Woolcott Real Estate is thrilled to introduce Packer, the newest addition to the area’s top-selling real estate team!

Packer is a 14-week-old service dog-in-training with National Service Dogs (NSD), who after 2 years of training, will hope to become a service dog for a child with autism or an individual suffering from PTSD.

“When the opportunity came up to sponsor Packer throughout her training journey, we couldn’t say no,” says Drew Woolcott, broker of record, Re/Max Escarpment Woolcott Realty Inc.

“National Service Dogs is an extraordinary organization providing such a necessary service to children and adults from coast-to-coast,” continues Woolcott. “For over 23 years, the organization has been making a tremendous difference in countless lives for no charge, and we are happy to support them in any way they can.”

Packer arrived in Canada in early March 2019, and will be undergoing an extensive training period before being paired with an NSD Client at around 2 years old.

“We’re going to follow Packer’s progression from pup to fully-trained service or companion dog, and sharing in print and on our social media channels. We really think the Burlington, Waterdown and Hamilton community will enjoy watching her grow up.”

Woolcott and his team will also be sharing information about National Service Dogs throughout the training period.

“There is such a need for these service dogs across Canada and North America, so much so that the demand far outweighs NSD’s ability to provide dogs,” says Woolcott. “We’re hoping that by partnering with this amazing program, we’ll be able to spread awareness and help more people in need.

To learn more information about NSD and its programs, please visit www.nsd.on.ca.

To follow along Packer’s journey, please follow Woolcott Real Estate on Instagram @the_woolcott_team.

Buying a house is a huge milestone—one that’s definitely worth getting excited about. There are many moments of joy on the road to moving into your first single-family home, and there are few things we enjoy more than helping new buyers discover them. At the same time, we’ve seen enough people move from condos to houses to know that the process usually involves a few challenges.

Fortunately, upsizing doesn’t have to be stressful. If you’re planning to purchase your very first house, try these five tips to help ensure that the transition is smooth…

1) Budget thoroughly

Most people are thrilled when they realize they can afford to purchase a house, and for good reason. But during the excitement of looking for a new home, it’s all too easy to forget about the full financial impact that owning more square footage can have. The best way to avoid looking at houses outside of your price range is to ensure that you factor all considerations into your budget.

First off, when you buy a bigger home, larger utility bills almost always come with the territory. Remember that you’ll also be responsible for all ongoing repairs and maintenance (though on the flip side, you won’t be paying condo fees anymore).

2) Know what you’re looking for

If you grew up in a family where everyone was fighting to use the bathroom in the morning, you’ll understand this next point. We’ve found that home buyers tend to think carefully about how they’ll use their space when they can’t afford much of it. That said, you should be just as thoughtful when it comes to how you’ll utilize a larger home.

Be aware that some layouts will work better than others for your needs, preferences, and lifestyle. In your condo, where do you spend the most time? Are there any areas that are rarely used? Answering these questions is bound to make the home hunt easier.

3) Check for repairs

When you buy a house, you inherit all of the issues associated with it. From foundation problems to a roof or HVAC system that needs replacing, these problems can be costly. In other words: it pays to protect yourself.

A thorough home inspector can help ensure that the house you’re considering is well maintained. It’s also important to ask the right questions. Most homeowners will be happy to talk about past repairs, upgrades, and the general condition of their house and its systems. A great real estate agent will help walk you through all of these points during the process.

4) Learn how your new house works

When you find the right house, it’s a good idea to get familiar with its major systems. Where are the electrical panels located? What about the thermostat for that guest bedroom? Trust us, trying to figure these things out once you’ve been living in a home for a while can be incredibly annoying.

Our advice? Remember that the home seller you’re buying from is your greatest resource. Before they hand the keys over, be sure that you’ve gone through the house carefully and gotten the full lay of the land.

