Team McNeil Real Estate Blog » melanie mcneil

The Wheels On The Bus continue to go Round and Round to Elmira

wmcneil — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:18:40 +0000

By Warren McNeil,

Looks like the bus service to Elmira will contine for a while longer. Route 21 is starting to pickup momentum now and there was enough interest in the service to continue the pilot program for another year.

“It has been quite successful,” Neil Malcolm, a Waterloo regional transit planner, said of Grand River Transit’s first foray into the countryside.

Ridership doubled within an 8 month period. With a low of 158 riders in April and 315 riders in December. About 30% of the riders get picked up in downtowm Elmira. The most popular destinations are Conestogo Mall and the St Jacob’s farmers market on market day being the busiest.

Council is slated to decide the fate of the Elmira service in 2011. If the route becomes permanent, staff is recommending that its costs be covered by township residents, which is estimated to cost between $30 and $32 per household.

I can see that this service would benefit alot of residents here. I hope it survives the year and council approves it.

Resource: http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/686700

Thanks for reading!

We are a full-time real estate team in Waterloo Region, Woolwich & Wellesley Townships. We enjoy assisting buyers and sellers with the purchase or sale of real estate in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Elmira, Wellesley, Wilmot, Drayton and everywhere in between. If you would like us to help you with your home search, please check out our brand-new free search website or if you are thinking of selling, get a free market evaluation.

Warren & Melanie McNeil | Sales Representatives, Team McNeil
Re/Max Twin City Realty, Brokerage ( 519.579.4110 | 519-498-8118
www.TeamMcneil.com, www.ClickThatHouse.com, www.LoftStyle.ca, www.ElmiraRealEstate.ca

Connect with us on the following social networks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/teammcneilremax

Buying a Townhouse Style Condo in Kitchener-Waterloo

wmcneil — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:59:32 +0000

By Warren McNeil,

Over the past couple of weeks we have been helping a few clients buy condos. I have showed quite a few different types of condos. Townhouses, apartment style and lofts. There are lots of options out there right not. But today I want to talk a little about Kitchener-Waterloo townhouses.

Townhouse style condos offer great value because they often have a lower cost per square foot then some of the apartment style offerings. The monthly fee is often lower as well. With townhouse style condos, you sometimes get a little patio area and possibly a deck. This is ideal if you want to host a bbq or you like to have a little area to let out your pets. Keep in mind that some condos won’t allow pets so you will need to look at the rules and regulations.

Townhouses sometimes offer more parking options. The unit might have it’s own garage and driveway.

Depending on the unit, you might have maintenance included in the condo fee which means you will never have to worry about replacing a roof or pay for any exterior maintenance. You are still responsible to pay for any maintenance within your unit. So if you need a new furnace you will need to pay for that yourself.

There are currently 24 non-freehold condominiums for sale in Kitchener-Waterloo ranging in price 134,900 – 350,000. 3 of these townhouses are less then 5 years old.

Thanks for reading!

Warren & Melanie McNeil | Sales Representatives, Team McNeil
Re/Max Twin City Realty, Brokerage ( direct: 519-498-8118, office: 519.579.4110
8 www.TeamMcneil.com, www.LoftStyle.ca, www.ClickThatHouse.com, www.ElmiraRealEstate.ca
P.S. Looking for a K-W condo or loft, check out our brand new website at www.LoftStyle.ca!
Become a Fan of our Facebook Fanpage at www.facebook.com/TeamMcNeilRemax

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Elmira Maple Syrup Festival – March 27th, 2010

wmcneil — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:30:04 +0000

By Warren McNeil

What do you get when you have pancakes, maple syrup, apple fritters, back bacon on a bun, wagon rides, sugar bush tours and a street lined with people? You get one of my favourite times of year. You get the Elmira Maple Syrup festival or Sapfest. The Elmira Maple Syrup festival is the world’s largest one day consumption of maple syrup. This year Sapfest is taking place on March 27th.

quote from www.elmiramaplesyrup.com

The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival builds and strengthens community spirit through the involvement of a large number of area residents in the planning and operation of a one day festival. Participation in a fun filled day supported by 2000+ volunteers raises funds to support local charities and non-profit organizations. Since 1965, the Festival continues to promote our community, surrounding areas and local maple syrup producers.

