Canadians are no strangers to cold weather conditions and with that comes to some troubles when planning a winter move. Winter in Canada often opens the doors for many challenges and problematic situations, especially when undergoing a difficult move. There are numerous ways to prepare for a regular move, which can be stressful, but moving during the winter months can be a whole new game.
Listed below are some important ways to arrange a winter move that will ensure it all proceeds smoothly and safely.
When relocating to a new house during the winter, the most important precaution is to plan based on weather circumstances and act accordingly. Moving is already stressful enough, so why make yourselves more anxious by having to cope with inclement weather conditions on the day of the actual move? By scheduling a moving day that will reduce hazards or risk of damaging property, your winter move will be much more manageable.
Before beginning loading and unloading items on moving day, it is important to ensure that the area around you is a safe environment to operate in. Shovelling and salting driveways and walkways will be easier for parking and locating moving trucks, as well as physically moving objects on slippery and icy ground. Also, covering heavy foot traffic walkways inside the home with sheeting can avoid tracking unwanted mud, snow, and moisture into your home.
Another helpful tip to make winter moves in Canada less stressful is to wear the proper clothing and gear to keep you warm during the physical move. Wearing extra layers can keep you warm and feel comfortable while loading and unloading boxes and furniture outside. In addition, having ready access to winter equipment, such as shovels, salt/sand, and a heater, can be a real time saver. It is important to ensure that these winter items are functional and not packaged along with common household objects during the move, as you should be able to access them easily.
When moving during cold winter, it is essential to go the extra mile to protect your valuable furniture and appliances. This can be done by using protective wrapping as much as possible or placing items in secure boxes to prevent breakage. Using a blanket on larger furniture can eliminate the risk of damage especially when it comes to wooden furniture. Similarly, placing appliances or electronics in their original boxes with protective materials can be beneficial, but if that option is not available, using practical moving boxes would work just as well.
Hiring professionals to help assist you with the move can be highly beneficial and act as a good investment. By doing so, you are reducing the amount of anxiety that comes with a move and limiting your physical labour. They are experts at operating a winter move and have experienced most of the difficulties you may face.
To thank them for their hard work, offer hot beverages such as hot chocolate, coffee, tea, or even non-alcoholic apple cider during one of their breaks. Be sure to show that you care about and appreciate them.
A winter move can be complicated for anyone with or without moving experience. Winter in Canada often invites some complications for new homeowners, but not anything that cannot be overcome. It is crucial to give yourself some extra time to prepare and carefully proceed with making a move during these cold months. With the proper consideration, your winter move will go as seamlessly as any other. With the proper timing and planning, your winter move will be much more chill!
Adjusting to a new home can be stressful for the entire family, including your furry family members. Whether you're moving locally, into a new city or relocating across the country. Moving with pets can be difficult; however, there are numerous ways to prepare for a move and make the transition more exciting and less demanding.
Planning ahead of time can make one's move certainly less ruff!
Here are some methods to help introduce and adapt your pet to the new space they will be living in.
Start preparing your pet before beginning the move into the new location. Conditioning an animal to its new home before the actual moving date will allow them time to adapt to their new environment. Animals are known for their territorial habits, which can be interrupted over the process of a move. Allowing pets to explore and learn their new environment before will make the transition easier on your pet without exposing them to a shocking new world all at once.
Gradually introducing standard moving supplies, such as boxes, before packing can limit the amount of stress and confusion on one's pet. New objects and unknown items can pose a sense of foreignness for animals, thus making one's pet feel disoriented and worrisome in their typical environment. Maintaining a safe place for an animal as one begins to make their progression into a new home can assist help your pet adapt to the change themselves. Letting pets examine new objects and landmarks helps them become more familiar and comfortable with adjusting to their new home.
Consider keeping some familiar toys, bedding or blankets unpacked so your pet can identify these comfort items in their new home. During the moving day, it is essential to maintain your pet's mental well-being by creating a safe environment for the animal to be in. Finding a quiet and tolerant place for the animal to stay during moving day can be helpful.