5) Know your responsibilities

Once you buy a house, you’ll have more ownership responsibilities than you ever did with a condo. Some of the biggest have to do with maintaining the exterior of your property. From icy sidewalks to unwieldy tree branches, it’s important to know about any potential liability issues you’ll be responsible for.

Moving from a condo to a house isn’t always as simple as home buyers believe. That said, it doesn’t have to be stressful. With a bit of planning and some advice from a great local agent, you can ensure that you start your next chapter off right!

Ready to upsize from a condo to a house? If you’re looking in Hamilton, Burlington, or the surrounding area, we’d love to help. Get in touch to start a discussion about what you’re looking for!

Originally published by REP Magazine on Feb 18, 2019

Running a successful realty team requires time and dedication—expect a functional operation to take between three and five years—and Drew Woolcott of the REMAX Escarpment Woolcott Realty Inc. has some tips to share.

Woolcott Realty did 390 transactions in 2018, no small feat for 22-agent team, and Woolcott says the bedrock is hiring the right personnel.

“We do personality tests and we look for a mix of an A-type and a personality that’s highly socialized because you have to work together,” Woolcott told REP. “The main thing we look for is work ethic and personality tests don’t seem to test for that, unfortunately. A lot of it can be trial and error.”

Indeed, in any industry, choosing the right people is heuristic, but one facet firmly in the team lead’s control is system development. Woolcott Realty has strict protocols for its agents to adhere with audit trails, which measures progress in an effort to overcome shortcomings.

“There’s protocol in when one goes on a listing appointment, another one when an agent meets with a buyer, and a series of activities that have are done with lead that enters the building, and they’re audited by administration to make sure there’s compliance,” said Woolcott. “Let’s take a lead, for example, that comes in and is assigned to both listing and buying agents: It’s entered into a database and a plan is then formulated on that lead, which involves a series of follow-up calls, emails and mailings. The execution of that plan is audited periodically by an administration to ensure that those items are accomplished, and they aren’t then the lead is reassigned to an agent who will accomplish them.”

Agents’ progress is tracked through a goal-setting regimen. Whether it’s predicated on transaction number or financial target, the goal is broken down into individual steps that will help them accomplish what they have set out to.

“It could be number of calls, showings or listings, appointments, the number of offers or transactions one should be doing,” said Woolcott. “Then there are terms of accountability; there are forms each agent fills out every week that enumerates the steps they should be taking, and have taken, towards their goals and then we compare them to the steps they should have taken if there’s a gap between the two, so we can figure out where they’re going wrong and get them back on track.”

Woolcott Realty also generates leads for its team members, and it accomplishes that through various means. For starters, there’s time-tested advertising.

“We do a lot of billboard and print advertising, and we do a lot of online advertising too. The online advertising leads are incubated inside our sales department and when they get to the appointment stage, they’re handed over to an outside agent to develop them from there. Leads that call in go directly to our agents. We have a manager who works with them on a weekly basis, coaching them and keeping them on track, as well as working with them on scripts.”

Woolcott is emphatic about the importance of advertising and his firm isn’t afraid to spend.

“We do traditional newspaper advertising, and despite popular wisdom, we find that effective,” he said.  “We also do buses, bus stops, benches, and we public our own newspaper every month that’s delivered to in excess of 90,000 people by Canada Post.”

Canvassing neighbourhoods is also another time-tested method of cultivating clients, as is open houses reign supreme, but as every agent can attest, a solid database can yield bountiful fruits.

“The vast majority of our an agent’s time is spent in our database of leads and our existing clientele,” said Woolcott. “That work accounts for some 40-50% of our business. A lot of time is spent nursing and incubating those leads.”

Trying to decide between buying a spacious home and living in a great location? The good news is, you don’t have to choose.

If you’re a die-hard Torontonian, you may be hesitant to consider homes outside the limits of your beloved city. There’s a common misconception that home buyers have two options: purchase a small living space in a wonderful neighbourhood, or buy more square footage in a less desirable area. According to this line of thinking, living outside of Toronto is always a compromise. We couldn’t disagree more.

