Have you been thinking about putting your home on the market? If you’re like many sellers, you may be wondering whether to sell now, or wait until the timing is perfect. The good news is, if you live in Hamilton, the right time might be now. 

If you’ve been thinking about selling your Hamilton home, here’s why you should consider doing so sooner rather than later…

It’s a seller’s market

The numbers are in for September, and they’ve highlighted what real estate agents already knew: the Hamilton market is hot. The average sale price for the month was $881,656, up 5 per cent from the previous month and 22 per cent from September of last year. That’s good news if you’re thinking of selling—it means buyers are willing to pay a pretty penny for the right property.

While it’s true that home sales were down, active and new listings plunged even lower. That means there are more buyers than sellers in the market right now. In other words: there’s plenty of demand, and you may find that multiple buyers are vying for your property.

Of course, the state of the market is just one piece of the puzzle. There are a few other factors that make it a good time to sell in Hamilton. Let’s take a closer look.

Gearing up to sell your home? Whether this is your first time or you’ve been through it before, get prepared with some of our selling resources!

• How Sellers Can Make the Most of a Hot Market
• 5 Seller’s Mistakes to Avoid
• Why You Should Work With a Local Agent

There’s a buzz about the city

As a local resident, you probably know that Hamilton has moved past its former steel-town reputation to become one of the country’s trendiest locales. Well, there’s a lot more where that came from! 

The city’s “it” status is about to be further solidified. From new revitalization efforts to transit upgrades, Hamilton just keeps getting better and better. As a result, we can expect more buyers from the GTA (and beyond) to come calling. 

To start with, there’s the upcoming construction of light rail transit (LRT). LRT is a quick and cost-effective mode of transportation, and it’s going to make getting around the city much easier. Not only that, but Hamilton’s GO Train lines are expanding. Future plans include more service to West Harbour Station and the upcoming construction of Confederation Station. 

Speaking of West Harbour, it’s going to be one of the city’s most exciting communities. An impressive $140 million is going into redeveloping this mixed-use, waterfront area. It will feature beautiful homes, parks, recreation…even food trucks and concessions.

Another exciting step forward will be the opening of AEON Bayfront Studios, a large hub for film and television productions. Once this happens, we can expect to see an influx of industry professionals in the city. It’s just one more way that future development is likely to boost housing demand.

Trying to decide on the next place to call home? Check out Hamilton’s Top 5 Up-and-Coming Neighbourhoods to get some ideas.

Young buyers are moving up

A May report from Teranet states that nearly 70,000 Ontarians moved to the suburbs during the pandemic—and that number is likely even higher now. It’s no surprise. For months we’ve been hearing about Torontonians who have opted for more square footage and a yard during lockdown.

While Hamilton is a lively city in its own right (and home prices here have risen in recent years), it’s still more affordable than Toronto. That’s something that many young Torontonians are keeping in mind as they continue to reconsider their current lifestyles.

So if you’re planning to sell your home in Hamilton, you might just find that the buyer pool is a little larger than you expected.

The best time is your time

It’s true that timing can make a difference in real estate. That said, the ideal time to put your home on the market is when you’re ready to do so. Being fully committed to (and even excited about) selling can lead to a better experience and result.

At the end of the day, a real estate agent with a proven track record can help you get a great price no matter when you sell. 

If you’re getting ready to take your next step, why not start by learning your property value—and what we can do for you?

• What’s My Home Worth
• The Woolcott Selling Advantage

Interested in talking to us about your sale? Get in touch by setting up a consultation with our team here!

Please note, many locations who would normally accept clothing and household donations are currently only accepting food and monetary donations due to covid-19. We will keep you updated when these locations open up to all donations again.

If you’re selling your home, you’ve probably accumulated a lot of stuff over the years. Things like clothing, books, kitchen gadgets, DVDs and electronic devices (heck, I still have my old video cassette recorder from way back when Bob Saget was the host of America’s Funniest Home Videos).

