July 15, 2011 Issue 29 by The Real Estate Market Watch

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July 15, 2011 - Vol 29b

P R E S E N T E D

B Y

T H E

G O L F I

T E A M

Rob Golfi Sales Representative

Feature Home WaterFrONt

Grimsby 238 North Service Road

$1,150,000

Custom built 2-storey waterfront property with stunning Lakeviews! Gorgeous hardwood floors, master bedroom with walk out to balcony & gas fireplace w/rich hotel style ensuite, soaring 10ft ceilings, large designer kitchen w/granite, great big windows. Shows like a dream.

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The GOLFI TEAM Real Estate Market Watch

About Rob Golfi

ince the inception of his career in 1997, Rob Golfi has recognized that understanding his clients’ needs is essential to providing excellent service. As business grew, Rob assembled the Golfi Team in an effort to maintain the same level of professionalism clients have come to expect. Shortly thereafter in 2003, the team received the prestigious honour of being among the top 100 Real Estate Teams for RE/MAX Canada, and this status continues to date. Rob’s experience and aggressive negotiating skills have earned him every major honour awarded by RE/MAX, including President’s Club, 100% Club, Platinum Club, Chairman’s Club, Hall of Fame in 2003, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, his SRES® designation in 2009 and the Diamond Club Award in 2010. Having worked with

am mails e t i lf o G e h t

65,000 ly! atch month

many of the industry’s professionals over the years, he has the necessary edge to best negotiate the sale of your home. Any agent can list your house, but Rob’s knowledge, extensive marketing background and dedication gives clients peace of mind when dealing with the single most important investment in their lives. With years of combined experience, the Golfi Team can provide your home with a level of exposure that most agents cannot. Utilizing a team approach also means that they will likely find a purchaser to buy your home sooner, rather than waiting for other agents to approach you with potential buyers. Ranked in the top 5 of nearly 2,000 sales agents in the Hamilton-Burlington and Niagara areas, listing with Rob and the Golfi Team is the right choice when choosing someone to represent your best interest. -Å

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July 15, 2011

ar ketW M e h t f o s copie to expose y a w r e t t e b there is no mar ket! e h t o t e m o your h

More Buyers… More Offers… MOre MONeY $$$ ask us How! exposure to Gta & Out of to wn Buyer s!

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Maximum Exposure Sells Your Home Call the Golfi Team to get your Home Sold

905-945-0188 www.golfiteam.com The GOLFI TEAM is ranked in the Top 100 Re/Max Teams in Canada.

www. GolfiTeam .com

7 9 1 4 2 5 3 8 6

3 5 7 9 4 6 8 2 1

4 1 8 2 3 7 5 6 9

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July 15, 2011

The GOLFI TEAM Real Estate Market Watch

Page 3

Grimsby, Lincoln & West Lincoln Area

Rob Golfi*

BUNGaLOW

West lincoln $265,000 1786 Victoria Ave.

Grimsby $249,900 95 Sumner Crescent

Grimsby $319,900 14 Marlow Avenue

beamsville $241,900 5120 Conner Drive

Country living at its best sitting on over an acre of private treed lot in fantastic location. Features cathedral ceilings, oversized family room with fireplace, country-style kitchen with plenty of cupboards, fully finished basement.

3 bedroom home beautifully maintained & decorated! Features maple kitchen cabinets w/breakfast bar, hardwood floors, master bedroom with upgraded ensuite, access to backyard through garage, roughed in bath in basement and bedroom level laundry.

Custom-built 3 bedrm bungalow, open & inviting floor plan w/gorgeous hardwood, spacious kitchen w/breakfast bar and sliding doors leading out private fenced back yard, large master bedrm w/ensuite and double garage with 4-car drive. Near schools, parks and quick access to QEW.

Fabulous end unit freehold Bungalow 1,110 sqft! 90 day closing avail. Come & visit our model home & be wowed on this Energy Guide & Tested Home. Incl great size bedroomss w/3 pc ensuite off master, kitchen area overlooking family rm, attached to next unit only at garage.

WaterFrONt

eSCarPMeNt

Grimsby $1,150,000 238 North Service Road

beamsville $236,000 5126 Conner Drive

beamsville $399,900 5158 King Street West

2 storey freehold town home 1386 sq ft. Similar to be built. 90 day closing avail. Incl. great sized Bedrooms w/3pc ensuite & walk in closet off master, kit w/breakfast area overlooking famrm, attached to neighbouring unit at garage w/access from garage to rear yard, & min to all amenities.