Some ativities are the Sugar Bush tours, Mega Mutts dog show, Pancake flipping contest and much much more. For the complete schedule please visit 2010 Schedule.

Check out this map of of the activities available.

For more information check out www.elmiramaplesyrup.com

Thanks for reading!

Warren & Melanie McNeil | Sales Representatives, Team McNeil
Re/Max Twin City Realty, Brokerage ( 519.579.4110 | 519-498-8118
8 www.TeamMcneil.com, www.ClickThatHouse.com, www.LoftStyle.ca, www.ElmiraRealEstate.ca

Connect with us on the following social networks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/teammcneilremax

[Video] Top 5 Things to Do Before Selling Your House

wmcneil — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:37:12 +0000

By Warren McNeil,

Here is a video I did for sellers who are thinking about selling their houses in Waterloo Region. Please check out the video and if you have any questions or comments please let us know…

[See post to watch Flash video]

Here is the transcript for the video:

Hi There, I am Warren McNeil from Team McNeil at Re/Max Twin City Realty in Kitchener

Today I am going to talk to you about a few things you need to do before selling your house. Selling your home can be a simple and straightforward process if you follow the right steps. In order to get top dollar and avoid headaches, it is important to do a few things beforehand.
Here are 5 things you can do before selling your house.

Number 5 – Get a Market Evaluation
The first thing you should do is get a market evaluation on your house so you know exactly how much you house is worth before you do any work. A realtor will advise you on things you should do and not do when preparing the house for sale. We will make recommendations on things such as updating, repairs, decluttering or staging.. You might not need to spend as much money as you think to get your house ready.

Number 4 – Mortgage information
If you have a mortgage on your house, you should find out if there is a penalty to pay out your mortgage early. We recommend calling your lender to find this information out.

Number 3 – Make repairs and perform other maintenance items
It s a good idea to do any necessary repairs around the house. We also recommend that you replace furnace filters, fill the water softener with salt, replace burnt out light bulbs, fix broken door handles and replace any cracked or broken windows. Consider hiring a home inspector before you sell your house so that you can find out if there are any unknown issues. If you fix the issues beforehand, then you can avoid surprises later when the buyer does their home inspection. The money you spend now on repairs, maintenance and home inspection could help you get more money later. Contact us if you would like us to recommend a good Waterloo area home inspector or other skilled professional.

Number 2 – Declutter, Depersonalize, Paint, Clean and Stage

- Decluttering: Decluttering will allow the buyer to visualize how big and spacious the rooms are in the house. People who are selling their houses often use their garages to store items from the house. Other options are offsite storage or storage pods.

- Depersonalizing: You should also consider depersonalizing your house. This is a touchy area and all I am going to say is just put yourself in the buyer shoes and try to view the house through their eyes. Keep an open mind and remember that the goal is to sell the house for the most money.

- Cleaning: One of the cheapest things you can do is clean. Buyers love looking at clean houses. If you are unable to clean on your own, consider hiring a cleaning service to help you. It will be the best money you ever spend.

- Painting: Painting is one of the best things you can do to make a house feel fresh and clean and to add more appeal. If you are unable to do a good job yourself, consider hiring someone to do it for you.

- Staging: Hire a staging profession to stage your home. It is amazing what a professional stager can do to help you get more money for you house.

Contact us if you’d like a recommendation for a professional organizer, a professional stager, a painter or a cleaning service.

And the Number 1 thing to do before selling your house is: Determine the best possible price
Pricing is the single most important thing to consider before selling your house. Your house will be worth a certain value based on its location, updates, condition and the recent sold comparables. When you hire an agent, don’t list your home with the agent who wants to overprice your property just so they can get the listing. List your house with the agent who takes the time to go through the comparables and provides valid reasons for their price recommendation. Homes that are overpriced often sell for less.

Whether you are a move-up buyer, relocating or downsizing, selling you house can be a smooth process if you follow these steps.

