If you’re the executor of an estate, the task ahead of you will likely get complicated. It’s hard to say goodbye to someone when they pass away, and having a bunch of new and unfamiliar responsibilities can make it even more so.

Dividing up assets will be a big part of your job, and that includes any real estate owned by the deceased. While it may seem overwhelming at first, knowing what to expect can make the process a lot less stressful.

If you’re preparing to split up property as an executor, here’s what you should know…

Executor Responsibilities

An executor may take care of a wide variety of duties, from obtaining the death certificate to setting up the funeral. Of course, the most critical are collecting the deceased’s assets, paying their remaining debts, and divvying up what’s left amongst their beneficiaries (those named in their will).

Keeping the above in mind, you’ll have some specific responsibilities when dividing the profits from a piece of real estate (known under these circumstances as an estate home). Here are the most important steps you’ll take:

• Securing the property

• Having it appraised

• Checking that it’s insured

• Maximizing income if it’s a rental

• Selling it for the right price

Whether it’s a house, cottage, or some other type of property, you’ll want to start out by making sure it’s secure. The last thing you want is for the value of the estate home to decline. If it’s a rental property, do what you can to get rent that’s on par with what’s being charged for similar buildings or units in the area.

Last but not least, you’ll very likely wind up selling the property at fair market value and splitting the return between the beneficiaries. Here’s what that might look like.

Whether selling as an executor or homeowner, knowing the market will help: A few of our recent posts will make you an informed seller:

• Why Did My Neighbour’s House Sell but Mine Didn’t?
• What’s Your House Really Worth?
• How To Negotiate A Real Estate Contract

Logistics

Selling an estate home isn’t always easy. First off, you’ll need to obtain probate before you can put the property up for sale. Through this process, the will’s authenticity is verified—as is your right to act as executor. You can file for probate with the court and attain it within 6 to 8 weeks.

Be aware that if you put an estate home on the market before you receive probate, the timeline could get complicated. You won’t be able to close without it—unless the buyer agrees to make their purchase conditional on you attaining it, or they’re willing to extend the closing date.

In many cases, a loved one named in the will of the person who has passed away will want to purchase the property. They may be able to buy it for less than fair market value, so long as all of the other beneficiaries agree.

All told, administering the estate should take you no more than a year (usually less). Be aware that your work may be reviewed at the beneficiaries’ request. Through a process known as “the passing of accounts,” the courts can take a closer look at what you’ve done to ensure that it’s above board.

Lastly, you deserve to be compensated for your hard work. As a rule of thumb, executors usually take around 5 per cent of the value of the estate they’re distributing. If you have any questions about this, ask your lawyer.

Where to turn for help

Being an executor—especially when there’s real estate involved—can be a difficult job. Fortunately, there are professionals who can help make the process less anxiety-provoking.

Start by finding a fantastic legal expert. An estate lawyer can be your best friend during this unfamiliar process, so choose wisely. Do your research beforehand, get a sense of your role, and then prepare a list of questions to ask any professional you’re thinking of working with.

If you’ll be selling a property, you’ll also want to find the right real estate agent. Ideally, look for someone who has experience putting estate homes on the market. In general, they should know how to price a home accurately, be able to work with your timeline, and show sensitivity in emotionally-charged situations.

Sellers can face many challenges in any given market. The resources below will help you be more prepared:

• Can You Successfully Sell a House With a Stigma?
• How to Sell Your Home After a Divorce
• Can You Sell a House When You Have Tenants?

Acting as an executor comes with challenges—and rewards. Fulfilling someone’s last wishes and serving their beneficiaries can be a true honour, and it doesn’t have to be as stressful as you think. By knowing what to expect and working with the right people, you can help ensure that the process is both smooth and successful.

Are you ready to sell your home? We have the local market knowledge and experience to help. Contact us to discuss your needs today!

There are so many wonderful things about Waterdown, and the impressive food scene is one of them. Some of our most beloved restaurants are located in this charming community, and all are ready and eager to serve!

If you’re looking for an incredible meal in Waterdown, here are five restaurants where you can get one right now…

Cascata Bistro

It’s one of Waterdown’s finest. We’re talking about Cascata Bistro. We can’t enough of the casual-yet-deeply-satisfying fare served up by this Carlisle Road gem. The owner takes a farm-to-table approach, and the results speak for themselves. From steamed mussels to savoury flatbreads, every item on the menu is worth sampling. Cascata’s chicly-decorated atmosphere is also a huge draw!

Souptogo

Are you a soup lover? Us too. There’s just something about a warming bowl of chowder, broth, puree—you get the picture. At its best, soup is flavourful and made with love. That’s why we’re such big fans of Souptogo. These dishes, simmered to perfection on a local farm, are beyond delicious. We’re especially big fans of the more unique flavour combinations, like pea and mint or Thai pumpkin.