Beautiful century home w/original woodwork, large sun filled porch, country style kitchen, inlaw apartment in basement, finished loft w/bathroom, mostly updated vinyl windows, furnace ’05, private landscaped backyard, & oversized 2 car garage, plus more.

Grimsby

$749,900 177 Ridge Road

5.19 acres nestled onto the Niagara Escarpment, completely redone top to bottom, inside and out, slate & hardwd flring, new designer kitchen with stylish appliances, in flr heating in bathrm, 70 pot lights, patterned concrete porch w/exterior fireplace.

WaterVIeW

smithville $349,900 22 Cherry Ave

Grimsby $269,900 446 Main Street West

4+1 Bedroom 2008 home, 2.5 baths with an incredible floor plan & boasts pride of ownership, great room w/showcase fireplace & cathederal ceilings, large country kitchen with lots of cupboards & counter space, & a beautiful family neighbourhood. Well worth seeing!

Fabulous ½ acre property backs onto green space. 4 bedrm home & 25x35' oversized garage/workshop, affordable enough to build new or renovate. This home offers new shingles & furnace ‘03, beautiful cast iron fireplace, lots of parking space, and easy access to QEW.

Grimsby

$599,900 88 Lake Street

beamsville $339,900 4846 Northgate Crescent

Incredible 2300 sqft home faces Nelles Beach & Lake Ontario. This updated home features a new maple kitchen, granite, travertine tiles, hardwd & bamboo floors, updated bathrms w/designer tiles, family room with fireplace, shingles ‘05, new eaves & facia ’10, furnace & Central air ’07.

This 2007 home offers 2050 sqft of Beauty. Features 3 lrg BRs, 2.5 baths, computer loft, oak staircase, Master bedrm w/double walk in closets, luxury ensuite w/soaker tub & separate shower, california shutters throughout, great room w/hrdwd floors & gas fireplace, & quick access to QEW.

WaterFrONt

Grimsby $219,900 24 Kenyon Cres., Unit 43

Grimsby $309,900 35 Victoria Terrace

beamsville $319,900 5123 Crimson King Way

beamsville $339,900 4092 Mountain Street

BEAUTIFUL END UNIT! 2 bedroom bungalow only 7yrs old. Hrdwd,ceramic flrs & backsplash in eat-in kitchen, laundry hook-up on main level & professionally finished bsmt w/full 2nd bthrm. Quiet sought after complex w/quick access to the QEW & new YMCA.

Waterfront with total privacy including pebble beach. Lots of potential & character! Ideal for someone to renovate or tear down for new home. This home includes bright sunroom w/original tall french doors, living room w/high ceilings & gas fireplace, & vacant lot ideal for an addition.

Fantastic value in this 4 bedrm 2 storey home located in quiet neighbourhood, features spacious eat in kitchen with island, dinette with sliding doors leading to private deck and fence yard. Sunken family rm, partially finished basement. Maintenance free front yard.

Want quality, this house is for you! This one flr plan incl. $20,000 in extras, California knock down ceilings, rounded corners, 120 sq.ft. of hrdwd flrs, upgraded trim package, maple kit, asphalt drv & much more! Approx 1445 sq.ft. similar to be built.

WaterFrONt

Grimsby $749,900 2 Seventh Street

Grimsby $234,900 111 Willow Lane

beamsville $649,900 5225 Greenlane

Custom built 5yrs new home, with 125 ft of Ledgerock shore protection and walkdown to waterfront. Beautiful kitchen with granite counters and built-in stainless steel appliances, pine plank floors, 4 levels of decking, facing the lake. Fully finished basement. Truly a dream!

END UNIT TOWNHOUSE! 2 BR Losani built townhouse w/ceramics & upgraded carpet. This home offers great views of the escarpment & an open concept floor plan. Garage has inside entry into basement & basement has walk out to backyard.

Hobby farm, 3.27 accre immaculate apple farm could earn $30-$45,000 per year. Close to all conveniences. Home features oak trim, 2 fireplaces, underground sprinkler system, 2 large coolers, sandy soil, close to QEW. Great opportunity!

