Must-dos:

• Furnace servicing: change filter, humidifier panel
• Shut off outside taps
• Drain garden hoses
• Clean eavestroughs/gutters and downspouts to avoid flooding
• Check flashing along eavestroughs and the roof to ensure water cannot seep through
• Check carbon monoxide/smoke detector
• Roof repairs with metal roofing contractor
• Fill holes on the exterior of the house to ensure critters cannot enter
• Make sure your winter supplies are ready and in good condition: shovels, ice scrapers, salt, fuel for snow blower
• Clean dryer vents
• Chimney cleaning (better apply for the Gold Coast cleaning service here)
• Insulate exposed piping
• Rake the leaves. Learn more here.

And if you have time, here is the full winter-prep checklist:

• Fall gardening: remove annuals, plant bulbs, split perennials
• Hire snow removal service
• Winterize the sprinkler system
• Duct cleaning (every two or three years)
• Test sump pump & backwater valve
• Weather stripping
• Fill cracks in driveways, walkways and on steps (they can be trip hazards that get worse when water gets inside and freezes)
• Add extra insulation to the attic
• Move sensitive plants indoors
• Cover your A/C

A well maintained home will ensure the best return on your investment.  If you’re curious to know what your home is worth in today’s market, please contact us anytime for a FREE HOME EVALUATION.  We can go through what home improvements you’ve made to your home to increase its value.  Call us today! 905.332.9223 or email us at drewandjayne@woolcott.ca

Southwestern Ontario Living emphasizes the simplicity of melding urban and rural living. Living in the Burlington and surrounding area means that squeezing in a round of golf, going for a hike at Bronte Creek Provincial Park, or spending the day at the beach are all within arm’s reach. And we wouldn’t rather have it any other way. If you are like most homeowners, you like your home to reflect your personal style. And for many homeowners in the Burlington area, the modern, urban cottage fits the bill.

The modern cottage aesthetic is as functional as it is relaxing. You can feel like you have escaped to cottage country, but without the four hour car ride in rush hour traffic! So, how can you achieve the urban, modern cottage aesthetic while still maintaining the functionality you crave? Here’s how:

The Urban Cottage Style Exterior

Now, unless you already live in a cottage style home, there may not be anything you can do about transforming the outside of your home into a picture perfect cottage. Typically speaking, a modern cottage style home is smaller, and boasts asymmetrical architecture. Imagine steeply pitched roofs, dramatic dormers, and natural siding that makes use of highly textured materials like brick, or stone. Often, shutters, arched doorways, and fairy tale gardens complete the look.

The Living Room Made For Living

And by living, we mean relaxing. Over the past few years, interior designers have been experiencing a living room renaissance. However, where unaccommodating, richly upholstered arm chairs once stood you will find soft surfaces, simple shapes, and functional pieces designed for ultimate relaxation. When choosing furniture for your cottage style living room, make functional decisions. Think of who will be using the sofa, the arm chairs, and the window seats. If you want your living room to be a locus of family activity, make room for a small desk where homework can be tackled, while you’re reading away at your book club novel.

Urban Cottage Bedroom Style

Modern cottage style seriously thrives in the bedroom, and why shouldn’t it? Bedrooms are intended as spaces for relaxation and rejuvenation – just like the cottage. If you are going to focus on one room at a time while transforming your home into a cottage oasis, start with your bedroom. Pair the same high quality linens you love with re-purposed furniture, soft colours, and more feather filled pillows than you can shake a stick at.

The Cottage Kitchen

All day, your kitchen is a flurry of activity, but how comfortable is it? A cottage kitchen is as functional as it is comfortable. And while soft colours and painted cabinets make it visually comfortable, window seats and upholstered kitchen table chairs make it physically comfortable. Make your kitchen a family friendly, clutter free space. Install bookshelf style cubbies that can be used for storing mail and homework, and keep a chalkboard nearby the phone for messages and reminders.

