Oct 2010 Newsletter

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HomeHunt with Bruce Johnson

I N T HIS I SSUE : W ELCOME T O T H E N EW H OME H UNT F E ATURED P R O PE R T I E S B R U C E ’ S M ARKET S T A T S T HE B I G P I C T U R E M ARY ’ S S T A GI NG T I P S W ASAGA B EACH & C OLLINGW OOD N EW S

! October 2010 ! TheHomeHunt.com ! Vol. XIV, Issue IX

Bruce Johnson Photo

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HomeHunt

BRUCE

J

OHNSO SALES N REPRE SENTA RE/MA TIVE X of W asaga B each I n c ., B rokera ge PHON E (705) TOLL 429-45 FREE 00 (8 88) 74 1- 8 8 8 8

with Bruce Johnson

October 2010

Welcome to The New Home Hunt

DID YOU MISS US...?

Because we certainly missed you! Back in 1997 when we started our original Window On Wasaga monthly newsletter, it immediately provided us with a direct link to you, our rockstar clients. You wanted market information. We had market information. You wanted timely Wasaga Beach and Collingwood news.

We had timely Wasaga Beach and Collingwood news.

It was the perfect match.

Your Window on Wasaga Beach & Collingwood Real Estate

As the years passed, we happily churned out our little monthly newsletter, allowing us to pass along valuable information to clients as well as satisfying our passion for our former careers in journalism and photography.

And then our business grew larger, as did our young family, and our monthly became a quarterly, and a few years later the quarterly became an annual holiday newsletter you received with your calendars. And it continues to amaze me that people still ask about the old newsletter. “Did you take me off your mailing list?”

So after toying with an automated newsletter which Mary and I found very impersonal, we’ve decided to dust off the printing press (so to speak!) and start the “publishing company” once again. So welcome to The Home Hunt!

We’ve been expecting you...

Fall is upon us. Get out and enjoy the pre-winter weather! * All Photos in this publication are copyrighted by Bruce Johnson 2010

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

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FEATURED PROPERTIES

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Marlwood!

! each B e th Near

MLS # 20105267

$99,900

Here's a superb location to build your Wasaga Beach dream home. This 1/2 acre lot is a short walk to the pristine sand beach yet close to modern conveniences.

Enjoy the enviable position of being able to select which mature trees to leave on the property as you sculpt the lot to suit your needs. Town services available at the property line. Adjoining lot also currently for sale (MLS 20105270) which would be perfect for two families or a builder.

MLS # 20104285

$369,900

All-brick 1,874 sq.ft. Marlwood golf course home with new wide-plank hardwood flooring, new shingles, freshly painted walls and a newer gas furnace. 3 bedrooms on the main floor (master boasts a 4-pc ensuite with separate shower), bright eat-in kitchen, gas fireplace in living rm. Click here for full details: http://web.me.com/brucejohnson/71_Fairway_Crescent

Wasa

ga Sa nds!

SOLD!

MLS # 20103016

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$489,900

This “Mary-staged� property sold in less than two weeks for 99% of the list price.

MLS # 20100743

$138,500

Build your dream home on this massive one acre golf course community lot backing onto forested land overlooking McIntyre Creek in Wasaga Sands Estates.

Easily one of the most desirable lots in this area because you`ll only have one direct neighbour. This beautiful property measures 164 ft by 398 ft. Tucked away on a quiet street of executive-style homes. Town water in & paid for to the lot line. Seller is a licensed realtor.

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

BRUCE’S MARKET INFORMATION BRUCE’S MARKET INFORMATION! Bruce’s

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Residential Listings for September 0

Market Notes:

55

residential listings in the

Collingwood

58

Georgian Triangle for last

Blue Mtn

month was $299,770, down

Tiny Beaches

55 56

from $314,122 for the same

Wasaga Beach

period 12 months ago. There

10 12

110

73

65

2010

were 115 residential sales

83

35 38

Clearview

The average sale price for

28

104

2009

Residential Sales for September

compared to 119 sales 12 months ago. The majority of

0

home sales continues to be

20

Blue Mtn Tiny Beaches

Estate Board. Graphs copyrighted by Bruce

40

17

Collingwood

All data provided by the Georgian Triangle Real

30

11

Clearview

below $300,000.

