Should I Avoid Being Home While My House Is Shown? – We don’t recommend you to be home while your house is being shown, and this is for a couple reasons.   The main reason is that it can make the prospective buyer feel uncomfortable. If the Buyer has any concerns about the home, they will often avoid bringing it up to their realtor, as they don’t want to offend or upset you. This isn’t a great scenario only because oftentimes realtors are able to address and/or solve the Buyers concern(s) about the home while at their showing. However, if they are never brought up because you are home ..read more

Valentine’s Day is less than a month away! So to help you plan ahead, below is a list of some of our favourite Valentine’s Day date spots in Guelph.   Atmosphere   If you both love a classic dinner at a charming restaurant, then we recommend you book a table at Atmosphere. They serve delicious high-quality European food and cocktails. Along with that, Atmosphere is located right in the heart of downtown, meaning you can add a romantic stroll/window shopping to your evening.    Manhattans  Looking to add some extra fun to a basic dinner date? Check out Manhattans, as th ..read more

Homeownership is a goal for most Canadians, but it is important to be aware of the costs that aren’t necessarily top of mind for all homebuyers. These expenses can add up fast and significantly affect your finances and ability to save, making it important to consider them before taking the leap into homeownership. Maintenance and Repairs Regardless of how new or well-maintained your home is, it will require ongoing maintenance and repairs. This may include fixing leaks, replacing appliances, repainting, and more. It is wise to set aside money each month to cover these costs and to have an emer ..read more

Yes, there are a few important reasons why you should talk with your Mortgage Broker or Bank before you start looking at homes.   Firstly, depending on your comfort level and needs there are benefits to using a Mortgage Broker over a Bank and vice versa. The most important part regardless of Bank or Mortgage Broker will be establishing how much you can borrow for your home purchase. It is crucial for you to know your budget in order to effectively find potential properties whilst house hunting.     Secondly, by communicating with Brokers or Banks you can learn the options a ..read more

Everyone you ask will likely have a slightly different answer based on their experience and it’s important to know that every home and situation is different. Based on our experience within our business here in Guelph – we typically see our busiest months being February-June, then again in September, October, and November. Historically slower months tend to be June, July, and August, while kids are out of school and summer is in full effect, as well as during the holidays in December/January. However, as experienced professionals, we are confident in our plan and strategies to get your home so ..read more

With less than one week until Christmas, we know many people are doing some last minute gift shopping. When it comes to last minute gifts, it is easy to resort to big box stores such as Walmart, however, there are plenty of local shops here in Guelph that have fantastic gift options. With that being said, here is our curated list of some of our favourites:   Sunday General Store This adorable shop is located right near the heart of downtown Guelph. They offer a great selection of home goods, cleaning essentials, and clean skincare for those environmentally conscious individuals in your li ..read more

As the temperature starts to drop, we all begin craving our favourite comfort foods to warm us up. In order to help expand your comfort food horizon, we’ve created a list of some favourites from varying restaurants here in Guelph.  Buon Gusto – Any of their pizzas!  Nothing screams comfort food quite like pizza. With that being said, Bon Gusto’s pizzas are an absolute must, as they are wood-fired and made with quality ingredients. If you have never been, Buon Gusto is located in the core of downtown Guelph, in the historic Gummer building. This stunning stone building sits over St.Ge ..read more

Assuming you’ve priced your house near the fair market value and your real estate agent is diligently spreading the word, you should expect to receive an offer (or even multiple offers, in a perfect world). Offers arrive by way of a legal document called the Agreement of Purchase and Sale. The Agreement of Purchase and Sale specifies the price the buyer is willing to pay, details about the desired closing and deposit, any conditions the offer is contingent on, as well as any exclusions or inclusions the buyer wants on closing. Typically this is presented to your Agent by the Buyer’s Agent.&nbs ..read more

Bank of Canada Raises Rate by 75 bps The Bank of Canada raised its key lending rate by 75 basis points this week, bringing it to 3.25%. In its statement, the Bank said, “short-term inflation expectations remain high” and that inflation risks becoming “entrenched” the longer it remains elevated. As a result, the Bank says interest rates “will need to rise further.” “As the effects of tighter monetary policy work through the economy, we will be assessing how much higher interest rates need to go to return inflation to target,” it added. What happens now? Banks and other financial institutio ..read more

Check out the list of things to do in Guelph this fall! Snyders Farm Opens September 3-5th weekend. Check out the corn maze, hayrides, pumpkins, bakery and so much more! Tons of things to enjoy with your family. Pumpkins Looking for an activity with the kids? Go pick your own pumpkins! Mosborough Country Market – 5284 Wellington Rd 32, Guelph Strom’s Farm and Bakery – 5089 Wellington RD. 32 Guelph, Ontario Corn Maze – Storms Farm + Bakery Take a walk through their 6-acre corn maze! They have weekday + weekend dates available. They have limited spots available so book today! You can book a day ..read more