Do you know what Poison Ivy and Poison Oak looks like?

Before you go tromping through the woods, take a look at the below photos and avoid!!

 

 

 

 

How to Discourage Buyers from Buying Your Home on Purpose

If you're listing your home for sale, then of course you’ll want to make the best impression possible on potential home buyers. But, just to have a little fun, say you don't want to sell your property. What could you do to discourage those who view your home?

Well, you could have your pets in the home during viewings. That will certainly make it uncomfortable for some buyers – especially those with pet allergies.

You could also leave personal items around, such as family pictures and trophies. That will make it more difficult for a buyer to imagine himself and his family living there. It might even make him feel a bit like an intruder!

Clutter in bedrooms, closets and other areas of the home will make those spaces feel less spacious than they really are, as well as make visitors feel uncomfortable.

If you really want to turn off a buyer, then put off doing any minor repairs. A dripping tap, flickering light, dent in the wall, or other maintenance issues are certain to gain a buyer's attention. 

If all that doesn't shoo away a buyer from your home, then stick around during a viewing and follow him and his family from room to room. That will certainly make him feel uneasy.

Of course, we're just having a bit of fun here. When you put your home on the market, you want to sell it.

It’s easy to avoid all the pitfalls described above and ensure potential buyers appreciate the full value of your home.

So when you’re preparing for a showing, think of ways you can make your property appear its best, and make the buyer feel welcomed and comfortable viewing it.

Want more ideas on how to sell your home quickly and for the best price? Call today.

 

Doubling Your Storage Space (While Using the Same Space)

Finding storage space in the home is becoming increasingly challenging. These days, we all just seem to have more stuff!

Fortunately, you don't necessarily need to rent a storage locker or add a new room to your home to fit everything. There are many innovative ways to increase the capacity of the storage space you're already using.

For example, there are storage bins you can buy that are designed to fit neatly under a bed. Some have wheels, making the bins easy to pull out and access.

You've probably seen closet organizers at your local home improvement centre. These can easily double the storage capacity of a closet, while making the space look neater and more organized.

Finally, there are storage units available that are camouflaged as something else, such as an ottoman.

Visit your local home improvement centre. There are many more innovative storage solutions available for your home.

 

ATV trip @ Spectacle Lake Lodge

Our 2013 ATV trip was a great weekend of riding and socializing. Our accomidations and the food was 10 out of 10 at Spectacle Lake Lodge. He is some pictures of the fun:

Inspections of new Re/Max listings Bridgenorth April 24/2013 (Smith, Ennismore, Lakefield)

 Here is the homes we viewed as an office for our agent walk throughs. Nice group of homes!

Potential New Selwyn Logos

Council is choosing one of these logos. I do not think at this time that the public is going to get an opportunity to choose the logo. My vote would be Concept 1, what would you choose?

Dealing with multiple offers

You may think that having to deal with multiple offers on your home is a wonderful problem. After all, there are so many buyers clamoring to purchase your property!

The challenge, however, is picking the best offer – and that isn't always the one with the highest price.

Most offers come with conditions, such as "conditional on securing appropriate financing" or "conditional on the sale of our current property." You have to consider both the price and the conditions when choosing which offer to accept.

There are other considerations, too. What if someone makes a great offer on your home, but they don't have a pre-approved mortgage and they haven’t put their current home on the market? That kind of offer is risky because it is more likely than an unconditional offer to fall through.

So there's a lot to think about when you're in the seemingly enviable position of dealing with multiple offers. How do you select the right one? The answer is to have a good REALTOR® by your side to help you make the right decision!

Want more tips on finding and buying your next dream home? Call today.

1388 Yankee Line Ennismore (Selwyn Township)

RESIDENTIAL - Unique opportunity to own property bordering on the 13th hole of the Quarry Golf Course. Lots of home here! Views over Chemong Lake and Gifford`s pond on a large country lot. Solid brick bungalow. Outside features include flower gardens, large shed, mature trees, front porch and rear deck for your choice of views. Inside features include 2 bathrooms, gas fireplace, workshop, games room, three bedrooms, main floor family room with walkout to deck. Public access just down the street to Chemong Lake.

Inexpensive ways to reduce your energy bill

You could get upgraded insulation installed in all the walls of your home, or buy a new high-efficiency furnace and air conditioner. These improvements would certainly reduce your energy costs – but they each require a significant investment.

What if you don't have the budget?

There are a lot of little things you can do to make a big difference in your heating or cooling bill. Here are just a few examples:

·         Turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees in winter. (And turn it up a few notches in summer.) Chances are, you'll hardly notice the difference in comfort, and you'll cut your heating/cooling costs by about 5%.

·         Do you need the air conditioner on all the time during the summer months? Consider turning it way up, or completely off, at night when it's cooler outside.

·         Invest in a programmable thermostat. That way, you'll be able to set up a schedule that uses less heating/cooling energy while you’re out of the house.

·         Let the sunshine in through windows in the winter (and block the sun where possible in the summer.) "Passive heat gain" can contribute to up to 20% of the heat in your home. Best of all, the sun is free.