10

14

23 22 23

4 3

Wasaga Beach

Johnson 2010.

2010

36 35

2009

Housing Market Indicators This Month Same Month Difference in % of Change Last Year

# of units

Remarks

Total Sales

169

188

-19

-10.1%

fewer sales

New Listings

584

616

-32

-5.2%

fewer new listings

2403

2050

353

17.2%

far more listings than 12 months ago

Active Listings

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

BRUCE’S MARKET INFORMATION

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September Sales By Price: 2010 & 2009 13

Under 100,000

14 16

100,000 - 149,999

18 32

150,000 - 199,999 28

200,000 - 249,999 24

250,000 - 299,999

40 36

29

17 17

300,000 - 349,999 350,000 - 399,999

12

7 10 10

400,000 - 499,999 500,000 - 599,999 600,000 - 699,999 700,000 - 799,999

2 2

800,000 - 899,999 0

900,000 - 999,999 1,000,000 - 1,499,999

1 1

4 4

TheHomeHunt.com

5 5 5

Total Sales: September 2010: 169 September 2009: 188

3

2

0 0

1,500,000 +

0

8

16

2010 Month

24

32

40

2009 Month

This chart b reaks down total propert for the previ y sales ous month in to p rice ranges s that the mo o st popular (h ig h e s t s elling) price ranges can q uickly be dete rm in ed. Propertie the $150,000 s in to $250,000 p ri c e ra nges continue to produce the h ig h e st sales volu The mix betw me. een sales of h ig h e rpriced versu lower-priced s properties d ir e c tl y affects th average month e ly selling pri ce.

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

BRUCE’S MARKET INFORMATION Active Listings

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Total Sales - monthly 10%3% 5%

6% 19%

11%

34% 6% 13% 22%

17%

54%

TheHomeHunt.com

Single-Family Home

Single Family Home - Other

Residential - Other

Farm

Vacant Land

Other (I.C. & I.)

Average Sale Price: September 2010/2009 $481,783

$500,000

$433,821 $416,667 $336,386 $270,721

$333,333

$282,673

$242,370

$251,250

$281,167 $250,028

$250,000

$178,000 $166,667

Clearview

$83,333

Collingwood

2010 month

Blue Mtn

Tiny Beaches

2009 month

$0

Wasaga Beach

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

THE BIG PICTURE!

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“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” ~ William Arthur Ward

ard View y k c a B r Ou

Mary Johnson Photo ©

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

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MARY’S STAGING REPORT!

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The Dance of Diplomacy BECAUSE BEING BLUNT JUST DOESN’T CUT IT

Over the years I have learned a thing or two about how to motivate people and in home staging, telling the cold, hard truth is counter-productive. Sellers just need confirmation of what is really important to address and they want easy, low-cost solutions. Before I can stage a home for sale, I give homeowners a detailed plan that gives me a staging-ready property.

Staging-ready simply means 1) Clean and Odour-Free, 2) Clutter and Distraction-Free and 3) Repair and Maintenance-Free.

CLUTTER/DISTRACTIONS: I generally stay away from the word clutter when meeting with clients because it carries quite a load. I think the problem is that clutter is so personal.

Many people feel ashamed and overwhelmed by it and loathe the thought of tackling it. So instead of putting, say, “de-clutter kitchen counters” in a staging report, I give the “what and why” of it by including detail and what we want the buyer to experience: Create an impression of

ODOURS/CLEANLINESS: For example, you’ll never hear me tell a client: “I don’t know how to say this nicely. So I’ll just come right out and say it. Your house stinks.” I may be overheard, however, asking a client: “Do you smell any dampness in here or is it just me?” Then, I immediately follow my observation with a couple of options that will remove the problem for good.

