The world has been cloaked in uncertainty due to COVID-19 and we know that this unprecedented scenario can make it hard to move forward and make decisions. We know many home owners that are thinking of selling their homes but just aren’t sure if now is the right time. Well, we can say with confidence that now is absolutely the right time.

3 Reasons Why Selling Now Is The Best Decision You Can Make

While there can be many different benefits that come from selling your home, getting the best price possible is always a top priority. Now is your best chance to get the best price!

Here’s why:

1. Currently, the federal government does not tax the sale of your primary residence. However, they will have to find ways to finance the significant federal debt that’s been run up over the past five months (and counting) to pay for all the support programs announced in response to the global pandemic.

There has been much speculation that a capital gains tax on the sale of primary residences is being considered and that Canadians may have to prepare for the implementation of this idea sooner rather than later.

2. We’re also experiencing ideal market conditions NOW and that will not last forever. While the spring market was very stagnant, this only served to create a very robust summer selling season. July 2020 saw price increases of 17% and a 24% decrease in the number of days on the market.

What does that mean for you? It means you can sell your home at a top price and quickly! It really is the ideal seller’s market. And with interest rates being so low, buyers are motivated and anxious to lock down a new home to secure those mortgage rates as soon as possible.

3. High interest in suburban and rural homes. If you’re thinking of downsizing and selling your Oakville, Milton, Burlington, Halton Hills or Guelph home, there are certainly interested buyers! COVID-19 has been the final push many people needed to move away from city life. People are looking for smaller communities, more square footage per dollar and more outdoor space for their families.

Sue Heddle Homes has been in the real estate industry for more than a decade and we can say with certainty that if you’re on the fence about selling your home, don’t delay things any further! Using our expertise in digital real estate tools, we’ve had the busiest July we’ve ever experienced and have helped so many clients make smart real estate decisions and get maximum value for their home. If you think waiting until next year might be the right move, keep reading to see why that’s not the right decision!

Work With Sue Heddle Homes To Sell Your Home Now!

It’s time for you to make the most of this real estate environment and sell your home! However, even though the opportunity for success is high, that doesn’t mean real estate overall hasn’t changed. In order to be successful, you need to choose a realtor that excels in online tools so that your listing attracts as many buyers as possible in our current climate.

Sue Heddle Homes has the skills and expertise you need. Not only do all of our listings include a true 3D virtual tour of your home, which has been proven to generate more interest, you’ll also receive free home staging, professional listing photographs and the use of additional online tools like Broker Bay and DocuSign to make the experience as seamless and successful as possible. Don’t wait another day to get started – we’re ready to help you sell your home and get the price you want! Call us and let’s talk – 416-906-7998!

Most of Ontario has now entered Stage 3 of the COVID-19 re-opening plan, with the final few regions likely following shortly. This next phase brings several changes, one of which is the ability to host gatherings of up to 50 people. As larger groups are now allowed, Oakville realtors prepare to host Open Houses once again.

It’s important to note that although Open Houses are now possible, they will still look different from Open House events we knew before the global pandemic. Signs displaying health precautions, hand sanitizer, and masks will be a part of any Open House for the foreseeable future and realtors will be required to manage capacity and enforce social distancing.

Safely Buy Or Sell A Home During COVID-19

As an experienced Oakville realtor, Sue Heddle knows how to navigate the current market and help her clients find success. From hosting safe Open Houses to supporting their wish for virtual tools to maximize their marketing potential, Sue Heddle Homes can help.

As we move into conducting real estate transactions in Stage 3, it’s important to still function as safely as possible. Whether you choose to have or attend an Open House or schedule individual showings, here are some ways that Sue Heddle Homes will prioritize the health and safety of everyone involved:

• All listings will include a 3D virtual tour so that potential buyers can get a true sense of the property for sale. Not only will this entice more buyers, but by getting an in depth view of the home, you’ll be able to feel confident that those that do come to view your home are vested and motivated to buy.
• As always, we’ll continue to use online tools like BrokerBay and DocuSign to make the process as easy as possible and to reduce the need for in person meetings and extra contact.
• We’ll continue to provide hand sanitizer and enforce that masks be worn whether at an individual showing or at an Open House.
• In addition, we’ll ensure lights are on and doors are open before potential buyers enter the home, reducing contact points.
• Buyers will be advised ahead of time about any questionnaires or waivers relating to symptoms and exposure to COVID-19.

