Curb Appeal Adds Real Value - 09/29/07 01:40 PM

How often do you drive by a house and notice how fantastic it looks?  Sometimes it's the landscaping and sometimes it's the appearance of the house and sometimes both.  You don't need to wish and dream that your house could look like that - you can do it! 
Adding curb appeal to your home also adds value and often, a relatively small investment can make a significant difference.  If you search "Improving Curb Appeal" on the internet, close to 2 million sites come up brimming with ideas that can make a difference.  Back in June, I posted a before and after … (2 comments)

Meaford Is The Place to Be This Week-End - 09/27/07 03:49 PM
As I have a couple of sales closing in Meaford next week, I was over that way today for some inspections and what a delight it was to see the town in a colourful blaze of glory.  The 11th Annual Meaford Scarecrow Invasion happens tomorrow so the town is dressed up with scarecrows on every block.  This week-end would be a perfect time to visit as you can also enjoy the apple harvest at the local country markets while you meander the back roads to view the beautiful fall colours.
As most of my clients well know, I have an affinity for … (0 comments)

Planning a Hunting Vacation Soon? - 09/26/07 07:09 PM
Real estate hunting that is.  As many of our Collingwood and area real estate buyer clients come from outside of the area, they often book a hotel for a night of two during their house hunting trips.  Well, good news!  Booking accommodation in South Georgian Bay just got easier. 
The innovative folks at mycollingwood.ca have just launched a new online reservation system for the South Georgian Bay area that makes booking as simple as clicking your mouse.  In her article describing the new service, mycollingwood.ca partner Julie Card states that, "Stay by the Bay is available for your convenience any time night … (0 comments)

Is Collingwood the Singles Capital of the Georgian Triangle? - 09/24/07 07:08 PM
If you are looking for a date or a partner in life, maybe you should move to Collingwood.  O.K., I'll concede that most people looking for a community to relocate to don't consider marital statistics when they shop for real estate but none-the-less, this is kind of interesting stuff.
According to an article in last Friday's Collingwood Connection newspaper, Collingwood is the singles capital of our region. The article reported on Census data found in the now released 2006 Stats Can Community Profiles but to be fair, the data doesn't yet cover some of the towns in our area.  I suspect thought that … (2 comments)

Is This The Answer to Low Water Levels? - 09/22/07 03:41 PM
When visiting with a client at a cottage in Collingwood on Georgian Bay yesterday, I noted that the waterline was at least 100 feet away from the original break wall.  Water levels started to drop in 1999 and since then, some beaches have all but disappeared and real estate purchased ten or more years ago as waterfront, is barely waterfront today. 
Low water levels persist on the Upper Great Lakes and this is certainly a concern in our area.  Not only have people lost traditional beach areas, but navigation, wildlife, fish habitats and water intake systems have all been impacted.  Extreme … (2 comments)

What’s Hiding In The Attic? - 09/20/07 11:03 AM
I've been around in the real estate business for so long now that I can remember when home inspection companies didn't even exist (nor did we use fax machines once upon a time).  Today, home inspections have become the norm for almost all home buyers and, in the words of Martha, that's a good thing!  In the last decade or so, I've had literally hundreds of clients have home inspections and in every case but one, the client felt they got good value for their money.  If nothing else, they have peace of mind and a detailed homeowners "to do" list … (0 comments)

Driving In South Georgian Bay Will Get Easier by 2010 - 09/18/07 03:26 PM
Moving around in South Georgian Bay gets a little more challenging with every passing year as the population continues to grow at a rapid pace.  More people = more cars and that means traffic management and road infrastructure must also change and grow.
Recently, Ontario Transportation Minister, Donna Cansfield has sent a letter to Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier indicating that work will recommence on the long planned Highway 26 realignment between the towns of Wasaga Beach and Collingwood.  Started by the Conservatives many moons ago, land was cleared for the new highway but work was stopped in 2003 (after the last election), … (0 comments)

The Time Has Come to Build Green - 09/16/07 12:51 PM
I had a really interesting meeting on Friday with a young gentleman who wants to change the world.  He's not alone.
Once dismissed as leftist ideologists, environmentalists finally have the attention of the world.  Maybe it's due in part to persistence however, I think Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth documentary is what started the populist movement in a big way.  Whether you agree with his message or not, millions of people reacted to it and a populist movement has finally started to SAVE OUR PLANET.  The environment has moved to the top of our national agenda and suddenly we're all rushing around to … (5 comments)

