<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">
Ralph P. Fascione 
Broker / Appraiser MVA
 
<div class="s3testimonialBody">My Journey Begins in a small town on the Adriatic Coast. I have lived in 3 different continents, immersed in 3 different cultures and customs, and 3 languages.Most of the early part of my life I was usually on the outside looking in because of my Language and Cultural barriers, this cultivated my habit of listening more than speaking.When I was very young I want to be a superhero when I grew up, the kind that flies! After numerous attempts of jumping off steep stair wells and rooftops, the momentarily flying feeling was awesome! The Landing in the emergency room not so much (some risks are not worth the short term euphoria)From diagnosing and repairing bulldozers, cranes and other heavy-duty equipment To selling and appraising real estate, managing Realtors offices or advising Realtors, buyers and sellers. My accumulated experience and expertise continues to benefit my clients and fellow realtors.I am a full time Broker/Appraiser providing professional, trusted, ethical Real Estate services since 1984.</div></td></tr></tbody></table>

RE/MAX Escarpment

English

Italian

Grimsby

Hamilton Mountain

Stoney Creek

Central Hamilton

East Hamilton

Outstanding Real Estate Service, Expert Advice, Buying Or Selling your Home.

Ralph Fascione

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Tips on how to improve the efficiency of your home saving money and saving the planet.

Energy Efficient Home

Three Ways to Decorate ...

Wishing all the Father's out there, all the very best on your special day!

Happy Father's Day!

Some summer backyard entertaining ideas

Seven Cool Tips

Some small changes that will make a difference

Keep Your Home Safe This Summer

Garage Sale

Add Value to Your Yard

One of the many benefits of owning a home is having the ability to sell it one day – hopefully for a healthy profit, which can then be leveraged to purchase a larger home, an investment or recreational property, or help finance your retirement. Once you decide that you’re ready to take the leap and list your home for sale, the next question you need to ask is, “How much is my house worth?” This is a loaded question indeed. It opens the floodgates to a slew of other factors that will each impact your decision on asking price to varying degrees. The Price is RightWe can’t stress the importance of setting the right asking price. An overpriced home runs the risk of sitting (and stagnating!) on the market for a prolonged period of time. This can seriously hurt your bottom line, especially if you’ve already purchased another home and you’re paying two mortgages simultaneously. Beyond that, overpricing your home could make competing listings look even more attractive. And oftentimes, fixing the issue isn’t as simple as just re-listing the home at a lower price. Buyers who are shopping the market will have already seen your listing, and they will either discount it as old news, or they may wonder what’s wrong with the property, in light of the price reduction. An overpriced home is not an ideal situation to find yourself in, in any selling scenario. On the flip-side, underpricing your home means leaving money on the table. Setting the right price from the get-go will ensure your listing attracts serious buyers, and some feasible offers too.So, how much is my house worth? Let’s find out.Market ConditionsIs it a buyer’s market or a seller’s market? The real estate market is impacted by everything from the local and larger economic picture, to the weather. The type of market speaks to demand for homes, which will affect how quickly your home sells and will help answer the question, “How much is my house worth?” A buyer’s real estate market is characterized by more homes for sale than people to buy them. An influx of listings (or fewer homebuyers) means buyers face less competition in the purchasing process, and can often take their time and see more homes before making an offer. Buyers also have greater negotiating power when it comes to their offer and conditions of the sale.READ MORE: <a href="https://blog.remax.ca/difference-between-a-buyers-and-sellers-market/#101947166">What’s The Difference Between a Buyer’s and Seller’s Market?</a>The ComparablesIf you’re not sure what your home is worth, have your real estate agent pull comparable sales to help answer the million-dollar question (depending on the market, of course!) “How much is my house worth?” This will give you an idea of what homes in the same neighbourhood have sold for in recent weeks. This is a realistic reflection of what buyers have actually paid for similar homes in the same area. It’s also prudent to keep an eye on your competition. Pay attention to homes for sale in your neighbourhood, their condition and features, and the asking price – but take it with a grain of salt. Depending on the seller’s strategy, they could have listed low in an attempt to attract more potential buyers.READ MORE: <a href="https://blog.remax.ca/8-helpful-tips-selling-home-balanced-market/#101947166">Selling In A Buyer’s Market</a>The LocationA home’s location has a huge impact on its value, and rightfully so. It’s a particularly important consideration for buyers, as location is one thing you definitely can’t change about the home. Location will define the liveability of the neighbourhood, the price buyers need to pay to get into the area, and the resale value when it’s time to list it. Translation: hot neighbourhoods are always a hot commodity, oftentimes trumping market conditions.READ MORE: <a href="https://blog.remax.ca/location-top-style-buying-real-estate-survey-says/#101947166">Location versus Style</a>The HomeA home’s location typically trumps style when it comes to value, but that’s not to say condition, features and upgrades don’t matter when you’re determining what your home is worth. A fixer-upper and a move-in ready home will vary in terms of price, even with identical floor plans. Items such as a new roof, a finished basement, renovated kitchen and baths can make a difference to the bottom line, and the return on investment could be well worth the money and effort. This is precisely why many home sellers choose to renovate or update their home before listing it for sale. Evaluate the cost of the renovation and consider whether you’ll get that money back in the face of real estate market conditions.READ MORE: <a href="https://blog.remax.ca/top-6-home-renovations-2019/#101947166">Top 6 Home Renovations</a>

What Is The Value of your Home

We sometimes forget to appreciate the voluminous capacity of our mother's love.

