Al and Peggy's Corner

199 Vodden St. W. Brampton, Ontario, Canada Now Sold!

You may remember we blogged on our fabulous new listing 199 Vodden St. West, in beautiful Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It is a well maintained home that the originals Owners were selling to retire up north.

It didn't take long and the first buyer through stepped up to the plate and said "We want this home for ourselves!" Yes, they paid a little over the asking price, but they will have years of enjoyment here.

We received this lovely letter from the happy sellers:

Al and Peggy we wish to express our sincere appreciation for the quick and effective sale of our home. It was a cooperative and pleasant experience. Most importantly, you definitely represented the best interests of the sellers and delivered superior results.  Brampton's 'best in class' in our opinion.

Thanks
Jim and Joan Barnes

That is why we work so hard, for the appreciation of our clients.  If you are thinking of selling or buying in the Brampton, Ontario, Canada area, call us today, we would be proud to deliver you the same results!

199 Vodden St. W. Brampton, Ontario, Canada Now Sold!

Sally and David Hanson posted a blog on a charity they regularly support. We love their mission to dress a bed each year and donate necessity items.

Can you imagine if everyone of our Active Rain members followed the Hanson's footsteps?

We took our first step today to follow Sally and David and found a center in our area and added another resolution to our list to be a better giver.

Sally and David deserve your kudos so we disabled the comments here.

  Have a great week,

Al and Peggy

What, Thinking of New Year's Day Already? - Speechless Sunday  

Yes we know, how can you think of New Year's 2013, when New Year 2012 just started. Well you know what they say about best laid plans!

We just stumbled upon this on Pinterest and thought it was a cute idea for families. Start right now, designate a box or jar as your new memory box. The idea is that when special moments happen or laughter rings out and shakes the household, capture the memory by writing it down on a piece of paper, fold it up and put it in your memory box or jar.

Come New Year's Eve or New Year's day, sit with the family and open each folded memory. What a great way to re-live those special moments that happen, laugh at that funny thing that happened and enjoy the year all over again.  Listen for how many times you will hear " oh ya, I forgot about that!"    

What, Thinking of New Year's Day Already? - Speechless Sunday

Horseshoe Resort Just One Hour North Of Brampton Ontario Canada

Just an easy 60 minute drive north of Brampton, Ontario, Canada is the fabulous Horseshoe Resort which is more, much more than a ski and golf resort.  That's how far north you have to drive to find snow this year anyway!

It truly is the place to visit whether its summer or winter! We spent a few very enjoyable hours there yesterday. Almost 2 full hours were spent tubing down their five chutes. Whether you tube down solo or join in a group its a ride!

After a few minutes of warming up with hot chocolate by an open fire it was time for a quick snowmobile lesson and ride for the little ones. With their big eyes, huge smiles & excited voices we know this is something they are not going to forget soon!

There are 26 Alpine ski and snowboard runs, 35 km of Nordic trails, indoor/outdoor pools, spa, shops, the Fireside Cafe to cozy up in and so much more. This year if you can get there before the February 29th, there is a special Hummer Tour to explore the forest and nature.

Summer adventures await us with golf, hiking & biking trails, horseback riding and more to experience.

Horseshoe Resort is located at 1101 Horseshoe Valley Road, Barrie, Ontario. Call 1-800-461-5627 to book your getaway package and get out there!

Hey Mr Seller How Did You Pick Your Real Estate Agent?

Are you going to be a Seller soon... how will you pick your Real Estate Agent? (just pretend you're not an Agent, some of you have already been pretending so that won't matter) 

They say you should ask around, so who do you ask?  The Butcher, the Baker or the Candlestick Maker.  You should know that just because the Baker's Agent found him a nice house that Agent may be your worst choice for helping you to sell your house. 

Look at this way, we have some 34,000 + registered Real Estate Agents on the Toronto Real Estate Board... oh my what a choice.  Now, if they were in order of the best from 1 to 34,000 and you picked number 34,000 to find you a new house, they could probably do it if you had enough patience and they had enough gas. 

Now could they negotiate the best deal, that's a different matter. 

Guess what we are trying to say is that any Agent can find you a new house but it will take a much different Agent to sell it.

So much for the referral, how about that Company offering 3.5% commission or the one offering 1% commission and they put it on MLS (check their track record and read the fine print).

Maybe you want to call your friend, they were laid off last year and went and got their Real Estate license, maybe they need the work.  Guess I could ask my Uncle, he doesn't live close but I think I can trust him.

Who works the area the most, has the most signs, you see them in the newspaper ads and flyers all the time.  You Googled them and up they pop.  Now you are getting close, get the phone, get them over and check them out.

Let's get to the bottom line, if you are looking to sell your house, you want an Agent that first of all works in your Town or City, it makes a huge difference.  Are they going to drive ten miles or more to show your house, just get home and have to turn around to show it again. (Don't think so). 

Your Agent has to stand out in your community from their past performance... SOLD signs, SOLD flyers, a marketing program that includes everything possible to reach your potential Buyer, that could include newspaper ads, flyers, website exposure, Facebook, Youtube and a list of other things that the average Agent does not do.

When they start discounting their fees, show them the door, you already know you get what you pay for.

When you live in an area like us with 34,000 Agents you can be sure many of them haven't even sold a house in the past year.  Do your homework and if you do, you won't have to interview a bunch of Agents, you will have already found the best one.

By the way, when you find that Agent you know is the right one to sell your house they can help you buy one too.  See, a great Selling Agent is a great Buyer Agent also, it does not work the other way.

Hey Mr Seller How Did You Pick Your Real Estate Agent?

Brampton Ontario Real Estate - The Ritz Towers - 8 Lisa Street, Brampton

 

We didn't see this blog of George Souto's with a feature even though it deserved one, so we are re-blogging it in case you missed it.

George wrote so well and express where does success start perfectly. Have a read then slip over to leave your remarks for George!

May much success be yours!

Al and Peggy

February 1, 2012 One Twelfth Of The Year Gone!

Wow, January went so fast. Remember all the goals we set on January 1st, the promises we made to ourselves? How are you doing with that?

We have to admit a few started to slip that's why we're glad this February has one extra day in it, because we plan to pick up the gauntlet again and go for it.
How about you?

We are enjoying an unusual warm winter which makes getting 'out there' easier.  Yesterday we woke up to a few inches of snow in our driveway the most we've had all year,
by noon it was like another season; balmy 50 degrees F., sunny and the snow was gone!

Let's all kick off this month and make it awesome before we are sitting here saying "oh gosh, it's March 1st already!"  

February 1, 2012 One Twelfth Of The Year Gone!

Brampton Ontario Real Estate - The Pinnacles - 310-330 Mill Street South

Brampton Ontario Real Estate - The Pinnacles - 330 Mill Street South