How to Protect Your Durham Region Home While on Vacation

Ah—the sun, the sand, and the surf; All what Durham Region is best known for! Sort of. As beautiful as this area is, sometimes you do need a short—or long—vacation.

But have you made all the necessary preparations? Before you get away from it all on a Parisian holiday or tropical beach escape, there are a few things you’ll want to do around your house to get ready. Here are some of our most valuable tips when it comes to protecting your home while on vacation.

Triple Check Your Windows And Doors

Those who live in Oshawa or the Durham Region know that the weather is finicky here. Snow, rain, hail, or extreme wind can all come at a moment’s notice. 

Before you leave for your vacation, you’ll want to ensure that your windows and doors are…

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Winter Events In The Durham Region

The weather is getting chilly here in the Durham Region. All of a sudden, it seems like the sun sets too early and the days seem to fly by! Plus, there’s always that holiday gift rush. So it’s no wonder that many people like to stay in and enjoy some time with their friends and family.

However, for those who want to get out and about (perhaps those who really love the wintertime!), there are an abundance of events for all ages, and at all price points, here in the Durham Region. Here’s our list for some of the must-try winter events—for those who like to put relaxing in front of the fire on hold for a bit!

WILD Winter Festival Of Lights

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Concession Road 10, Clarington

Okay, maybe the cold is a little too much…

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5 Luxury Kitchen Must-Haves

The kitchen: often called the heart of the home! It’s where you gather, you share, and you create. Durham Region residents know that a great kitchen really makes a difference.

And, when it comes to your kitchen, there are a few things that you can do to take it from a regular kitchen… to the luxury dream kitchen your friends and family will be jealous of! Or, well, they might just want to come over to your home a lot. Here are our top five luxury kitchen must-haves!

Top-Of-The-Line Appliances

One of the most expensive must-haves is one that will also make the biggest difference. When you’re considering updating your kitchen or purchasing a new home, you’ll want to consider the appliances in your space.

Luxury appliance brands, such as…

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Don't Get Caught Off Guard With Closing Costs

One of the biggest mistakes that first-time home buyers make is failing to budget for closing costs. In fact, even experienced home buyers can overlook expenses related to the sale of a home that go above and beyond the purchase price. Both buyers and sellers are required to pay closing costs, so it is important to know what to expect before entering into a home sale.

What Are Closing Costs?

Closing costs are upfront expenses that you must pay when finalizing a home purchase. They typically cover legal and administrative costs and are separate from your down payment and mortgage fees. 

Closing costs in Canada can be anywhere from 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price of the home. So if your new home costs $400,000, the closing costs could be…

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What's Going On With Interest Rates?!?

What's Going On With Interest Rates: A Video Explanation

Mortgage Broker Miriam Gobran from The Lending Suite and our Realtor, Brooke Lynn Napier talk about interest rates, what that means for the current Real Estate market, and what that may mean for home buyer and sellers. 

Although interest rates are on the rise, the prices of homes are steadily declining. This makes it a great time for home buyers to lock in their mortgage and purchase their dream home, before prices and interest rates rise even further. Our experienced Realtors and in-house mortgage brokers are readily available and easily accessible to discuss your Real Estate needs, and provide further insight into what your mortgage may look like. 

Need help? Feel free to reach out…

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Community Spotlight: Courtice

The small Durham Region community of Courtice is located in between Oshawa and Bowmanville, and, like the latter, is part of the Clarington municipality. 

Courtice is known for its quaint, suburban atmosphere. This community is composed of both residential areas and untouched farmland, specifically in the southern and eastern regions. A large part of the appeal of Courtice, Ontario is its safety and livability, all while being located roughly seven kilometers outside of downtown Oshawa—the largest municipality in the Durham Region.

It’s urban meets rural, and Courtice is a great alternative to life in the bigger cities in the area. Families in particular like this community for the large, beautiful homes, quiet streets, and high number of…

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Winter Home Maintenance Tips

The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder! If you’re a Durham Region resident, you know that winters can be tough. From freezing temperatures to heavy snow, a lot of us aren’t looking forward to the season ahead… but we can be prepared for it!

Before the snowstorms and the freezing rain, before scraping ice off your windshield and shoveling the driveway in the morning, there are few things you can do around the house to help with the oncoming winter weather. Here are our best tips for winter home maintenance.

Check All Windows

As a general rule, you’ll always want to check up on your windows. Drafts can cause your heating bill to skyrocket—so you’ll want to take a look every once in a while.

Ensure your windows are…

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How to Increase the Exposure of Your Durham Region Home For Sale

Even in the hottest real estate markets, selling your home is never truly easy. There are a lot of steps in the process, and by extension, a lot of things that can cause you some stress. 

If you’re thinking of selling your home, one of the biggest questions you may worry over is, “Will my property actually sell?” Here are a few things you can do to increase the exposure of your Durham Region property—and ensure that it not only sells, but that it sells for the right price. 

Go Digital!

Welcome to the digital age! Now more than ever, people are using social media as a marketing tactic, whether it be for a small business or even selling a home. 

If you’d like to increase the exposure of your Durham Region home for sale, consider posting…

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5 Reasons Durham Region Bungalows Are So Popular Right Now

If you’re starting your search for your dream home, conducting market research is an important first step. As you browse through both active and sold listings, you might notice the large number of bungalows in the Durham Region area.

Regardless of whether you’ve considered a bungalow for yourself, there’s a reason for their ever-growing popularity. Let’s look at the top reasons why a Durham Region bungalow is so in-demand.

Versatile Floor Plan

A bungalow is characterized by having a single storey. But what does that mean for the layout of the home? The short answer is this: bungalows tend to have open floor plans, and for many, this makes a space infinitely more versatile. You'll usually find this popular feature in contemporary homes because…

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Watch This Before You Buy A Home For Sale

Thinking About Buying A Home? Watch This Video First! 

Real estate agents caught on hidden camera facilitating mortgage fraud for a fee

At the Dan Plowman Team, we are so thankful for CBC for exposing mortgage fraud, which has become so common recently. We cannot believe that other brokerages and salespersons would do such a horrendous thing to their clients.

We believe that buyers should be provided with honest and open information about mortgages and the process of purchasing their dream home with the utmost sincerity. At times like these, it is important to make the right choice in selecting a team of local and experienced Realtors. At the Dan Plowman Team, our goal is to continually search for and aspire to the best methods and mindsets…

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