Call Today 905-945-0188

Grimsby

$1,490,000 143 Lake Street

Fabulous waterfront property! Custom built 3000 sq ft home with Lake views every room. Maple hardwood floors, granite counters, master suite with access to back deck, ensuite and walkin shower. Handicap adaptable!

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The GOLFI TEAM Real Estate Market Watch

July 15, 2011

Facts About GOLFI… 3 Over $50 Million in Sales Annually** 3

#1 Real Estate Office in Hamilton-Burlington Region*

3 Top Re/Max® Sales Representative in Ontario* 3 Golfi Team ranked Top 50 in Canada for Re/Max** 3 Golfi Team ranked Top 100 in the world for Re/Max**

1998

2003

2006

2010

OVER $400 MILLION IN REAL ESTATE SALES *#1 Brokerage in the Realtors Association of Hamilton Burlington MLS from 1994 to 2010 consecutively. **Year End Standings for 2010, based on residential commissions paid. Rankings are compiled from figures submitted by regional offices.

LOOK WHat We'Ve SOLD! D SOL

erS F F O Le P I Lt - MU

D L O S

aYS D 3 IN 1

D L O S

aYS D 7 IN 3

aYS D 4 N3

IS OF L % 8 Or 9 F D SOL

stoney creek $269,900 131 Memorial Avenue

Grimsby $269,900 17-163 Livingston Avenue

Grimsby $319,900 22 Farrell Drive

smithville $249,900 30 Anderson Crescent

Updated 3 bedroom home in desirable location. Updates in last 3 yrs include kitchen, furnace/A/C, basement, pool liner, breakers, lighting, flooring (laminate, some carpet) garage door & more. Enjoy the pool in the backyard w/ a covered patio.

Beautiful 7 yrs new well kept end unit shows like a dream! Features gorgeous hardwd floors in living room w/3-sided gas fireplace, gourmet kitchen w/maple cabinetry & breakfast bar. Master bedrm w/ensuite, finished rec-rm w/2 pc bath, fenced yard, close to amenities.

Charming 3+1 family home in Grimsby. Spacious family room, hardwood floors, finished basement w/plenty of storage, hobby room, main floor laundry, central vac, garage door opener, newer roof, updated bathrooms, & alarm system $20 a month. Close to amenities.

Quiet location. Fantastic 1 storey home awaits you. Step inside to a 3 bed home with updated ceramic flooring, roof, lighting, kitchen countertop. Lower level is an entertainer’s dream w/ games room and rec room. All appliances are included and quick closing available.

D SOL

aYS D 8 IN 2

beamsville $289,900 5065 Silverbirch Lane Beautiful 3+2 raised ranch! Open concept kitchen, dining and living room. Kitchen with granite counters, fully finished basement with inlaw set up, large deck with a fully fenced yard and interlock patio. A Must see!

t LIS F O 8% 9 Or F D SOL

Your house will get noticed FIRST when listed by the Guy who gets noticed the MOST!

Call Rob Golfi Today! t LIS F O 9% 9 FOr D L SO

OUr O Dt SOL

er Y U HB CaS

t LIS F %O 0 0 1 Or F D SOL beamsville $329,900 4052 Hixon Street 3+1 bedroom bungalow with oversized double car garage. Hardwood floors, cathedral ceilings in living/dining room, large bright kitchen overlooking landscaped backyard, beautifully finished basement with full bathroom, bedroom, den and rec-rm with gas fireplace.

t LIS F O 8% 9 FOr D L SO

stoney creek $205,900 2-618 Barton Street

hamilton $299,900 77 Ward Avenue

stoney creek $424,900 739 Ridge Rd.

Grimsby $219,900 22 Pleasant Grove

Immaculate home shows like a dream! Beautiful decor, hrdwd & ceramics throughout, bright kit w/ceramic backsplash, in-law suite down stairs w/full bath & mini kit, master suite w/walk in closet & ensuite, updated windows & shingles.

Fabulous investment property with an easy walking distance to Mac! Features 6 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, and 2 kitchens. Appliances are included, and students pay for the utilities. Home is in fantastic condition and has been freshly painted and cleaned. 3 students returning.

