Christina, Author at Lets Talk Real Estate Team

Christina, Author at Lets Talk Real Estate Team - Page 19 of 26

Yes, it’s October!

Once again, we all find ourselves saying the oh too familiar saying, “wow, summer is over. I can’t believe its October, where did the time go?”

Our homes are one of the biggest investments we have. Spending a few hours on your to-do list will make sure you keep ahead of issues that in the long run could cost you more money and time.

Here are a few tips from our October to-do list that will help organize your home and get ready for winter. Some of these tips will also save you money in the long run and maintain your investment in your home!

Tidy up the mudroom or hall closets:

Get out your winter mitts and hats and those cozy scarfs. Give them a fresh wash if you didn’t have the time at the end of last winter.
Clean the floors and add a new doormat if needed. Keep a recycling basket near the entrance to make sorting mail and school papers easier.
Dedicate a tote or bin for the items to donate.

Keep seasonal decorating low-key with natural finds:

Pumpkins, gourds, and fresh heirloom apples, pomegranate and figs with fall foliage makes a wonderful simple decor.
Vacuum radiators, baseboard heaters and heating grates. This is the best time to clean your Ducts (we all get those calls, I hope you kept one number on hand lol)
Check safety devices:
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, in the house.
Replace batteries as needed.
Check the expiration dates on the kitchen fire extinguisher and replace it if needed.

As the leaves fall, and the outdoor markets are bursting with pumpkins

Raking all the leaves and place them over the gardens for a winter blanket.
Add the leaves to the compose pile.
It’s very important to make sure keep leaves from drains and eves.
Cover or store outdoor furniture and grills, if you plan to leave your patio furniture of grill outside through the winter make sure you cover them.

Here’s a big one we can’t forget:

Shut off all exterior faucets and store hoses for winter.
Disconnect, drain and roll your garden hose before storing them for the winter.
Shut off the water supply to the exterior faucet to prevent frozen pipes.

Trim dead tree limbs:

They are more likely to fall during winter storms, making them a potential safety hazard. If you need to have an arborist inspect and trim larger trees.
Clean gutters and downspouts
Wait till most of the leaves have fallen to schedule a rain gutter cleaning.

Maintain your wood stove or fireplace:

It is essential for safety that you have it serviced before lighting the first fire of the season.
Schedule an appointment to have your chimney inspected and if necessary, cleaned.

Clean carpet and area rugs:

Have them professionally cleaner if needed or spot cleaning on your own.
Rotate area rugs before putting the back in place, this will prevent one side from becoming more worn or faded than the other.

Clean gutters and downspouts:

Wait until most of the leaves have fallen to schedule a rain gutter cleaning.
Inspect gutters and downspouts for cracks and loose parts, and make repairs as needed.

Examine the sump pump:

If you have a sump pump in your basement as protection in case of flooding, make sure it is working properly before rains season really gets going and them repairs or replace it if needed.

Check paths, stairs and railing for safety:

Slips and falls on ice and snow can happen anywhere but they’re even more likely if the footings is uneven or a railing isn’t sturdy.
Take a walk around your home’s exterior, paying special attention to walkways, stairs and railings and make repairs as needed.

11. Get out your bird feeders out:

Clean them and make sure they are attached sturdy for our feather friends for the winter
Get a container with a secure lid to keep the mice out, keeping it handy for refills.

Time to get a supply of salt for the walkways and driveways:

Make sure your snow shovels are sturdy and your snow-blower is in good working order.

It’s almost time for lights:

Check the strands that they are all working, replace broken or burnt out bulbs
Replace bulbs outside around your home.

Give the garage a good sweep & organize:

Bikes, basketballs and pool toys are almost ready to retire to the back of the sheds or the garages. Pull the snowshoes, sleds, skates and skis to the front

Prepare now in October than in those colder months. The fresh air will do us good, get the kids involved and make it a family day!

FINAL TIP & Last but not least:

- Start a gift list:
It may seem that the holidays are long way off, but that’s why it pays to start getting organized now.
Keep in mind local shops and restaurants for gifts, and keep the money flowing in our neighborhoods and city.
This is also the time to start making homemade gifts for family and friends.
Ornaments, knitting, jams, sauces, relish, or hot sauce make great gifts.

If you get through your list early, Bravo!!! but don’t forget your senior neighbours that may need a hand or two.

Leaves are falling but inventory and prices are climbing! Typically we see this surge in the market in the fall and 2021 is no different!

Still seeing multi offers on homes, homes selling over asking, and homes selling for cash offers. It is a stressful time to be on either side of this scenario. It is our job to help guide you through this process and give you sound advice backed by years of experience.

Lets talk

-Nick

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Guelph’s top-rated schools make moving decisions easy

Guelph Today Spotlight article:

What do you do when your kids are already in school and have a big group of close friends in the neighbourhood, but you want to move? Do you make do with a home you’ve long outgrown or put off plans to expand your family?

Realtor® Nick FitzGibbon sees this all the time. Families have kids who are attending a great school that they love, and they worry about moving and starting all over again.

“People fall in love with the schools their kids go to,” he says. “They want to look for a house in the same school zone, which is completely understandable.”

