make your entire house smell wonderful, because it’s going to help you maximize your sale proceeds. (It may cover up some smells you hadn’t noticed too.)

5. Tidy-box. When you have a house-showing in 30 minutes, throw everything in the Tidy-Box and hide away. This really cuts down on the stress of showings.

If you’re thinking about selling and want an agent who will go the distance and more to sell your house – let’s talk!

04/13/2026

04/13/2026

1. Buyers should always get a home inspection done, even if it’s not part of the offer conditions. That means that you are not asking for repairs, but you will know exactly what needs to be fixed, what it will cost, and what to expect. It’s better to know what repairs you can expect rather than be surprised.

2. Don’t look at houses you can’t afford. If you tour homes that are above your max budget, then every home inside your budget will feel like a consolation prize. You will be disappointed with perfectly good houses because you’re focussed on something you cannot have.

3. Every listing needs professional photos including aerial shots, and video. Listings featuring video receive 402% more inquiries than those without. 402%. !!! If you are a seller and your agent is not offering these things, ask why because you’re leaving money on the table.

4. Before submitting an offer I always call the listing agent. That one conversation can tell you how many offers are coming in, what conditions the seller actually cares about.. That information changes how I write the offer and how to present it.

5. Buyers need to meet with a lender before viewing houses. Know your budget, and your comfort level. Do not waste your time and please don’t waste mine.

6. Never skip the final walkthrough just before closing. It is your last chance to confirm the home is in the same condition it was when you made your offer. Crazy things happen between acceptance and closing. Protect yourself.

7. Price your listing right from day one. You never get a second chance at a first impression on the market. Get it right the first time. Many buyers will skip your house based on price and if it doesn’t sell and you lower the price, now they wonder what is wrong with it. They move past your house.

Need to hire an agent? Comment HIRE to download my FREE BUYER’S GUIDE.

04/13/2026

1. Buyers should always get a home inspection done, even if it’s not part of the offer conditions. That means that you are not asking for repairs, but you will know exactly what needs to be fixed, what it will cost, and what to expect. It’s better to know what repairs you can expect rather than be surprised.

2. Don’t look at houses you can’t afford. If you tour homes that are above your max budget, then every home inside your budget will feel like a consolation prize. You will be disappointed with perfectly good houses because you’re focussed on something you cannot have.

3. Every listing needs professional photos including aerial shots, and video. Listings featuring video receive 402% more inquiries than those without. 402%. !!! If you are a seller and your agent is not offering these things, ask why because you’re leaving money on the table.

4. Before submitting an offer I always call the listing agent. That one conversation can tell you how many offers are coming in, what conditions the seller actually cares about.. That information changes how I write the offer and how to present it.

5. Buyers need to meet with a lender before viewing houses. Know your budget, and your comfort level. Do not waste your time and please don’t waste mine.

6. Never skip the final walkthrough just before closing. It is your last chance to confirm the home is in the same condition it was when you made your offer. Crazy things happen between acceptance and closing. Protect yourself.

7. Price your listing right from day one. You never get a second chance at a first impression on the market. Get it right the first time. Many buyers will skip your house based on price and if it doesn’t sell and you lower the price, now they wonder what is wrong with it. They move past your house.

Need to hire an agent? Comment HIRE to download my FREE BUYER’S GUIDE.

04/09/2026

We’ve all gone to an open-house to “get a feel” for the house, but how often are we looking for faults as much, or more, than what we like about the house?
Don’t be blinded by the scented candles, the perfectly decorated rooms and the free drinks and cookies. Look for the red flags & ask the questions.
If you end up making an offer, you’ll feel more confident during the process.
Happy hunting.

04/07/2026

Starting off light after a long weekend. funnyrealtor