If you are thinking about selling your house in Waterloo Region and you would like to get started with a free online market evaluation of your Waterloo area home, please visit our website at www.clickthathouse.com or call us at 519-498-8118. Thanks for watching and see you next time!

Connect with us on the following social networks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/teammcneilremax

[Video] Top 5 Things To Do Before Shopping For Home

wmcneil — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:23:35 +0000

By Warren McNeil

Here is a video for the “Top 5 Things To Do Before Shopping For Home”.

Buying a home is probably the single largest investment that you will ever make in your life so it is very important to understand the entire process.

[See post to watch Flash video]

Here is the transcript of the video.

Today I am going to talk to you about a few things you need to do before shopping for a home. Buying a home is probably the single largest investment that you will ever make in your life so it is very important to understand the entire process. The following tips will help save time, money and headaches.

Number 5: Employment: It is very important to ensure that you have solid employment before buying a house. You should also try and keep your debt in check and to make sure that you aren’t overextending yourself. Maintain good credit so that you will be able to get a mortgage.

Number 4: Down payment: When buying a home, you will require down payment. You should save up at least 5% of the cost of a house as well as a little extra for closing costs such as lawyer fees, land transfer tax and a home inspection.

Number 3: Pre-approval – By getting pre-approved, you will know exactly how much you can afford so you don’t waste your time looking at houses that are above or below your price range. The other reason to get preapproved is so you can lock in an interest rate so that if the interest rates go up you will already have the best rate.

Number 2: Choose a good realtor to help you through the process. Buyers are able to choose a real estate agent the same way sellers can. The goal of a seller’s agent is to sell the house for the highest amount of money with the most favourable terms. Likewise, the goal of the buyer’s agent is to help the buyer purchase the house for the lowest price with the most favourable terms. Working with your own licensed realtor will ensure that you are not taken advantage of. A buyer’s agent will be able to tell you what the other homes sold for in an area as well as protect you with special offer conditions. They will also negotiate price and all the terms of any offers. Don’t risk buying a home without your own buyer’s agent.

And the Number 1 thing to do before shopping for a home is:
Determine your Wants and Needs: Work with your buyers agent to create a list of everything you want in a home. Some things to consider are: Area, Size, the total number of bedrooms & bathroom, the age of the house and the style of the home. Sometimes you need to look at a few houses before you find the one you like. Knowing what you want can help reduce the time it takes to search for a new home.

Shopping for a new home can be an exciting adventure. If you follow the tips above, you will be better prepared to start shopping for that perfect home.

If you are thinking about buying a house in the Waterloo Region and you would like to get started with this exciting adventure, please visit our website at www.clickthathouse.com or call us at 519-498-8118. Thanks for watching and see you next time!

Connect with us on the following social networks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/teammcneilremax

Top 5 Things to Expect From a Tech-Savvy Realtor

wmcneil — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:17:16 +0000

By Warren McNeil

Here is a new video I did regarding the “Top 5 Things to Expect From a Tech-Savvy Realtor”

Enjoy

[See post to watch Flash video]

Here is the transcript of the video:

Hi There! I am Warren McNeil from Team McNeil and Re/Max Twin City Realty in Kitchener

The Internet has changed the way we all communicate in this world. As a realtor, we need to constantly stay current with technology and utilize these new methods with our marketing. Technology, if used right, can make a huge difference when marketing a home for sale. Gone are the days of the big MLS book. According to the National Association Realtors, 84% of people start their home search onlne. So hiring a tech-savvy realtor is more important then ever to give you that edge you need to sell or buy your next home. Here are the top 5 reasons to hire a tech-savvy realtor.

Number 5 – Website
It is important that a realtor has their own website. In my opinion, websites are not optional they are mandatory. They serve many purposes. A realtor’s website should be able to display listings with lots of photos, detailed desctriptions of the property and an area for virtual tours as well as provide an easy way for prospective buyers to contact the realtor.

Number 4 – Print advertising
A realtor who utilizes both print advertising and the internet is better able to take advantage of both mediums strengths. Marketing a house for sale in the newpaper and leading the buyer to the website for more information is crucical for maximizing the marketing of a property. You still need both! A tech-savvy realtor understands that many consumers still rely on traditional advertising methods. So don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Number 3 – Mobility
Realtors must be able to access email or text messages while in the field. Prospective buyers want information rightaway so it is very imortant for realtors to have a PDA such as a Blackberry or an Iphone.