If you’re torn between a bigger house or better location, never fear. By choosing one of the vibrant communities outside of Ontario’s largest city, you can experience the best of both worlds. Here are a few reasons why you should consider expanding your search beyond Toronto’s borders.

You can maintain an exciting lifestyle

If you think life outside of Toronto is dull, think again. More and more, home buyers are viewing places like Hamilton and Burlington as viable alternatives—and for good reason. Whether you’re looking for buzzworthy restaurants, vibrant nightlife or unique shopping hotspots, these cities have you covered.

In Hamilton, grab a drink on Augusta Street, see some live music at a local venue or check out a world-class restaurant (our favourites include The French and Berkeley North). If you’re a shopper, CF Lime Ridge Mall offers 815,000 square feet of retail bliss, while the boutiques on Locke Street and James Street North are always unique. Burlington has just as much to offer—from the pitch-perfect dishes at Paradiso or Martini House to the over 150 retailers at Mapleview Centre.

It’s worth noting that communities like Dundas, Ancaster and Waterdown are just a few short minutes away from these lively city centres. They offer plenty of peace and quiet, yet they’re still incredibly close to the action.

The commute isn’t bad

When it comes to the bigger-house-or-better-location debate, commute times are one of the most important considerations. Luckily, there’s no shortage of fantastic local communities that are just a short drive from Toronto. Both Hamilton and Burlington are about an hour away (with the latter sitting just a little bit closer to the region’s megacity). Communities like Dundas and Ancaster offer similarly quick commutes. That’s pretty impressive, given that it can sometimes take just as long (if not longer) to get from one end of Toronto to the other.

To travel back and forth easily, simply take Highway 403 or Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). You can even catch the Go Train, since there are stops in both Hamilton and Burlington.

You can get a great price

Let’s face it: for many home buyers, purchasing a house in central Toronto just isn’t an option. The GTA housing market is notoriously pricey—so much so that many home hunters can’t afford a condo, let alone a single-family home.

Burlington, Hamilton, Dundas, Ancaster and Waterdown are all very popular places to settle down. Your dollars will go further in these communities than they ever could in Toronto. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a sizeable backyard, spacious kitchen or extra guest bedroom.

So, do you need to compromise?

It’s true that some home buyers won’t ever see themselves living outside of Toronto. But as far as we’re concerned, choosing a beautiful, lively and affordable community that’s not far from the GTA is a win-win. Are you ready to explore your options?

Thinking of buying your next home in Hamilton, Burlington, or the surrounding area? We can help! Contact us to discuss your needs today.

Staging can be a major asset when selling a home.  An effective staging job will help potential buyers envision themselves living in a space.

Staging typically entails an initial consult with stagers. From this consult, they then declutter, rearrange and add or remove furniture to a space to cast a home in its best light.

As we move into more of a digital age of real estate, virtual staging is becoming an option many sales representatives offer to their clients. Although staging is definitely a must in 2019 for many homes, is virtual staging a better alternative?

Buyers Can Be Deceived

“We find that although virtual staging can be a cheaper option for sellers, it can ultimately lead to bad taste in some buyers’ mouths,” says Jayne Woolcott, sales representative with Re/Max Escarpment Woolcott Realty Inc.

“With a true stage, the pictures match what a buyer is going to see when they view the home in person,” says Woolcott. “However, when a home is virtually staged, everything from the paint colour to the flooring and light fixtures can be changed digitally, which can be a little deceptive for buyers.”

Woolcott says she also notices that rooms can look larger than they actually are, based on the scale of the ‘digital’ furniture being placed in the room.

Buyers don’t like a bait-and-switch, which virtual staging can sometimes appear as. It would be a similar situation to going to see a four-bedroom home, but upon entering, finding out that it is really a three bedroom with a small den being counted as a bedroom.