Trust Top Oakville Realtor Sue Heddle Homes

Sue Heddle’s years of experience will help you get the results you want. In addition to her award winning service, her deep commitment to making the buying and selling process as comfortable as possible during COVID-19 will put clients at ease. We know the real estate market may not be what you’re used to, but not to worry. We’ll handle all the details and can answer any questions you have. To get started with a free home evaluation or to learn more about buying a home this year, we invite you to contact us.

Top Oakville realtor Sue Heddle has been experiencing the busiest summer market of her 12 year career! The housing market has definitively picked up speed after being slowed considerably due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

While some people are actively buying and selling homes in Oakville and throughout the Halton area, others are taking this time to upgrade their space since we’ll all be spending more time at home this summer.

The warm temperatures and the hot summer sun make it easy to wish for a pool in your backyard. Even if you have the space to accommodate a pool, is it really something you’re prepared to invest in? Adding a pool to your home will certainly add to your short-term enjoyment (as long as you’re prepared to handle the added yearly costs), but will it help you sell your home further down the road?

What Buyers May Think When They See A Pool

Swimming laps and watching your kids play water games in the comfort of your own backyard can be very appealing, but you can’t forget about the actual realities that come with owning a pool. And when it comes time to sell your home, prospective buyers may only be able to see increased liability and maintenance costs, especially if they haven’t owned a pool before.

Don’t be too concerned though, there will always be buyers who consider an in-ground pool a bonus, while for others it’s considered a deal breaker. If you’re wondering whether or not adding a pool will help increase your home value, here are some factors that need to be considered.

• Will adding a pool remove all green space from your yard?
• Do you have enough space to add a pool and still keep room for a sitting area?
• Do you have the funds to properly maintain the pool each month so that it remains in good condition?
• Are pools common in your neighbourhood and in your city or town?

It’s important to understand your monthly and yearly maintenance costs so that you can be sure you’ll be able to keep the pool in good condition. Even those home buyers who are interested in having a pool will be turned off by one that’s been poorly maintained and needs a lot of repair.

When it comes right down to it, understand that adding a pool may not provide a significant increase in the overall value of your home. However, it’s really only you that can truly decide how much a pool will add to your quality of life. 

Find The Right House For Your Needs With Sue Heddle Homes

Whether your family is looking for a home with a pool to help beat the heat this summer or you’re more interested in a home with an unfinished basement that you can transform into a home office, Sue Heddle Homes can help. Leave it to us to find your next ideal home or to help you list your home and sell it for top dollar. With an unparalleled commitment to our clients, you can count on us to expertly handle all your real estate needs. To learn more about the current market or to receive a free home evaluation, contact us.

Sue Heddle Homes continues to transcend the limits for home sales and has expanded her knowledge and skill set to deliver even more options for clients by utilizing virtual staging. What is virtual staging? Virtual staging is done digitally using 3D virtual staging software. Using this technology, we’re able to create, customize, and re-size furniture to fit seamlessly into an existing room for outstanding results that captivate potential buyers.

Home staging is one of the most effective ways to present your home in the best possible light. As a top Oakville realtor, Sue Heddle Homes has been providing free home staging to all listing clients for over a decade. As the world continues to pivot to accommodate our new reality, choosing a realtor like Sue Heddle, who is well versed in digital real estate marketing, will truly give you the best opportunity to showcase your home properly and attract serious buyers.

3 Reasons Virtual Staging Puts Sue Heddle Homes Ahead Of The Rest

We’ve talked before about how important it is to make the best use of digital tools in today’s real estate market. With COVID-19 moving people to reduce their person to person contact, virtual staging done by Sue Heddle Homes is just another way we support our clients and put their needs first.