Consider having a close relative or friend that your pet is familiar with that can distract and entertain one's pet will help to sustain an animal's mental health over a moving day. If you are able to have your pet offsite during moving day, it may help your pet not experience any anxiety from moving.
Even though you are in a new space, try to keep your pet’s routine the same. Continue good habits such as exercise, healthy eating, and a bedtime schedule. Upholding good relationships with your pet can help during the move. For instance, taking the dog to the park, distracting the cat with some toys, or even feeding one's bird can allow for a smoother transition during the moving date. Demonstrating proper techniques to help relax and reduce stress can benefit both the owner, by making it easier on them, and the animal, by maintaining a consistent healthy environment.
To summarize, integrating various methods to adapt your pet through the process of a move will have a positive impact on both the animal and the owner. Both parties are more likely to experience reduced stress and anxiety that follows during such a transition. Animals can become quickly accustomed to a routine which can be impacted during a move into a new home. Pets need the proper attention and affection to aid them as they adapt to their new home. Executing a plan before, during, and after a move can provide your pet with the proper support to adjust to an upcoming move. Follow the proper steps and take the best precautions, and your move into a new home can certainly be less ruff!
If you're looking for easy autumn decorations that the whole family can get involved with, consider some of these easy decoration ideas to add a bit of autumn fun to your home. Whether you'd like to spruce up your living room with some colourful leaves or create a festive centrepiece for your dining room, these ideas will have your house looking festive.
An easy way to add a touch of autumn is by decorating with leaves and other natural elements. Leaves are all around us in the fall and can come in various rich hues that will bring the outdoor fall atmosphere indoors.
Below are three easy ways to achieve autumn house decor with the whole family while including the young ones.
Collect a wide spread of multi-coloured leaves from the yard, hiking trail or even picked right from under the tree after they have fallen. Give them a good dusting off to ensure no bugs or other debris is on them before bringing them into the house. Next, place the leaves in a sunny window to dry out (if they aren't already).
Now find an artistic bowl, basket or vase for the centre of your dining room table and place the bustle of leaves in the bowl. It doesn't need to look perfect- the more character, the better. After the leaves have been situated, you can leave them as is or place candles, gourds and small pumpkins around the bowl. To top off this centrepiece, find a festive table runner to sit underneath.
Want to flavour up your living room or entryway table? These lanterns are simple and look festive in any space! Not to mention they are easy to do with the family and can make for a fun daybreak activity!
Start your morning off by going for a walk and looking to the ground for the bright orange, brown and red leaves. Be sure to grab a few different shapes and varieties for contrast. If you don't feel like heading outdoors, most dollar stores sell fabric or artificial leaves that work just as well. Then, head back home and start the fun part!
After washing and drying your mason jars, arrange your leaves and apply Mod Podge (or any type of adhesive) to the glass surface. As you apply your leaves don't be afraid to overlap them and really cover the empty spaces of the jar. Once the leaves are in place on the mason jar, apply a second coat of Mod Podge and allow time for it to dry completely.
Once the lanterns you and your family have created are dry, get a battery-operated candle, set it inside the mason jar and watch as the autumn lanterns come to life!
These lanterns are perfect for autumn and make for a show-stopping Thanksgiving table centrepiece, not to mention fun for the family to engage and craft together.
Add a Touch of Autumnal Fun to Your Front Door
Creating a wreath out of autumn leaves can be a fun activity you and your family can do together this fall! You can find a variety of autumn leaves at most craft stores and dollar stores.
You can add to the wreath using materials like straw, twigs and acorns. Simply combine the leaves and tie them with twine or wire to create a beautiful wreath that will be a festive addition to your door in no time.
Express your unique sense of autumnal decorating style and create special memories that will last throughout the season. Your family and friends will love getting a glimpse of your family's autumn decor every time they come over.
Crisp morning air can only mean one thing, that town and city fall fairs and festivities are back for you and the family to go enjoy!
Take a step away from the city and engulf yourself in some of the best family fun entertainment our beautiful towns and surrounding areas of Dundas and Flamborough have to offer. If you are either new to the town or looking to buy in the area, a great way to get to know the town is to visit local activities and connect with those around you, not to mention have a fun night for you and the family!
