Do you remember riding the escalator in Woolworth’s in Collingwood?  Today in its place, you’ll find the Admiral Building which is home to a flagship LCBO along with other shops and services.  In the 19 years that I’ve been practicing real estate, just about everything has changed.

Way back then, we typed offers using carbon paper for copies and white-out to make corrections.  Our daily MLS® data came from paper spewed out from a little ticker-type box.  We’d copy, cut and paste listings and pop them in the mail to be received a week or so later by our out-of-area clients.  Actually, we didn’t really have Buyer clients in those days.  Our job was to almost always represent Sellers since Buyer Agency was unheard of.  Offers were usually presented in person as we drove hours to see people because faxed contracts were not yet legal.  Few REALTORS® had computers let alone email, voice mail, cell phones or Blackberrys.  Very few had assistants or home offices and the mandatory continuing education requirements of today didn’t exist.

Insurance companies didn’t worry about oil tanks or 60 amp electrical services as they do today.  GST didn’t exist!  Mortgage interest rates were double digits and everyone needed at least 10% down to buy a property.  Privacy legislation hadn’t been introduced, grow houses didn’t exist and we didn’t yet have any idea of what a prolonged recession could actually do to real estate prices.

19 years ago, Collingwood had not annexed part of Nottawasaga, Clearview Township didn’t exist and Meaford was just a town.  Almost all condominiums in the area were in Cranberry Village and Lighthouse Point hadn’t been built.  The Niagara Escarpment and the Conservation Authorities had a whole different set of rules and since then, every municipality has changed its Official Plans and zoning by-laws more than twice.  There was no Village at Blue and the concept of luxury real estate was not even a notion in this area.

Today, the delivery of real estate information is as quick as the click of a mouse and listings or offers can be sent by email.  Buyers can instantly search MLS® listings online  and homes for sale are often showcased with virtual tours.  Real estate consumers are better protected than ever by changes in legislation and by improved education for REALTORS®.  Interest rates are under 6% and you can buy a house with no money down.  Choices abound with numerous opportunities to buy condominiums, single family homes or luxury custom homes in prestige neighbourhoods.  There are land-lease and fractional ownership developments and, recreational investment options.

Today, South Georgian Bay is a different place.  We can grab a coffee at Espresso Post or Starbucks and alternative libations at Zencha tea bar.  We can golf on a world class course or spend a day at an exclusive spa.  There are numerous exquisite choices for fine dining and blessedly, a choice of chocolate and candy shops.  There are clubs for networking, learning and lectures, outstanding local theatre and a thriving arts community.  You can get the inside scoop by reading local blogs and websites.

Is change a good thing?  In the case of real estate and South Georgian Bay, I’d have to say a resounding yes.  It’s been a helluva ride and I can’t help but wonder what the next nineteen years will bring.

When it’s time to buy or sell real estate in the Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Georgian Triangle area, contact Marg, an experienced and competent Broker who’s ready whenever you are!

In my opinion, the answer would be, Espresso Post in downtown Collingwood.

I know that sounds like an ad for them but it’s not.  It’s just the honest to goodness truth and as soon as you’ve experienced a cuppa along with a little latte art for good measure, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Funny how life works.  Owners Mark and Christene Krause first met in a Seattle coffee house and today, they own this quaint little gem on Collingwood’s main street.  They roast their own fair-trade beans and chances are, that Barista pulling your shots has won an award or two along the way.  Let me tell you from personal experience, their product is addictive.  I’ve met people who say they’ll drive for over an hour to have a cup of coffee from Espresso Post!

 The building at 137-139 Hurontario Street (which includes the neighbouring and fabulous Garden’s Nest store), was first built in 1897 by W. A. Hamilton who was Collingwood’s postmaster at the time.  It remained a post office until the completion of the new Federal Building during the Fist World War.  In 1985, the building was designated as having historical significance and in 2001, the Krauses purchased the building and began the restorations which led to a heritage award. 

