July Newsletter

Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record  Colleen Thyssen, Sales Representative Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty Inc. Phone: (519) 438-8000 Direct: (519) 495-1541 Email: Richard@thyssengroup.com Website: www.thyssengroup.com

Welcome to summer! Hopefully there will be plenty of nice weather over the next couple of months so you can enjoy barbecues, picnics, deck parties, and other outdoor activities. Without a question, it’s the perfect season for socializing. The long sunny days and warm moonlit nights are the perfect setting for sharing interests or discussing ideas with friends and family. You might even find yourself talking about the possibility of buying or selling a home. If that topic comes up, remember that we are always available to help with any questions you - or your friends or relatives - may have. Call or email us anytime. Best wishes to you and your family. Have a great summer! Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record  Colleen Thyssen, Sales Representative richardthyssen@kw.com (direct) 519-495-1541

“Facelifts” that Boost Resale Value

If you plan on putting your home on the market, you obviously want it to look as attractive as possible to potential buyers. Improving the look of your kitchen or bathroom is a great place to start.

You don’t necessarily have to invest in a major - and potentially expensive - renovation. There are many simple, do-it-yourself ways to give your kitchen or bathroom a facelift and make it look (almost) new. Here are some ideas to consider: Instead of installing new cabinetry, just replace the cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Those alone will significantly improve the look of the room. In fact, even just replacing the door pulls can make a big difference. Replacing the sink is also an easy renovation. You can purchase a sparkling new kitchen sink and faucet kit for far less than the benefit they will deliver. Replacing the countertop in the kitchen is a more complex renovation and, in most cases, will require the help of a contractor. But, a handy person can probably tackle replacing the countertop in a bathroom without too much difficulty.

Real Estate and the Price of Apples

Consider this scenario. Say you're at your local supermarket and notice that apples are on sale for $3.95 each. If you've ever purchased apples before, you know that's a pretty hefty price.

However, you've heard about the "national apple market" on the news, so you're not surprised. After all, they've been saying that apple prices will be higher this year. Now, let's say you're driving home and decide to drop by a farmer's market. One of the stands, run by a local family farm, is selling their apples for just $1.95 each. Why is that? The reason is pretty simple. The national apple market doesn't always reflect what's happening locally. In fact, the local market may be very different. So, what does all this have to do with real estate? Well, the same scenario can play out in real estate. You may hear news about the national market... about bubbles and rebounds and ups and downs. But that doesn't necessarily mean your local market - the market right here in your neighbourhood - is the same. So before you make a decision about whether or not to make a move, find out what the local market is doing.

Using the Internet to Shop for a New Home

There's more information on the Internet than in the entire collection of the U.S. Library of Congress. (And that's the largest library in the world!) So it makes sense to use the Internet as a resource when shopping for a new home.

You can search for the kind of property you're considering, view pictures of available properties that meet your criteria, and, in some cases, even watch virtual tours of those properties. The Internet is a useful home shopping tool. It can save you a lot of time. But it can't replace working with a good Realtor, and actually going to see the various properties. Think of it this way. Would you marry someone you met online but never got to meet in person? Of course you wouldn't. That would be a recipe for disaster! The same holds true when shopping for a new home. The Internet can help you shortlist the properties you would like to see, and perhaps provide a sense of the area. But only by working with good Realtors like us, can you get the real insights you need into the homes available on the market, and then determine the ones that would potentially be ideal for you. So when shopping for a new home, don’t hesitate to ask us how best to use the Internet. We can direct you to websites and web tools that will help make the home shopping experience much more enjoyable and productive, while at the same time, provide you with the personal attention you need to ultimately purchase the home of your dreams.

notable, quotable... quotes! “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Maria Robinson “People may forget what you said or what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou “Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us.” John N. Mitchell