Countering a Disappointing Offer

 

In the process of selling one’s Collingwood home, there is always the possibility of receiving offers from potential buyers that do not live up to initial expectations. When this occurs, it is essential to consult with one’s real estate agent and put a lot of thought into how to approach countering the offer. In an effort to move closer to one’s desired closing price with a level of professionalism, it is important, as the seller, to remain calm while also acting with a sense of determination. There are a few critical methods of countering an offer that can be highly effective. Choosing which one is right for a given situation can make a difference in securing a beneficial deal for both buyer and seller.

 

Countering at Original Asking Price

 

While some sellers, for fear of losing a sale, may feel compelled to settle for a drastically lower price than originally desired, there is a way to maintain reasonable expectations and still procure a smooth sale. Insisting on the original listing price, or something only slightly lower, is not a turnoff to serious buyers and can prevent a homeowner from settling too early on an unfair price. Unless a homeowner has unique circumstances and must sell as fast as possible, even if it means a severe loss of compensation for the value, waiting out for a buyer willing to pay, at least somewhere near the asking price, is usually the best plan.

 

Offer Rejection

 

A more daring strategy, homeowners selling their properties can choose to simply reject an offer without offering an alternative price at all. This puts the next move in the hands of the offerer, requesting another, better offer. As mentioned above, serious buyers are highly motivated and may be prompted to turn in a more beneficial proposition. 

 

Creation of a Bidding War

 

Another way of responding to a home offer is a psychological tactic to increase pressure to agree to a higher closing price. When multiple offers are submitted, the seller can initiate a bidding competition between the interested parties. The seller uses other received offers as their countering response to those who bid lower to get genuinely interested individuals to reach a higher price.

 

Adding in an Expiration Date

 

In addition to the chosen method of countering, it can be helpful for sellers to express a clear expiration date for their counter price or terms. This is a preventative measure to move the process along and keep the negotiations from taking up too much time. The potential buyer can either accept or decline, allowing the seller to move on either way. It is useful for sellers to keep in mind that the state of being in negotiations essentially puts a hold on receiving outside offers, reinforcing that time is of the essence.

 

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3 Ways To “Get Together” Apart This Holiday Season

The holidays are a time when you get to enjoy time with family and friends while getting a bit of a break before you dive into the new year. You often think about the year’s accomplishments and set goals for the future. However, this year is not like others. 

If you want to get together with your extended family and friends this holiday season, you will have to do it “apart.” Thankfully, the pandemic happened at a time in history when connecting with people worldwide and in your own town is easier than ever.

Outlined below are three ways that you can “get together” apart this holiday season. While the pandemic might limit how close you can get to each other, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some good conversation and laughs from afar. 

Zoom Recipe Swap

While you can have a video conference with all your extended family to catch up and hear about each other’s lives, it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming with everyone trying to speak at once. Sometimes it helps to have a goal for the call rather than hope everyone is willing to chat into the computer screen. A great way to enhance these video calls is by exchanging recipes beforehand with your family members and planning to cook them on the same night. After you have eaten, or even while you are eating, you can do a conference call and talk about how the recipes went. This activity is a great way to share traditions and celebrate the holiday spirit without leaving your home. 

Neighbourhood Campfire

Many people throughout Ontario and the Collingwood area have close relationships with their neighbourhood. Many people have even bubbled up with their neighbours during the pandemic as they see them nearly every day. If you live in a neighbourhood with some of your closest friends and family members, you may be tempted to have an indoor get-together, but unfortunately, that can’t happen. Instead, bundle up and get together with our neighbourhood at an outdoor campfire. You can visit some of the Collingwood hotspots or meet in someone’s backyard. 

Decorating a wild tree can be a fun socially-distanced activity.

Wild Tree Decorating

The wonderful thing about living in the Collingwood area is that most neighborhoods are in proximity to densely wooded areas with wildlife and beautiful pine trees. Go to a local wooded area and spend some time decorating a wild pine tree in some of your favorite decorations. You can bring a portable speaker and a thermos of hot chocolate. Together you will be able to enjoy the holiday spirit while keeping your distance and staying outside.