Extraordinary bungalow sitting on large lot w/incredible view of the city. Features oak kitchen cabinets w/bay window, sunken living rm w/fp, din rm w/hrdwd flring leading to resort style back yrd w/panoramic view, beautiful landscaping & newer shingles (’05).

Beautifully kept 2 storey freehold town house with open concept main floor, finished basement, newer flooring, 3 bedrooms with lots of closet space and 2 bathrooms. New carpet and recently redone 2nd bathroom. Large deck with 8 person hot tub and private back yard. shingles 2005, central air and central vacuum.

Call Today 905-945-0188

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Hamilton & Stoney Creek Rob Golfi*

hamilton $136,900 277 Balmoral Avenue North

stoney creek $524,900 101 Bridgenorth Crescent

binbrook $434,900 108 Valiant Circle

stoney creek $322,900 174 Highland Road West

All brick home features many updates including windows, shingles, soffits, facia & exterior doors updated in the last 5 yrs, country-style pine kitchen with breakfast bar, landscaped fenced yard. 3 bedroom home can easily be converted back to 2. Fantastic value close to all amenities.

Outstanding Lakepointe 4 bedrm home shows to perfection! Features incredible floor plan w/3270 sqft., gorgeous hardwd flrs, grand foyer w/oak stair case & wrought iron spindles, classic style kitchen w/breakfast bar, & lots of pot lights. Shows like a dream!

Amazing 4 bedroom Losani “Woodhaven Traditional’ family home. Large premium lot. Loads of upgrades including kitchen, windows, wider garage, front door, cabinets, fire place, rounded corners, patio door to rear yard.

Well maintained! This 3+1 bdrm, 4 level backsplit is located in a great family neighbourhood. Features all new carpets, french doors, upgraded light fixtures, oak kitchen cabinets, furnace ’07, fenced & landscaped backyard. Close to schools, shopping & Red Hill.

stoney creek $319,900 1323 Baseline Road

stoney creek $349,900 179 First Road West

hamilton mtn $229,900 #1, 1809 Upper Wentworth St.

binbrook, on $289,900 266 Fall Fair Way

Beautiful 3 BR brick bungalow! Oak kitchen cabinets, open concept kit. overlooking LR & DR, circular oak staircase, Mbed w/4 pc ensuite & walkout, spacious bedrms, concrete walkways & patio, fully fenced private yard, rough-in central vac & close to Fifty Point Conservation.

3 Bedrm with updates! Beautiful hardwood in family rm with gas fireplace, central vacuum, gorgeous oak staircase, finished rec-rm in basement, 3 large bedrms, beautifully landscaped yard, patterned concrete drive, new shingles & furnace & C/A '09, & new windows 2011.

WOW! Fantastic 2 storey condo townhouse. Open concept main floor living with hardwood. Bedroom level has large master suite w/dble closet, ensuite bath and 2 add'tl bedrms. Lower level has beautifully finished recrm & laundry room.

3 bedroom Branthaven townhome on premium corner lot in Binbrook Fairgrounds. Eat-in kitchen w/ceramics, hrdwd in LR/DR w/walkout to deck, beautifully landscaped yard, finished basemt w/soundproofed theatre room completely wired for enhanced surround sound. Just move in!

hamilton central $169,900 12 Arthur Avenue South

hamilton central $212,900 29 Barnesdale Ave. South

hamilton mtn $176,900 606 Fennell Ave. East

hamilton mountain $299,900 746 Limeridge Road East

Fully renovated, 3+1 bedroom home or 2+1 w/extra main floor room for potential home office/daycare. 2 new bathrms, huge kitchen, updated shingles ('11), windows ('11), furnace & central air (under 5 yrs), 100 amp breakers, double rear drive, and fenced yard.

Beautiful large family home. Excellent possible income w/3rd floor, apartment ($550 Inc.) Complete w/steel fire escape & separate entrance. Quality vinyl windows, original hardwood, cement side drive for 3 cars. TLC will make this beauty shine!

4 bedroom, 1-1/2 storey home with hardwood floors. Oversized single car garage. Needs some TLC. Great price, great location. Close to all amenities. Immediate possession available. Call us today at 905-575-7700.