It’s tough to get rid of certain possessions, as you remember paying good money for them.  In theory, you could try to sell it on Kijiji, Ebay, or have a garage sale, but with your busy lifestyle, sometimes this is much more effort than what it’s worth. Instead, why not give it to charity, while you won’t get a tax benefit, someone in need will benefit from your goodwill.  In this blog post, we look at all the great places where you can donate items in Hamilton.  Some items you just can’t donate, and for that reason, we touch upon other businesses who may buy your item, or perhaps they may recycle it.

Places to Donate Clothing in Hamilton

Clothing is difficult to get rid of sometimes, as you may have spent good money on it, only to never have worn it, or you think.  However, there’s no point in having that item sit in your closet for years when someone else could actually benefit from it. The Diabetes foundation of Ontario regularly collects clothing.  From their clothing drives they get much needed clothing for those in need, as well they raise money for Diabetes research. If you live in Hamilton, Dundas, Flamborough, Waterdown or Burlington, there are plenty of diabetes drop off boxes near you.  Or you can call them, and leave clothing in a clear marked bag on your porch or front stoop on a designated day.  Use some common sense when donating clothing.  Jeans with a hole in the crotch, or a shirt covered in grease stains and armpit holes are not ideal donations.  Think more on donating gently used items, like, suits or dresses your kids have grown out of (and only wore to their grade 9 graduation), Christmas presents you were too polite to return, and winter clothing like coats, mittens and barely worn boots. The Goodwill/Amity of Hamilton also accepts donations.  Their drop off center is located at 1050 Upper Gage Avenue, Hamilton.

Where to donate books  in Hamilton

If you are an avid reader, houses can fill up with books rather fast.  If you are moving, we recommend donating all of those books.  It is rather tough, as we attach feelings and a sense of time to a book.  We even have bookshelves to display our collections.  However, chances are you’ll never read that copy of Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’, ever again.  As beautiful as they are, most places don’t accept National Geographic, that’s a magazine that’s probably best left for the recycling bin.  Most magazines over the age of six months are probably best left to be recycled.  Similarly, Readers Digests are best suited for the recycling bin, or given to someone else to read.

Here are a few organizations in Hamilton who accept books:

Agencies

Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy, 905-522-2928 Books and A/V. Limit 10 boxes. Canadian Diabetes Association, 905-528-1112 Hardcover and Paperback books. No encyclopedias, no National Geographic. 1 box limit. Neighbour To Neighbour Centre, 905-574-1334 Books and still timely magazines. No encyclopedias, no National Geographic, and no text books. St. Vincent De Paul Society (King E.), 905-522-7045

Hamilton Hospital Donations

Hospitals and Senior Homes are other organizations you can donate to.  It’s best to call them first.  Hospitals with sick children may be on the look out for children’s books, or comic books.  Senior Residents like books with BIG text.
Hamilton Health Sciences – 905-521-2100
St. Joseph’s – 905-522-1155 Ext. 3464 – ask for the Volunteer Resources Office to determine what is currently being accepted at a given location.

Get Rid of Kitchen Clutter

Clutter in the kitchen can get out of hand fast.  Everyone wants to spice up their diet at some point, and thus it’s easy collect juicers, blenders, magic bullets, mandolins, panini presses, electric woks and ice cream makers.  Mountains of plastic storage containers, glassware, forgotten mugs and un-matching plates are other items that can get out of hand.  If you haven’t used these items in 6 months, get rid of them and be ruthless.  You could try to sell that dehydrator on Kijiji, but you’re probably not going to get many offers.  Our advice, drop it off at a thrift store.  Thrift Stores are wonderful for bargain hunters, or tinkerers.  Many inventors love to shop at Thrift Stores as they salvage gadgets for their prototypes and creations. Value Village – Value Village is located on the corner Fennel and Upper Wentworth at  530 Fennell Ave E, Hamilton.  There’s a location at 50 Horseshoe Crescent in Hamilton as well, and in Burlington, there is a location at 2340 Fairview Street. Talize – Talize is located at 1428 Upper James in Hamilton.  They are a thrift store that accepts clothing, small appliances and toys among many other items. Salvation Army – The Salvation Army has been accepting used items for years in order to service the poor. They are located at 1600 Main St W and 835 Stone Church Rd E in Stoney Creek.