Fortunately, you’ve already built up some equity after living in your home for several years, which makes moving a possibility worth getting excited about.

The numbers are encouraging too, and the latest market stats for the City of Guelph are in. The average sales price for the month of August was $886,089 for a single-family home, $644,811 for a townhome and $534,631 for an apartment or condo.

Another big draw for parents is French immersion schools. In Guelph, houses that are close to a French immersion school are at a real advantage on the market, he explains.

In fact, you can’t really make a bad decision. Guelph has several top-rated schools, including Edward Johnson Public School, Sir Isaac Brock Public School, St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic School and Westminster Woods Public School, to name just a few.

“All the schools in Guelph that we were looking at were good,” says Chris Valeriote. “My wife and I went through the system ourselves, we had friends who went to all the schools throughout the area. We knew that the quality of the schools in Guelph is high, in our opinion, and so no matter where you want to move, you’re going to get a good experience.”

Moving a young family

Chris and Brittany Valeriote moved in December 2019, just months before the start of the pandemic. The Valeriotes know the area well; both grew up in Guelph, went away and came back, and knew that their next move was going to be into their family home.

“What was most important was we knew the area we wanted to be in. We were very familiar with the area because we grew up in that ecosystem,” says Chris.

As a child, he went to John McCrae Public School on Water Street in Guelph and loved it, especially being able to walk back and forth to school. He wanted the same thing for his own children, so they moved into a home that is a 10-minute-walk from the school his five-year-old daughter attends. She started JK there last year and her little brother, who is two and a half, goes to a daycare run onsite by the YMCA; it allows him and his wife to be able to drop both kids off in the same spot each day.

Chris knew it was important to work with a residential Realtor®. FitzGibbon knew exactly what Chris needed, where the couple were looking and what they were looking for, supporting them through the entire process. There were a few neighbourhood pockets they had expressed interest in, and, in their case, they weren’t choosing a house based on a specific school.

It was more a question of where their house would be located in relation to the school. The Valeriotes wanted their children to be able to walk to school with their friends. There is already a little group of five kids who are able to walk to school together—with their parents right behind them, of course.

Chris can picture how it will all play out. As the kids get older, they can walk to and from school together, go to each other’s houses and play in each other’s backyards after school.

“I think there was a lot of planning on my wife’s part. From my perspective, we kind of fell backwards into a really good situation,” he laughs. “I’m sure it was all set up and it was her grand plan. This was all mapped out.”

His advice for other families is not to worry too much about the school itself. You can pick anywhere and still have a good experience, he advises, whether you’re in the suburbs, downtown or the university area. “You can’t really make a wrong choice. It’s more a question of how does that location work for you? Does it fit the lifestyle you want?”

Advice for buyers

FitzGibbon loves to point clients toward the Find My School website. Just type in the address of the house you’re interested in to find out which public elementary and high schools are nearby.

Just remember there could be a price difference, depending on which school district you’re looking at. “Potentially there could be more expensive houses, bigger lots, maybe even estate housing can come into play,” he says.

His best advice for those considering school district as a factor is to discuss it with their Realtor®. “A Realtor®’s job is to have the inside track and knowledge as to what will be coming up for sale and what is for sale in certain areas. If you have an area you want to be in based on schooling, your Realtor® is going to be your best bet to help you find that house,” he says.

For more information, visit Nick FitzGibbon’s Let’s Talk Real Estate or call 519-821-3600.

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Talk to your kids about bus safety, even if this is not their first year, everyone needs a reminder.

If your child is older and heading back to school on the bus, talk to them about the new little ones on their bus remind them that it is a scary experience for them and try to look out for them and make them feel safe and happy. A little kindness goes a long way.

Your bus driver needs to concentrate on his or her driving, it is so important to talk quietly on the bus with no yelling.

Remember if your child can touch the bus when it comes to a stop, then they are too close and unsafe.

LISTED BELOW ARE A FEW LINKS THAT MAY BE HELPFUL BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS:

https://www.findmyschool.ca/Eligibility

Bus safety:

https://www.stwdsta.ca/school-bus-safety-smarts/

COVID-19

http://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-health-and-safety-measures-schools

During these unprecedented times, kids all over will be going back to school with new rules due to COVID-19. This also included the bus ride to school and home.

-Masks are mandatory for all children including Kindergarten students.

-Make sure your child washes their hands for 20 seconds with soap, before they leave home. This will help with the spread of all germs not only COVID-19

-Pack extra masks in your Child’s backpack (Neck warmers and scarves are not a replacement for masks)

-There is a new NO-3 H Rule when back to school starts.