Well kept, all brick home features 3 bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths, large master bedroom with ensuite and walk in closet. New roof (’11), most windows (’10), washroom in (’11), skylight (’04) & more. Close to schools, parks, shopping & Linc. Fin. basement, ceramic floors, large fenced backyard.

hamilton mountain $239,900 22 Kenwood Crescent

east hamilton $279,900 85 Bow Valley

east hamilton $474,900 24 Hildegard Drive

stoney creek $424,900 35 Riviera Ridge

Immaculate 3 bedroom with fully finished basement. Spacious living room & dining room. Eat-in kitchen has been updated and boasts ample counter space & cupboards. Updated vinyl windows, concrete drive & patio in fenced yard.

Built on a quiet street w/open & inviting floor plan. Backs onto escarpment. Brazilian cherry hrdwd flrs, porcelain tiles, gas fireplace, oversized rooms, freshly painted, in-law set-up w/2nd kitchen & bath, mostly updated vinyl windows & doors, & upper level balcony.

4+1 bdrm in prestigious loc’n! Fresh paint & crown mouldings. Plus porcelain tile, kulm hrdwd, main flr. den, lrg eat-in kit, livin rm, sep. dining rm & main flr. laun. New shingles (08) & undergrnd sprinkler system.

3+1 bedroom all brick bungalow located near Huntington park area. Features include updated kitchen, bath, laminates and ceramics throughout, newer windows & doors, furnace ’10, eaves, sofit & facia ‘08, and a fully finished basement.

stoney creek $239,900 78-485 Green Road 3 bedroom, 2 storey townhome features spacious master bedroom with ensuite & walk-in closet, hardwood floors in living room & dining room & gas fireplace. Property backs onto complex park with quick access to QEW. Available for immediate possession! Act now!

WaterFrONt LOt

WaterFrONt CONDO

stoney creek $289,900 136 Green Road

stoney creek $449,900 Windemere Road

stoney creek $249,900 1204-500 Green Road

Incredible home sitting on a beautiful treed lot, most updates in 2002, great big sunny bedrooms with master bedroom on main floor with ensuite, country style kitchen overlookd back yard, finished high & dry basement with 3pc bath, new furnace, concrete drive, Close to all amenities.

The property is private with a Muskoka feel! Park-like grounds. Substantial breakwall, multilevel decking and tremendous unobstructed waterfront views. Every season a postcard, check it out today and start packing!

Waterfront luxury unit, 3 BR condo with incredible views of Lake Ontario, approx 1400 sqft. 2 baths, insuite laundry, beautiful oak kitchen cabinets with ceramic floors, new furnace 2002, new carpeting, fabulous amenities.

Call Today 905-575-7700

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The GOLFI TEAM Real Estate Market Watch

July 15, 2011

Vacation Checklist: What To Do When Your Home's Alone

ou're finally taking the household on a welldeserved vacation. You've arranged to board the dog, and Aunt Martha will babysit the bird. There's one more precaution to take--safeguarding your home. Fortunately, many of the steps required (absent installing an alarm system) only require elbow grease and a bit of forethought before you hit the road. Here's a suggested checklist to follow: 1. Stop mail and newspaper delivery. Nothing screams "no one is home" louder than a stack of newspapers on the front porch. If there's a likelihood that packages could ar-rive while you're away, notify delivery services like UPS, Fed Ex, to hold them so that your front door won't be marked with delivery slips. And, under no circumstance, post "take all deliveries to our next-door neighbor" on your door! 2. If shrubs, trees or bushes block the view of any windows or doors, trim them back. Homes that are set back a

distance from the street and/or have heavy, concealing foli-age are more likely to be a burglar's welcome target. Don't let your answering machine tell the world you're gone. A generic message like "we can't come to the phone right now" sends fewer adverse signals than "we're not home" or "we're on vacation in the Bahamas". (Remember â&#x20AC;&#x153;Home Aloneâ&#x20AC;?) Move small valuables to a safe deposit box as well as any credit cards you won't be using. If possible, move larger valuables (like silver, stereo systems, etc.) to a friend or relative's home for safekeeping. Many police departments have property protection programs that etch valuables with your driver's license number. If you can video tape your possessions and place the tape in your safe deposit box, you'll have additional documentation in case of theft or fire. (It's also a great way to prove value for contest-ing insurance