Other Items to get rid of to De-clutter your Home

When de-cluttering your home, there are hundreds of other items you can probably get rid of.  Old posters, paperwork, busted down computers and printers, television sets, radios, outgrown sporting equipment, and well, the list goes on.  If the item you have doesn’t fit into what a thrift store or donation center will take, Hamilton has exceptional recycling centers.  They accept most things that are recyclable, accept your collection of way outdated VHS tapes, and speakers encased in wood.  For DVDs and CDs, you can donate them to charity, or try your luck at a business like The Beat Goes On which is on Upper James.

It’s pretty easy to see that Hamilton and the surrounding area are in a pre-construction boom. With so many new condos and townhouse developments, it’s an exciting time to be a buyer. 

One aspect of pre-construction home sales often overlooked or misunderstood is the concept of an assignment sale. What is an assignment sale? How does it work? Why would you need one? These are all questions you might ask yourself as an interested pre-construction buyer or investor. 

Here’s a quick guide to everything you need to know about assignment sales…

How is Pre-Construction Different than Buying Resale?

Before we get into what an assignment sale is, you need to know one of the key differences between buying pre-construction and a re-sale home. For pre-construction, you are essentially buying the idea of a property. Since, in most cases, it hasn’t actually been built yet. 

Most pre-construction condo projects go through a sales phase before even breaking ground on construction. For the purposes of financing, most pre-con projects won’t even start until they are about 80% sold. 

For buyers, this means they need to put down a big investment before seeing their new property. And then on top of that, they often need to wait, sometimes months, before taking possession. 

We’re your local pre-construction experts. Take a look at this case study on how we sold 13 pre-construction condos in 48 hours. 

So, What is an Assignment Sale?

An assignment sale happens when the original purchaser of the pre-construction property sells it before ever taking possession. In this case, the original purchaser is known as the assignor, and the new purchaser is the assignee, and the sale happens before the project actually closes. 

Assignment sales can happen between private sellers or between property management firms and private buyers. Either way, if someone purchases a pre-construction building, and then sells it before title closes and changes hands from the builder to another party, it constitutes an assignment sale. 

Hamilton and the surrounding area are continuing to expand! Check out some of our neighbourhood blogs here to find out what you can expect from the local communities;

• What to Expect When Buying a Home in Waterdown
• Our Complete Guide to Central Hamilton
• 5 Things You Need to Know About Hamilton Real Estate

Why Are Assignment Sales Beneficial? 

You might ask yourself, “why would someone buy a pre-con condo if they never intended to see the transaction through to the end?” And that would be a valid question. On the surface, it seems kind of backward. But when you really consider the benefits for both assignors and assignees, it starts to make more sense. 

For the Assignor

In many cases, developers offer exclusive deals and offers to entice buyers to act early on a pre-con project. This could come in the form of special financing or free upgrades. From there, the value of the property only continues to go up as it’s built. So for assignors, if they have the capital, they can often get in early on a pre-construction project and then sell it for a profit. 

Assignment sales are also helpful in case the assignor’s life situation changes between the time they register and invest in a pre-con condo and the time they are supposed to take possession. For example, perhaps they get a new job or have a life change that requires them to move somewhere different. Or maybe they are a real estate investor who has changed their mind and would prefer to sell rather than rent. 

There are often months in between investing in a pre-construction project and moving in. Life can change, so it’s nice to know you have the assignment sale option in your back pocket. 

However, there can be HST implications with an assignment sale, and it is always best to discuss with an accountant prior to making the decision to assign a property/

On the fence about whether condo life is right for you? Check out our blog about Upsizing 101: 5 Tips for Moving From a Condo to a House here.

For the Assignee

Assignors aren’t the only ones who can profit. Assignees can also maximize the benefit in these situations. Investing in a pre-construction condo or townhouse has certain risks involved. What if the project doesn’t receive full financing? What if there are unexpected setbacks and it takes even longer to build? The original purchaser of the condo is the one assuming all the risk here. 

As an assignee, you would get more peace of mind purchasing a condo closer to the closing date since the project will probably be on more solid ground by that point. Although you will probably pay a little more than the original purchaser, your transaction comes with fewer risks. 