Below we have listed upcoming fairs and festivities that you can enjoy from September until late October! From pick-your-own pumpkin patches to browsing street art at Art Crawl in Hamilton, you will find endless ways to experience end-of-summer fun.
Historic Garden Tours: Dundurn National Historic Site
June – September 4 | Hamilton
Enjoy informative and thrilling stories and historic gardening knowledge conveyed by costumed garden staff on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from June 10, 2022, to September 4, 2022.
September 9 – September 11 | Hamilton
Music, street vendors and art takers take over James Street North for the weekend in September. Come out and see all there is to offer on the unique and busy streets in the heart of Hamilton.
Golf Tournament: Flamborough Hills Golf Club
September 10 | Flamborough
The perfect place for your next golf tournament get together! Whether you're planning a small corporate game, a large fundraising event, or a family reunion, Flamborough Hills will provide the staff, facilities, and services to handle every element of your gathering.
Artisan Market: Dundas Driving Park
September 11 | Dundas
Family friendly market with free admission in the heart of Dundas! The Artisan market has a children's play area, splash pad, and more! Visit artists in person and enjoy free paintings for a fun-filled day with the family.
Ancaster Autumn Stroll: Morgan Firestone Arena
September 11 | Ancaster
Stroll through the beautiful trails of Dundas Valley Conservation Area, sipping award-winning wines and sampling some of the district's finest cuisines. Tickets are limited for this mature event.
Family Fun Night: Royal Botanical Gardens
September 17 & September 24 | Hamilton
Explore RBG after hours with our resident nature experts to discover the fascinating world of bats.
September 22 - September 25 | Ancaster
Ancaster Fair is always the 3rd weekend after Labour Day. Expect plenty of family fun, with rides, carnival games, food vendors, and lots more!
September 24 | Hamilton
Get an inside look at the operations of many of our farms in Hamilton and the surrounding area! During this self-directed event you will drive from farm to farm in any order you like to learn about local agriculture. You choose how many farms you want to see and how much time to spend at each farm!
Family Fun Weekends at Dyments
October Weekends | Dundas
Pumpkin picking, fresh local produce, bakery, and locally raised meat are all at Dyments farm!
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October | Flamborough
Create unforgettable and fun memories at Merry Farms! Enjoy hay rides, a corn maze, and pumpkin picking to bring home the harvest for autumn.
October 1 - October 31 | Flamborough
This popular Flamborough attraction is open throughout October for family fun fall adventures. Walk through the famous Hanes Corn Maze or visit the farmland. You won't be disappointed with all that Hanes has to offer for you and the family!
The sun is out, and we know you are looking for fun activities to enjoy with your family! Veevers Realty Group has serviced Ancaster and surrounding areas for over 40 years.
Below we have compiled a list of our favourite summer destinations for you and your family to stop at this year that will ensure a fantastic, fun-filled day trip in our beautiful home, Ancaster.
Ancaster has many local waterfalls hidden throughout the city. These waterfalls and hiking trails range from big show-stopping displays to small glistening treasures! This summer, make stopping at one of Ancaster's waterfalls part of your plans!
Tiffany Falls is a fantastic choice for waterfall lovers and part of the Hamilton Conservation Authority. Tiffany falls has been provincially reserved as an essential part of nature, housing many different animals, insects, reptiles, and plant species. The waterfall steals the show, though, at this attraction. This attraction is perfect for getting outdoors and is pet friendly! Walk along the trail, 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset at this one stop destination for the whole family! Parking is $11.00. You can book admission online through the Hamilton Conservation Authority website.
https://conservationhamilton.ca/conservation-areas/tiffany-falls/
Another great option to get out and enjoy the summer weather is Hermitage Falls, located just on the outskirts of Ancaster. While it is smaller in size, its beauty is the real attraction as it makes you forget you are so close to the city. A key benefit to Hermitage Falls is that it is very accessible! There are plenty of other trails and greenery to see as well, making it a great overall outdoor experience.
https://www.cityofwaterfalls.ca/hermitage-cascade/
Lindley's Farm and Market will satisfy those who love farm life. During select times of the year, you can enjoy your own berry picking experience. Currently, raspberries, currants, and gooseberries are in season for picking! Lindley's also has a full farmer's market to enjoy farm-to-table produce and baked goods. You won't regret grabbing some of the best quality local fruits and vegetables with your family this summer!