company settlements). Use timers on several lights throughout the house. If possible, place at least one outside light on a timer as well. Leave draperies open a bit, especially on upper-level floors that aren't easily visible. Check all windows (especially on the ground-level floor) to make sure there are no broken panes or loose latches. Deadbolts on exterior doors do deter burglars, as do "Beware of Dog" signs. If you have an extra door key hidden under an outside mat or rock, move it. If it's easy for you to get to, it's equally easy for a thief. If your car will be visible on the property, make sure to remove your garage door opener from it. Amazing as it seems, entire households of furniture have been loaded in moving vans and driven away during a homeowner's absence. Notify at least one neighbor of your trip and/or a representative from "Neighborhood Watch" (if applicable) in your area. Provide a way to

contact you in case of emergency, either by phone or by loca-tions on your itinerary. Additionally, ask the neighbor to query anyone approaching the house while you're gone. 8. Check with your local police department. They may have a program to drive by homes, test locks, and walk into back yards. 9. Have a trusted neighbor hold a spare key. In one case, an unoccupied home had a leak which allowed thousands of gallons of water to accumulate. Had someone simply gone into the house before the owners returned extensive damage could have been avoided. 10. Prepay bills -- it won't do much for household safety but it will allow you to enjoy your vacation more fully. For just a few dollars and several hours of your time, you'll have greater peace of mind that your home and possessions will be safe, sound, and less likely to catch the attention of a burglar.

Year-to-Date Statistics P R E S E N T E D

B Y

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G O L F I

Based on sales data from June 2010 to June 2011, REALTORS Association of Hamilton-Burlington

T E A M

YTD Comparison June 2011 / June 2010

Listed YTD

Expired YTD

Sold YTD

Average Selling Price

Average Days on Market

Selling % of List Price

GRIMSBY LWR (DISTRICT 54)

2011 2010

278 318

40 55

196 206

$306,785 $319,962

60 45

98% 98%

GRIMSBY MTN (DISTRICT 55)

2011 2010

33 31

4 5

21 18

$478,674 $379,944

89 50

95% 97%

STONEY CRK MTN (DISTRICT 50)

2011 2010

181 214

17 21

135 143

$300,248 $289,677

48 44

98% 98%

STONEY CRK LWR (DISTRICT 51)

2011 2010

514 578

76 98

337 373

$291,479 $285,552

59 54

97% 97%

EAST HAMILTON (DIST. 23,24,27,28,29)

2011 2010

584 595

92 86

416 395

$185,051 $179,228

48 42

96% 97%

HAMILTON MTN (DIST. 15,16,17,18,25,26)

2011 2010

1345 1426

161 131

949 1075

$249,891 $248,450

46 42

97% 98%

HAMILTON CTRL. (DIST. 13,14,20,21,22)

2011 2010

861 1030

200 181

559 610

$150,882 $149,638

54 43

96% 96%

BURLINGTON (DIST. 30 to 36 & 38)

2011 2010

2322 2578

166 210

1845 1912

$411,311 $385,220

35 32

98% 98%

LINCOLN (DISTRICT 94)

2011 2010

178 222

38 43

99 138

$272,098 $271,025

82 55

97% 97%

SMITHVILLE (DISTRICT 57)

2011 2010

63 124

17 26

43 61

$244,278 $259,480

75 82

98% 97%

W. LINCOLN (DISTRICT 56,58)

2011 2010

56 40

14 10

35 20

$315,109 $338,040

88 68

96% 99%

AREA

Your house will get noticed FIRST when listed by the Guy who gets noticed the MOST!

Call Rob Golfi Today! Call Today 905-575-7700

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July 15, 2011

The GOLFI TEAM Real Estate Market Watch

Sell your Home FAST! by: Sheri Gamble Details Event Coordination Inc.