The modern cottage aesthetic can be achieved from the ground up, or room by room. For example, start by slowly incorporating re-purposed furniture, and adding soft colours and even softer fabrics throughout your home. Before you know it, you’ll be at the cottage.

Please Contact Woolcott Real Estate with any related questions.

Buying a home in Burlington, Ontario offers residents the best of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) without the hustle and bustle of Toronto living. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Burlington provides residents with a huge number of amenities as well as a scenic, relaxing setting.

Burlington is home to roughly 176,000 residents, who represent a diverse population. Burlington is located in the centre of what is commonly referred to as The Golden Horseshoe. This highly dense and industrialized area is home to over 8 million people. It stretches from Lake Erie to the Georgian Bay tracing its way through Windsor, the GTA, Hamilton, and Quebec City.

Geography

Burlington, Ontario is located within the Halton region, on the western shores of Lake Ontario. While Burlington is an entirely self-sufficient city, it is considered part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is a part of the Hamilton Census. Neighbouring communities include Oakville, Hamilton, Milton, Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, and of course Toronto, Mississauga, and Etobicoke. There is a huge amount of green space both in and around the city of Burlington. Its close proximity to Lake Ontario also helps to moderate harsh winter temperatures. As a result, Burlington enjoys milder winters and a plethora of flora and fauna unique to the immediate area!

Average Home Prices

As of September 2015, the average home price in Burlington was $571,439. See below for a breakdown of average home prices by community.

Average home prices for each Burlington community

Each community within the city of Burlington offers homeowners a unique collection of amenities and opportunities. The home prices in each area of the city also vary based on their proximity to Lake Ontario, the convenience of neighbourhood amenities, property taxes, and proximity to schools and healthcare facilities. Burlington offers homeowners the opportunity to purchase new, modern homes alongside more historic homes. As of September 2015, the average home price in Burlington was $571,439. On average, home sale prices in Burlington have increased by 9.7% since 2014. Woolcott Real Estate looks forward to helping you navigate Burlington’s exciting and dynamic real estate market.

Benefits of Living in Burlington

The city of Burlington has a lot to offer. From art galleries to gourmet restaurants, and film festivals to Ribfests, Burlington has it all. Nature lovers spend their weekends strolling the 20 kilometres of waterfront trails, or stopping to smell the roses at the world famous Royal Botanical Gardens. Other nature destinations include Bronte Creek Provincial Park and the enormous Spencer Smith Park. The Bruce Trail, which follows the Niagara Escarpment (a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve), also traces through the area.

Those who are looking to soak up a little bit of nostalgic culture can look forward to the Sound of Music Festival that takes place every June. Other annual cultural events include the Art in the Park festival, Lakeside Festival of Lights, and of course, the finger licking good Ribfest (the largest in Canada)! And of course, the Burlington Art Centre has been a locus of artistic and cultural innovation and celebration since 1978, attracting more than 100,000 visitors every year!

To contact a member of Woolcott Real Estate, call us, or contact us through our website today!

Located along the shores of beautiful Lake Ontario, with views from Toronto to Niagara, South Burlington offers the small city appeal, as well as an abundance of cultural and outdoor-related activities to satisfy every need.  Living in South Burlington allows you to be surrounded by water, golf courses, and green spaces all while within a quick drive of the city and all it has to offer.

Luxury homes for sale in South Burlington have thought of everything. From architecturally impressive details to beautifully manicured and maintained landscaping. The homes for sale along waterfront Lakeshore Road truly are some of the area’s most enviable properties.

Burlington Golf Courses

For golf enthusiasts, South Burlington could not be a better place to live. With so many golf courses just minutes away you will never have to miss an opportunity to fit in 18 holes. Golf Courses in Burlington include:

The Burlington Golf and Country Club,

Tyandaga Golf Course,

Hidden Lake Golf Club,

Burlington Springs Golf Club

Crosswinds Golf and Country Club,

Camisle Golf

Indian Wells Golf Club

Lowville Golf Club

Burlington Springs Golf and Country Club

and more!