NO HUGS
NO HAND SHAKES
NO HIGH-FIVES

Reminder of bus rules:

Arrive 5 minutes before your bus arrives.
Line up 2 meters apart
The bus driver will tell you when to enter the bus
Always use the handrails to enter the bus and to leave the bus
Never push or shove inside
When getting off the bus always take 10 giant steps away from the bus
Always fill the back of the bus first, some buses may have your Childs name on the window side for a seating plan
No throwing items inside the bus or out the windows
Keep your head, hands, and arms inside at all times
Always remain in your seat until the bus comes to a full stop when arriving at your stop

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After a hot summer and a lot of people taking the much-needed time to recharge, we are feeling a surge of energy in the market and around the office today. Average sale prices of homes across the city are still on the rise as we look back at each month this year. A popular sales strategy is still to hold off on reviewing any offers for 5-7 days which can certainly affect the days on market statistics. Guelph still seems to be a popular spot for GTA purchasers and this trend will most likely continue into the Fall which is music to sellers’ ears.

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As we can all attest, the big news so far this year has been this explosive seller’s market. It has become the “norm” for properties to sell substantially over the asking price and to expect multiple offers on almost all listings.

As the research shows, the market is certainly still a seller’s market but signs of slowing have appeared. Properties are now averaging 2.5% over their asking price which is down from 6% just one month ago in May.

Also, we are seeing a slow down in the number of competing situations on properties. This may be a sign that sellers are listing their properties higher, therefore alleviating the multiple offer situation, or there are fewer buyers in the market who are willing to compete.

As it stands, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for some buyers and I believe sellers are still sitting in a very strong position with the average sale price of homes in Guelph still being up 20% in June compared to June 2020.

As always, never hesitate to reach out with any questions.

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As a homeowner, we always want to put our best foot forward when preparing to sell our home. It is my job to collect and research all information and details about your home before listing it. But to help leave a lasting impression here is a little tip that homeowners can prepare to create a lasting memory on potential buyers…

Add a handwritten or typed note, offering the potential home buyers a welcoming feeling into your home and the neighbourhood. This note could include a little about your neighbours, your favorite parks close by, favorite features of the home, pictures of the home in the opposite season, etc. Basically, a short and sweet welcoming message to help paint the more personal side of purchasing a home.

You could even go a step further and focus on the finer details it should only take you a few minutes but have a huge impact! Things you could include in a more detailed piece:

Parks & paths
Favourite pizza or burger spots
Best date night restaurants nearby
Recreational activities in your neighbourhood
Pet-friendly areas
Local annual events – be sure not to miss these!
Fun places to explore when family & friends come to visit
Places of worship
Garbage & recycle day pickups
Home services you may use (snow removal, cleaner etc.)
Babysitter
Neighbours to the left & right (list their first names)

Relocating to a new neighbourhood can be overwhelming (especially if moving from outside of Guelph), so providing a welcoming note will paint a picture that they are already part of the community.

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MAY MARKET REPORT:

Compared to May 2020 you can see our numbers are rising for yet another month this year. I do not see the average sale price decreasing at all in 2021 but I do predict the rate at which it is climbing to level out in the coming months. One reason for this is the change in mortgage rates.

The department of finance has announced at as of June 1st insured mortgages will be given the same stress test as uninsured mortgages. The stress test for both will either be the current rate plus 2% or 5.25%, whichever is greater.

With these tighter rules, what does this mean for you? These new rules are in place simply to protect borrowers in the event of mortgage rates rising, which of course they inevitably will given the current low rate. This will not make a huge impact on borrowing but we encourage you to reach out to a mortgage specialist for more details and information.

Only time will tell if this will impact our strong market in Guelph. I predict over the summer we will see the market soften and see less competition and more reasonable sales numbers. With the stress test now in place, it can affect borrowing power by 3-4% which could ultimately change people’s decision to move.

Stay cool,

Nick

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Your Final Walk-Through: Why It Matters and What to Check

As you approach closing day, there’s one last (and very important) step — the final walk-through. We strongly encourage you to attend this walk-through, typically scheduled the day before closing. This is your opportunity to inspect the property one last time and ensure everything is in the expected condition before the keys officially change hands.

It’s crucial to note: any issues discovered after closing generally become your responsibility to fix. That’s why this step is so important — to protect your investment and avoid any unwelcome surprises when you move in.

To help guide you through the process, we’ve created a comprehensive Final Walk-Through Checklist. I’ll be right there with you to go over everything, but reviewing this list in advance will give you a better understanding of what we’re looking for — and why it matters.

Final Walk-Through Checklist

Take your time and inspect the following:

- Test the heating and air conditioning systems.
- Test all major appliances to ensure they’re working properly.
- Run the garbage disposal and exhaust fans, including the range hood.
- Turn on and off all light fixtures.
- Run water in all sinks and check underneath for leaks.
- Test the garage door openers.
- Open and close all doors to ensure they function properly.
- Flush all toilets.
- Inspect ceilings, walls, and floors for any visible damage.
- Open and close all windows to ensure proper function.
- Check that all personal items and debris have been removed from the home, garage, and any outbuildings like sheds.

What Happens If Something’s Wrong?

If we find anything that isn’t functioning properly or appears damaged, we will:

Document the issue with photos.
Send a detailed description and estimated cost to your lawyer for review.

This process isn’t meant to cause stress — it’s simply a safeguard to ensure you take ownership of a home in the condition you agreed upon. After all, buying a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, and it’s our job to make sure everything goes smoothly right up to the finish line.

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Author: Christina

October To Dos: Getting your home ready for winter

September Market Report