Collingwood Real Estate Blues - 09/09/07 11:19 AM
Wait, it's not what you think.  If you drive along Highway 26 between the Towns of Wasaga Beach and Collingwood here in Ontario's favourite vacation playground, you can't miss the two blue houses under construction.  When I say blue, I mean blue.  Every inch of the wood framing and sheeting is blue and here is why.
Eden Oak is the developer behind a new 500 home subdivision in Collingwood called Lakeside Pointe.  They have chosen to build using Bluwood technology which is a wood treatment product that protects wood from mould, fungus growth, and insects such as termites.  According to Eden Oak President Bernie … (2 comments)

Bank of Canada Lending Rate - 09/06/07 04:36 PM
Despite earlier forecasts of a raise in the rate, the Bank of Canada decided last night to hold the key overnight lending rate to the current level of 4.5%.  Although Canada's total inflation rate of 2.2% marginally exceeds the Bank of Canada's target, concerns about global credit markets and their impact in Canada have caused them to hold the line for the time being.
The Canadian economy is performing well and ahead of projections but a slow down in the U.S. and global markets impact us through things like reduced demand for Canadian exports and by a tightening of credit policies that … (0 comments)

How many REALTORS® per capita in your area? - 09/05/07 08:08 AM
It seems that every time I turn around, there is another new person joining the real estate business.  In our trading area of about 80,000 people, we have over 330 salespeople and the numbers climb weekly. That's roughly one salesperson per 240 people in our area.  No wonder some people are not able to make a living in this business! Many of the new salespeople are surprisingly young while others are embarking on a retirement career.  The truth is that over 90% of the new folks likely won't be selling real estate anymore in five years.  When I graduated from Real … (14 comments)

The Average REALTOR® - 09/05/07 08:00 AM
It seems that every time I turn around, there is another new person joining the real estate business.  In our trading area of about 80,000 people, we have over 320 salespeople and the numbers climb weekly.  Many of the new salespeople are surprisingly young while others are embarking on a retirement career.  The truth is that over 90% of the new folks likely won't be selling real estate anymore in five years.  When I graduated from Real Estate U as I like to call it over 18 years ago, I didn't believe that statistic however, of the 32 people who obtained … (1 comments)

Happy Labour Day, Eh - 09/03/07 05:01 PM
It's Labour Day and next week, the kids head back to school.  Within two weeks, the fall colours will start a magnificent show and the fairs will be upon us.  But not today.  It's a beautiful, sunny and warm day when everyone is out enjoying the last days of summer.  One of the favourite past times of the local teens is jumping into Georgian Bay from the pier at Collingwood's Harbourlands Park and today, I was lucky enough to catch a few in action.
Mr. Cannonball says to be sure and tell you that his name is Steve and he's "totally awesome, dude!"
… (5 comments)

Georgian Triangle Real Estate Statistics - 09/01/07 10:58 AM
The MLS® statistics from the Georgian Triangle Real Estate Board for the first eight months of 2007 are in and sales volumes continue to exceed 2006 levels as expected. After a slower than normal start to the year from January to March, sales activity climbed steadily through the spring and summer with the number of unit sales now up more than 13% over last year with the total dollar volume values up more than 17% overall.
While the number of expired listings (properties that did not sell during their listing period) are up by about 10%, the total number of properties … (0 comments)

The Ants Go Marching One by One - 09/01/07 10:55 AM
... and the little one stops to eat ‘til it's done...
Carpenter ants.  They're back and they are terrorizing me once again.  About 25 years ago, they ate the beams of the old garage of our first home until the whole roof caved in.  Last summer, they ate the lintel beams under a doorway at our old log cabin cottage until the inside hallway gave way.  Well, never again I say.  Never again!  Now, the mere sight of any ant sends me into near hysterics and certain nightmares. 
The other day, I found a big fat black ant on our stone patio … (4 comments)

Establishing Real Estate Prices - 09/01/07 10:53 AM
Next to "How's the market?", I think the question I'm asked most frequently is, "What's it worth?"  Considering that real estate often represents a persons largest asset, that's a very fair question for both buyers and sellers of property and, as a Market Value Appraiser - Residential, one that I think I'm qualified to answer.
Market value is generally defined as the probable price a property will sell for in a reasonable time when fully exposed to the market and with a willing buyer and seller and with neither party under duress.  Quite a mouthful, huh?  Since most of us don't carry … (0 comments)

 
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Marg Scheben-Edey - Collingwood, Ontario

Collingwood, ON

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RE/MAX four seasons realty limited

Address: 67 First Street, Collingwood, ON, L9Y 1A2

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