Today, the cafe has a unique ambiance and spirit.  In addition to the wood floors, high ceilings and uncovered architecture, you’ll find an original old mail chute on a wall by the door.  In warmer weather, there is an outdoor patio where you’re likely to meet the most interesting people and perhaps even their dogs.  The  Krauses generously showcase local artists and also participate actively in the local heritage community. 

Related Posts:

It Pays To Look Good When You Are Almost 150 Years Old
Another Example of a Great Property Renovation 

When it’s time to buy or sell real estate in the Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Georgian Triangle area, contact Marg, an experienced and competent Broker who’s ready whenever you are!

Wayne Cole, Katrina Trautrim, Emily Johnston, Valerie Borrelli and Barrie Clulow!
Our online virtual design contest is now over and the most votes went to the design done by Wayne Cole followed closely by Katrina Trautrim’s design.  Congratulations to you both and to everyone who took the time to participate.  It was great fun and brought out some very interesting comments.

I’d like to share the following note I got from Val Borrelli who submitted the design of the sandy coloured house.  She didn’t just submit a design, her intention was to have fun and create a story with it.  Here is what she told me:

Dear Marg,

-  the sandy stone exterior signifies the warmth of the sand on the beach from the sun but with the strength of a stone saying that the house will last forever,

-  The burgundy curtains in the windows signify happiness deep in their hearts as the heart is the window of the soul

- the sunflowers and roses signify a shiny, fruitful, warm and wealthy path and, the dog signifies hope that they have a loyal and caring friend  that offers them protection and companionship in good and bad times

-  Turtles have an extraordinary sense of time and location. They are highly sensitive to the Earth’s magnetic field and use it to navigate so, a turtle is included to help light their climb in life

-  The bird feeders are a reminder to take care of themselves at all times and to keep happy chirping songs alive in their hearts

Thanks Val for that special story and I’m sure the owners will be most grateful for your kind wishes for them.

Speaking of the owners, they thought all of the entries were very good and they have been inspired by them.  I can’t tell you what they plan next but I’ll check in with them from time to time.

Related Posts:
Your Five Minutes of Fame Are Coming

It’s Time To Vote

Another Example of a Great Property Transformation

Curb Appeal Counts More Than Ever

When it’s time to buy or sell real estate in the Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Georgian Triangle area, contact Marg; an experienced and competent Broker who’s ready whenever you are.

The online contest to improve the curb appeal of a home in Meaford has now closed. I’m delighted to report that I received five fabulous entries that came from as close as Collingwood to as far away as San Diego, California and Cabarete in the Dominican Republic. None of these five brave souls are home designers but each one has proven they have an eye for curb appeal. They have generously taken the time to contemplate and then apply their creativity to the picture, all of which takes time and a good dose of courage. So, to each of you, thank-you and please know that in my books, each one of you is a winner!

So now it is up to you to decide which entry you think deserves to win. Here’s how this works. Below each picture is a number. At the bottom of this post is the poll where you can cast your vote anytime up until one week from today.  At that point, I think we’ll get some feedback from the home owner as well.  So, go ahead and vote now.

Original Photo	PHOTO # 1 – Barry Clulow, spouse of Kathy! Uxbridge, Ontario
PHOTO # 2 – Emily Johnston, San Diego, California	PHOTO # 3 – Valerie Borrelli, Collingwood, Ontario
PHOTO # 4 – Wayne Cole, Cabarete, Dominican Republic	PHOTO # 5 – Katrina Trautrim, Collingwood, Ontario

[poll=2]

Hey you. Yes, YOU!  I can see you reading this page right now and I want you to have some fun with me over the next few weeks.  C’mon, I know you are artistic and have a keen eye for design.

Let’s have an online design contest!

I’ll tell you right off the bat that I have sort of stolen this idea from St. Paul Minnesota Blogging Goddess Teresa Boardman who inspired this idea with her virtual pumpkin carving contest in October.