Even though the holidays are looking a little different this year, it doesn’t mean you can’t still try and make it as festive as possible. By doing a video conference recipe exchange, a neighborhood fire, or decorating a wild pine tree, you can get a taste of a regular holiday season without putting yourself at risk.  

 

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A Guide to Spring Cleaning Your Home in Collingwood, ON

Spring is well on its way in Collingwood, ON, finally. As hibernation period ends, it starts to become clear just how tough Mother Nature has been on your home over the last few months. With the onset of warmer days and the excitement of warmer temperatures, now is the best time to start that spring deep clean. Here are a few ideas to help speed up and organize the process.

 

Clean Upholstery and Carpets

 

The fabrics of your home have been collecting a long winter’s worth of germs, dust, and dried skin. Yuck! They will need a deep cleaning to prepare for the year ahead. The greenest way to clean these is with a steam cleaner. This is a non-toxic way to remove allergens and dirt from your textiles. If you are using a rented machine or are shampooing the fabric, make sure to use an earth-friendly product.

 

Wash Those Walls

 

Give all the walls, cabinets, and wood furniture a good wash. Believe it or not, walls can gather dirt and dust just like any other surface in your home. Use a sponge and dishwashing detergent. For the hard to reach areas, you can use your mop. Once you are finished, do the same with your baseboards. Not only will this catch the remnants of the cleaning you just did to your walls, but baseboards are also a breeding zone for dirt during the winter season.

 

Make Those Windows Shine

 

Windows are our home’s eyes to the sunshine. And after the long Collingwood winter we’ve had, it is time to make them sparkle again. One of the healthiest ways to get our windows gleaming is to clean with vinegar. If you don’t like the smell or prefer to use a cleaning product, aim for something organic. Don’t forget to wipe down the frames and ledges as well.

Inside The Appliances

 

Just like the rest of the home, winter can wreak havoc on the inside of the appliances we use. Your stove tends to produce more meals over the winter months, so it is time for deep cleaning. You can use a mixture of baking soda and water or the self-cleaning function built right into your stove. Take all the food out of your refrigerator and give the shelves a wipe.  Gently pull the appliances out from the wall to clean the back of them and the floors surrounding the area.

 

As much as we enjoy the Collingwood winters, the spring and summer are just as beautiful. Taking the time for a post-winter deep clean will help make these upcoming months so much more enjoyable.

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4 Reasons to Visit Collingwood, ON in the Spring

The first day of spring isn’t far away. Because of this, many residents in Collingwood, ON are getting excited to take part in a plethora of fun activities. Collingwood, ON is filled with fun attractions all year-round, however, it is extra festive and eventful in the spring. Anyone who is looking for a fun weekend getaway this spring needs to consider taking a drive up to Collingwood, ON!

Reason To Visit In The Spring #1 – Absolutely Beautiful Weather

 

It is hard to find a town that is more picturesque than Collingwood, ON, especially in the spring. As soon as the snow melts, the town begins to come to life. Animals wake up from hibernation and the plants begin to grow. It is a gorgeous site that is truly breathtaking.

 

Reason To Visit In The Spring  #2 – Tons of Great Fishing Opportunities

During the winter, Collingwood, ON is an ice fishing hotspot. Additionally, in the spring, recreational fishers fill the shores of Georgian Bay and other nearby bodies of water. Georgian Bay is home to numerous types of fish, including small and largemouth bass. The nearby Lake Huron also has an outstanding selection of fish. Fishers that are willing to make the drive will find a number of great fishing spots all over the BruceGreySimcoe area.

Reason To Visit In The Spring  #3 – Picturesque Parks

 

What’s better than spending a spring afternoon in a beautiful park? The town of Collingwood, ON is filled with beautiful nature parks. These parks are the perfect places to get some quality family time. For couples, it doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day to enjoy a romantic picnic in one of these parks!

 

Reason To Visit In The Spring  #4 – Lots of Great Events

 

Regardless of the month, there are always enjoyable activities to take part in Collingwood. However, it is especially fun during the spring months as there is a more diverse selection of events to participate in.  Anyone who is thinking about making a trip up to Collingwood, ON needs to take a quick look online to learn about these fantastic events.