The Best Way to Navigate an Assignment Sale

When it comes to successfully navigating an assignment sale transaction, your best course of action is to work with a real estate professional who is experienced and familiar with pre-construction projects and assignment sales. 

As an assignor and an assignee, you want to ensure your best interests are protected and your investment is sound. An experienced professional can advise you on whether or not an assignment sale is an advantageous investment or if you’re better off looking elsewhere. 

Ready to make a move in real estate? Here are some resources to help get you started:

• What are Buyer Representation Agreements and Listing Agreements?
• Why You Should Work with a Local Agent
• How Seller’s Can Make the Most Out of a Hot Market
• 7 Real Estate Terms Seller’s Often Misunderstand

Interested in learning more about buying and selling pre-construction? Contact us today here to learn more. 

There are numerous brands that are synonymous with selling real estate. You can probably name at least five of them right off the top of your head. When you drive around town, you see the signs, and you immediately associate those brands with the real estate industry. 

But when it comes to selling your home or finding a new house to buy, does the brand really mean anything? Sure, many real estate brands come with years of pedigree, experience and a certain amount of prestige, but when it comes to working with individuals, does the brand actually hold any weight at all? 

Let’s take a closer look…

The Benefit of Working with a Big Brand

Essentially, it all comes down to trust. The big brands got where they are based on years of experience and hard work. The business model works and as a result, they have established themselves as a trustworthy name in the industry. People like working with names they recognize because they know what to expect. 

At a more granular level though, what exactly do the big brands offer that smaller brands do not? 

Real Estate is Actually All About People

The big brands would not be where they are today without the hard work and dedication of their agents. Real estate is a people-driven industry. At its heart, it’s a service industry, and the fact is that “brands” are not the ones creating lasting relationships and going above and beyond to make sure you can achieve your real estate goals. That’s up to the individual agents. 

When you choose to work with a real estate agent, you are hiring a person with experience, ideas and feelings. You get a connection with someone who has the ability to advocate for you during one of the most important financial decisions of your life. It’s about the individual, not the brand. 

Big Brands are Essentially Franchises

Bigger brands only make money when they have a lot of agents under their banner. In most cases, agents pay a fee for the use of the brand as well as resources like office space, advertising, marketing and more. 

As a homeowner, there isn’t a huge difference between working with a big brand and an individual agent or a smaller team. On the surface, the only difference is really the logo that appears on your lawn sign. 

Brands Don’t Do the Work–People Do

Even if an agent is associated with a big, well-known brand, this is not a magic tool that will somehow make your real estate transaction more successful. The real benefit comes from the agent’s personal knowledge, marketing ability, negotiation skills, organization and more. It’s less about what the brand does, and more about what the individual agent is doing. To be perfectly frank, there are good and not-so-good agents everywhere–even within the big brands. 

For small and big real estate companies alike, the business model remains pretty similar. Real estate is a highly regulated industry, so the real difference comes from the individuals you choose to work with, not the brands. 

If you’re planning to buy or sell in Hamilton or Waterdown, it’s important to choose a local agent to represent your best interests. Check out our blog on why you should work with a local agent here.

The Internet Changed Things

Today, most buyers start their search online, which has opened up an entirely new world for agents to promote their listings. Gone are the days when only highly established, big brands could afford to advertise their listings and get exposure. Today, smaller brands are doing more with fewer resources, and have the ability to promote and sell real estate at the same level as the big guys.

Reasons to Work with a Smaller Brand

As a homeowner, working with a small brand has definite benefits. Remember how we said that real estate was all about making lasting relationships? When you work with a smaller brand, you can really get to know the team, and vice versa. With a smaller team, you’re more likely to receive VIP service since the team is working together with fewer clients. Unlike the big brands that might have hundreds or even thousands of agents on their roster, you won’t just be a number. 

For agents, the benefits of joining a smaller team rather than a big brand are also pretty significant. As previously mentioned, big brands often charge big fees for the ability to associate with the name. Instead of investing a ton of money into costs toward the franchise, smaller teams can spend wisely on more important resources and reinvest money into things that will provide value like more administrative support and marketing. They can also provide more hands-on mentoring and services to help the agents excel. 