Have a look at this house. 

While it isn’t exactly loaded with curb appeal, it’s gorgeous inside and is in a wonderful location.  My clients who purchased this house earlier this year are real doers and I think we should give them some suggestions for a curb appeal transformation; like these. 

So here is how this will work.
First, download this picture and save it to your hard drive.  Then, using Paint or some other programs of your choice, transform this house as you see fit.  Send your final design back to me at marg@collingwood-bluemountain.com in a jpeg format by January 5th.  If I actually get more than two entries, we’ll vote online and the winner will receive nothing but fame and glory for their efforts.  And quite possibly, the chance to see some of their ideas materialize some day. 

So what are you waiting for?  Let the fun begin!  Here’s mine:

 

While not as dramatic as some of the previously profiled transformations, this house in Meaford benefited from a good clean and polish.  The siding was repainted as were the shutters. A new wooden walkway was added along with an old-fashioned and welcoming lamp standard.  Well done!

Pictures speak louder than words, don’t they?

This small little house in Collingwood used to be rather non-descript and easy to miss.  It sits on a small lot tucked between two larger buildings just a block of the main street.  When it went up for sale a couple of years ago, someone with a vision took advantage of the opportunity that many others passed by and bought the house for well below the going price of other commercial properties. Today, they have a building that is a noteworthy addition to Collingwood’s downtown core. 

It would be perfectly normal if right about now you are thinking, “I wish I’d thought of that!”

How often do you drive by a house and notice how fantastic it looks?  Sometimes it’s the landscaping and sometimes it’s the appearance of the house and sometimes both.  You don’t need to wish and dream that your house could look like that - you can do it! 

Adding curb appeal to your home also adds value and often, a relatively small investment can make a significant difference.  If you search “Improving Curb Appeal” on the internet, close to 2 million sites come up brimming with ideas that can make a difference.
Back in June, I posted a before and after picture of a house  that had a dramatic makeover. 

This month, the photo shows a home in Collingwood where the owners have made a substantial improvement to the curb appeal of what I thought was already an adorable home.  Congratulations to my clients whom I think are darn smart and have a keen eye too!

If you have before and after pictures of a home in the local area that you’d like to share, please email digital photos and I’ll feature them in a future post.

Most potential property buyers search the internet on sites such as www.mls.ca.  They form first impressions based on pictures and if a house does not look appealing, they often pass it by.  I’ve seen this happen so many times myself and know first hand the importance of showcasing your house and property to create the best possible first impression.

We often don’t see our own homes with a critical eye because we’ve looked at the same things for so long, we don’t really see them anymore in a realistic light.  Here are some tips to help.

Take a few digital pictures at different angles from the street.  Sometimes seeing a photograph on a computer screen helps you to see it more realistically.  Ask others what they suggest needs improvement.

Clean up!  Power wash dirty siding, gutters, walkways, the driveway and decks where possible.  Put away toys, garden implements, old tires or whatever else may be forgotten outside.  Clean the windows inside and out and polish door hardware.

Landscaping is important and too often overgrown shrubs are missed.  Trim them back, cut off dead tree limbs and cut the grass.  Please take the gnomes and pink flamingos out of the flower beds.  Don’t forget that buyers will often try to see your backyard too from various vantage points.

Lighting plays a key role in the evenings when buyers are often driving buy properties on their list.  Leave an outside light on (preferably solar) and consider a few to line walk-ways or to highlight gardens.

Little things can make a huge difference such as a new mailbox, window boxes, flowers by the front door (yellow is most welcoming), a few new trees in planters to soften hard edges, a Vintage screen door (if appropriate to the style of the house) and shutters.  I recently listed a charming home for sale where the owners did all the right things to reflect the quality and charm of the home a buyer can expect inside.  This picture shows what the house looked like when the purchased it compared to today.  Isn’t it amazing?  (By the way, if you’d like to view a Real Estate Show featuring this home, click here.)