The image above demonstrates the excellent results virtual staging can deliver. Curious to know more? Here are three ways this technology can make selling your home easier.

1. Home staging absolutely makes it easier to sell your home and helps you get the price you want. However, due to COVID-19, if you want or need to limit the people coming in and out of your home, that doesn’t mean you can’t reap the benefits of a beautifully staged home. With virtual staging, Sue Heddle Homes can ensure that your listing photos maximize your home’s marketability to attract buyers right away without compromising your desire for less contact and privacy.

2. Depending on the situation, you may have moved out before your home is listed for sale. Instead of having to leave furniture behind, virtual staging can help showcase how your home can look without moving furniture back in or paying an extra costs to have furniture purchased or rented for your empty home. Virtual staging can function as an excellent way to help people visualize furniture layout without needing to have physical pieces brought in.

3. If you don’t have enough furniture to properly stage your space or you know your own furniture will not do the best job at selling your home, this is another scenario perfect for virtual staging. You can use virtual staging to help showcase your home’s spaces when you list without needing a home stager and without requiring extra people to come in and out of your home. This is also an excellent option for leasing listings as you can even remove the current tenant’s belongings from photographs.

Get The Most Out Of Your Real Estate Listing With Sue Heddle Homes

In today’s real estate market, not only do you need an Oakville realtor with proven experience and savvy negotiating skills, but you need a realtor who knows how to use technology to help their clients get the best results possible.

Sue Heddle Homes has been using digital tools like DocuSign, 3D virtual tours and now virtual staging to stay ahead of the curve. Her consistent demonstration of being able to adapt and thrive using technology means her clients have access to the best resources possible when it comes to the sale of their home. For more information on buying and selling an Oakville home with us, visit our website or call (416) 906-7998.

Oakville realtor Sue Heddle has been using high quality 3D virtual tours as part of our listings for the last six years.

Not only does this increase the marketability of any listing, it also supports buying and selling properties for out of town clients, and makes it much easier for prospective buyers to really get a feel for any property they’re interested in, from the comfort of their own home.

At Sue Heddle Homes, we’ve always considered 3D Virtual tours a top level service that was important to provide to our clients, but in the current climate, we’d argue it’s now critical. COVID-19 has changed the way real estate transactions are being conducted and your property’s online presence is now more significant than ever before.

Don’t Be Fooled - Not All Virtual Tours Are Equal

Just like not all listing photos are equal or how poor home staging will not get you the same results as professional home staging, a low quality virtual tour just can’t compare to a true 3D virtual home tour. In fact, it’s been reported that 95% of buyers are more likely to call about a home with a proper 3D virtual tour. Don’t you want your listing to pique the interest of prospective buyers?

Here’s what a real 3D tour is not:

• Zooming in or out of still listing photos.
• A walk through video that doesn’t capture the floor plan or the true layout of the home.
• A video tour of a home that only shows main rooms and doesn’t allow you to zoom in further to see additional details.

Here’s what a 3D virtual tour will include, when you list your home with Sue Heddle Homes:

• An immersive experience that's simply not possible with photos or 360 tours.
• Schematic floor plans in 3D.
• Interactive walkthrough capabilities.

View one of our interactive 3D tours now.

Want Your Real Estate Listing To Include A Virtual Tour That Delivers Results?

As mentioned, things are different and Oakville realtors and the entire real estate market has had to adapt. Sue Heddle Homes has always been ahead of the curve and our team is very comfortable using technology and online tools to sell your home or to help you buy the next home to suit your needs. To find out more about how we can help you buy or sell during COVID-19, please call us at (416) 906-7998. Feel free to contact us to learn how to get a free home evaluation, ask questions about the market or to set up a time to discuss your needs – we’d love to hear from you!

With years of experience helping people buy and sell suburban homes, Oakville realtor Sue Heddle also has knowledge and expertise when it comes to purchasing or selling a rural home or property. For many people, the thought of living away from a city with more space to enjoy can be quite appealing. However, if you’re thinking of buying a home in a rural area, there are plenty of things you need to consider first.

