Don Ritchie's Blog Posts

Ready for Anything: A Homeowner's Preparedness ChecklistSeptember is National Preparedness Month, and this year's theme from FEMA's Ready campaign is Americans Stand Ready — the idea that

How to Host Game Day Without Missing the GameFootball is back, which means the next few months of weekends just got claimed — and the season is long enough that hosting duty lands on you at

Everyone Needs a Third Place. Here's How to Find YoursThere's a term that sociologists have used for decades that's suddenly everywhere: the third place. The concept is simple. The first place is

Building the Perfect Entryway for Back to SchoolSummer has a way of taking over the house. Pool bags pile up by the door, sunscreen and sunglasses colonize every flat surface, and nobody quite

No-Bake Summer Recipes Worth Bringing to Every Backyard GatheringAmerican summers run long, but the cookout window — from Memorial Day through Labor Day — is when backyard entertaining

The Backyard Wellness Stack: How Infrared Saunas and Cold Plunges Became the New Backyard Must-HaveThe dream backyard hasn't changed all that much — outdoor kitchen, fire pit, comfortable

How to Keep Your Home Cool Without Cranking the ACWhen the temperature climbs, the instinct is to reach for the thermostat. But running the AC all day isn't the only way to keep your home

How to Be a Tourist in Your Own Town This SummerWith gas prices up and road trips costing more than they used to, staying local this summer is starting to look less like a compromise and more like a

The Art of the Spring Soiree — Hosting With Ease at HomeSpring evenings have a short window. The air is warm but not heavy, the sun sets late, and there is still that fresh quality to

New Construction vs. Resale: How to Decide What's Right for You in 2026It's one of the first decisions every buyer has to make, and in 2026 it's more nuanced than it's ever been. The rules have

How to Leverage Your Tax Refund Toward Homeownership Like a Savvy BuyerTax season is winding down, and for many people, that means a refund is on the way. While it's tempting to treat it like a

8 Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly This Earth DayEarth Day falls on April 22nd, and while it's a great reminder to think about the planet, the best eco-friendly habits are the ones that

Would Your Home Pass a Buyer’s First Impression Test?Buyers decide how they feel about a home quickly. Sometimes before they even reach the front door.They are not just noticing décor.

Fresh Starts: Your March Planting Guide There’s something about March that makes it impossible to stay indoors. The light lingers longer in the evenings, the soil begins to warm, and

How to Get a Head Start on Spring Cleaning in FebruarySpring cleaning often feels like something that belongs in the future. It gets postponed until schedules are full and free time is harder to.

Why February Is About Loving Where You LiveFebruary often gets overlooked. It’s quieter than December and doesn’t have the momentum of spring. But that’s exactly why it’s a

Posted by AskHomesale.com on March 25, 2025If selling your house is on your to-do list this year, the time to start prepping is now. That’s because experts say the best week to

Posted by AskHomesale.com on March 12, 2025If you’ve been holding off on buying a home because of high mortgage rates, you might want to take another look at the market. That’s because

Posted by AskHomesale.com on February 25, 2025Many people are hoping mortgage rates will come down before they buy a home. But will that actually happen? According to the latest forecasts, experts

Posted by AskHomesale.com on February 6, 2025If you want to sell your house, having the right strategies and expectations is key. But some sellers haven’t adjusted to where the market is.

Posted by AskHomesale.com on January 28, 2025Let’s face it — buying a home can feel like a challenge with today’s mortgage rates. You might even be thinking, &ldquo

Posted by AskHomesale.com on January 22, 2025There’s one essential step in the homebuying process you may not know a whole lot about and that’s pre-approval. Here

What To Save for When Buying a HomePosted by AskHomesale.com on January 13, 2025Knowing what to budget for when buying a home may feel intimidating — but it doesn’t have

Only an Expert Agent Can Give You an Accurate Value of Your HomePosted by AskHomesale.com on December 16, 2024In today’s digital age, it’s tempting to rely on automated

Sell Your House During the Winter Sweet SpotPosted by AskHomesale.com on December 10, 2024A lot of people assume spring is the ideal time to sell a house. And sure, buyer

Renting vs. Buying: The Net Worth Gap You Need To SeePosted by AskHomesale.com on November 12, 2024Trying to decide between renting or buying a home? One key factor that could

By AskHomesale.com on November 1, 2024To help Thanksgiving go smooth, make little bits and pieces of your meal ahead of time, before all the madness sets in. Here are some tips and pointers on what

Using data from the Federal Reserve for the past 60 years, you can see the overall trend is home prices have climbed quite steadily. Sure, there was an exception around the housing

Are you considering buying your first home? If so, it can be helpful to know what led other people to make that decision. According to a recent survey of first-time homebuyers by 

If you’re looking to buy a home this fall, there are a few things you need to know. Affordability is tight with today’s mortgage rates and rising home prices. At the same

Why Is Housing Inventory So Low?Posted by ASKHOMESALE.COM on SEPTEMBER 18, 2023One question that’s top of mind if you’re thinking about making a move today is:

67% of Americans say a housing market crash is imminent in the next three years. With all the talk in the media lately about shifts in the housing market, it makes sense why so many people feel

Posted by AskHomesale.com on July 12, 2021There’s  one  phrase  which strikes  fear  into  the  heart  of  a  potential  homebuyer