One of the Most Important Celebrations of the Year!

This date reminds me of Mexico and hot sunny days. Hoping we will get our share of hot sunny days soon!

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Pay Down Your DebtIt’s unlikely that you’ll miss this chunk of money, since you’ve technically already paid your taxes and are just getting some of that back. Use it to pay off some debt and reduce the interest you’re paying on that loan. Less interest paid means more money in the bank for your living expenses.Stash it AwayLeaving that cash in a savings or chequing account makes it easy to access – and spend. Take advantage of tax savings in 2018 by depositing your 2017 refund into your Registered Retirement Savings Plan or a Tax-Free Savings Account.Update Your HomeWhile your tax refund may not be enough to fund a full-blown renovation, the average refund is definitely enough to cover some upgrades in your home. This can boost your return if you’re planning to sell this spring. If you’re planning to stay in the home, you’ll enjoy the added liveability – and some shiny new faucets!Boost Your Mortgage PaymentDepending on your mortgage terms and conditions, you may be able to make a lump-sum payment. You’ll pay less in interest and more in principal. While $1,765 may seem like a drop in the bucket, every dollar counts.Build Your Down PaymentIf home ownership is part of your future plan, deposit your tax refund into a “down payment” fund. An RRSP is a great option. You’ll enjoy a tax break, and you can borrow up to $35,000 (tax-free!) for your down payment and other home purchase-related costs when you’re ready to buy.Always consult your financial advisor to determine the best solution for your needs and goals.

Are you Receiving a Tax Refund this Year?

Be mindful, that every day is Earth Day!

Respect Our Planet

As Earth Day approaches on Monday, now is a great time to think about planting a garden. It doesn’t matter if you already have a green thumb or have never planted a seed in your life - gardening comes with numerous benefits for everyone. Whether you’re planting flowers or growing your own food, here are four of the ways starting a garden can help you, the environment, and your home.

Four Benefits of Gardening

Unleash some flower power to increase your home’s curb appeal. There’s a method to leveraging all those petals to help your property bloom. Here are some tips to get started. Buy a Colour WheelCheck out a colour wheel to help you understand how different colours relate to one another. Choose flowers with colours close to one another on the wheel for a more harmonious scheme. Alternately, colours on opposite sides of the wheel will yield a complementary colour theme. To really mix things up, choose three colours that are equidistant from each other on the wheel. Use Colour to “Enlarge” your Yard or Garden BedA monochromatic colour scheme can help create a feeling of spaciousness because the eye is not interrupted by other colours. To mix things up, incorporate lighter and darker shades of the same colour. Highlight Favorite FeaturesHave a fabulous front door? Draw attention to it by planting brightly coloured or white flowers around it. Flowers can be an effective way to accent the architectural features you – and prospective buyers – love. Use WhiteWhite can be the most attention-grabbing colour in landscaping. White flowers and foliage serve as terrific focal points, they make other colours look richer, and create a sense of depth in a garden. Don't Forget GreenThere are so many vivid shades of green to use when highlighting your home. Combining different shades and a variety of textures can add depth and excitement. Anticipate Changing SeasonsRemember to plan for how the colours of the plants you choose will change with the seasons. Add some year-round perennials so your yard stays vibrant, even when flowers wilt in cooler seasons.Tired of having your green thumb limited to container gardens on your patio? Find out what kind of yard you can afford by talking to an agent who knows your neighbourhood.

6 Tips for using Flowers to Boost Curb Appeal

Spring is the perfect time to clean house — both literally and figuratively. As you emerge from winter hibernation, here are some tactics to help both your health and your home get ready for the new season. DO SOME DECLUTTERINGClutter in the home has been linked to increased levels of anxiety. No, you don’t have to go full Marie Kondo. But why not get rid of clothes you haven’t worn in years, or donate the miscellaneous kitchen items you never use that just take up space? GET HEALTHY KITCHEN TOOLSAs more fresh fruits and veggies come into season this spring, make sure you have the kitchen tools needed to take advantage of fresh produce and eat and drink healthier. This could mean upgrading to a high-quality blender or getting a juicer. CARVE OUT AN EXERCISE CORNERIf getting in shape is a priority for you this year, reorganize and find a corner of your home that can be dedicated to exercise. Outfit it with a yoga mat, some hand weights, and a medicine ball. You could position it near a television so you can more easily to workout DVDs or YouTube videos. CLEAN YOUR AIR VENTSIt’s easy to forget they’re there, but do some spring cleaning and wipe down those dusty air vents. This will keep your home tidy and can help relieve allergy and asthma symptoms this spring. GET A HEPA FILTERIf you really want to treat your respiratory system, get a plug-in HEPA filter. These suck up allergens, molds, and even viruses and bacteria around your home to help keep you breathing healthy. If you would like to enter the new season with a new home, I’m here to help! Give me a call, send me a text, or reply to this email so we can talk about your options.