Are you planning to buy or sell a house in the Hamilton, Waterdown, or Burlington areas this year? The resources below can help!

• Should You Use the Same Agent to Sell and Buy a House?
• Our Full-Service Real Estate Team’s Guide to Marketing Your Home
• Worth It or Not? What Renovations Really Help When Selling Your Home

Bliss Kitchen

Vegetable lovers, rejoice! Bliss Kitchen is cooking up vegan delights that can be enjoyed dining in or taking out! We’re all about the savoury mains and sides, especially the crispy chickpea burgers, baked falafels, and stuffed mushrooms. And it would be a crime not to try one of Bliss’ decadent desserts—think cashew cheezecake and chocolately brownies. You can check out the menu here, or find the eatery on Uber Eats or Skip the Dishes.

Shy’s Place

We love Shy’s Place for its levelled-up Italian food. Here you’ll find perfectly-prepared pizzas topped with gourmet ingredients—like prosciutto, pesto, and feta. There are also plenty of pasta dishes on the menu, combined with everything from sweet sausage to shrimp scampi. If you fancy a glass of wine or beer, you can also take home the right beverage to complement your meal.

Kamoosh

Kamoosh is an upscale Italian eatery that does the classics right. Whether you’re in the mood for tender veal cheek, rich beef tenderloin, or creamy lobster ravioli, this is the best place in town to get it. While the menu features traditional elements, it’s also highly inventive. Simply put, diving into a dish from Kamoosh is a true exploration—one where unique flavours combine effortlessly. If you’re ready to try this buzzworthy eatery, dine-in takeout, and delivery options are available.

Interested in learning more about life in Waterdown and Burlington? Curious about some of the beautiful homes on the market here? Get in touch—we’d love to show you what makes life in this community so great! You can also connect with us by calling our offices at 905-332-9223.

Summer is just around the corner, and it’s time to throw open the windows and breathe in that fresh air. Summer is the season for pool parties, midnight dinner parties, and catching up on your booklist. Now, with barbecue season taunting us all, have you considered expanding your living space to include a relaxing, backyard oasis? Perhaps, an outdoor kitchen, bar, dining space, pool, or a shady spot for lounging.

Summer in Ontario can be hot and humid. Staying cool and comfortable can be a struggle while you’re out and about taking advantage of everything that summer has to offer. So, why not enjoy it from the comfort of your own home? Get your fill of the sun, and then when you’re ready, retreat inside to your cool as a cucumber home. Pools, outdoor kitchens, bars, lounge chairs, and more will make you feel like you’re at the beach but without all the sand and packed parking lots.

Outdoor Bars, Kitchens, and Eating Areas

An outdoor kitchen makes summer entertaining a breeze. Instead of leaving your friends to fend for themselves while you’re stuck in the kitchen prepping, move it all outside! Mingle, and catch up all while getting dinner ready. A basic outdoor kitchen needs a prep station, a fridge, a barbeque, and a seating area. For those looking to go the gourmet route, a smoker and a wood fireplace are excellent additions. Outdoor kitchens are designed with socializing in mind. They’re laid out to facilitate conversation while allowing you to be the height of culinary efficiency. If you have the space for it, consider including both a lounge seating area and a dining area complete with a table and enough chairs for all of your guests.

Pools, Ponds, and Water Features

The sound and sight of running water is without a doubt one of the most calming sounds there is. Combine that with some lounge furniture, beautiful stonework, and a captivating water feature and you have your own private oasis. The perfect backyard pool is the pool that actually gets used, and not just looked at. So, decide what you would like to use your pool for. If you want to do swim laps every day, then make sure your pool is long enough. If you want to spend your evenings soaking in the hot tub with a glass of wine while twinkling fairy lights hang overhead, then make it happen. Consider incorporating water features into your pool for an even more dramatic effect.

The Gardens

It is a scientifically proven fact that spending time in nature, around plants, breathing in fresh air, is good for you – emotionally and physically. Dedicate a space on your property for you to spend some quality time in. Relax, read a book, or even return phone calls and emails! If you work from home there are plenty of ways to get outside while you’re still on the clock. Use a wide offset outdoor umbrella over top of your patio set to keep the sun off your laptop, and make sure that the wireless connection reaches your deck.

Are you searching for something to do with your family right at home or in your own neighbourhood? It’s no secret that travel is expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, there are a ton of fun activities for your whole family to enjoy.

Whether you plan for days or act on the spur of the moment, here are a few ways you can enjoy time with your family and create new memories.

1) Learn interactively

Education doesn’t have to be boring. With the right tools and resources, your kids can enjoy a learning adventure right from the comfort of their own room! Must-visits include the National Geographic for Kids website and the virtual storytimes offered on Facebook and Instagram by PenguinKids.