Interested in a career in real estate? Here are a few resources to get started:

• Blog: Joining a Real Estate Team: What to Know
• Join the Team!

At the end of the day, a real estate brand has two groups of clients: homeowners and agents. It’s the job of the real estate brand to service both these groups and ensure each group is supported and provided with the tools to succeed. 

Ready to make a move? Reach out to us today here for any of your real estate questions. We’re always happy to connect!

With a humble population of about 20,000 permanent residents, you might’ve been forgiven for previously thinking that the community of Waterdown was just a sleepy little town somewhere in Ontario.

However, considering the rapid acceleration of key metrics in areas like population growth, urban development, and the demand for homes currently happening in Waterdown, this charming community is well and truly shaking its old reputation.

And, seeing as an increasing number of new residents join the community each year, we’re frequently quizzed about the local housing market.

Here’s what you can expect when buying a home in Waterdown.

The Architecture

The community of Waterdown as we know it today is still somewhat budding, so you won’t find too many century or heritage homes on the market here. Instead, you’ll find lots of bright and airy contemporary new-build homes featuring large open floor plans and modern amenities.

Depending on which neighbourhood you’re looking to buy in, there is some disparity between architectural styles, though essentially every home available on the market today will have been built within the last 20 years or so. That being said, there constantly seems to be new homes popping up across Waterdown with plans for future residential developments always in the works.

Although Waterdown’s architecture might not have the same history or character as some of the community’s neighbouring cities, one major positive is that these clean and updated newly-built homes rarely require any sort of major renovations or updates to make them move-in ready.

In fact, if you’re planning on investing in a pre-construction or new development, you’ll probably have the luxury of being able to choose your very own finishes as well!

Want to get a better idea of what Waterdown’s housing market looks like? Check out our collection of Waterdown’s latest ​​Featured Listings here!

The Lot Sizes

Just like the homes here in Waterdown, many lots they’re positioned on are equally as grand and expansive. Due to the community’s relatively rural surroundings, new urban and suburban residential developers have essentially had free reign to take advantage of Waterdown’s generous amount of surrounding space to further expand the area’s footprint.

Fortunately for new residents, this means that almost all of Waterdown’s homes have been built on lots as large as their developers wish. Whatever your price range or square footage requirements, if you’re buying a standalone or detached home here, you can expect to have plenty of room to live and practise your favourite hobbies.

Additionally, if you’re arriving in Waterdown from much more cramped metropolitan centres nearby, you’ll find even the most modest of lot sizes here are much larger than the tight footprints you’ll have come to accept in cities like Toronto.

Looking for that perfect new community to set roots in? Whether you’re searching for a new home for you and your family or you’re moving on your own, Waterdown is an ideal place for you to be. Use these helpful links to get a better sense of what you should be looking for in a new home here:

• What Not To Compromise On When Buying A Home 
• Buying a House in Ontario Is a Team Effort
• Why Waterdown? Top Spots for Nature, Fitness, and the Best Coffee

The Amenities

When it comes to household amenities, the vast majority of Waterdown’s new-build contemporary homes don’t fall short in any department.

You can expect all of the luxuries of modern living in essentially all of the residences in Waterdown, including things like heated driveways, smart tech home systems, spa-like bathrooms and chef’s kitchens featuring updated appliances and large islands.

Outside of your house, you’ll always be just a quick jaunt away from Waterdown’s ever-expanding list of nearby amenities within the community. Things like movie theatres, supermarkets, big-box stores and both franchised and locally-owned restaurants and cafes are very easy to find in Waterdown’s main commercial areas.

Over the course of any real estate transaction, the benefits of working with a local agent can make enormous bottom-line differences. Learn more about Why You Should Work With A Local Agent here.

Whatever you’re in need of, you’ll be sure to find it in Waterdown. However, if there’s anything you can’t find here yet, a quick trip into two of Ontario’s fastest-growing cities in Hamilton and Burlington are just minutes away. Or, if it’s more of a high-street boutique shopping experience you’re looking for, Waterdown is always just under an hour’s drive away from downtown Toronto.