 

There is so much to do and see in Collingwood, ON, especially in the spring. Anyone who wants to get the true Collingwood, ON experience, needs to visit during the stupendous season. With the abundance of fishing opportunities and loads of amazing events, it’s easy to find a reason to visit Collingwood, ON in the spring.

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3 Fun Physical Activities That Will Get Your Body Ready For Spring

During the winter, it can get extremely cold in Collingwood, ON. As a result of these frigid temperatures, many residents may be more inclined to stay indoors. Although it is warm and toasty inside the home, staying indoors can turn people into couch potatoes.

 

There is nothing wrong with taking it easy over the winter, however, sitting around eating delicious treats can lead to unwanted weight gain. Many residents in Collingwood, ON like to do these physical activities to shed off this winter weight.

 

Physical Activity #1 – Skiing/Snowboard

 

It is common knowledge that Collingwood, ON is a short drive from the renowned Blue Mountain Resort. This fantastic resort offers a plethora of opportunities for skiers and snowboarders. Whether you’re hitting the beginner slopes or going for the double black diamond, Blue Mountain is the perfect place to go. After an hour of hitting the slopes, a person can easily burn anywhere between 300 and 600 calories.

 

Physical Activity #2 – Hiking

Although Collingwood, ON is known for its skiing and snowboarding, it also offers plenty of beautiful trails. A person can spend hours exploring these jaw-dropping works of nature. During the winter, a person can walk the trails or opt for some snowshoes or cross-country skis.

A 200 lb person can burn up to 550 calories in a single hour of hiking. Similarly, people can burn between 650 and 675 calories an hour while cross country skiing at 2.4 mph. That is a lot of exercise!

 

Physical Activity #3 – Gym

 

Those that aren’t fond of the cold may feel more comfortable going to the gym for some exercise. Thankfully, there is an abundance of great gyms in the Collingwood, ON area. After a month or two in the gym, anyone will notice some results. Match the hard work with a balanced diet for an even healthier lifestyle.

 

With Wasaga Beach just a short drive away, many residents in Collingwood, ON want to look good in the spring and summer. However, due to the frigid temperatures, many of these residents have a hard time finding the motivation to do so. Some fun outdoor activities residents should consider for exercise are skiing, snowboarding, or hiking along one of the many trails near Collingwood, ON. Those that prefer to stay indoors can get their exercise fix by going to one of the gyms in town. With all of these options, it is easy to stay fit in Collingwood, ON.

 

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3 Fun Activities for When It Gets Too Cold This Winter

As fun as it can be to frolic in the snow, when temperatures begin to drop below 0 C, there is no denying it can get a little bit uncomfortable. This is even truer when the temperature plummets to -10 C, -20 C and lower. When the winter weather begins to become unbearable, residents in Collingwood, ON will have to resort to indoor activities. Thankfully, there are a number of fun things that can be done in the home and in covered areas in Collingwood, ON.

 

Indoor Ice Skating

 

When the winter weather gets wild, it’s not a bad idea to pack up some skates and go to one of the indoor skating areas in the Collingwood, ON area. Collingwood residents can visit either the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena or the Central Park Area. Residents are welcome to take part in any of the scheduled events or they can take matters into their own hands and rent out one of the rinks. This makes it easy to put together a fun game of hockey or go for a relaxing skate around the rink.

Play Board Games

 

Few things are more fun than spending an evening playing a board game with friends or family. Although it may get competitive, board games are a great bonding activity and are efficient time killers. Many board games can take multiple hours (or even days) to complete, making them perfect activities for snow days. Those that want to get out of the house can check out Side Launch Brewing’s12 Days of Side Launch: Board Games and Beer” on December 18th. The 12 Days of Side Launch is a multi-day event that is hosted by the Collingwood Brewing Company. The Board Games and Beer event is a great opportunity to show off some skills and have a few adult beverages with some friends.

 

Movie Marathon

 

As the weather begins to get colder and colder, many people will find themselves becoming lazier and lazier. The activity for a cold, lazy Sunday is a movie marathon. Grab a warm blanket, fluff your pillows and grab your favorite snack. Those that aren’t a huge fan of movies may want to find a series that they can enjoy. Invite over friends or family members and let the good times roll, regardless of the cold weather outside in Collingwood, ON.

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