OUR MISSION:Creatively Illuminating and enhancing the experience of buying and selling real estate with a commitment to excellence by placing our clients needs first and operating with innovation and integrity. Our Core Values:Integrity: Sincere interest in understanding the needs of our customers. Listening and being ready to assist.Stewardship: Dedicated to safeguarding the capital and trust of our clients and advancing their best interestsCommitment to Excellence: Focused on our clients happiness by paying attention to detail and being consistent. Forward thinking: Favouring innovation and development by constantly changing and evolving in all we do We have mastered the art of blending traditional realtor tools and techniques with new technologies, intense marketing and social media. Through professional and service oriented demeanour we ensure you have a real estate partner that is working for you using every available avenue. Though Hamilton is our home base, our clients stretch from Burlington to Niagara, Simcoe to Cayuga, and to all of the surrounding areas.We aim to educate our clients, reduce the stress of selling or buying a home, while keeping an open and honest relationship throughout the entire process. We are practical, analytical and ready to serve. Clear communication, tailored master marketing plan and sharp negotiations are what we stand by to get you the results you deserve. We make it our mission to not only deliver on your expectations but to exceed them.We can't wait to partner with you!

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This blog is not meant to be an encyclopedia, but instead a birds eye view on mistakes people make when they sell their home. Instead of listing every reason, I’m going to highlight 5 major ones below. Incorrect Pricing This has to be by far one of the most common mistakes sellers make. Don’t worry, I’m not just talking about over-priced homes. Often, under-priced homes can cut into potential profits. There has to be a pricing strategy before you enter the market. The days of ‘selling your house’ are over, and now we must think about effectively marketing your home. In the digital age, consumers have access to much more info than ever before. Marketers would use the terms ‘Price Skimming’ vs. ‘Price Penetration.’ In the Hamilton and Burlington area, we know price penetration all too well. They are often referred to as bidding wars. But let’s shift over to ‘Price Skimming.’ This requires much more attention to correctly pricing it high enough to attract the right consumer, but not too high to turn the potential buyer off. Remember, we want to maximize your profits! Over-improvements “Oh, you decided to knock out the spare bedroom for a large spacious en-suite?” Don’t get me wrong, a luxurious bathroom can definitely increase the value, but let’s first consider the house you are in and it’s location. This may not apply to Burlington Lakeshore properties or some houses in Millcroft or Ancaster. But to the average house out there, most buyers are going to be interested in the number of bedrooms over the spacious bathroom. Countless times, I’ve taken very serious buyers into a house, who are interested in the fact that there are 4 bedrooms, which is perfect for the size of their family, only to find out that some remodelling was done. Huge bathroom, with a closet sized bedroom. Good luck fitting a bed in there that doesn’t come in an Ikea box. Thank goodness Casper and Endy can send you a mattress in a box as well. Some finishings are worth doing, while others work against your efforts. To find out what the other three mistakes are, <a href="https://www.porterassoc.com/post/5-major-mistakes-sellers-make">click here!</a>

5 Major Mistakes Sellers Make!

Most often, when clients inquire about a condo, they focus on price and location, but one major area I always inform clients on is Condo Fees. After all, your monthly budget for living expense will be comprised of (usually) a blended mortgage and tax payment as well as additional condo fees.Some clients want a pool, gym, theatre room, entertaining area, outdoor patio, the 'works' so to speak. While others are just happy with their unit and a convenient location. Recently, I was asked, "why is this building so much more in condo fees than the last one? It's newer so it should need less maintenance no?" Let's dive in a bit closer and unpack their question. First off, it's important to know that there is no standard rate for Condo Fees in Canada. Whether it's town houses or in an apartment complex or even in a residential park owned by a condo corporation, condo fees are usually collected and divided into 3 separate budgets. 1) Amenities: Remember my clients question about the fees? Well in that situation, the building had quite an extensive list of amenities offered to their occupants. It had an indoor pool, rooftop patio complete with BBQ's, billiards and gaming room, it even had a nice wood working shop in it. All of these elements require regular cleaning and maintenance. So my client complaining about the, almost $100/month more in fees, is really purchasing the right to use all these extra rooms at their disposal. 2) External care: Now what's interesting with my client's remark, the First condo we looked at had a very lavish garden. It was beautiful in every way (or at least the pictures looked beautiful, its hard to see the flowers in February). It also boasted much more natural light in the units which means... you guessed it. MORE WINDOWS. External care is self explanatory. From snow removal, gardens, window cleaning and often out door lounge or patio areas. 3) Reserve Fund: Condo corporations often have yearly plans both short term and long term for the building. Planned renovations require extra that year so to avoid a heavy levy on the owners of the units, they build their plan into the condo fees. But, as is life, not every renovation or update is planned. This fund is also used for emergency repair. To read more on how the Condo Fees are calculated and other resourceful information, click down below! <a href="https://blog.remax.ca/what-do-condo-fees-actually-cover/">https://blog.remax.ca/what-do-condo-fees-actually-cover/</a>

Buying a Condo?!

When I bought my first house, it was an absolute disaster. I had to completely gut the house and rebuild it from the inside out. I’m by no means a professional contractor, but can be quite handy at getting the job done. The side door to my house was letting in quite the draft, and though it did its job for the past 60 years, it was time to let it retire and put in a new steel door to increase R value (save on the energy bill). I thought it would be better to just do it myself and avoid using a professional. But let’s just say the door is there and the draft never left. Sure, there are people who buy homes without an agent, but just like I would never install a door again myself, I’m sure the headache DIY buyers endured wouldn’t be repeated, ESPECIALLY since working with a realtor is FREE. When it comes to buying your first home, the process can be overwhelming. Having a great agent that has done this many times before makes the process less stressful and often, a lot more enjoyable. Another important factor regarding working with a good real estate agent is: when a house hits the market, you have someone to call and schedule a private showing with right away. Calling the agent on the sign is not always the best idea. Just remember who the agent is loyal to. They signed the contract first with the seller, so it is impossible to give the absolute best to the seller, as well as the buyer. If you were contemplating the biggest investment purchase of your life, wouldn’t you want someone in your corner negotiating and protecting you every step of the way? In the Hamilton and Burlington region, RE/MAX Escarpment sells more houses than any other brokerage. This is extremely beneficial for buyers who are actively searching. Having access to the exclusive/off market houses helps reduce the chances of going into a bidding war. Last but not least, a good agent (like we have here at Porter &amp; Associates) doesn’t finish with your purchase, once the contracts are signed. We don’t even finish working for you when you get the keys. We are here to build client relationships that survive past the purchase and are here to offer assistance for a lifetime. We even have a special ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ program we set up for clients to track their investment and watch their house increase in value with the neighbourhood.If you want more information on buying a home or access to our e-book, “Emotion vs. Economics,” contact us. If you know anyone that could benefit from the information, please don’t hesitate to share. We seek to educate our clients so they can own the home meant for them! Donald Porter

First Time Home Buyers