Selling a House: Does Landscaping increase Property Value?

Landscaping increases the value of your home

As the snow starts to melt away, and the brown, lifeless vegetation that's been hibernating underneath is exposed, even the most dedicated gardeners can feel overwhelmed. Even if you aren’t motivated yet to start your spring gardening, you should consider that landscaping could actually increase the value of your home and can even help you sell your home faster. What’s more, unlike other investments in your home, landscaping has a recovery value of 100%-200%.

“Studies in Canada and the U.S. show that landscaping can add anywhere from 4% - 15% to the value of your home,” says Denis Flanagan, landscaping extraordinaire and Director of Public Relations for Landscape Ontario. “Improving your home’s curb appeal also increases the likelihood that potential buyers will come take a look at your property. People judge a home from the curb. Professional landscaping helps create a good first impression of your property, and it may even give you a (h)edge over the Joneses’."

So good landscaping can add up to the overall value of a house and cut its time on the market 10% to 15%. 

Designing with Plants

Select greenery that is hardy and adapted to your growing conditions. Check local public gardens, nurseries, and your neighbors' yards to see what grows well in your region. When designing your landscape, keep it simple. Balance the design with a mix of trees, shrubs, and flowers, and repeat themes throughout the landscape to keep the whole yard unified.

Think of the immediate and long-term impact of your plant selections. Choose trees and shrubs that will look good when installed yet that won't outgrow their location in three to five years. A plant that's too large can block a window or crowd out others, giving an impression of neglect that may translate into a lower price for your home. Choose plants that provide a natural transition from the surrounding area. For instance, if you have a wooded lot nearby, select some native plants that would naturally grow in those woods and still look good in your yard.

When selecting plants for color, choose trees, shrubs, and flowers that will be attractive in more than one season. Such plants can help make a home more attractive to homebuyers who are shopping in those seasons when the surrounding landscape is drab and colorless.

If you have a small urban yard, try growing plants in containers — even small trees and shrubs. Use them to create privacy and proved a garden getaway from the noise of the city. If you introduce trees, plants, or shrubs, go native. Indigenous plantings thrive without the extra time and money you’ll devote to anything that’s forced to live outside its natural habitat. Not only can native plantings save money, they can make you money, too. Some plants can boost a home’s value immensely.

Native plantings help wildlife, too.  Some homeowners create a natural backyard habitats for birds, butterflies, and other animals looking for places to roost or feed. There’s a slow but steady increase in buyers seeking these wildlife certified properties.

Trees are essential

Trees can increase the value of your property. They block and suck up water running off your property, preventing pollutants from entering community waterways. They reduce carbon dioxide. CO2 contributes to climate change. Trees can save energy. Shade trees cool homes in summer; windbreaks help warm them in winter. Just three properly placed trees could save you between $100 and $250 a year in energy costs. Planting windbreaks and shade trees can reduce winter heating bills by 15% and air conditioning needs by 75%. Multiply those benefits by the number of trees on a property, and the value and savings can climb.

Your trees can even add value to your neighbor’s property. Of course, to add value, the trees must be healthy, mature but not elderly, native to the area, and appropriate to the neighborhood.

If you’re growing a forest and the rest of the neighborhood looks like a prairie, you’ll have a hard time recovering the trees’ value at sale. Conversely, if your neighbors manicure their lawns and yours is a jumble of weeds or worse, their great landscaping will make yours look even shabbier and hurt the value of your home.

Last but not least, trees help you de-stress. Just looking at trees produces “significant recovery from stress” within five minutes, according to a Texas A&M University study.

Hardscape Elements

When you look at your yard you should notice not only the type and health of the "greenscape" (trees, shrubs, lawn, flowers), but also the hardscape — the more permanent, nonliving sections of your yard such as walkways, paths, decks, walls, fences, and buildings. Just as the plants in your yard need maintenance and attention, so do the hardscape features. A new or properly maintained hardscape tells a potential buyer that the yard and house are well cared for.