Get more in-depth information about the long list of amenities Waterdown has to offer by reading some more of our detailed community-focused content here:

• Waterdown Neighbourhood Guide
• Waterdown’s Restaurant Scene: 5 Eateries You Have To Try

The Cost

One of the best aspects of buying a property or investing in Waterdown’s real estate market is that the value for money found in the community is next to unbeatable across the province.

While you’ll still find that Waterdown’s most spacious and recently updated detached single-family homes are listed within the upper echelons of the price bracket (think: seven figures and above), there are a plethora of homes available here for every budget. The best part is, the value of Waterdown’s homes will also continue to rise as the community expands over time.

As Waterdown’s real estate market is constantly adapting to the growing needs of its expanding population, those who already own real estate here are experiencing huge increases in the market value of their properties. So, whatever you pay for a new home now, you can feel safe about the long-term investment value of your property.

Does the idea of investing in a smaller, rapidly expanding community like Waterdown make perfect sense for your portfolio? Learn more about how we help investors with our local market insight by learning about how to Become A Real Estate Investor with us here.

Want to learn more about what it means to work with us? Learn more about our approach to helping clients purchase a home by clicking on our handy buyer-related links here:

• Our Buying Advantage
• Our Home Buying Calculator

Milton is quickly becoming a hot spot for condo investors. However, the pre-construction market is competitive and fast-paced, so real estate developers need to ensure they’re working with the right team to help sell out developments. 

At Woolcott Real Estate, we recently experienced first-hand what working with a developer on a tight deadline is like. Applying our efficient, assertive approach to the pre-construction world helped yield exceptional results for everyone involved. 

Here’s a closer look at what happened. 

The Challenge

A local developer was looking to grow their broker portfolio. As one of the top teams in the area, we were selected as one of three groups to meet with them. On a Wednesday, we attended the initial meeting and were assigned 13 one-bedroom and bachelor units to sell. 

Official sales would begin on Friday. 

The Process

With 48 hours to develop all of the assets and prepare our sales team to go live, we had to work fast. First, we separated the work into two streams: marketing and selling. Although we had to move swiftly, it was crucial that we start with an organized plan of action. Implementing a workback schedule, we tracked all the key deliverables and managed the extremely tight deadline.  

Then, our team got to work producing landing pages, social media ads, emails and more. These assets were important to support our sales team and capture the attention of the highest number of qualified buyers possible. 

A ‘New Sales Toolkit’ was also developed to support the sales team. With key information, scripts, and email templates, we ensured our team had the most accurate information to pass to clients. 

The ‘New Sales Toolkit’ is a resource we use as a foundation for all future pre-construction projects to help train sales agents on the best way to work in this specific market. 

The Results 

The effort paid off. Using a multi-channel approach including digital and email strategies, we achieved our target. Within 48 hours, we sold all 13 units assigned to our team. In fact, we even went above expectations and sold two additional two-bedroom units–traditionally more difficult to do than one-bedroom units.

As a result, we generated ~400 leads through our digital and email marketing efforts, resulting in 15 total sales.

In the pre-construction world, it’s important that buyers and investors alike are educated. Read our Pre-Construction FAQ blog here to see how we keep clients well-informed on the ins and outs of the pre-construction market.

Why It Worked

Working with a full team of marketing and sales professionals in-house was essential to our success. Unlike smaller teams that need to rely on marketing partners to produce assets, we do everything ourselves, which means we can execute ideas quickly and efficiently.

Our email database contains over 19,000 subscribers, giving us unprecedented access to a huge network of qualified buyers.

Additionally, we have a large team of 13 sales professionals. With so many boots on the ground, we cast a wider net and ensure faster response times and follow-ups than other teams. 

By creating a scalable and repeatable foundation for project management, combined with intense training and the efficient production of quality marketing assets, we were able to help the builder achieve their goals and sell out the project in excellent time. 

Are you a developer interested in working with Woolcott Real Estate on your next project? Reach out to us today and let us show you how we can replicate these incredible results.