·         Use energy efficient lights throughout your home. These can cut the cost of lighting by up to 40%!

·         Be careful with outside lights, which can use a lot of energy! Turn them off before you go to bed or, better still, use programmable outside lighting that can be set to turn off automatically.

·         These are just a few ideas for reducing your energy bill. If you do some research, you can probably discover many other ways to cut your costs. It's worth the effort!

 

Thinking of Moving? Two Things You Need to Know

If you're thinking of making a move within the next few months, there are two important things you need to know.

The first is the market value of your current property. That's the amount your home will likely sell for on today's market. When you know its market value, you'll have a better idea of how much money will be available to invest in a new home.

The second is an overview of what's available on the market. Which of the homes currently available for sale meet your criteria with respect to type of home, special features (such as a big kitchen or pool), neighbourhood, etc? How much are these homes selling for?

With those two pieces of information, you'll be able to make a better decision.

A good REALTOR^® can get that information for you. Call me today.

How can you tell if a neighbourhood is improving?

When you’re looking for a new home, you want to find one in a great

neighbourhood – or, at least, in a neighbourhood that is on the upswing.

How can you tell if a particular area is improving? Here are some common

indicators:

• Pride of ownership. Take a walk around the neighbourhood. Do you get a

sense that people take good care of their homes? Are the lawns mowed?

Is the landscaping trimmed? Are flowers planted? Homeowners are more

likely to look after their properties when they like where they are living.

• Home improvements. Are people investing in their homes? Are they

getting their driveways re-done? Their windows replaced? Are there signs

of home improvement projects? If so, this is a clear indication that

homeowners like the area enough to invest in their properties.

• Real estate sales activity. Do homes tend to sell quickly in the area? Do

they sell for a good price? If so, the neighbourhood is probably in demand.

If people want to live there, it's a desirable area.

• Business investment. Are businesses investing in the surrounding area?

Is there an increase in the number of upscale shops, health clubs,

restaurants, and other commercial enterprises that often locate near

desirable neighbourhoods?

• Community involvement. Are there signs that the community plays an

active role in the look and lifestyle of the neighbourhood? Are there

neighbourhood picnics, yard sales and other get-togethers? Check

Facebook.com to see if the neighbourhood has a community page.

• City plans. Find out what plans the city has for the area. Will there be road

improvements done in the near future? Are there any major construction

projects on the schedule, such as a new school or community centre.

Although such projects can be disruptive in the short term, they may

improve the neighbourhood – and, as a result, boost the value of any home

you buy – in the long-term.

Of course, the best way to find out the desirability of a neighbourhood is to

talk to a good REALTOR® who knows the area. Call today

Flashback 1991: Zebra Mussels

Published on 30 Aug 2012

It was about 20 years ago now that Zebra Mussels first appeared in the great lakes, brought here in the bilge tanks of ocean going vessels. By the early 90's it had become a serious problem prompting this CHEX report out of Durham Region by Dale Jackson.

Some two decades since it's introduction, the zebra mussel continues to make itself felt throughout Ontario, scientists saying it's presence is likely contributing to beach closings, the widespread deaths of migratory birds, and the slow starvation familiar fish. A very recent study estimates that invasive species including Zebra Mussels extract an economic toll of hundreds of millions of dollars in areas surrounding the great lakes. While the Ministry of Natural Resources admits that eradication of the species is not an option it has allocated fifteen million dollars for the establishment of an "Invasive Species Management Centre" in Sault Ste. Marie in an effort to contain the situation and mitigate damage to the provinces waters and fishery.

Source Chex Newswatch

Virtual tour 665 Garden Road In Ennismore

LOVINGLY CARED FOR RAISED BUNGALOW WITH FINISHED BASEMENT AND GARAGE ON GORGEOUS LANDSCAPED CORNER LOT ON A VERY DESIRABLE QUIET STREET IN BEAUTIFUL ENNISMORE! NOTHING TO DO BUT MOVE IN! THIS HOME FEATURES 3+1 BEDROOMS, EAT IN KITCHEN, LARGE DINING AREA THAT ALSO LEADS TO REAR DECK, LARGE WINDOWS TO LET IN THE LIGHT AND WONDERFUL MAIN FLOOR FAMILY ROOM! FEATURE LIST OF THIS HOME GOES ON AND ON. MANY RECENT UPDATES INCLUDING NAPOLEON ULTRA HIGH EFFICENT GAS FURNACE, UPGRADED WELL, NEW WINDOWS, SHINGLES ON HOUSE AND GARAGE DOOR RECENTLY REPLACED. YOU WILL ENJOY THE HUGE PAVED DRIVEWAY WITH PARKING FOR SEVERAL VEHICLES. DETACHED GARAGE WITH POWER OPENER, 200 AMP HYDRO. THE BASEMENT HAS 4TH BEDROOM, REC ROOM & A LARGE WORKSHOP (SEE DOCUMENTS FOR COMPLETE LIST OF UPGRADES SINCE 2003 OR ASK YOUR REALTOR.)