Besides the normal painting and repair of structures and buildings, look at what you need to do to maintain your walkways and stairs. If they are permanent walkways made from brick or concrete, keep them clean and fix any broken steps. While permanent walkways are great for the main routes around the house, more rustic paths work better elsewhere in the yard and are less expensive to build and maintain. Use shredded bark mulch, bark chips, pine straw, or stone to create these more decorative and functional paths. Design them to curve and meander, creating the illusion of more space and a sense of surprise in your garden.

Stone walls, arbors, and decorative fences made from local materials blend in nicely with the natural environment. Use them to block unsightly views and provide an interesting visual contrast to the house and landscape. They also provide a beautiful backdrop for climbing vines, flowers, edible plants, and shrubs. You can even use these structures to create warmer microclimates for plants and people to enjoy. The outdoor "rooms" they define give the sense that the home is larger, extending beyond the house's walls.

Outdoor lighting is said to be one of the most wanted outdoor features for potential home buyers. But that’s not the only reason it’s one of our landscape essentials. Tasteful lighting paints your home at night, highlighting your other great landscaping choices and directing guests to your home’s focal point — the front door. It protects against slips and falls. It makes a property a more difficult target for intruders. That added security can reduce burglaries, and therefore claims. It makes your home feel homier. Soft lighting on a wrap-around porch or just a front stoop feels warm and inviting.

Fencing has many indisputable qualities: It keeps pets in and intruders out; it creates privacy and sets boundaries. But when it comes to boosting property values, the value of fencing becomes murky. Since most privacy fencing is installed in backyards, it doesn’t pack the curb appeal punch of, say, a spreading chestnut tree shading your house. And if everyone in the neighborhood has the same nice fence, yours won’t earn any extra points on an appraisal sheet. But nice fences (not chain link) do have value.

Retaining walls and terracing reclaim heavily sloped yards that are only good for grass (hard to mow) or ground covers (hard to tame). They control erosion and surface runoff by slowing the flow of water down a slope, and add color and texture to wide stretches of green. Useless slopes can be turned into flat areas for garden beds and walkways. Done correctly, walls and terracing look beautiful and boost curb appeal. But walls can be pricey, depending on materials used.

Walkways welcome guests to your home. So, you can let visitors trudge through wet grass to your front door, or you can lay down an attractive path. You can go whole hog and install a solid stone walkway or use pavers. To save money, lay stepping stones with grass between. Walkways are another keep-up-with-the-Joneses upgrade. If you get too fancy, you won’t see a return on your investment; if you don’t meet the standards of the neighborhood, appraisers will punish you.

Landscape Accents

Think of your yard as a room. Furniture and attractive walls define the room, and accents express your personal style. You might personalize the garden with water elements (fountains, waterfalls, and small ponds) and garden art that provide a sense of drama or whimsy. Or, have some fun and put pink flamingoes and plastic alligators on your lawn! This is your yard. Even though one of the goals is to landscape to increase your home value, it's your place to live and enjoy right now, too.

Generally, more expensive homes have greater potential to increase in value from a well-designed and well-installed landscape. Remember that hardscape features - which can cost big bucks - such as pavers, stone walls, decks, and patios are part of the landscape investment.

Most trees and shrubs will increase in value over time.  A few flowers and shrubs to spruce up the front yard may not add much value to your home. But if you're thinking of selling, the first impression you create with colorful flowers and tidy shrubs could make the difference between an interested buyer and a drive-by missed sale.

Our homes are among the most important financial investments we'll ever make. While we often spend time and money upgrading appliances, painting the exterior, fixing roofs, and remodeling kitchens and baths, we often end up neglecting our landscapes.

There’s a close association between the yard and the home. People associate a beautiful garden with a warm and inviting home. A well-maintained yard also reflects well on the owner’s values. It gives the impression the inside of the home is as well cared for as the outside.

Most homeowners believe a well-designed and maintained landscape adds 10 to 19 percent to their home's value. With housing values dropping in many areas of the country, having a beautiful landscape could make the difference between breaking even and making some money on the sale of your home.

Your home is your castle — enjoy it, customize it, make it reflect your taste and values.

See HGTV's 25 Backyard Landscaping Ideas

If you are interested in buying or selling a house in Durham Region, Ontario, contact me today. With 22 years of full-time local experience, I can provide insights and skills that will make the buying and selling process rewarding and worry-free. 