Number 2 – SEO or Search Engine Optimization
Realtors who have good search engine ranking ensures that your listings get found on the Internet. Realtor.ca is a great website but it is not the only website to rely on when it comes to marketing your home online. Buyers also use search engines such as Google, Yahoo or Bing to look for houses. Realtors who have their websites optimized will have a better chance at getting their house listings found.

Number 1 – Web 2.0 – Social media
The internet has become more interactive over the past 5 years. Having a website is not good enough. Realtors also need to blog, do videos, Twitter and use Facebook. These are all methods that are important for us to connect with clients, prospective buyers and prospective sellers. Having a realtor that utilizes some or all of this technology ensures that you hired the right person to do the job.

The good news is, technology will continue to evolve. As new technologies come out we must harness their effectiveness so we can all do our jobs more efficiently!

Thanks for watching and see you next time!

Thanks for reading!

Warren & Melanie McNeil | Sales Representatives, Team McNeil
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Brokerage ( 519.579.4110 | 519-498-8118

Connect with us on the following social networks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeamMcNeilRemax

websites: www.TeamMcNeil.com, www.ClickThatHouse.com,
www.LoftStyle.ca, www.ElmiraRealEstate.ca

[Video] Top 5 Reasons to Relocate to Waterloo Region

wmcneil — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:46:14 +0000

By Warren McNeil

Here is a video that I put together for people considering relocating to Waterloo Region.

[See post to watch Flash video]

Here is a transcript of the video:

People relocate for a variety of reasons. Maybe you are looking for a new job, better quality of life or your are just looking for a change. Waterloo Region has alot to offer and is a wonderful area to move into. Here are the top 5 reasons to move to Waterloo Region.

Number 5:
We have a very low crime rate compared to other cities in Canada. In a study done in 2007, Waterloo Region was ranked the fourth lowest crime rate in Canada. So if you are looking for a safe place to live, look no further. (source http://www.techtriangle.com/invest)

Number 4
We have some of the best Universities and Colleges in the world here. University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier and Conestogo College.. A lot of very successful companies were formed by alumni who went to these schools. Companies such as Research in Motion makers of the world reknowned Blackberry, MKS and QNX to name a few.According to Wikipedia, University of Waterloo is also known as the Silicon Valley of the North.

Number 3
Waterloo Region is Canada’s Technology Triangle. There are many high tech companies in the area. One of the worlds fastest growing companies, Research in Motion is based out of Waterloo. If you are a techy, this is the place you need to be! (source: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/08/17/rim-blackberry-fortune-fastest-growing.html)

Number 2
Easily accessible. This is one of my favourite reasons. KItchener-Waterloo and Cambridge are extremely accessible. The highways travel down the middle of each city which makes getting around the cities very convenient. If you work in Toronto or London, we are only one hour away. Late last year, GO busses started offering their services here from Toronto.

And the number 1 reason to relocation to the area is:
The cost of living here is very affordable. House prices are about 1/3 less then Toronto. The average house price for a single detached home year-to-date was approximately 297,000 for 2009. We have a very strong real estate market with a good selection of different home styles. If you work in Toronto, you can drive a little to save alot.

Other references:

http://www.grt.ca
http://www.techtriangle.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Waterloo
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/17/f-crime-2008.html

There are so many more reasons. These were just a few that I thought were worth mentioning. Let me know what you think. If you live in the area, tell us what you like best about Waterloo Region.

Thanks for reading!

Connect with us on the following social networks

How’s the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Market?

wmcneil — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:27:55 +0000

By Warren McNeil,

This is a question that gets asked almost every day. However the answer is a lot more complicated then just saying “it’s good” or “it’s bad”. Each area of the Kitchener-Waterloo real estate market is different. For example, according to the KW real Estate Board, condos in Kitchener-Waterloo had an increase in 2009 of 2.2% over 2008. Freehold condos increased by 2.2% and single detached homes increase was 0.3%.