Home Staging is the new way to sell your home fast! Here are tried and true home staging tips to help you sell your home faster. 1. Grimy bathroom walls are a major red flag to buyers. An easy way to get rid of surface mold: Mix a spray bottle with one part water and one part bleach. Just spray it on the wall and watch the mold disappear. Give it a fresh coat of paint and your grimy bathroom will go from redflag to red-hot. 2. Don’t replace a dirty shower door — just scour it. A grimy glass shower door can really wash out your sale. Instead of replacing it, clean it with a mixture of one part muriatic acid and about 10 parts water. Scrub with steel wool. 3. Avoid dated tile by painting. Bathrooms sell houses, but dated tile in a bathroom doesn’t. A low-cost alternative to replacing the tile is to use paint. First coat the tiles with a high-adhesion primer. Next, brush on a special ceramic epoxy covering. For a fraction of the cost of new tile, you will have an upto-date bathroom that brings in big bucks. 4. Pedestal sinks are a big hit with buyers. They show off square footage in small bathrooms beautifully. First, your old vanity has to go. Next, just hook up your new sink and your bathroom will have dramatic appeal that brings in big bucks. Plus, buyers will see how much floor space your bathroom has. 5. A master bedroom should appeal to both sexes. When you are selling, your master bedroom should appeal to buyers of both sexes. Get rid of features that seem too gender-specific. Paint the walls a neutral color and choose bedding that matches. Then accessorize with items that complement the overall color scheme. 6. Do you have an overpowering brick fireplace that sticks out like a sore thumb? Here’s an easy way to tone it down with paint. Use a rag or brush to rub a light coat of paint on the bricks, one at a time. This will give them a new tone without covering them completely. And, if you use a paint color that matches the walls, your fireplace will go from sticking out to standing out.

Updating an old fireplace screen is a cheap (and quick) fix. After removing the screen and wiping it down to get rid of the dust, mask off the windows so you won’t get paint on them. Then, using a can of heat-resistant spray paint, give the screen a facelift. Hold the can about 18 inches away, and use long, even strokes. For less than $5, you will have a fireplace screen that’ll keep your sale from going up in smoke.

Turn an unattractive fireplace into a selling feature. Need to turn an unattractive fireplace into a selling feature? First, that dated brass screen has got to go. Next, give the fireplace a good cleaning, scrubbing it with soap and water. Then, using a stone colorenhancer, polish the bricks to make them shine. In no time you will have a fireplace that will turn your house into the hottest property on the block.

Stain dated kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them. Dated kitchen cabinets can be a big turnoff to potential buyers. Instead of paying big bucks to replace them, just stain them. First, apply the stain in even strokes, going with the grain of the wood. Add some stylish new hardware, and your kitchen will have the up-to-date look that buyers love, for less than $200.

10. Stainless-steel appliances are definitely in with buyers. Instead of buying a new dishwasher, here is a low-cost way to reface an old one: First, remove the front panels and clean them. Next, apply a stainless-steel stick-on covering, and cut it to size. Home Staging is the best investment you’ll make when looking to sell your home.

Sheri Gamble and Gwen Kennedy are Home Stagers and Event Planners with Details Event Coordination. They can be reached at 905.632.2602 or via email at sheri@detailseventco.com or gwen@detailseventco.com. Visit their website at www.detailseventco.com

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Good Neighbour…Bad Neighbour

pparently, some people have no idea how to be good neighbors. In fact, some people are very bad neighbors and have no clue how to live next to others successfully at all. Below are the Top 10 ways to be a good neighbor, the Ten Commandments of the Cul-de-Sac, as it were. 1. Mow your lawn Seriously. It's not a "wilderness area". You want to save the planet, great, but dropping my property value in half because you can't roll off the couch long enough to follow your mower around just isn't working for the rest of us. Hire a neighborhood kid if you're comfortable with your body weight, but get that wild growth cut down. Rent a goat and tie it to a stake. I don't really care. But you're making the whole street look bad. 2. For Pete’s sake, shut that dog up I swear I wish the Mob offered hitdog services sometimes. There is nothing worse than trying desperately to get some sleep and having to listen to someone's dog all night. I mean, if I thought that a dog was actually barking at a burglar, I'd be fine with that. Most of the time it's just barking at some dumb cat, or it's barking at some other mouthy mutt. The doggy network around a neighborhood can really get tuned up; they all get in on it and the barks start coming from literally everywhere. Really. So shut your pooch's pie-hole before I let the Mafia in on my awesome hitdog idea. Bring Rover inside if you're one of those people who "don't hear him when he barks." Let him sleep with you since you love him so much. I know none of your neighbors do. 3. Park in front of your own house I get "having company." No problem. You have a big party and people park in front of my house... no problem, I get it. That's why I am such a great neighbor to have. However, don't park your twenty-two year old Toyota Turdmobile outside my front door just because you have nowhere else for it to go. Get rid of it if you don't drive it anymore. Give it to charity. And if your kid is driving it, well... See, unbelievable as this might sound, I like to have company over to my house too, and they get tired of having to walk four miles to visit us because you and your sixty-four kids have filled up the entire street parking all your cars. Tell that enormous herd you spawned to park their cars somewhere else besides right in front of me. (Yes, I know it's a public street, but as you may recall, this top 10 list is about common courtesy. What is legal is not always the same as what is right.) 4. Invite me to your party, or at least give fair warning first If you're going to fill up the street with cars and have that DJ blasting his incredible wit out into the universe through speakers bigger than a cow, then at least give me a bit of warning first. Let me know so that maybe I can plan to be out of town. Or at least go check into a hotel. Or even better, invite me. If you're going to deprive me of sleep until who knows what A.M., the least you could do is offer to entertain me while I am forced to be awake. Feed me. Let me drink your beer. Something. Just show some courtesy. 5. Deal drugs somewhere else Ok, I admit I've never had this problem, but I hear it all the time. People selling drugs, sometimes right off of their front lawn. Dude, I get that drug culture exists and all that. Fine. However, is there any chance you could just, you know, take that somewhere else? Or at the very least inside? I know you're all scary and stuff, but you do realize that, fear of reprisals and all, at some point I'm still going to turn you in, right? (Woops, big word up there, my bad. I'll help you out. Ree-prize-all: it's what you guys do when someone ‘snitches', yo.) So, yeah, go away. Your neighbors will thank you.