In addition, there are countless interactive learning apps that turn down time into learning time. You can pick up a new language, enhance your drawing skills, and sharpen your memory right from your device.

Thinking of upgrading to a new family home? The posts below will help you make the most of your sale:

• What’s Your House Really Worth?
• A Home Seller’s Guide to Closing Costs
• Should I Buy or Sell First?

2) Try global cuisines

One of the best things about travelling is the chance to try new cuisines. If you don’t have the funds or time to book a trip, you can still push your culinary boundaries right at home. Why not tackle some dishes from around the world—and involve your little ones in the process?

If you’ve been dying to try fish tacos, now is the time to find a Mexican recipe the whole family will enjoy. If your kids are pizza fanatics, there’s a good chance they’ll love an authentic Sicilian pie, straight-from-the-oven. Food blogs are a treasure trove of ideas for new (and worldly recipes), so get online and start exploring!

3) Try yoga for kids

We all may live for weekends and summer vacation, but too much time off can mean kids get restless. Of course, making sure they get their sixty minutes of recommended daily activity may be tricky anytime, but it’s never impossible.

There are ways to get the exercise you need as a family while having fun in the process. Yoga is a great example. Youtube channels like Moovlee (perfect for toddlers) and Alo Yoga (which offers options for both adults and kids) make developing a practice together a whole lot of fun. They can also help reduce stress during exam times.

4) Have a game night

It’s a classic for a reason. Grabbing a board game off the shelf is a great way to forget your worries for a night. Whether you settle on the family version of Cranium or an all-time classic like Operation or Monopoly, you’re sure to enjoy the quality time with your kids.

To get the most out of your evening, agree to turn your phones on silent for some uninterrupted play. Don’t forget about snacks! Pizza and popcorn are a great classic combo, while hummus and vegetables are ideal if you decide to go the healthy route.

If you’re really ambitious, updating your home can be a worthy goal, especially if you plan to sell. You’ll get some great ideas in the posts below:

• Minor Upgrades, Maximum Results
• Worth It or Not? What Renovations Really Help When Selling Your Home
• Are DIY Upgrades Ever a Good Idea When Selling Your Home?

5) Get creative

If you have young kids, there are probably art supplies all over your home. Now is the perfect time to pull out those odds and ends and make use of them. An egg carton, pipe cleaners and set of watercolours can make for a fun caterpillar, while a tin can and ribbons can be turned into a beautiful windsock.

If your kids are older, consider asking them to help you assemble some of those old family photos into a scrapbook. It’s a great way to reminisce while making new family memories.

Have questions about real estate in Burlington or Hamilton? Get in touch right here or call 905-332-9223. Our team can help you understand the market, and what it means for your purchase or sale.

It’s one of the best times of the year!

We know that spring is well on its way when snow begins to melt, and green grass starts to grace us with its presence. Late spring and early summer are arguably some of the busiest times in real estate, so if you’re planning on putting your house on the market this spring or summer season, we’ve compiled a list of things you need to do to help your home look its best for the spring market.

Repair Winter Damage

Let’s start with the exterior of your home. Often, once the snow has melted away, we can see the toll the winter had on the exterior of our homes. Perhaps a rain gutter has come loose, your front porch has an uneven step, or your landscape just needs some TLC.

Whatever the case, you should always start by repairing any damage from the winter weather.

Yard Work, Gardening, and Landscaping

Never underestimate the power of curb appeal when it comes to selling your home.

And, if one thing is for certain, it’s that the snow and cold conditions can wreak havoc on landscaping. To get things back up to par to take advantage of the spring season, follow these must-do steps:

• Cut the grass
• Plant grass seed to cover sparse areas
• Fertilize the lawn
• Trim hedges and trees
• Replace walkway stones
• Plant flowers, bushes, and/or trees

If you don’t have spare time for these tasks, consider hiring a professional. If you’re unfamiliar with local businesses, contact your Burlington realtor. We’ve established a great repertoire of the local landscape and gardening companies.

Spring Cleaning

Now that you’ve finished the outside, it’s time to tackle the inside.

Buyers will want to explore all aspects and parts of your house, and for good reason. They’ll likely try to get an idea of the storage space by investigating hidden areas like cupboards, drawers and closets, too.

If you want to make a good impression on potential buyers and sell your home, you should consider undertaking a deep NLZ clean from places like Cleaning Service Sydney who have an impeccable reputation for being thorough. This includes scrubbing the floors, washing the carpets, de-cluttering and more.

