Neutralize Colours

Neutral colours will allow buyers to project their own ideas into a room. Think of your walls as a blank canvas for a buyer to turn it into the home they dream of.  A fresh coat of paint goes a long way and often is the best return on investment in terms of minimal money spent and overall impact.

Minor Fix-Ups

Buyers formulate a quick first impression as soon as they see your home. Items that show wear and tear should be looked after. This includes squeaky closet doors, loose door handles, leaky faucets etc… Small fixes can go a long way. Remember the goal is to not have the buyer wondering if your home has bigger issues that they need to worry about!

Your Kitchen & Bathrooms

There are minor things that can be done to improve on these rooms. Replace hardware if outdated, apply fresh caulking where needed, update faucets or lighting. Don’t forget to clean your appliances inside and out. These rooms really need to shine!

Your Floors

This can be a tricky one to navigate. Whatever your floors are, make sure they are as clean as can be (carpet vacuumed and in some cases steam cleaned). There are instances where removing carpet will be a good idea. This can sometimes depend on each situation and guidance from a real estate professional will be critical.

Create Space

Start your packing early. Remove anything unneeded and unnecessary from all rooms of the house (knickknacks, extra furniture, personal items). This will create more space and will help allow the buyers to visualize their own furnishings in the different rooms. Don’t forget about your closets, your basement and your garage.

Curb Appeal

When a buyer first sees your house, you want them to be enticed to continue on in. Their very first impression starts outside your front door. Depending on the season you are selling in, snow should be shovelled or grass should be mowed. This is basic stuff, but it is often overlooked. Remember your home needs to look inviting both inside and out!

Count on a Pro!

Selling your home is a big decision! This process should be handled with care and expertise. Being ready to go to market goes beyond a “For Sale” sign on the lawn. Sometimes it takes an experienced eye to help you catch the things you might miss, and make your home look the best!

Would it be a bad idea to have an experienced professional on your side?
You can always give me a call to get the help you need!

Know your Numbers

There is absolutely no sense in home shopping until you know what you can actually afford! Visit with a mortgage professional and get yourself pre-approved. Keep in mind the additional expenses that go along with home ownership such as property taxes, utilities and maintenance costs. There are also various closing charges and legal fees to consider.

Start saving for your down payment and moving expenses.
Bottom Line: check with the professionals and don’t be caught off guard!

Work With An Agent

A good agent will guide you through the home buying process and keep you informed every step of the way. In most cases, the seller pays the real estate commission for both their own agent and the buyer’s agent. This means you have the benefit of expert advice without this additional fee. They will also be a great resource for recommending other industry professionals you will need along the way (mortgage broker, home inspector, lawyer) etc…

Your agent will work with you to find the right home and walk you though the purchase paperwork as well as see you right
through to the finish line!

Keep A Level Head

Many people get caught up in their emotions and stress about paint colours or flooring. This is a big financial purchase so the location, size and layout should be paramount. It is almost never a good idea to skip the home inspection even in a heated market as you don’t want any surprises with major components of the home (roof, plumbing, furnace, hot water tank). You have to balance patience with your ability to be decisive when you find a great home for a good value. Stay calm and be wise!

Stalk The Neighbourhood

The house itself won’t be so perfect if you find out you actually hate the area or that the nearest school doesn’t meet your standards. Drop by the area morning, noon and night. This might paint a clearer picture as to what you can expect while keeping your lifestyle in mind. Where are the closest grocery stores or other key amenities? If possible, try the commute from the neighbourhood to your work
place. The worst thing would be to move in and figure out you really can’t stand the sound of the passing train every 30 minutes. Research and do
your due diligence!

Don’t Try and Time the Market

No one has a crystal ball so don’t obsess about the exact right time to buy. Real estate can be cyclical… it goes up and it goes down and it goes back up again. So, if you try to wait for the perfect time, you’re probably going to miss out. A good time to buy is when you find a suitable house in your desired area that you can realistically afford. Keep an open mind during your house hunt and try to enjoy the
process!

Ask Questions, Get Answers

Do you know about Mortgage Loan Insurance, the First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit, the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan and the Land Transfer Tax Rebate?  Maybe you are unclear about the legal lingo in your offer. Perhaps you want some guidance on what to expect after your offer has been accepted. There are no stupid questions. Having a knowledgeable real estate professional is invaluable.

Move-In, Enjoy Your New Home

Presumably, you have hired movers, changed your forwarding address and started telling your family and friends about your purchase. After you move in start
maintaining your home, protecting your investment and building great memories!

Count on a Pro!

There is no need to navigate a home purchase on your own. Working with the right professional should save you time, energy and often money. I will even make the process fun!

You can always reach me a call to get the help you need, so let’s get started!