Randy Miller

Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca

Canadian homes slightly more affordable now

The Globe and Mail reports that houses became slightly more affordable for the average Canadian towards the end of last year, according to Royal Bank of Canada.

That marks a reversal. Housing affordability deteriorated during both the second and third quarters of 2013. While mortgage carrying costs continued to tick up in the fourth quarter, the rising cost of home ownership was more than offset by the pace of growth in household incomes, RBC’s economics department says in its latest housing affordability report.

“The relative strength in income gains in Canada offset the minor increase in home-ownership costs in the final months of 2013, meaning that homes were more affordable for those looking to buy,” Royal Bank chief economist Craig Wright stated in a press release.

Read the full article HERE.

For information on the local market conditions of Pickering, Ajax, Whitby please contact me!

Randy Miller
Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca

Re/Max Rouge River - Awards 2013

We had our annual awards yesterday for Re/Max Rouge River. 

Thanks to all my clients for their business and my colleagues for their support!

Randy Miller
Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca

A third of Canadians would enter bidding war to buy a home: survey

More Canadians are willing to enter a bidding war and fight it out to secure a property, according to a home buying report released today by Bank of Montreal.

It says 34 per cent of Canadians surveyed are willing to enter a bidding war when it’s time to buy a home, an increase of six points, or 21 per cent, from a year ago.

The survey, conducted by Pollara for BMO, suggests the appetite for competitive bids among major cities is the highest in Toronto, at 44 per cent, and Vancouver, at 41 per cent.

On a provincial basis, prospective buyers in the Prairies and British Columbia are the most willing to compete on the price of a home, with a reading of 38 per cent in both regions.

The BMO survey also reports current homeowners say they visited an average of 9.5 homes before buying. While 49 per cent said they were successful on their first bid, the figure drops to 42 per cent among those who bought in the past five years – including 32 per cent in Vancouver and 24 per cent in Toronto.

The survey results are based on random online interviews with 2,007 Canadians between Jan. 24 and Feb. 3. Of those, 1,051 were prospective homebuyers and the remainder were current homeowners.

The polling industry’s professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

Randy Miller
Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca

What CMHC increase really means

CMHC increase - What does it mean for buyers?

CMHC announced that it is raising their rates on mortgage insurance effective May 1, 2014, by an average of 15 per cent. Although this is not good news for homebuyers, it does not mean that the sky is falling either. Here's why:

If you are buying a home and have less than 20 per cent for the down payment, you need to obtain mortgage insurance, either through CMHC or a private insurance company such as Genworth Canada or Central Guaranty. The costs of the insurance are typically added to your mortgage and paid out over the 25 year amortized term.

The reason for mortgage insurance is that banks would likely not lend money to people who for example, only had saved 5 per cent for the down payment, unless the mortgage was insured. CMHC essentially guarantees the loan to the bank so that if the borrower defaults and the property is sold at a loss, CMHC pays the difference. CMHC claims that they need to raise the premiums so that they have more capital reserves in case more consumers default on their mortgages in the future.

For example, if you have a 5% down payment today and you wish to borrow $300,000, the cost for the mortgage insurance is 2.75% or $8,250. You do not pay for this up front. Instead, it gets added to your mortgage debt so you would borrow a total of $308,250 to net $300,000. Under the new rules, the rate would increase to 3.15%, or $9,410, so you would borrow a total of $309,410 to net the same $300,000.

If you took a 5 year mortgage at 3.49% interest today, your monthly payment would rise from $1,537 per month, to $1,543. This is an increase of $6 per month.

Some say that this could now make a home unaffordable for many first time buyers. I disagree. While no one likes any increase in costs, we are still in a historic period of extremely low interest rates. Compare this to 1990, when interest rates were 12 per cent. The same mortgage would cost you $3,193 per month. In 2008, when the interest rate was 7 per cent, the payment would have been $2,167 per month.