Located on the corner of Book Rd and Smith Rd in Ancaster is a small farm open to the public to feed a variety of farm animals (feed at your own risk)! Stock up on fruit, bread, peanuts, vegetables, and even ice cream cones before you make your way out! This small farm on the roadside is a perfect outing for those with school-aged kids who love animals as much as we do! Cows, chickens, sheep, a pony, and even an emu can all be seen at this roadside farm. This farm experience is like no other and is completely free! Be respectful to the animals and other guest and be sure to clean up after your garbage.
These orchards are some of Hamilton's best apple-picking experiences. Carluke Orchards has been around for over 50 years, and for a good reason! They operate year-round, but their apple picking starts in early September for those interested in getting outside even after summer break closes for the kids! They also have a wonderful bakery and gourmet food market, including pies, cookies, muffins, and delicious farm-style meals. Carluke Orchards is fun for the whole family and is dog friendly too!
https://www.carlukeorchards.ca/
Ancaster offers a few historical sites that make for interesting and educational family day trips! Appreciate the historical landmark known as the Griffin House this summer. This site was built in the 1800s by a family who escaped slavery. The house is now a historical landmark that can be toured through the Hamilton Civic Museums.
https://hamiltoncivicmuseums.ca/
There is so much to do and experience in Ancaster! This historical city has many hidden gems making it a beautiful location to live, visit, and explore!
Homeowners who are selling their homes choose to host an open house for many reasons. However, many people don't realize how beneficial an open house can be for selling their homes.
During an open house, potential buyers can tour the house and learn about the home and the neighbourhood. From a seller's perspective, an open house can increase initial visibility and can improve the chances of selling a home.
Open houses offer many benefits for both the buyer and seller, including the following:
An open house is when potential buyers visit your home without an agent. This gives buyers a chance to view your home without the pressure of an agent telling them what they should see.
Potential buyers can walk through the home freely, and not feel pressured to ask questions without feeling like they are being judged. This is an excellent way for buyers to get a feel for the home and see if it would be a good fit.
An open house is an excellent opportunity to show the home in its best light. It’s your chance to showcase the home's best features and make your home stand out from the rest. Pictures may speak a thousand words, but nothing compares to physically being in the home and seeing the actual layout and placement of things.
An open house allows buyers to get accustomed to the neighbourhood. By freely walking throughout the community, buyers can get a feel for the area and better determine if it is a desirable area to live in.
Another benefit of an open house is that it allows buyers to get accustomed to the neighbourhood. By freely walking throughout the community, buyers can get a feel for the area and better determine if it is a desirable area to live in.
Overall open houses are a great way to showcase your home and allow buyers to ask questions and get a feel for the neighbourhood. This will enable buyers to determine if the house is a good fit for them and if they want to take further action and place an offer.
Trying to decide if an open house is right for your home? Connect with us and we'll help you make the right decision.
Deciding to continue renting or buying a property of your own is an important decision within your lifetime. Homeownership is a worthwhile investment if you can financially afford a down payment and pay the home's property taxes.
There are significant differences between renting and owning a property! While buying a home is the preferred choice for most people, renting may be the desired choice for some.
Both come with their fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Below we have highlighted these elements to help guide your decision depending on what is best for you.
Is buying the wiser option?
While owning your home gives you a sizeable investment and stability, it does come at a considerable cost.
Pros of Buying
Cons of Buying
Is renting the wiser option?
When you rent a property, you do not have the responsibilities associated with homeownership. In addition, renting can leave you flexible if you plan on moving around.
Pros of Renting
Cons of Renting
Veevers Realty understands the difficulty of deciding whether to rent or buy. Both options come with many advantages and disadvantages. However, when making the decision of buying or renting a home, it can be a rewarding experience with the proper preparation and the right advice.
Are you looking for further advice or looking to buy your home? Contact us today!
