Bronte, ON

When you put your home on the market you are selling not only the home but what the buyer perceives as the lifestyle that goes with it.

This means your home needs to show the buyer how wonderful it is to live in various zones of your home.

Let's look at the bedrooms.

If you are selling a family home, show it as a family home.

You are a young couple selling your home. You have no children and you have a spare room with a bed. Is that enough? Let's face it there is no message here for the buyer. To help a buyer see the home as a family home, set up a vignette. Bring in a bedside table, lamp, stuffed animal and artwork. Create a child's room to help the buyer imagine their child sleeping here.

Create a guest room that welcomes a visitor to the home.

Add pillows and throws.

Perhaps you could set out a small basket of guest accessories.

Young children cannot really grasp the changes taking place so we tend to leave them alone as much as possible.

One thing you can do is tell them you are packing an item up to take to their new room.

If you know the item is very rarely looked at you may find it easier to pack the item while the child is napping or out of the house.

While we do want the room tidy and de-cluttered as much as possible it is good to leave the 'warm fuzzies' there. Set the mood so that the buyer will feel it is a great space for their child.

Master Bedrooms are an important area when you are selling.

You are selling the buyer a retreat from the world.

Buyers like a hotel/magazine look.

The bed is the focal point of the room so show off your linens, add throw pillows, candles.

Keep the surfaces of chests clear with simple accessories.

Open the window treatments and let in the natural light.

Show the buyer your home offers the lifestyle they want.

Offer them sweet dreams.

The Sovereign House Museum is located in Oakville near the west harbour in historic Bronte Village. The home was saved from a developer's wrecker's ball in 1988 and moved from it's original location to Town of Oakville parkland overlooking Lake Ontario on West River Street.

The farm house was built in stages between 1825 and 1846 by Charles Sovereign. Novelist Mazo de la Roche, famous for her Whiteoaks of Jalna sagas lived in the house for about five years, prior to her becoming famous.

Renovations on the house have given it the appearance of the style of the 1910 era. The Bronte Historical Society. maintains the property and it opened up to the public in 1996. Local artists display their work in the house with shows called Art on the Bluffs.

Walking the property takes you back to a simpler time and hearing the waves and the ducks, along the shore of Lake Ontario at the bottom of the bluff makes me want to write a novel. Move over Mazo de la Roche.

Public Viewings: Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays from late May to late October.

Admission Cost: Donations

There is a myth out there that Staging your home will cost you a lot of money.

Most of Staging is Sweat Equity. It involves time and effort.

Clean your home. Give it a Spring cleaning because the best scent in a home for a buyer is 'clean'.

Clutter is a word used in Staging. Remember, one man's treasure is another man's clutter. So, put away those collections, file those papers, toss those magazines that have piled up and store those toys.

Pre-pack seasonal items you don't use everyday.

Toss, recycle and donate those items you are not taking to your new home or haven't used in a year.

Store extra pieces of furniture.

Trim and weed that garden.

So if you have no budget for preparing your home for sale don't let that stop you.

The trick is knowing what to do.

A Staging Consult will give you a plan to follow so that you are putting your Sweat Equity into the correct areas.

The changes you make will get you closer to your goal.

Waterfront Homes For Sale in the Community of Bronte, Oakville, Ontario.

Bronte Village is a beautiful lakefront community in the South-western quadrant of Oakville, Ontario. The village of Bronte was founded in 1834 and was named after Admiral Nelson, a British Naval Hero whose official title was the 'Duchy of Bronte' for his many naval victories.

Many of the original settlers of Bronte were United Empire Loyalists. Today there are many reminders of the loyalists amongst the beautiful, old streets of Bronte near the lakeshore.
Names such as Sovereign and Nelson can still be found in Bronte as some descendents of the original families reside here.

Many beautiful waterfront homes and condos have been built along the Lake Ontario shoreline within Bronte Village. Today these waterfront properties are in high demand and sell fairly quickly.

Waterfront homes in the Community of Bronte command a beautiful view of Lake Ontario. The warmer months bring boaters from far and wide to the marinas in Bronte and the beautiful lots Bronte waterfront homes sit on are the perfect place for outside patios and gazebos that overlook the lake.

Within walking distance to downtown Bronte, Bronte's waterfront homes and condos are ideal for those who desire a simpler lifestyle with all of the amenities that city life has to offer.

Close to Toronto and downtown Oakville, the waterfront homes in Bronte are the perfect refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city and yet are close enough to appeal to those who appreciate all that the larger centres have to offer.

The Community of Bronte is an epicentre of history, charm, tourism and commerce, yet holds fast to it's unique history and heritage with beautiful parks and boardwalks along the water.

From January 1,2009 to March 26, 2010, 4 waterfront homes have sold in Bronte Village. They ranged in price from 1 million to 4.5 million.
As of March 26th, 2010, there is only one detached waterfront home for sale in Bronte.

To receive all new Bronte waterfront home listings by email, the same day they appear on the market, register your name and email here.

Bronte Waterfront homes do not come up for sale too often. If waterfront living in the Oakville region is your goal, keeping abreast of the market activity will assist you in finding the waterfront home you've been dreaming of.

Contact Jo-Anne Smith today for more information pertaining to waterfront homes for sale in the Community of Bronte, Oakville, Ontario.

©2010JoSmith

Living in Bronte - Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park in Oakville, Ontario

 

At the South-western corner of Oakville in the Community of Bronte, lays the beautiful Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park.

Stretching along the Lake Ontario shoreline from Bronte Road to East Street, Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park offers a peaceful get-away to residents and visitors in the Bronte Village area.

On a typical summer day, hundreds of people stroll along the wide sidewalks bordering the water and marinas as they take in the sights and sounds of lakeside ambience.

Gulls soar overhead crying out in greeting as they watch for a stray french frie or ice cream cone and the Canada Geese loll lazily about on the greens after feasting on the abundant grass the park has to offer.
Small children chase them in delight causing a stir amongst the gaggles as they reposition themselves on the beautiful expanse of grass that runs along the park.

Those who like to fish can be seen lounging in lawn chairs casting their line in hopes of catching a salmon for dinner.

Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park in Oakville, Ontario fronts on Bronte Outer Harbour Marina. Many Oakville and surrounding area residents choose to keep their boat docked here due to the peaceful, holiday atmosphere Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park offers.

Traveling boaters from distant ports make it a point to stop here in their travels and dock for the night, as they take in a gourmet meal at one of the fine Bronte restaurants within walking distance of the marinas.

Thousands of visitors descend on Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park during the waterfront festival and to take in the many other events that are held in the park.
In August 'Art in the Park' is held over a 3 day weekend with a travelers coming from far and wide to view and purchase original works of art from some of Canada's finest artists.

For those who like to sit by the water and watch the tossing of the waves and coming and going of the boats, numerous benches have been placed along the walkways.

Young and old alike take great delight in spending a few hours in Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park and many families can be seen regularly walking along the sidewalks and piers within the park.

Those who watch closely are often delighted to spot a celebrity or two stopping by with their family as they seek to escape the public eye in a quiet waterfront village that still retains the feel of yesteryear when it was a bustling port on Lake Ontario's shore.

The beautiful gazebo in Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park is the scene of many musical events throughout the summer months. Visitors and residents of Bronte gather around in lawn chairs and on blankets as they listen to bands from far and wide entertain the nimble dancers.

A jewel in the Community of Bronte, Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park provides a focal point where Bronte residents and visitors can gather to relieve the stress of the day, re-connect with family and friends, take in nature's beauty, or exercise in a quiet, safe location.

Living in Bronte is greatly enhanced by Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park in Oakville, Ontario.

©2010JoSmith