It seems that every day someone else comes out with a prediction on the future direction of house prices in Canada. For every bank economist who says that we will still see stable growth over the next few years, there are others who predict a soft landing, with perhaps a price correction of 2 to 3 per cent. And then others predict that we are headed for a major price crash of 20 per cent over the next 5 years. All I know is that we have seen a period of steady growth in the Canadian real estate market for the past 14 years, despite many earlier predictions of crashes. Canada remains one of the most stable places in the world to live and raise a family.

Buyers, the main message is that you do not have to rush out and buy a home to beat the May 1, 2014 date when the mortgage insurance rates go up. It is more important to just make sure you can afford the home you are interested in and that you properly inspect any home before you buy it.

Click here to read the article.

Having sold real estate in Whitby and the Durham Region for over 20 years, I can help you with both the buying and selling process. Desirable communities within Whitby, Ajax, Oshawa and Bowmanville offer plenty of houses. My insights and local market knowledge will make your move worry-free. For more information please click here!

Randy Miller

Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca

What is best? Fixed Rate or Variable Rate Mortgages

Fixed or variable rate mortgages? Not an easy choice.

Fixed-rate mortgages have gained an edge over variable-rate mortgages given the improving economy and attractive offers on longer-term deals, says a new report from economists at one of Canada’s big banks.

“Fixed now modestly trumps variable,” according to a BMO Nesbitt Burns study published last Thursday.

While many mortgage brokers agree with that assessment, others caution that locking into a fixed rate is not the best way to go.

Historically low interest rates have dramatically narrowed the spread between five-year fixed mortgage rates and variable ones, according to the report by BMO Nesbitt Burns chief economist Douglas Porter and senior economist Benjamin Reitzes.

Added to that are improving economic conditions and the likelihood of rate hikes from both the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve next year, they say.

“While we have in the past supported going variable, and even though short-term rates are likely to remain low this year, current offers on long-term mortgage rates and the improving economic outlook tilt the balance in favour of locking in at this stage,” the authors say.

Five-year rates of 2.99 per cent can still be found and that compares favourably to the roughly 2.5-per-cent rate offered on variable mortgages, said David Hughes, a mortgage agent with Mortgage Group Ontario Inc.

“I don’t see how you can go wrong getting a five-year mortgage at 2.99 per cent,” he said.

But mortgage planner David Larock says the BMO study “sounds like another chapter in the age-old fixed versus variable debate – and the banks have largely been saying that fixed rates are the way to go for years now, even in the face of considerable evidence to the contrary.

“I am always a little cynical of this stock advice when given by the banks because their fixed-rate mortgages are much more profitable, and convenient, because advising borrowers to take the more conservative path is easily defensible, even if it proves more expensive over time,” he said in an e-mail.

Vince Gaetano, principal broker with MonsterMortgage.ca, agrees.

“Banks are very good at scaring variable-rate clients into locking in prematurely. This took place last year when fixed rates spiked temporarily only to fall again. At the same time, variable-rate discounts have increased,” he said.

The BMO report, meanwhile, says the bond market has been signalling strongly for the past year that “the era of low interest rates may be finally drawing to a close.

“As bond yields rise, the cost of funds for lenders also rises, ultimately putting upward pressure on consumer and business borrowing costs, including long-term mortgage rates. So, even if variable rates take some time to climb, we may not see such low fixed rates again any time soon.”

Historically, fixed rates have proven to be more expensive than variable rates.

“Fully 85 per cent of the time since 1975, the cost-effective route for borrowers was to stay variable,” the report said.

“Considering the likely upward trend in interest rates as the global recovery picks up speed in 2014, this may be one of those rare periods when a fixed rate turns out to be the superior choice.”

There are other reasons why locking into a five-year mortgage may not be for everyone, says another mortgage broker and industry expert.

It could be a disadvantage for homeowners who are considering a move in the near future or mulling a refinancing of their property, said Robert McLister, editor of Canadian Mortgage Trends.

“The bank penalties are not so friendly,” he said.

On average, though, “mathematically speaking I think the five-year fixed is the best value in the market right now.”

The BMO report refers to another – less tangible – factor favouring fixed rates: peace of mind.

The borrower “gets certainty with a fixed rate, and that certainty is worth something to many. A small premium on fixed-rate mortgages and shorter amortization schedule represent inexpensive protection against a rate spike.