My personal top 5 Reasons to Relocate to Oakville, Ontario… the little Hamlet next to Toronto.

This is not your typical bedroom community as Oakville has established itself with its unique character, a revitalized downtown core with plenty of interesting shops and restaurants.  It feels like you have the better of two worlds here with all the amenities you need in a city but with a whole lot of town charm!

Oakville schools are truly top-notch

No matter what specific neighbourhood you choose, Oakville schools are truly top-notch.  As a Realtor with a genuine family-focus, a good school is often on the criteria list for the families I work with.  It is not uncommon for parents to have specific school requirements in mind when searching for a home.

Perhaps they find the overall ‘score’ of the school to be paramount.  A helpful website that lists school rankings is this one:  https://www.fraserinstitute.org/school-performance

While I believe there could be some value to the scoring system, I will say from the hundreds of parents I speak to, how the school ‘ranks’ seems to be less critical than the actual quality of teachers and the direction of the principal.

Other families will want to live near a school that offers French Immersion.  Sometimes regardless of what specific school it is, the main objective is to be within walking distance because they are a one-car household.

Oakville also offers a number of private schools and if that is a consideration for your family check out this great resource:  https://www.ourkids.net/oakville-private-schools.php

Currently, there are 27 public elementary schools and 16 Catholic elementary schools to choose from. Regardless, of the decisive factors that are important to you about school criteria, Oakville definitely has some of the best ones to choose from!

Oakville’s natural landscape

Situated along the picturesque shores of Lake Ontario, another major draw is Oakville’s natural landscape.   The great outdoors definitely surround you and it is not uncommon to find homes backing onto ravines, siding on lovely parks, or being near the waterfront.

Oakville’s 17-kilometer shoreline is home to two magnificent harbours and a plethora of lakefront parks, making it a hidden gem for visitors seeking to enjoy life on the water.

The Pileated Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Baltimore Oriole, and Red-Tailed Hawk are among the forest birds and waterfowl that may be seen in Oakville by both novice and experienced birders.

Among my favourite places to visit to appreciate Oakville’s beauty: Lions Valley Park, Bayshire Woods, Gairloch Gardens, Lakeside Park and Tannery Park to name a few!

My family finds that in Oakville, it is easy to stay active!

Enjoy the numerous acres of parkland, many of which have well-kept hiking paths. Oakville’s 200+ kilometers of recreational trails – great for walking, jogging, cycling- spread across the town’s neighbourhoods and link many areas.

Oakville is home to the impressive Bronte Provincial Park!  Here you can enjoy five hiking trails, tobogganing, cross country skiing, and swimming.

Oakville, known as the “Home of the Canadian Open,” has a wide range of golf courses and amenities to suit all skill levels. Spend the day swinging on iconic courses like Glen Abbey Golf Course, which has hosted the Canadian Open Golf Championships for the past 28 years!

If you have young children, have a look at my Facebook Activity & Outings group where I feature different parks, splash pads, and activity ideas that a young family can enjoy. Click to join here!

Oakville is safe & diverse! 

According to Statistics Canada (2020 data), the total crime rate here is 56% below the national average.

While English is the most common language, over 70,000 Oakville residents (out of a population of approximately 200,000) identify different languages as their mother tongue. The most common include Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Urdu and Portuguese.  (Source: Environics Analytics, 2020 Estimate)

 The percentage of visible minorities in Oakville has climbed from 18% to 31% over the past 10 years.

Oakville, with its lakeside mega-mansions, is undeniably a wealthy town.  Oakville’s 2020 average household income is estimated at $192,562.04, with the provincial average at $111,866.84. Almost 65 percent of Oakville households earn an annual income of more than $100,000.

This is only one side of the story.  There are plenty of mainstream areas attracting families in all different stages of their lives.  New developments can be seen all over town offering something for everyone.  I help purchasers buy their very first condo apartment, townhome, semi-detached or fully detached home.

Accessibility and proximity to other major cities

Residents here enjoy the perks of a smaller town atmosphere but are conveniently located in proximity to other major cities.  From a commuting standpoint, Oakville is actually in a fantastic geographical position being 30 minutes from Toronto or Hamilton while also located between Mississauga and Burlington!  The GO Train and major highways are easy to access.

Overall accessibility is a benefit to reach other robust employment centres but is also advantageous for recreational and practical reasons.   I often find myself dining in the many lakeside restaurants that Burlington has to offer or enjoying a shopping spree in Toronto’s city core.  You can get to the many family attractions either going East or West (Oakville is 90km northeast of Niagara Falls) and Oakville has always felt to us to be ideally located for all these reasons.

If you need help deciding on an area to move to, I’d love to help you navigate our beautiful neighbourhoods and assist you in your home buying journey!  Contact me here:  https://www.eugenieeckler.ca/contact/