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6. Turn your music down That great stereo you bought rocks. So does your sweet surround-sound. It's awesome. It's so awesome that it shakes the glasses off my shelf. It's even worse if we live in an apartment complex too. It's so loud, I can't read. I can't sleep. I can't even watch TV if my speakers aren't as big as yours. So stop. Don't be responsible for the annihilation of our world. That's totally unneighborly. 7. Turn your music up If you make so much noise when you are having, umm, some form of "romance" that you wake me up, then you are allowed to ignore rule number 6 above. I don't care how good a lover you are or how much your partner really likes to yell. Whatever it is, nobody wants to hear it. (Hey, no faking either, we're not going to buy it if you try to use that as an excuse for skipping number 6 all the time. Nobody has that much energy. We will know if you try to lie.) 8. Take your garbage out Pretty simple, really. The dead animal stench coming from your rotting garbage makes everyone want to puke, particularly those of us down wind. Same goes for the three foot layer of dog feces you haven't bothered to scoop up off of your back lawn. Take Fido for a walk or something. What's wrong with you? 9. Slow down - You drive too fast I realize you may not have kids. Maybe you do, and you just don't like them very much. Who knows? But the thing is, the rest of us like our kids pretty well. Heck, some of us might even like your kids too. The thing with kids is, especially the little ones, well, they're just not all that smart. They do dumb stuff like run out unexpectedly from between cars, or maybe ride their bicycles in the street. I know, I hear ya, pretty annoying, true; but, well, it's just a reality of life. Good parents keep an eye on their kids, I understand, but, the fact is that good parenting is kind of like the drug enforcement thing I mentioned up above: probably not going to happen. So, in the meantime, if you could ease off the gas while you're rocketing through the neighborhood, that'd be great. Thanks. 10. Fix the Fence This is my pet peeve. I swear if I have to fix our fence alone one more time I'm going to shoot myself with the staple gun. We have tremendous winds here sometimes and fences are always blowing down. If you are my neighbor and our fence blows down, get your ass out here and help me put that thing back up. Ok, look, I get that maybe fence building isn't your thing, or you might not even be able to do that kind of work. I seriously have no problem with that. But you know what you can do? You can fork over some money for the materials and any equipment that WE have to rent. Yeah, that's right, stuff that WE, me and you, need to build OUR fence back up, even if I'm doing all the work. Wood, concrete, nails, maybe a posthole digger and other kinds of tools - they don't come cheap. Don't make me pay for them AND do all the labour too. That's just wrong. Summation So there you go. 10 easy-to-follow rules that will help make your neighborhood a better place. I'm sure there are other items that you can think of that might take the place of one or another of these on my list, but in my experience, these are the big ones that just keep coming up. Living by these might seem a matter of simple courtesy for some of us, but apparently many people live in a bubble or else they just don't give a hoot. But, well, maybe this will help them see the error of their ways. I know I'm holding my breath. How about you?

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