Rural real estate transactions include many factors you may not typically think about. Things like quality of roads or access to your property, productivity of the soil, utility access such as water and electricity as well as more modern considerations such as the reliability of high speed internet.

8 Questions To Ask When You’re Considering A Rural Real Estate Purchase

Regardless of where you are looking to buy, location matters. In rural purchases, you may not be looking for a walkability factor, but proximity to the nearest town, where dwellings are located on the property and what type of road the house is located on all factor in to the appeal of a rural location.

Specifically, here are 10 questions to ask when you’re thinking about purchasing a rural property.

1. Is the water safe to drink? Rural properties can draw water from private wells, which may be contaminated with minerals or even chemicals. Insist on a water test before making an offer.

2. Is there an adequate septic system? Houses constructed in rural areas are equipped with a leach field designed to collect sewage and water waste. The size of the system depends on the size of the house. However, if there has been any extensions or large renovations, be sure to get confirmation that the leach field was extended as well.  

3. Is the house located on a private road? If so, you may need to factor in thousands of dollars in expenses each year to handle your share of plowing, maintenance and paving.

4. How often do you lose power and for how long? Rural areas are often the last to be restored if a power line goes down. If being without power for days could be a reality, be sure to factor in the cost of a back-up generator into your overall costs of buying a new home.

5. What will accessibility be like in the winter? With our cold and snowy Canadian winters, make sure that surrounding roads will be safe to drive on and plowed regularly.

6. Where are the boundary lines? If the properties you’re looking at will have several acres or more, it can be tough to tell where your property starts and ends. Ask when a proper survey has last been completed and if you aren’t satisfied with what’s available, have a property surveyed completed before you buy to avoid future disputes.

7. What are restrictions and zoning ordinances? Before you buy, find out what you are and aren’t allowed to do and whether the property is deemed A1, A2 or greenspace.

8. Will there be any items included with the sale? If so, a detailed list needs to be a part of the real estate contract. Items may include things like gates, portable sheds, fence posts, or miscellaneous equipment.

Finding A Realtor Experienced In Rural Real Estate Transactions

With so many nuances and unique information that can be involved in a rural real estate transaction, you need an experienced realtor on your side to help you get the results you want. Sue Heddle Homes can take all your needs into consideration and help you navigate a successful purchase or sale. To find out more about our award winning client services, contact us. We’d be happy to speak with you to discuss your next move.

Cleaning the windows in your home may seem easy enough, but there are indeed a few tricks that will help you get the results you want. If you’re cleaning your windows in preparation for selling your Oakville home, your work will certainly be worth it. Clean and sparkling windows are a great task to take on in hopes of selling your home for the price you want.

In addition to cleaning and decluttering your home, professional home staging is the next best thing that will help your home make the right first impression on potential buyers. When you list with Sue Heddle Homes, you’ll receive free home staging as part of our award winning sellers package.

How To Clean Windows Inside And Out

With the spring sunshine brightening up our days, you want to be sure that your home gets the maximum amount of sun shining in. That just isn’t possible if your windows are covered in a film of dirt. Washing windows should be at the top of your spring cleaning list, and we’re sharing some top tips on how to make it easy and effective.

1. Mix a simple solution comprised of one part white vinegar to two parts water. Add both ingredients to a spray bottle.
2. Fill a large container with clean, cool water and add a few drops of liquid dish soap.
3. Place a towel beneath the window you’re working on in case there are any spills.
4. Use a clean cloth or sponge soaked in the water and soap solution, go over the surface of the window, starting from the top. You should also wipe down the frame as well.
5. Next, spray the window thoroughly with the vinegar and water solution.
6. Use a clean, lint-free towel or clean paper towel (or a squeegee if you have one!) to dry the window completely using a Z-shaped motion.
7. Keep in mind that dirty windows may require two rounds of spraying and drying.

Get Your Home Ready To Sell With Sue Heddle Homes

As a top Oakville realtor, Sue Heddle knows how to get your home sold. While home owners should do some cleaning and organizing before they list their home, Sue Heddle Homes can offer guidance when it comes to being best prepared to get the results you want. We’ll provide a free home evaluation, help you understand the current market, as well as preparing a top quality listing using professional photos and digital technology. Our team can offer you the support you need to find success in the current market. To find out more about working with us, please contact us or give us a call at (416) 906-7998.