Also, it’s funny but when I explain to clients that the message sent by a spotless, shiny, spa-like bathroom is “Welcome! Nobody has EVER used this bathroom before you!” they really get it. They can put themselves in the buyers’ mind and help the buyer make the mental leap to resale ownership with no reservations. I advise clients: clean mirrors and windows with the intention of letting potential buyers see that this is clearly a great value and a wonderful home.

spaciousness in the kitchen by letting prospective buyers see long, smooth countertops. When the buyers’ eye stops at small kitchen electrics, canisters, your rooster tea cosy, spoon rest and pyramid of vitamins, the space shrinks, the buyer concludes “not enough storage” and the thrill is gone.

REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE: In walking through a seller’s home for the first time, I do notice things that they probably don’t even view as an issue.

Their lives have gone on without fixing

BEFORE AND AFTER

Removing distractions ensured that potential buyers remembered this as the house with the great fireplace in the cozy basement instead of as “the hunter’s den”

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

MARY’S STAGING REPORT

this or sprucing up that, so why not just let the buyer deal with it?

Stager: “Out of curiosity, do you have plans to put a ceiling in downstairs?”

Seller: “Nah, we couldn’t decide on drywall or drop-down ceiling so we figured we’d let the buyer decide.” Six months later, they were still on the market, as buyer after buyer chose a home that did not come with an overwhelming To-Do List.

So how do I motivate people to prioritize issues of repairs and maintenance? If they haven’t dealt with a minor repair issue for quite some time, they need a new way of looking at it. In feng shui speak, “your space reflects your life” – in other words, if your key gets stuck in the front door every time you come home, you can ask yourself

“do I feel stuck in my life these days?” Get literally unstuck with a little WD-40 or a new lockset and interestingly enough, opportunities come flowing in without delay. Checking off each item on their staging checklist results in a real and deserved feeling of pride; sellers now really believe in the value of their property and buyers quickly agree.

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r You

For k As oad R g gin Sta

e Fre ere: H p Ma

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~ Mary

List Your Home With Bruce And Receive...

Click!

BEFORE AND AFTER

Some new deck stain and the removal of toys and clutter breathed new life into this weathered deck

FREE HOME STAGING

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

WASAGA BEACH HAPPENINGS

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NEWS FLASH!

WASAGA OKTOBERFEST

In order to clear the sand bar that is currently blocking the mouth of the Nottawasaga River, Council and staff of the Town of Wasaga Beach wish to notify all residents and mariners that dredging of the mouth of the river began on Tuesday, October 5, 2010. The estimated time frame to complete dredging is two weeks.

The Wasaga Beach Lions Club is hosting their 4th Annual OKTOBERFEST PARTY at the RecPlex on Saturday, October 18th from 7 pm to 1 am.

Mayor Cal Patterson commented that “Council unanimously agreed that in order to provide safe marine travel into the mouth of the river and to clear the sand bar, dredging the mouth of the Nottawasaga River is the best option. Town staff members have undertaken the necessary steps to ensure the channel is re-opened in a timely manner and will be monitoring the dredging process carefully.”

CONTACT INFORMATION:

WASAGA BEACH INFO

Phone: 705-429-3321 Fax: 705-429-3327 Web: wasagabeach.com

Here’s your link to town notices:

The sand accumulation that is currently obstructing the river began over the summer and peaked during the Labour Day weekend resulting in the channel become impassable.

23rd ANNUAL RAINBOW TROUT DERBY Oct 22-24, 2010 visit www.wbfgc.ca for rules and info.

Tickets, which are $20.00 and include the meal, are available at: Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce, IDA Pharmacy and Georgian Family Restaurant.

Wasaga Beach Information

YARD WASTE PICKUP To ensure your leaves are collected, please have them placed out at the roadside on Monday, November 1st, 2010.

The material must be in kraft paper yard waste bags, unwaxed cardboard boxes, or any rigid open top container.

