As we approach the end of the 2007 Real Estate
year, I would like to confirm that the market
in the Quinte Region is still in good stead. The
beginning of the last quarter showed an average
increase of over 7% for homes in our Real Estate
Board over the same period in 2006. Have a look
at some of the recent stats put out by the Quinte
& District Real Estate Board. If you are interested
in the national happenings, you can also check
out CBC's
Real Estate findings.
2007
2006
%
change
Sales
to 31 August
2,791
2,474
12.8%
Sales
for August
318
315
1.0%
Average
Residential Sale $ to August 31
$196,102
$181,084
8.3%
Average
Residential Sale $ for August
$204,586
$189,015
8.2%
Statistics
Provided by Quinte & District Real Estate
Board
Prospects for 2008 in the Trenton, Belleville,
and Brighton Real Estate markets should continue
to be positive. However, the 450 layoffs at one
of our local food production facilities put a
damper on the news from CFB Trenton where
increased staffing and infrastructure expenditures
should certainly boost the local economy for years
to come.
Aside from the 'numbers', we have continued to
look for ways to better serve the Buyers and Sellers
with whom we work and to show appreciation to
everyone who chooses Team David Weir for their
Real Estate needs. Many thanks to everyone who
joined David and Donna at their home for their
Annual Open House last month. Despite the
damp weather, everyone seemed to enjoy some great
conversation and, of course, the munchies are
always a hit! We look forward to seeing you back
again next year.
One of our new promotions to wrap up the year
has been the purchase of a Home & Lifestyle
magazine that we will be sending to clients
quarterly. Featured topics include popular kitchen
design trends, setting up an efficient kitchen,
styles of entertaining, and tips to creating a
welcoming guest room. We hope you are able to
use some of the ideas in the magazine and look
forward to hearing your thoughts on the content.
If you don't receive your copy, please let us
know.
It's also that time of year again when we announce
our 'Resort Giveaway'. Check below for
details on how to enter!
With the holidays swiftly approaching, we will
be starting to think of Santa and shopping but,
more importantly, many of you will be thinking
about posting messages and moving on. If
you are in that boat, be sure to give us a call
if you would like us to give you an early assessment
of price or ideas for small projects that would
make your home more attractive to potential buyers.
Don't forget, all clients of Team David Weir are
eligible for free handyman or staging services!
Finally, thanks again to all clients, past and
present, who have referred their families and
friends to us this year. All indications are that
your trust in our Team of full-time professionals
will once again rank us as one of the top 1%
of Royal LePage Teams in the country! We couldn't
do it without your trust and confidence in our
service.
Look for our next Newsletter in December when
we will be outlining new promotions for
2008! In the meantime, we'd love to hear from
you ... whether it be about your upcoming purchase
or sale, or about your ideas for Newsletter topics.
Send Donna
an email and we will be happy to accommodate.
Happy reading!
We had several winners
of tickets to see some outstanding performances
at the Empire Theatre this summer. Thanks to all
who entered and congratulations to the following
folks:
Paul Flowers
- winner of tickets to Abbey Road on the River
Canada
Andrea & Martin Lynch - winner of Cheap
Trick tickets
Ted & Lesley Poper - winner of tickets to
George Thorogood & the Destroyers
Dennis & Heather Dubeau - winner of Pat
Benatar tickets
Congratulations also to Joanne
O'Hara & David McKinnon
who were the recipients of 2 tickets to see Kenny
Rogers in concert. Joanne and David's names were
selected in recognition of the referral business
they have sent to the Team recently.
Free
Labour or Staging
David continues to
offer his buying and selling clients 2 hours
of complimentary 'Handyman' labour or 'Home Staging'
by an accredited Stager. Feedback from clients
regarding these services has been extremely positive
and has, unquestionably, alleviated some of the
stress homeowners experience when getting ready
to market their homes.
Although
some REALTORS® have recently started staging
homes themselves, David believes his time is best
spent finding homes for Buyers or marketing his
Sellers' properties to prospective purchasers
... as opposed to decorating or moving furniture.
That is why he contracts professionals to do this
work ... at no cost to you! If you or anyone you
know would be interested in this value-added service,
please send a quick note to David at david@davidweir.com.
Luxury
Resort Draw
As the year
draws to a close, David is once again offering
his clients an opportunity to win accommodation
for one week at a luxury resort in Florida.
This will be the 3rd year this draw is offered
and it always garners a lot of interest.
In the past, lucky winners have vacationed
at the Westgate
Lakes Resort & Spa, a great destination
once those snowy, blustering days are upon
us. Start thinking Disney, Sea World, golf,
or shopping. Several resorts offer all this
and more!
Anyone who
has bought or sold Real Estate with Team
David Weir, or who has referred clients
to the Team, is welcome to participate as
a token of our appreciation for your business
and your confidence in us as your Team of
choice. Draw date is Friday 15 February,
2008. To enter, simply send donna@davidweir.com
an email with your name and contact information.
Don't delay. Make sure your name is in the
hat. Odds of winning are usually better
than 1 in 200!!
Natural
Resources Canada (NRCan) is offering a new residential
energy efficiency assessment service to owners
of single family homes. Under the ecoENERGY Retrofit
program, property owners can qualify for federal
grants of up to $5K by improving the energy efficiency
of their homes and reducing their home's impact
on the environment. To qualify, follow these five
easy steps:
1.
Hire a qualified energy advisor to perform an
energy evaluation of your home.
2. Select the improvements from your home energy
action list.
3. Implement the recommended energy upgrades within
18 months.
4. Call your energy advisor to perform your post-retrofit
evaluation, to confirm your new energy rating
and to submit your application on your behalf.