The world has certainly changed a lot in the last few months. And while staying healthy is a top priority, there are many people that still need to either buy or sell a home. The current real estate market is unlike anything we’ve ever seen.

But while other Oakville realtors are struggling to catch up when it comes to using the technology now required to support clients, Sue Heddle Homes continues to be ahead of the curve.

Sue Heddle Homes has been doing 3D virtual tours for the past six years on all listings. It has always been a free option to sellers and part of our award winning marketing strategy. In addition, we’re very proficient at using online tools such as Docusign to make it easy for all of our local and international clients to buy and sell. Our expertise in this area means that we can still confidently work with you to safely conduct real estate transactions from your own home.

In these unprecedented times, we want to assure you that we remain accessible and continue to provide our clients with full support delivered at the high level of professionalism and customer service we are known for. We can still safely provide an environment that allows you to buy and sell, if you choose.

Get The Real Estate Service You Deserve From Sue Heddle Homes

We know that people are feeling anxious and uncertain during this pandemic. We will do everything we can to ease your stress by putting our expertise to work to make a real estate transaction possible while practicing necessary social distancing. Our years of experience and forward thinking approach means that our transition to functioning as needed during the pandemic has been seamless.

Please do not hesitate to reach out or call us at 416-906-7998 if you have any questions or require support - we're here to help you! Whether you’re a first time buyer or are looking to downsize, we’d be happy to connect with you.

It’s important to note that while the sales pace may slow slightly for the next month or so, once we come out on the other side we're going to have a very, very busy market! Rest assured that we are working hard now to serve all of our clients and will be absolutely prepared for a busy late spring and summer.

You know your yard needs some work this spring, but you’re not sure where to start. Well, now’s the time to tackle that chore and make sure your yard is well on its way to looking its best. Whether you know you want to sell your Oakville home this springor you want to be prepared just in case, your curb appeal can play a huge role in enticing prospective buyers.

As a top realtor in Oakville, Sue Heddle Homesoffers free home staging to all of our listing clients. This means the inside of your home would be taken care of, but we aren’t able to tackle your yard! However, to make things easier, take a look at this spring clean-up checklist that we’ve created to help.

The Only Spring Yard Clean Up Checklist You’ll Need

Did you know that if you don’t clean up dead plants, stems and leaves your garden will not only look unkempt but the potential disease and fungus can end up causing major problems later on? You’ll also be letting weeds thrive, which can take things over if you’re not careful!

Now, once the ground has thawed and things have dried out a bit, it’s time to get to work. There is no expectation that you would get your clean up all done in one day, try tackling a few things every week.

• Pick up branches.
• Clean up dead plants and debris in the garden.
• Prune shrubs and trees to trigger new growth.
• Remove winter mulch and any other plant protection you have such as burlap wraps or screens.
• Brush back leaves on top of plants, but you don’t need to remove all leaves. They’re actually great for a garden.
• Pull dead annuals, roots and all.
• Remove dead growth from perennials, such as hostas.
• Pull weeds so that they don’t have time to establish deep roots.
• Add new mulch over freshly weeded gardens.
• Edge garden beds.
• Wash patio furniture.
• Sweep deck, patios and porches.

This list may seem long, but if you take the time to do a thorough spring clean-up, it will make your yard much easier to handle over the summer months. As mentioned, if selling your homeis likely to happen soon, tackling this list will also help to ensure you get the best price for your listing.

Sue Heddle Homes Can Sell Your Home This Spring

If you want your home to be on the market this spring, now’s the time to act. From making sure your home is well prepared to having a professional listing that draws in the right buyer, Sue Heddle Homescan help. With over a decade of experience as an Oakville realtor, Sue Heddleknows how to sell homes in any kind of market. To find out what your home is worthor if you have any questions, please contact usor give us a call at (416) 906-7998.