Often pictures can't tell you the full story of the home. On your first walkthrough of a home, it is imperative for potential new homeowners to envision themselves living in the home. The first walkthrough is about the house meeting your basic requirements and not just your desired floor plan. One of the most important parts of viewing a property is having a good agent with you. A real estate agent will be looking out for your best interests and, through experience and knowledge, will be able to guide you and answer any questions you have along the way.
Below we have listed some everyday things you should look for and assess during your initial walkthrough with your real estate agent to fully grasp the home's condition before you put in your offer.
Upon driving up to the listing, note how the driveway is positioned. Is it flat? Tilted away from the house? Tilted towards the house? Water drainage from rain or melting snow that doesn't have proper drainage away from the home can be a severe and costly avenue to find yourself going down. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the home's drainages and runoff systems.
When viewing the home's exterior, look around at the position of the house towards the sun. Depending on the position of the home and where the sun rises and falls, the sun will have a drastic effect on your heating or cooling bill. Not to mention, the overall enjoyment of your potential yard. If no sun touches your yard due to overhead trees, this may be a deal-breaker for you if you enjoy backyard entertaining, gardening, etc.
When you arrive inside the home, look up at the ceiling parallel to where a bathroom would be, and assess if there is any water damage. You will want to look for watermarks on the ceiling or ceiling repairs directly above the bathroom.
Check the home's water pressure. It may not be one of the first things you think of, but a home's water pressure may turn out to be a timely and costly fix. During your walkthrough, try flushing the toilets or running the taps simultaneously. Another item to check is to smell the drain. While it may seem strange to smell the drain if you notice a funky scent coming from the drain, it can mean it is clogged and needs to be looked at.
During your walkthrough, review the interior and exterior of the windows. Do they lock properly, and open and close effortlessly? It isn't necessarily deal breaker if you have to replace a lock, but it will save you the trouble down the road if you know about it ahead of time. Faulty windows that don't close correctly can also increase the heating bill if they are not replaced.
Home staging up the house, adding in furniture and using specific colour theory and design can make a room appear larger than it is. A common home staging trick is adding a small twin bed in a small bedroom. The smaller bed takes up less space and makes the room appear more spacious.
The key to avoiding these tricks and not being fooled is to think of how you will use that room and your furniture size, colour, and shape.
No house is ever perfect, but by having a wise real estate agent and by being aware of the things you are willing to live with and the potential repairs you may find yourself having to address down the road, you can feel more confident about putting in an offer.
Looking for advice or looking to purchase a home? Contact us today!
Buying a home for the first time can seem daunting. Not knowing the steps to take, the right questions to ask, or even how to prepare can leave you feeling overwhelmed and anxious. However, buying your first home should be a fun and exciting time in your life. We have listed some of the most frequently asked questions by first time home buyers, so you get the most out of your home buying experience.
1. How do I save for a down payment?
When saving for your first home, the most effective way is to start putting money aside with a savings plan. With a savings plan through your bank, you can have money automatically transferred from your bank to your savings account.
Setting up a savings account such as a TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) makes all earnings and withdrawals tax-free! Of course, your contributions depend on your comfort and what works best with your cash flow.
2. How much can I afford?
Getting pre-approved for your mortgage is the most important place to determine how much you can afford towards monthly mortgage payments. Many online calculators also help you choose a range and figure out your affordable price range. After a reasonable range is determined, you can start looking at houses for sale. Your mortgage professional is critical in helping determine what you can afford.
3. What is my credit rating? Is it good enough to apply for a mortgage?
The bank or lender will look at your credit score before approving you for a mortgage in most cases. Therefore, your credit score is crucial as it shows your history of paying bills and loans on time and builds your financial credibility.
Keeping a good track record with credit card payments is essential, and if you have paid on time or at least made the minimum payment due on your credit cards, you should have a good credit score. However, if your record isn't perfect, it doesn't mean you can't buy a house. It just means there will need to be further credit investigation, and the lender will have to assess your situation and provide you advice on how to improve your rating.