In order to get a really accurate evaluation of the market, we need to isolate the area that you are most interested in. For example, lets look at freehold condominiums in Waterloo West less then 10 years old. The next thing we do is pull up all the freehold townhouses that sold within the last year. Feb 1, 2009 – Feb 1, 2010. I get the following information.

Freehold Condominiums in Waterloo West less then 10 years old (Feb 1, 2009 – Feb 1, 2010)

units sold 83
average sale price: 249,500
average list to sale price ratio: 98%
average days on market: 38

Now lets do the same comparison for Feb 1, 2008- Feb 1, 2009

Freehold Condominiums in Waterloo West less then 10 years old (Feb 1, 2008 – Feb 1, 2009)

units sold: 59
average sale price: $250.439
average list to sale price ratio: 99%
average days on market: 62

As you can see there is quite a bit of difference. Last year, there were 30 more freehold condos sold then in the same period in 2008. The average sale price was pretty much the same. In 2008 the list to sale price was higher then 2009. The average days on market was alot better in 2009 then in 2008.

What’s my point here? Well it’s simple, each area of the market require seperate analysis to get truly accurate data. From now on, my response when somebody asks the question, “How’s the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Market?” will be, it all depends on what information you are looking for. For Kitchener-Waterloo as a whole, I would say great!

Anyways, thanks for reading!

We are a full-time real estate team in Kitchener Waterloo area. We enjoy assisting buyers and sellers with the purchase or sale of real estate in the Kitchener-Waterloo or Cambridge areas. If you would like us to help you with your home search, please check out our brand-new free search website or if you are thinking of selling, get a free market evaluation.

Warren & Melanie McNeil | Sales Representatives, Team McNeil
Re/Max Twin City Realty, Brokerage ( 519.579.4110 ~ 519-498-8118
8 www.TeamMcneil.com, www.ClickThatHouse.com, www.LoftStyle.ca
P.S. Looking for a condo or loft, check out our brand new website at www.LoftStyle.ca!

[video] Team McNeil – 12 Days of Christmas

wmcneil — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:56:07 +0000

By Warren McNeil

I decided to do a video blog this year and be a little creative. I hope you enjoy it!!!

Here are the lyrics:

On the first day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, a free market evaluation
On the second day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation
On the third day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, three waivers waiving, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation
On the forth day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, four qualified buyers, three waivers waiving, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation
On the fifth day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, five open houses, four qualified buyers, three waivers waiving, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation
On the sixth day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, six realtor showings, five open houses, four qualified buyers, three waivers waiving, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation
On the seventh day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, seven houses selling, six realtor showings, five open houses, four qualified buyers, three waivers waiving, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation
On the eighth day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, eight buyers buying, seven houses selling, six realtor showings, five open houses, four qualified buyers, three waivers waiving, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation
On the ninth day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, nine days on market, eight buyers buying, seven houses selling, six realtor showings, five open houses, four qualified buyers, three waivers waiving, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation
On the tenth day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, 10 multiple offers!!!!, nine days on market, eight buyers buying, seven houses selling, six realtor showings, five open houses, four qualified buyers, three waivers waiving, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation.
On the eleventh day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you, 11 tips for buying, 10 multiple offers!!!!, nine days on market, eight buyers buying, seven houses selling, six realtor showings, five open houses, four qualified buyers, three waivers waiving, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation.
On the twelfth day of Christmas Team McNeil gave to you 12 tips for selling, 11 tips for buying, 10 multiple offers!!!!, nine days on market, eight buyers buying, seven houses selling, six realtor showings, five open houses, four qualified buyers, three waivers waiving, two licensed realtors and a free market evaluation.

Team McNeil – 12 Days of Christmas

Thank you for watching!

Warren & Melanie McNeil | Sales Representatives, Team McNeil
Re/Max Twin City Realty, Brokerage ( 519.579.4110
8 www.TeamMcneil.com, www.LoftStyle.ca, www.ClickThatHouse.com
P.S. Looking for a condo or loft, check out our brand new website at www.LoftStyle.ca!