Exceed Buyer Expectations

Simply put, when something doesn’t live up to a buyer’s expectations, it disappoints. When selling a home, sellers want to ensure all potential buyers are excited upon arrival, not immediately discouraged.

That’s why Woolcott Real Estate believes in the power of staging, so much so that the team employs two-full time stagers and has a full inventory, from couches to beds, and artwork to décor, to make the best first impression to buyers both online and in-person.

Curious as to how staging can help your home when selling? Call Woolcott Real Estate at 905 689 9223 today!

If you’re thinking of moving to Burlington, you’re not alone. This welcoming city has become the perfect refuge for many former Torontonians. Home buyers are drawn to the area for its gorgeous lakefront views, close-knit sense of community and convenient location relative. In other words: there’s a good chance that deciding to move to Burlington will be easy. But locating your dream home may be a bit more complicated.

Moving to a new city always comes with challenges, and making the move to Burlington is no exception. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to find the perfect property here—and transition smoothly to life in the city.

Learn everything you need to know about moving to Burlington in our quick relocation guide…

Make a list of must-have features and amenities

It goes without saying that during the home hunt, you should focus on your basic requirements—like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you’ll need. That said, most buyers find it helpful to get a lot more specific. Is an open-concept kitchen non-negotiable? What about being close to great green space or a major supermarket? Could a small backyard make-or-break your decision to buy—and if so, what kind of square footage will you be comfortable with? Knowing exactly what your family needs will help you narrow down the number of homes you view in Burlington. Trust us, there’s no shortage of great options to choose from.

Research local neighbourhoods

Which Burlington community is perfect for you? The answer will depend on your needs, goals, and lifestyle. If you have little ones, you might want to try a neighbourhood like Mountainside, Palmer or Brant Hills. The schools, recreational opportunities and family-oriented housing in these areas make them perfect for kids. For buyers retiring in Burlington, we love Millcroft, Tansley Woods and Roseland (among others). These neighbourhoods are picturesque, and they offer an abundance of great activities for adults of all ages. Lastly, if you’re the type who likes to be at the centre of it all, you might want to consider the thriving downtown area—or a community like Corporate, which offers incredible condo-living opportunities.

Determine your budget

Your home-buying dollars will likely go a bit further in Burlington than they would in central Toronto. That said, it’s important to create a budget no matter where you’re home hunting. Knowing what you can afford means less time wasted on homes that fall outside of your price range. To start budgeting, begin with your after-tax household income. Next, subtract your ongoing monthly expenses. Consider the new costs you’ll take on in your new home, as well as any that will no longer be applicable. From there, you can figure out roughly how much you can comfortably put toward mortgage payments. Most of the major banks offer online mortgage calculators, which can be helpful.

Look into your commute

For many home buyers, Burlington’s proximity to Hamilton is a major selling point. If you work or play in this thriving port city, you’ll be thrilled to discover just how convenient it can be to get there from your new home. The drive is about ten minutes to the west. Likewise, getting to Milton or Oakville is a breeze (it takes just a few minutes to reach either destination). Depending on how much time you’re planning to spend in these areas, you might want to map out routes from the homes you’re considering in Burlington. Your real estate agent should also be able to give you an idea of how long it will take to various points in and around the city.

Find a local real estate expert

Speaking of agents, look for one who’s a Burlington expert. A professional who knows the city inside and out can help ensure that you find your perfect home in your ideal neighbourhood. They’ll have the local market expertise, community knowledge, and real estate connections to do the job right. Of course, the most important thing is that you find a professional who you’re comfortable with. When you’re interviewing agents, be sure to ask not only about their experience in Burlington but their approach to home-buying in general. The right professional will clearly lay out how the process works and answer any questions you might have.

While relocating to a new city is bound to come with challenges, being prepared can help you avoid major headaches. We hope you’ll consider taking the steps above to become a proud (and content) Burlington homeowner!

Are you ready to learn more about moving to Burlington? We have the local market knowledge and experience to help. Contact us to discuss your needs today.