5. Wait for up to 90 days to receive your cheque
based onthe eligible upgrades performed.
For complete details,
additional links, and downloadable publications,
check out the Government of Canada's ecoAction
site.
If you're like many
Canadians, your lifestyle is probably getting pretty
high-tech. The convergence of technology and entertainment
is a big reason why. Today, you can watch TV and
movies on your home computer, turn your computer
into a music library, network your home wirelessly,
and build a home theatre. Have a look at Scotia
Bank's article to learn more about the components
of a home theatre system, some possible room renovations,
and what your options are with regards to products
and pricing.
A reliable supply of clean drinking water is
always a concern for homebuyers of rural and recreational
property. Many homes in these areas obtain their
drinking water from a well which may contain microbiological,
chemical, or other types of contaminants. But
that concern for high quality drinking water has
spilled over into larger communities, even where
the drinking water is supplied by the municipality.
The quality of drinking water can be improved
through a water filtration system installed in
the home. A reverse osmosis system is one type,
and it is becoming more commonplace to see these
installed in new homes. It is frequently used
to help remove up to 95 percent of dissolved solids
and minerals in drinking water. Reverse osmosis
(R/O) systems purify water by forcing pressurized
water through a very fine, plastic membrane. For
a detailed explanation of the process, check out
CMHC's
Fact Sheet.
R/O units can be purchased at department and
hardware stores, and are also sold by water equipment
dealers. The cost ranges from $400 for a portable
or under-sink unit to $2,500 for a larger, stationary
(basement) unit where a booster pump and a pressure
system are installed. Replacement pre-filters
will cost approximately $100 - $200 each.
Article Courtesy of the
Ontario Real Estate Association, REALTOR®
Edge
Most home
maintenance activities are seasonal. Fall is the
time to get your home ready for the coming winter,
which can be the most grueling season for your
home. The maintenance schedule that follows is
a general guide that you may prefer to further
divide into months for easier management:
Have
furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified
service company every 2 years for a gas furnace,
and every year for an oil furnace
Open
furnace humidifier damper on units with central
aire conditioning and clean humidifier
Lubricate
circulating pump on hot water heating system
Bleed
air from hot water radiators
Check
the forced air funace fan belt for wear, looseness,
or noise; clean fan blades of any dirt buildup
(after disconnecting the electricity to the
motor first)
Turn
ON gas furnace pilot light
Check
& clean or replace furnace air filters
each month during the heating season. Ventilation
system, such as a heat recovery ventilator,
filters should be checked every 2 months
Vacuum
electric baseboard heaters to remove dust
Remove
the grilles on forced air systems & vacuum
inside the ducts
If
the heat recovery ventilator has been shut
off for the summer, clean the filters &
the core, and pour water down the condesage
drain to test it
Have
well water tested for quality ... test every
6 months as a minimum
Check
sump pump and line to ensure proper operation,
no line obstructions, or visible leaks
Replace
window screens with storm windows
Remove
screens from the inside of casement windows
to allow air from the heating system to keep
condensation off window glass
Ensure
all doors to the outside are shut tightly
and check other doors for ease of use. Renew
weatherstripping if required.
Ensure
windows and skylights close tightly
Cover
outside of air conditioning units
Ensure
the ground around your home slopes away from
the foundation wall, so water does not drain
into your basement
Clean
leaves from eavestroughts & roofs and
test downspouts to ensure proper drainage
fromt he roof
Check
chimneys for obstructions such as nests
Drain
& store outdoor hoses. Close the valve
to the outdoor hose connection and drain the
hose bib (exterior faucet) ... unless your
house has frost proof hose bibs
If
you have a septic tank, measure the sludge
& scum to determine if the tank needs
to be emptied before spring. Tanks should
be pumped out at least once every 3 years
Winterize
landscaping i.e., store outdoor furniture,
prepare gardens and, if necessary, protect
young trees or bushes from the winter
If you are a private
water well owner, it is your job to be 'well aware'
... to understand the basics of well maintenance
and operation, and to take the necessary actions
to keep your water wells in safe running order.
In addition to the following checklist, the Well
Aware Guide to Caring for Your Well and Protecting
Your Family's Health provides information
about new, existing, and unused wells and also
ground and well water. It offers learning aids
such as a booklet and video, and gives you contact
information for additional local resources.
New
wells are properly constructed by a licensed
contractor and located a safe distance from
contaminants
Existing
wells are properly inspected, maintained,
and upgraded as necessary by a licensed contractor
Potential
contaminants are kept a safe distance from
your well
Unused
wells are properly plugged and sealed by a
licensed contractor
Cool, crisp autumn days mean it's
time to get out into the garden and tuck your
plants in for the winter. Fluctuating temperatures,
drying winds and snowfalls that come and go wreak
havoc with perennials and shrubs. Now is the time
to take steps to help your plants survive the
winter. Here's how:
1. Discard diseased debris
2. Let stems and grasses stand tall
3. Topdress with compost
4. Mulch garden beds
5. Water shrubs and trees
Check out the Style
at Home link for more information about each
step.
Trenton Real Estate • CFB Trenton • Trenton
Ontario Real Estate • 8 Wing Trenton • Trenton Realtors •
Trenton Homes for Sale • CFB Trenton Housing • Trenton HHT
• IRP • Military Relocations • Quinte West Real Estate
• Quinte Real Estate • Quinte Homes For Sale • Real Estate
For Sale • Trenton • Frankford • Belleville • Brighton
• Royal Lepage • Military • DND • National Defence
• MLS Houses • Quinte Homes • Houses For Sale •
Real Estate Listings • Home Sales • MLS • Relocations
• Realestate • Buyers • Sellers • Mortgages •
Ontario
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