Sotheby's International Realty Canada

Tired of the Traffic?

Discover the ‘Oasis of Carlisle’

Nestled peacefully between the thriving town of Milton and the booming community of Waterdown lies the quaint Village of Carlisle.  Currently home to approximately 2500 people, Carlisle represents an oasis free from the congestion of surrounding areas.  Its residents enjoy a multitude of amenities in their own backyards.

‘Downtown Carlisle’ at the 4 corners of Centre Rd and Carlisle Rd. consists of a four-way stop sign. Local amenities there include bakery,farm market, bank, pizza shop, hair salon, LCBO, post office, auto mechanic, convenience store, dry cleaners, flower and gift shop.

There is a modern medical centre offering family doctors, dentist, chiropractor, x-ray and ultrasound facilities. A retirement/nursing home, Eaton Place, is handy for residents elderly family members.

An exciting new bistro has just opened in town! ‘Cascada’ features exquisite Italian cuisine set in bistro style with a friendly atmosphere, bar and extensive outdoor patio.

A drive around the various neighborhoods reveals a variety of home styles, ages, builders – all set on minimum ½ acre lots!  There are many neighborhoods within the community with prices ranging from $450,000 to $1,800,000.

Carlisle’s extensive sports and recreation facilities include a hockey arena, tennis courts, numerous soccer fields, 2 baseball fields, and an abundance of parks and hiking trails. Dragon’s Fire Golf Club and Carlisle Golf Club are nearby and several other golf courses are within a short drive. 

This week's blog was written by Debbie Pearce, Sales Representative at Sotheby's International Realty Canada. Sotheby’s International Realty Canada is a full service boutique brokerage with global connections. To contact Debbie or any one of our highly qualified real estate professional visit us at Sotheby's International Realty Canada in Oakville.

Staging Sells

Why Staging? What are the benefits? Simply put in real estate terms – staging sells.

Have you ever seen staging not work? Most unlikely! Staging is a proven concept when it comes to real estate and a large part of staging is depersonalizing and removing that clutter.

Clutter is: to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impedes movement or reduces effectiveness.

De-cluttering helps everyone live “easier” with less around them. It can also reduce the added stress of keeping your home clean for showings - the less clutter the less you need to maintain.

In simple terms, clutter is uninviting. People need to remind themselves that clutter is a definite “turn off”. When a potential buyer comes into a home they want to picture themselves in the house. The average time a buyer spends looking at an average house is up to 10 minutes. If they spend longer, the buyers may actually be considering the house and adding it to their “wish” list. Having clutter obstructs a buyer’s view … remember, buyers make judgment in the 1st few minutes of being in a home. You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression.

Staging is:

·       Creating a lifestyle for homeowners & prospective buyers

·       Reducing the “stress” associated with selling a house

·       Very visual with the goal of making things pleasing to the eye

·       Creating a haven both inside and outside your home

·       About de-cluttering, depersonalizing, being neat & clean and making things simple

·       Incorporating Feng Shui principles towards creating a more positive environment

·       About being creative & using items in your home in new ways but accomplishing “the look”

Benefits include:

·       Assists in selling houses faster reducing the cycle time on the market

·       Allows potential buyers to picture themselves living in the setting you’ve created by depersonalizing each room

·       Demonstrates to potential buyers that the seller has made a financial commitment to the house & that the house is well cared for

This week's blog was written by Tatiana Colhoun, Sales Representative at Sotheby's International Realty Canada. Sotheby’s International Realty Canada is a full service boutique brokerage with global connections. To contact Tatiana or any one of our highly qualified real estate professional visit us at Sotheby's International Realty Canada in Oakville.

Sell Your Home With An Open House

Hosting a public Open House for a home that is for sale is just one of many marketing strategies that a Listing Agent might use. As realtors, we are working to encourage as many possible buyers to browse any home that we are selling. One could argue that in today’s connected world, the need for public Open Houses is diminished. It is true, there is a great deal of information that a buyer can consider from the comfort of their laptop – great photography, floor plans, surveys, virtual tours, and video. However we all know that sometimes you just have to ‘see’ the home to truly appreciate it.