4. What is a mortgage pre-approval?
A pre-approved mortgage is a great advantage when looking for a home! A pre-approved mortgage means you have reviewed your earnings and assets, and the bank or lender has determined you suitable for a loan to buy a home.
The pre-approval amount provides peace of mind knowing the price you can afford and helps narrow your search and ensure you won't be wasting time looking at homes out of reach! Not to mention pre-approvals show the realtors and sellers that you are serious and gives you credibility.
5. Should I use a real estate agent?
A real estate agent will help you find the right home and offer you advice and inside knowledge. They should also bring up things you haven't considered and submit offers on your behalf. They know about listings new to the market. When finding a real estate agent, you must find one suitable for you, what you are looking for, and your location. Purchasing a home is most people's largest investment. Not all Realtors are created equal. Therefore, hiring a professional who is proficient is hugely important. Realtors will negotiate the terms of your purchase on your behalf and study the market trends to help you fully understand the market you’re purchasing in. Real estate agents can help in other ways: Check out How Real Estate Agents Make Finding the Perfect Neighbourhood Easy.
6. How long will it take to pay off my mortgage?
Amortization is the length of time needed to pay off your mortgage ultimately. Many first-time buyers settle for a 25-year amortization. Amortization can be shorter or longer depending on what you need. More extended amortization demands that you have a down payment of at least 20% of the property you are buying. Selecting a longer amortization will lower the number of your recurring expenses, but it means you will pay more interest over time.
Shorter amortization increases your regular payment but saves you interest overall and means you'll be mortgage-free sooner. Choose an accelerated weekly or bi-weekly payment schedule to shorten your amortization rather than a monthly schedule.
7. What are Closing Costs?
Lastly, closing costs are additional expenses when you have wholly purchased a home. As a guideline, you can estimate that closing costs will be about 2 to 3% of the purchase price of your home, though this may vary significantly.
These fees typically include:
We hope these commonly asked questions with answers have eased your mind and have better prepared you for your home buying experience.
Spring is just around the corner! If you plan on selling your home this spring, now is the time to start getting your home ready for the competitive spring real estate market. Don't wait until the last minute to fix and tidy up those lingering issues. Below we have listed a few of our top suggestions to help prepare you and your home for prime-time spring selling.
Before you start on the home, prepare yourself. Come up with an organized list of what needs to be addressed and the priority of each item on your list. Take into consideration the timeline of how long specific tasks need to be completed and if they are worth it. Also, be sure to prepare to change how you view your home. When you plan on selling your home, it is no longer your home but instead becomes a potential buyer's home. By starting this process of emotionally detaching yourself from the house, you will find the transition a lot easier later on.
The saying "spring cleaning" is commonly thrown around when spring rolls in. However, it's beneficial to clean when it comes to selling and listing your home. A dirty house is usually the first thing potential buyers will notice when walking through the home for a viewing. Dirt and dust tend to build up after a while of daily living, and it can be easy to turn a blind eye to it. However, a deep clean of the floors, walls, and windows can make all the difference in how your home is perceived once on the market.
Another way to prepare the home for selling is fixing the small things. We all have little side projects that we have put off and are at the back of our minds. Unfortunately, not repairing the small things can turn out to be the big deal breakers later on. For example, fill in the drywall holes, or fix the leaky taps. The objective is to make your property perfect and move-in ready. By not fixing these issues, they can deter future home buyers or even lessen the value of your home.
One of the best ways to make your home appealing is by making sure it is crisp and clean. Although cleaning is part of it, renovation is the best way to achieve this goal. The type of renovations can depend on how outdated the home is. Renovations can be as simple as a fresh coat of neutral paint to the walls to create a pleasing atmosphere, or replacing the old carpet, to a more extensive renovation of changing out the outdated porcelain tub in the bathroom. No matter the type of renovation you decide to do, it is always best to check with your real estate agent to get their expert opinion.
Depending on the renovations, they will undoubtedly add value to the home. But, it may not be worth it, depending on the market, location, and need of the housing market.
If you plan on selling your home this spring, think practical and be sure to follow our suggestion to improve your chances of selling your home in spring's competitive real estate market. Looking for advice or looking to list your home this Spring? Contact us today!