Homes for Sale on Lakeshore Road, Burlington

One of the most sought out locations for luxury homes in South Burlington is Lakeshore Road. Homes here have a direct view of Lake Ontario, and truly do enjoy the best of both urban and rural living. Located on huge lots, the homes for sale on Lakeshore Road offer all of the contemporary conveniences you could dream of in one of Burlington’s most picturesque locations. At first glance, you will notice stunning facades, with multi vehicle garages and beautiful stonework. Once you’ve stepped inside, vaulted ceilings will bathe the entire interior with ample natural lighting. Properties for sale along Lakeshore Road make excellent use of outdoor living space, with pools, outdoor kitchens, and well-appointed patio areas.

Burlington’s Roseland Neighbourhood

Roseland is an established community that runs from Guelph Line south of New Street as far as Pomona.  Within the Roseland Neighbourhood you’ll find Hart Avenue which is characterized by elegant homes with mature lots.  Rosemore Street, on the other hand, combines older homes with new construction, meaning no matter what your taste, you’ll be certain to find a house you love.  Roseland as a whole will inspire you to enjoy the outdoors.  With its blend of curbside appeal and greenspace, such as the 14 acre Paletta Lakefront Park, Roseland is a jogger, cyclist, or dog walker’s paradise.

Burlington’s Downtown

Just minutes away from the Roseland Neighbourhood and Lakeshore Road is the Burlington Downtown.  Here you’ll find a mix of franchise restaurants as well as independent pubs and eateries that offer amazing food and beverages.  The Pier offers an awesome waterfront setting that makes the downtown core vibrant.  From shopping at the Centro farmer’s market, to enjoying a play at the Performing Arts Centre, you’re only a heartbeat away from what the Burlington’s Downtown has to offer.

South Burlington is both a beautiful, and convenient place to live. While Burlington is a city in its own right with a healthy economy and plenty of employment opportunities, many residents make the daily commute to Toronto. While the 403 is one way into the city, many residents use the incredibly convenient GO Train. Burlington has two GO Train stations (Aldershot and Burlington).

To learn more about luxury homes for sale in South Burlington, contact your Woolcott representative at 905-332-9223!

Millcroft is one of the Burlington area’s more mature neighbourhoods. Construction on homes for sale in the Millcroft area date back to the mid-1980s. Located in North Burlington, Millcroft real estate options include detached single family homes, condo style townhomes, and duplexes in addition to newly surveyed sites that are gradually adding diversity to the neighbourhood.

Millcroft Real Estate

Homeowners in Millcroft take great pride in the beauty of their properties, and they have the landscaping prowess to prove it. Homes throughout Millcroft exhibit beautiful, well-maintained, often very well established landscaping. Flower beds, the odd vegetable garden, and beautiful trees and bushes accent the already impressive architectural features of the homes in Millcroft.

Many homes throughout the community of Millcroft boast picturesque views of the Millcroft Golf Course. This neighbourhood is a favourite for those avid golfers who can’t resist the opportunity to fit in a round of golf before they head to the office! Thanks to the area’s intelligent residential design that winds through the Millcroft Golf Course, no home is ever more than a few blocks away from either a park or a thoroughfare!

Properties for sale in Millcroft range from three to four bedrooms situated on generously sized lots. In addition to freestanding single family homes, there is also a selection of condo townhouses, and bungalows available. Browse the constantly updated MLS listing for Millcroft to view the most up to date real estate information. Homes in Millcroft make facilitating an active, outdoor lifestyle with plenty of space for relaxing indoors during Burlington’s at times harsh winters a reality. Condo townhouses, as well as entry level townhouses and duplexes in Millcroft begin at $350,000. Meanwhile freestanding homes begin at $600,000, with the luxury options beginning at $1,000,000 with some sales reaching in excess of $1,500,000.