Here’s a basic checklist to help you get started:

• Empty all closets, drawers, and cupboards and wipe down surfaces
• Toss, sell or donate the items you don’t want to take with you once you move
• De-clutter and organize the basement
• Pack away all unessential items and store neatly
• Clean all rooms from top to bottom
• Scrub all surfaces, including countertops, sinks, bathtubs/showers, faucets, ledges, appliances, and furniture
• Wash windows inside and out
• Clean curtains and blinds
• Shampoo and deodorize carpets
• Clean and wax floors

For best results, complete this checklist in order. By de-cluttering first, you can make room for all the deep cleaning that has to take place. Cleaning surfaces first can knock dirt, dust, and debris onto the floor, so you should always save the floors for last.

Don’t Forget the Basement!

Just because your basement is tucked away doesn’t mean it isn’t an asset to your home. In fact, it’s one of the most overlooked parts of the house for spring cleaning, when it should be one of your top priorities. It’s where families gather to create valuable memories, while doubling as a great place for storage.

This is your chance to show how useful this additional living space is. Clean and organize your laundry area to show potential buyers how effective this space can be to clean clothes. Add additional light sources to brighten it up and let fresh air in through the windows to make it feel like a main floor room.

Even if your basement isn’t finished, you can still spruce it up and have it looking as good as new. Organize all storage in a neat and tidy way, so that buyers can envision themselves living there or make plans to renovate. Run a dehumidifier, open windows and light a candle to get rid of any musty odours.

Spring Your Home to Life

Now that all the hard work is complete, it’s time for the finishing touches. This includes adding a splash of paint where necessary, setting a welcome mat out front, adding bright throw pillows, freshening up spring décor, letting in natural light and updating outdated accessories.

If you’re having trouble perfecting the final look, you may want to consider professional home staging. An experienced home stager, such as the ones at Woolcott Real Estate, will be able to help you organize furniture in a way that truly brings a room together and inspires a welcoming atmosphere. From furniture to accessories and beyond, sometimes you just need the magic touch of an expert to really complete a room.

To learn more about our home staging solutions and professional photography, get in touch with our local real estate agents today.

Looking for Burlington’s most family-friendly neighbourhood? Chances are, you’re picturing playgrounds, parks, and quiet residential streets. While there’s no doubt that the general character of an area is important, there’s one factor that many parents don’t think of right away—schools. Your kids deserve an incredible education, and that’s just what they’ll get in this city!

If you’re choosing a place to settle down with your family, here are some of the top schools in Burlington for your consideration…

1) John T. Tuck

For almost 60 years, John T. Tuck has been providing Roseland children with a fantastic education. One of the biggest draws for parents is the school’s highly-impressive Fraser Institute score of 9 out of 10. Keep in mind, this Canadian ranking system is well-known for its accuracy in the world of education. As for the students, they’re big fans of the wide variety of clubs and teams available—along with the opportunity to dress up for John T. Tuck’s “Spirit Days.”

2) St. Raphael

If you’re hoping to give your kids a Catholic education, there’s no better place to do it than St. Raphael’s. Located in family-friendly Shoreacres, this school receives an incredible ranking of 9.3 from the Fraser Institute. Its EQAO scores are also impressive, which isn’t surprising given the personalized attention kids receive. From its reading programs (which provides students who are struggling with extra attention) to its focus on computer literacy and technology, St. Rapael’s goes far beyond delivering a stellar faith-based education.

3) Orchard Park

Whether you’re thinking of moving to The Orchard or you already call this charming neighbourood home, you’re in luck if you have little ones. There are five great schools in the community, including one with a 8.2 Fraser Institute ranking. We’re talking about Orchard Park. This smaller school offers fantastic academic support for its students, as well as a long list of sports teams and extracurriculars. From athletics to the arts and beyond, there’s something for every child!

4) St. Anne

St. Anne is the second Catholic institution to make our list. Located in Alton Village, this Burlington School gets a ranking of 8.7 from the Fraser Institute. Its EQAO numbers for reading, writing, and math are equally impressive. Of course, there’s more to a great school than academics. When it comes to extracurricular activities, St. Anne also has a lot of heart. From “the Kindness Club,” to “Battle of the Books” to the “ECO Team,” there’s no shortage of ways for children to grow their social and emotional intelligence here.

5) Maplehurst

At over 100 years old, Maplehurst Public School has a long history—but that’s not why its reputation is strong. The staff here is committed, and it shows in the students’ academic performances (as reflected in its Fraser Institute ranking of 8). Other great Maplehurst qualities include the fun activities it offers (from move nights to pancake days), its involvement with the community (parents and Aldershot residents are encouraged to volunteer for events), and its vigilance when it comes to creating a safe environment.

Interested in learning more about life in Burlington? Curious about some of the beautiful homes on the market here? Get in touch—we’d love to show you what makes life in this community so great!