About Muskoka, ON

Last year January 1st 2010 to July 1st 2010 there were 20 waterfront cottage sales in Bracebridge.

This year January 1st 2011 to July 1st 2011 there have been 13 waterfront cottage sales in Bracebridge.

Thats a 35% drop in waterfront cottage sales for the Bracebridge area.

As of July 5th 2011 there are currently 45 waterfront cottages for sale in the Bracebridge area. Based on the fact that there were a total of 43 waterfront cottage sales for 2010, and the 35% drop in sales so far for 2011, this indicates that out of the 45 waterfront cottages that are currently for sale…only 15 of them will be sold in the remainder of 2011.

This is what we call a Buyers Market, when there are far more properties available than there are Buyers. This also means that as a Seller, you must become competitive with the how you present your cottage and be careful to set a realistic asking price.

If you are asking if an open house will help sell your home, then my answer is "unlikely".

Before the Internet boom (before the majority of people turned to the Internet to find their next home), people relied on printed MLS books, newspaper listings, Real Estate magazines, and driving around their desired neighbourhoods to find open houses. Back in those days (before 1995), open houses were an effective way to help sell a home. The people who entered the open house were actually ‘likely buyers' who were in the market to actively search for a home to purchase.

What we see nowadays though, is a trail of nosey neighbours and week-end tire-kickers who want to get decorating ideas or just want to compare your home with theirs so that they can imagine up a value for their own.

So why are open houses still held?

1. There is still a VERY slim chance that the person who enters the open house will in-fact buy it (based on the opinion of at least 50 Real Estate Agents questioned in the Toronto, Barrie and Muskoka areas, the response is about a 2% chance)
2. The Seller may not believe, or has not been educated about the way in which buyers now purchase a home, and the Agent holds it to satisfy the Sellers demands.
3. The Agent wants to draw in potential Buyer and Seller Clients, and this is a great way to meet new Clients.

The majority of Buyers, about 96%, now look at the Internet when searching for a home. Real Estate Agents look on the Internet within their own system, and email or call their Clients when suitable homes become available. The Real Estate Agents own system is the one that feeds the public realtor.ca website. Most real estate boards have now stopped issuing the printed MLS books.

In short, if your home or cottage looks like it may be suitable for someone, then they will make AN APPOINTMENT to come view your listing. Those are the type of people who you really want looking around your home!

Available for FREE download from the iTunes Store. Just search for Muskoka and the MuskokaRealty App will display. This App gives you access to current real estate listings in Muskoka and surrounding areas. All information contained in this app is up-to-date in 'real time'.

What better way to search for real estate listings in Muskoka, or to be kept up to date on Muskoka news!

Statistical publications show a huge success in mobile internet applications. In fact, experts predict that by 2014, mobile internet users will far outweigh desktop users.

iPhone Applications still out-weigh any other systems apps, but Android is currently a strong competitor. The Muskoka Real estate App will soon be available for Android.

Go to the iTunes Store or get linked directly from Here! to view the Muskoka Real Estate App information.

I went to a Home Exhibition. There were two exhibitors 'selling' the same product. One of them placed a fake glass of beer on their display. This exhibitor attracted at least 10 times more potential consumers to their display than their competitor. I am not suggesting that you place a glass of beer in your pictures when selling your home or cottage...but I do suggest you pick a Real Estate Salesperson who knows how to take marketing your listing to a higher level. Contact me for details ;)

The Importance Of Branding and Brand Recognition.

What Does The Name Or Slogan Have To Do With It?

When we bought our little summer hideaway we noticed there was a water mark on the ceiling.

There is a row of pines along one side whose branches extended over the edge of the roof and we felt this had caused a spring time ice build up along the edge of the roof. This would cause the water from the melting snow to back up under the shingles and in onto the ceiling. We immediately trimmed those branches away fixing the issue, so we thought.

On inspecting the roof we noticed that there was some moss taking a foothold on one end and that the shingles were showing signs of needing to be replaced. After giving it some thought we decided to wait a year or two before redoing the roof.

The following year all was well but this year when we arrived we noticed fresh water marks on one spot of the ceiling. Time to call a roofer.

Looking for a roofer turned into an interesting experience. The one we did connect with was the result of his unique name and slogan.

On several occasions we had noticed this companies signs around the area and we remembered the name.

Crew member removing old shingles and underlay Moss on the roof and old shingle after knocking the moss off

Moss is natures way of starting the process of returning the components of a shingle back to its original state.

Putting on the new shingles with ice and weather guard underlay The finished product will keep us dry and worry free for many years

Having a brand and slogan that resonates with the consumer
is one of the keys to
successfully marketing your business.

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To Learn More About Life and Living In Uxbridge

A community where neighbours work together and get involved in their community

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To learn what housing options Uxbridge
and the surrounding area has to offer;
be it condominium or detached homes,
in town or rural communities,
country homes, estates or farms
just give me a call or Text Me

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