Build Your Dream Home in Millcroft!

The natural and residential beauty of Millcroft makes it a competitive real estate market. Each year, new sites for contemporary homes are being added to the roster. If building a custom home of your own is high on your priority list, Millcroft may be the community for you! The primary home builders in the area are Monarch Homes, Fernbrook Homes, and Mattwood Homes.

Living in Millcroft

The community of Millcroft is located just south of the intersection of Dundas Street and Appleby Line. For families with school aged children, Millcroft is home to two elementary schools. High schools can be found just outside of the community boundaries. The entire neighbourhood is perforated with green spaces, parks, and footpaths that make Millcroft a highly walkable community. Millcroft Park, located in the southeast corner of the area is home to baseball fields, tennis courts, sports fields, and playground equipment. For a more formal fitness outing, the Haber Recreation Centre is situated in northwest Millcroft on Dundas Street. A comprehensive shopping centre is located at the intersection of Dundas Street and Appleby Line where you will find a Walmart, Fortinos, LA Fitness, and much more!

If relocating to the third best mid-sized city in Canada isn’t incentive enough, as a first time home owner there are many additional incentives that await you. Being a first time home buyer in Burlington, or anywhere in Ontario for that matter, has never looked better.

Thinking of buying a home for the first time?

Consider one of the top ten best cities in Canada and you will be the proud owner of not just a few incentives, but of all that Burlington has to offer. The city of Burlington is the place where people, nature and business thrive. With a few additional incentives, you too can own a piece of this great city.

First time home owners have it made these days with multiple incentives from all angles of the real estate market. Incentives come from the market itself, as well as the federal government and even the province of Ontario. If you’re planning to buy in Burlington, you will find these incentives icing on the cake.

Federal Incentives for first time home buyers

The federal government has recently started offering first time home buyers a tax credit along with the long standing home buyers plan.

Under the federal government’s action plan, first time home buyers will receive tax credits for land transfer taxes, disbursements and legal fees. This incentive was introduced in 2009 and allows first time home buyers a tax credit of up to $5,000 to help offset the numerous expenses associated in purchasing a home. This federal incentive can put up to $750 back in the pockets of the first time home owners.

Also, every so often the government of Canada increases the amount that new homeowner can withdraw from their registered retirement saving plan. Currently, under the HBP new home buyers can withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSPs. Again, the HBP is only available to first time home owners.

Provincial Incentives

The province is now in the business of offering government incentives as well.

New home buyers in the province of Ontario may be eligible for up to a $2000 refund on land transfer fees. This refund is only available to first time buyers. For instance, when buying your dream home in Burlington, extra cash will be useful to say the least. A couple thousand dollars in your pocket on moving day is great for purchasing appliances or doing upgrades. The refund must be applied within 18 months of the purchase. This incentive can also be applied at the time of the purchase registration, reducing the initial amount of land transfer fees payable.

Real Estate incentives for new home buyers

Renting doesn’t have to be the only option for young adults that are trying to get out of their parents basement. Owning your own home builds equity in your pocket, not someone else’s. With 5% down mortgages and low interest rates, home ownership has never been more in reach. As a new home buyer, you may be coming from a rental situation. This can give you the upper hand over other bidders. You can be flexible as a first time home buyer on closing dates and don’t have to include a condition of sale in your bids. Often the first time home buyer has had the time and cash flow to build on a down payment.

There has never been a better time to buy in Burlington and in fact, the province. New home buyer incentives are designed to ease the burden on first time home owners and encourage property sales.

With Burlington’s new designation by MoneySense magazine, as the third best mid-sized city to live in across Canada, property sales, and indeed the real estate market, is bound to increase. Get in on the win as a first time home buyer.

If you’re looking at becoming a first time homeowner in Burlington, contact us and we can go over our listings and find the right home for you.