“For those who don’t have much financial flexibility, and would run into difficulty from a pronounced upswing in interest rates (typically first-time buyers), any potential extra cost for peace of mind now appears to be a price well worth paying.”

Shopping for a mortgage can be confusing, the product features vary significantly. I can refer you to a mortgage specialist that can explain the products and help you choose the right mortgage product for you. Contact me today!

Randy Miller
Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca

Moving with Kids (Part II) - Tips for making it less stressful for children

Moving house can be a fun experience for your kids, if you know how!

Talk to your children

Talk to children about the move and do it early to give them as much time as possible to get used to the idea. Tell the children all about their new home and give them lots of facts and information appropriate for their age group and level of understanding.

Young children have short attention spans, so be prepared for them to talk about the move only for a short while before moving on to something completely different. Do not expect a young child to spend the entire evening discussing the move and its consequences. If a child is ready to talk or has a particular question, make the most of it and be ready with answers.

Most kids want to know about their new school, neighborhood, sport teams and city. But they may also have questions you hadn't thought of, such as, "how hard is it to make friends?", "Are we taking our dog?", "Why are we moving?".

Try to answer every question with as many details as you can provide. Being honest and open will help your child feel confident in this decision to move. Ask your child to write down their questions, then call a family meeting to discuss each person's questions. Family meetings are a great way to open up a dialogue between you and your children. And you can make it fun, too!

Even though a child can't decide which house to buy or which town to move to, they can get involved in other decisions like choosing colours for their rooms. That way they will feel part of the process.

If possible, take the child to visit the new place a couple of times before moving in. This will often help make the whole thing more real and familiar.

Make a family wish list, House-hunt together.

This will help you reach a consensus on some of the things you all want from your new home: a bigger backyard, a basement playroom, separate rooms for the kids. Try to take your children to see prospective houses with you. If you're searching online, bookmark your favorites so your kids can take a look.

Take a tour

Even if your family has seen the house before, take a tour. Walk them through the space discussing what each room will be, describing how it'll look, what activities will happen there and asking what each member thinks about organizing the space. Play hide and seek or tag, a game that encourages children to explore their new home.

To ensure the move is a little easier for the kids, give your child a plan for their room. Providing your child with as much information as you can about the new house will help them make some decisions before hand, such as where to place furniture and what color to paint their walls.

An essential box is essential

Have your child make a special box just for moving day essentials. It should include those essentials your child will need during the move. This kit should include their favorite items, as well as books and games to keep them busy on the road. Encourage them to decorate the box to make it their own. Your child may also want to include their address book or photos of friends. Essentials such as toothbrushes, clothes, etc... can be packed in a suitcase. The survival kit should be all about fun!

Make sure every member of the family packed an essentials box for themselves. For kids and teens this should include their favorite things, whether its music, games, books, journals or pictures, encourage them to pack everything together so that all the things that are meaningful for them can be unpacked first. For most moves, I make sure that everyone takes this box with them instead of with the movers (if that's feasible), just to make each member feel a little sense of home their first night.

Ask them to sort out their things. Give each child a list of tasks to do, including sorting out their room. This can include donating or selling unused toys or out-grown clothing, and sorting items in their room and storing them in boxes.

Show children how to properly pack and label a box, then make a "packing date" where both you and your child spend time sorting and packing. Children will find it easier to do these tasks if the entire family is also involved. Reward "packing dates" with pizza or movie nights.

Be sure to make the entire moving process fun and up-beat to keep the children enthused about this new stage in their life.

Plan goodbyes

Help your child plan their goodbyes. Some may want a party while others prefer having a few close friends over for a final slumber party. Your child may want a few separate events, for example, one for school friends, one for neighbors and another for the baseball team. As best you can, try to accommodate their wishes, within reason. Saying goodbye is an important step in the moving process.

Make time for saying goodbye to favorite haunts. Is there a special ice-cream shop your child liked to visit? What about a museum, or park, or swimming pool? Ask your child to make a list, or make a list with the entire family, then set aside time each week to do at least one favorite thing. If you decide to do this as a family, make sure everyone is included. Make a calendar and mark out the days and event/place you'll go. This will prepare your child for saying goodbye to special places.