ACCEPTED MATERIALS: Plant material, Leaves, Grass, Pumpkins, Straw bales, Cornstalks

14-day Local Weather Trend

Click Here

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

COLLINGWOOD / BLUE MOUNTAIN HAPPENINGS

TURKEY TENT SALE October 8th to 11th at The Village at Blue APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL FRIDAY 10am-8pm - BVO Charity Silent Auction, plus Cafe, Bountifull Bowls and Certified Blue Mountain Apple Pies (Beaver Valley Community Centre) 12pm, 1:30pm, 6pm - The West Coast Lumberjack Show (Moreau 12pm-6pm - Horse and Wagon Rides (Starts at Moreau Park) SATURDAY 8am-10:30am - Kinettes Pancake Breakfast and Bake Sale (Beaver Valley Community Centre) 10am - Guided Garden Tour Bike Ride (Starts Thornbury Harbour) 10am-4pm - BVO Charity Silent Auction (Beaver Valley Community

11

11am-2pm - Fish Ladder Tours

MONDAY

(Bruce Street North)

10am start - Amazing Race Family Bike Rally (Town Hall near the Bridge)

11am-5pm - Hosted Craft Stations and Children’s Apple Activities (L.E. Shore Library) 12pm, 2pm, 4pm - The West Coast Lumberjack Show (Moreau Park) 12pm-6pm - Horse and Wagon Rides (Starts at Moreau Park) 1pm-4pm - Stained Glass Window Tour (Grace United Church)

Park)

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3pm - LIVE MUSIC - Nicole Scott Band (Moreau Park) SUNDAY

BUILD IT GREEN HOME TOUR Saturday, October 23, 2010 Saturday, October 23, 2010 The Ontario Sustainable Construction & Resource Centre (OSCAR) is pleased to announce the 1st Annual Build it Green Home Tour. The tour will take place in Grey and Bruce County and will visit 3 homes showcasing green technologies. Location: various Website: Click Here

11am-2pm - Fish Ladder Tours (Bruce Street North) 12pm, 2pm, 4pm - The West Coast Lumberjack Show (Moreau Park) 1pm-4pm - Stained Glass Window Tour (Grace United Church)

Centre) The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

JOKES & CONTEST

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THE CLOSING GIFT A client bought a new home and the broker wanted to send flowers for the occasion.

They arrived at the home and the owner read the card. It said: "Rest in Peace."

The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he had told the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry he was, the florist said, "Sir, I'm really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry you should consider this: somewhere there is a funeral taking place today and they have flowers with a note saying, "Congratulations on your new home."

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THE FLOOD A doctor vacationing on the Riviera met an old lawyer friend and asked him what he was doing there.

The lawyer replied, "Remember that lousy real estate I bought? Well, it caught fire, so here I am with the fire insurance proceeds. What are you doing here?"

The doctor replied, "Remember that lousy real estate I had in Mississippi? Well, the river overflowed, and here I am with the flood insurance proceeds."

The lawyer looked puzzled. "Gee," he asked, "how did you start the flood?"

TheHomeHunt Contest!

Test Your Skill!

Who Lives Here?

The First Person to email Bruce wins everlasting glory... and a

A Moving Experience

sweet prize!

Good Luck, HomeHunters!

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

HOMEHUNT HOT LINKS!

Easiest MLS search in the Known Universe!

Simply Click Here:

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MLS Search!

Free Home Staging

Free Market Evaluation

Email Mary

Email Bruce

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

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HomeHunt with Bruce Johnson

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RE/MAX OF WA SA GA BE AC H INC .

BR OK E R A GE

x226 0 0 5 4 9 2 4 705 hnson Mar y Jo ional g Profess in g ta S d Certifie

hnson Bruce Jo ve presentati e R s le a S

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Click for contact info

Click Here for Client Testimonials

仝 仝 仝

Mary Johnson

Bruce Johnson

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc., Brokerage 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 Note: This Publication is copyrighted by Bruce Johnson and The Home Hunt ©2010. Not intended to solicit currently listed properties.