A public Open House in the early days of a listing allows a large number of interested buyers to visit the home within a few hours. While it might be an opportunity for the Listing Agent to meet a new buyer client, this is not the purpose of the Open House. The Listing Agent represents the Seller and is hosting the Open House to sell the home.

Visitors to an Open House must remember that they are entering someone’s home. Sellers must remember that the public is being invited to browse their home and so measures need to be taken to be sure that any valuables are put away and secure. As realtors, we take the safety and security of a client’s home very seriously. For this reason, buyers who are planning to attend Open Houses on a Sunday afternoon should be prepared to register at each home they visit. You may even be asked for photo ID. Please understand that this request is made for security reasons and not for marketing purposes. You can confirm this when you register.

And yes! Homes are sold because a buyer attended an Open House.

This week's blog was written by Nancy Robertson, Sales Representative at Sotheby's International Realty Canada. Sotheby’s International Realty Canada is a full service boutique brokerage with global connections. To contact Nancy or any one of our highly qualified real estate professional visit us at Sotheby's International Realty Canada in Oakville.

Selecting A Reputable Contractor

Have you seen the television show where the host – an experienced contractor – comes to a home to fix a bad renovation? Episodes typically feature leaking bathroom showers, fallen decks, creaky flooring, and other examples of shoddy workmanship. For the homeowners, it’s a nightmare.

That’s why it’s so important to select a reputable renovator – one who has the experience and track record to do the job right. How do you do that? Here are a few tips:

• Make sure the contractor can give you the full name, address and phone number of his company. If he only has a truck and a cell phone, that’s a red flag.

• Ask him to provide you with the names of at least three customers he’s done work for in the area. (Then phone those references!)

• Some specialty contractors, such as kitchen and bath renovators, are certified or licensed by a professional trade association. Ask the contractor for credentials.

• Beware of contractors who offer you a lower price if you pay cash. They’re probably trying to avoid taxes, which suggests that they’re not entirely honest.

• Make sure the renovator has experience with your specific type of project.

• Search for the company on Google.com. If there are any customer complaints online, you’ll find them in the search results.

• Don’t hire the first contractor you meet, regardless of how impressed you are. Speak to at least three. Ask lots of questions. Take your time. Finally, use your common sense. If you don’t have a good feeling about the contractor or if they don’t give you clear answers to basic questions about pricing, schedule, and warranty, then move on.

This week's blog was written by Mark Boot, Broker, at Sotheby's International Realty Canada. To contact Mark or any one of our highly qualified real estate professional visit us at Sotheby's International Realty Canada in Oakville.

Moving Tips

Choose your movers carefully.  Someone you may know can refer you to a Company that they have had a great relationship with. Your Realtor may be able to help suggest companies that their clients have been happy with. Some questions you should entertain are:  How long have they been in the business? Can they provide references? Are they members of an Association and most importantly are they insured for the unexpected, i.e. loss or damage.

A reputable mover should be able to advise as to what sorts of packing materials they use to protect your valuables, offer wardrobe boxes and be able to dispose of your boxes after you have finished unpacking.

Carpet protectors upon exiting and entering your old and new residence.  Quotes obviously vary depending on the service you prefer. You may wish to pack yourself or have them pack in advance for you.  If there are stairs and no elevator and there are some big awkward items, perhaps a piano, there might be a slight additional charge.  Shop around to be sure you are comfortable with your decision.

The Global Reach of Sotheby's International Realty Canada

Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Washington Post, London Telegraph, International Herald Tribune, just to name a few, SOTHEBYS INTERNATIONAL REALTY, Brokerage is truly a Global organization inviting both Buyers and Sellers from around the world, to view your property.  Sothebysrealty.com features the convenience of viewing and converting into local currency and languages.  Whether the buyer is in Hong Kong, Portugal, South America or Honolulu, your property is active and our E-Gallery is truly unique.  Please feel free to drop by our office to view the E-Gallery and travel the world from the comfort of our reception area or visit us at southernontariocollection.com for more information.