Unpack the kids' rooms first

The day of the move is a day of change and the decision is now irrevocable. Take care of your child's new room first. The first room you should really unpack is the kitchen, just unpack the basics - the things you'll need for the next few days. After the essential kitchen items are unpacked, start with the kids' rooms. Getting each child to unpack their own stuff (with help, of course) and talking to them about how they'd like their room arranged, will help them feel like the new space is theirs and they will soon settle into their new room. Usually the rule is, the sooner a child's room is unpacked, the quicker they'll adjust to the space - it's just common sense.

Get back into routine ASAP

Most people like routine, especially children and teens. For the first night, you may let the younger members of your family stay up a little longer just to make the night special, but after that, it's important to establish a daily routine. Keep bedtime hours, mealtimes and playtimes consistent. This will help everyone to feel more settled. It's difficult enough to have had their lives disrupted by a move, but to disrupt the daily schedule is even more detrimental; if children are acting out, try normalizing your day. If you used to take the kids to the park in the afternoons, find a local park and reschedule this into your day. I know it's tough - especially for the parent who's at home trying to put the house in order - but part of the moving in process is also settling in the family. In addition, each parent needs to take this time out, too, to enjoy the new home and neighborhood.

After the move, try to get your child's room in order before turning your attention to the rest of the house. Also, try to maintain your regular schedule for meals and bedtime to give kids a sense of familiarity.

Stay in touch

Make a memory book. Your child can fill it with photos of your home and her friends, along with their e-mail addresses. Encourage your child to create an address book where addresses of friends, teachers, coaches, etc... can be kept. Encourage your child to stay in touch, and assure them that their friends are just a mouse-click or postage stamp away.

Celebrate your new home

Although you may not be completely finished moving, it’s okay to take a slight break to enjoy family time and help each person make the transition into their new home. Make the relocation a good experience by helping the kids unpack, set up their new rooms and explore the backyard and neighborhood. Create a family welcoming event for your new home, such as planting a family tree or have a party to make the move a special event.

How long will it take for a child to get used to a new home?

Do not expect a child to be ready to go to school straightaway. They need a little time to get used to their new surroundings.

Once in school, a six-week period for a child to get used to their new surroundings is normal.

Getting to know the child's new teachers and making them aware of the situation is important, especially for younger children. You can help the staff 'get up to speed' in their understanding of a child by giving them some background information about your child's school career so far. If, after a month or two, the child has not adapted to their new school and new home, the parents may consider getting professional help.

Can moving house be positive?

A move may turn out to be a positive experience for the whole family, provided they go about it in the right way. The reason behind the move may be something good, but any kind of change creates the need for a lot of communication and planning and this may create closer relations in the family. Suddenly it's more natural to talk about feelings and expectations. A move can present many challenges, but good things also come from this kind of change. Your family might grow closer and you may learn more about each other by going through it together.

During a move, parents get the opportunity to learn more about their children, their reactions and feelings. After a successful house move, they may find that their child has become more independent.

Moving can be a life-changing experience for many families, especially children who have had a consistent routine prior to the relocation. Be sure to stay in touch with old friends and family and plan up-coming activities with new friends in the neighborhood. With the right planning, a family move can be a great experience for everyone involved.


If you plan to move to or within Durham Region, contact me and I will help you make the move as smooth as possible.

Randy Miller
Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca

Housing Market News: CREA says housing market can still grow

Home sales and prices are expected to still grow over the next two years, even at a slower pace, says CREA, the national organization of real estate agencies.

In a new forecast released Monday March 17th, CREA predicted that sales volumes would continue to grow this year to 463,700 units — a 1.3 per cent gain — over 2013, although that is below the association’s projection in December.

“The national forecast reflects a combination of recent and projected real estate market trends that can be very different depending on their location due to many local factors,” said Laura Leyser, CREA President. “For that reason, buyers and sellers should talk to their REALTOR® about the housing market outlook where they live or might like to.”

Read the full report and CREA's updates on the housing market: 

CREA Updates and Extends Resale Housing Forecast

If you want to learn more about the local housing market outlook or get insight into prices for real estate in Whitby, Brooklin, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Courtice and Bowmanville, please contact me today or visit my website. 

Randy Miller
Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca

Moving with kids (Part I) - A life-changing experience for the whole family

When finally deciding it's time to move, it’s important to tell the family, especially the children, in a delicate manner. Don't wait or hesitate to tell the kids about the move, they will need time to get used to the idea and for it to sink in. It may take even more time to get the kids excited about relocating to a new place, although some kids may never get excited or look at the move in a positive way. Allow every member of the family to participate in the move (e.g. choosing a new house together, planning and packing items in your home together, help by putting boxes into the car or moving van).

Stress for the entire family

Deciding to move house is a big stress-factor for the entire family. But while adults tend to focus on the practical problems, a child will focus on all the losses that the move causes. This can be the loss of their friends or of a safe and familiar environment. Some children may not be bothered by the move at all and may be very excited by it. Other children may have a range of reactions depending largely on their age (start sucking their thumb, wet the bed, talk baby talk, cling to you constantly, refuse to eat, suffer insomnia, become shy or aggressive, change their sleeping patterns, have trouble concentrating, have stomach aches or headaches).

Some children seem to change their personality and do things they would have never done before. These reactions are stress reactions. Since a child cannot always understand what is going on or express their own complicated feelings, they show these sign of stress.

During a move the children need good, nourishing food and enough rest and sleep. The child should have at least one adult who can spend time with them and give them the opportunity to talk. During this difficult period of transition, quality time with their parents is very important for a child.

Moving with small children

Small children under five are the easiest to move. Their sense of security depends entirely on their parents and they usually feel safe provided their parents are around. Prepare young children for the move with simple explanations, that you can repeat often. You could tell stories about other children their age who are moving too.

When it's time to start packing, explain to the child that their toys are just being put in boxes so they can be taken to their new home. Otherwise, the child may worry that all their toys are about to disappear or be taken away from them.

Do not make any promises that you cannot keep. For example, don't promise that when you move the child can have a pet if that's not going to happen.

Try not to buy a new bed or other furniture during this period. New things create a feeling of insecurity.

If possible, it can be a good idea for the child to spend moving day with friends or relatives, because their parents might be too busy and they may feel left out.

Moving with school-age children

When you have school-age children you are concerned most about whether they will like their new school and make new friends. Children spend a lot of time in school so it is important that they like it.

When is the best time to move? During the school year or the summer holidays?
If the change of school takes place over the summer, the child has more time to get used to the idea and has a fresh start with the rest of the children. But the child will then spend the summer without their old friends and without much opportunity to make new ones. If this is the case try and organise things so that the child is not bored or lonely.

Moving with teenagers

A teenager will usually understand why the family has to move and what the consequences are. But a move may upset a teenager's life very much. They will often lose their group of friends which is the most important thing in their stage of life. They may be separated from a boyfriend or girlfriend. It can be hard to start a new school at this age, when being accepted by people of your own age group is so important.

The best way to help a teenager is to listen to them and treat their concerns with respect. It is important to listen, understand and above all, respect the teenager's feelings and wishes.

The degree of stress in moving is often underestimated by all concerned. Research shows that moving house is one of the greatest stresses we face in our lives. Of course planned and managed well, distress is not necessarily the outcome.

Moving can be tough on kids. It's quite normal for children to feel like they don't have any control and that they were never part of this big decision. Because the decision to move is, after all, taken by the adults and the child feels powerless because it cannot, and should not, influence that decision.

Once all the packing and moving is completed, the kids need to settle into the new space. For children and teens, this may be the hardest adjustment they have to make. Saying goodbye to old friends was difficult, but the excitement of moving to a new home, a new neighborhood can sometimes reduce the initial anxiety they might feel. So to ensure your kids feel like they're involved and part of this big life-changing event, there are some tips and tricks.

Coming soon: Moving with kids (Part II) - Tips for making it less stressful for children

When moving to a new area, finding a good school for your kids is very important. If you need help in finding information on schools in Whitby, Brooklin, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Courtice or Bowmanville, contact me. I can make sure you get the information you need to make the best decision for you and your kids...

Randy Miller

Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca