Oakville & Burlington Real Estate Blog - Dan Cooper » Community

House prices continue to skyrocket in the local market

Dan Cooper — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:32:11 +0000

The local housing market has kept its steady pace as house prices continue to rocket skyward in Oakville and Burlington. Last week, I wrote that while there was a slow start to the first quarter of this year, we saw the average house price in Oakville increase by more than 14 percent in March over the same month last year. In dollars, the average price in March was $642,432 compared with $555,000 in March of 2011.

April sees that hot trend continue with the average price in Oakville rocketing to $698,835. That’s an increase of around 21 percent over the average price of $575,000 in April 2011 and 9 percent higher than last month’s average price.

In Burlington, the increase was similarly dramatic – rising 16.5 percent or $460,586 compared to $395,266 in April 2011. This was for all properties. Interestingly, it was the condo sector that had the largest jump, increasing a whopping 32.2 percent last month over April 2011.

Again, the warmer weather brought buyers into the market early and the low interest rates have continued to encourage consumers to get into the market – and pay a higher price for a home. Stable interest rates and a quiet confidence in the economy are fuelling this rebound in the housing market following a couple of sluggish years.

Even in a hot market, sellers are still advised to list with an experienced agent. Properly marketing your property and negotiating the best price requires the skill of a professional. The Dan Cooper Team employs leading-edge marketing strategies – we hand pick the real estate publications to market our homes, ensuring we are achieving the best results, and we use our online marketing tools effectively. The result is that we have a stellar track record for selling homes quickly and negotiating the best price. The evidence of this has been our ability to be the number one team in Canada for Royal LePage in seven of the past 13 years.

The prices in this area simply reflect the fact that Oakville and Burlington are among Canada’s best communities in which to live. A good deal of that demand is due to the quality and style of the homes here, the neighbourhoods in which they are located and the quality of the people who live here. We live in safe and picturesque communities – ideal places in which to raise a family.

We also have some of the most generous and giving citizens anywhere in Canada, and I’ve witnessed some of that generosity first hand.

I’m heavily involved in the community and sponsor or support numerous causes that help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live. A recent example is Comic Vision Oakville on April 25 at Le Dome on North Service Road. I was proud to be the venue sponsor for this hilarious evening of comedy with some of the best comics in Canada. Comic Vision is held in five cities across Canada and raises more than $700,000 annually for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which funds vision research. This year’s show was another roaring success and I thank everyone who came out and supported this tremendous cause.

Coming up is the 12th Annual Dan Cooper Swing for Kids Sake golf tournament in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton. This year’s tournament is being held at Piper’s Heath Golf Club in Milton on May 28.

“Give where you live” is a slogan adopted by many charitable organizations across North America, but it really does sum up my own personal philanthropic objectives and is the approach of the entire Dan Cooper Team. I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money, time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community a stronger and safer place in which to raise our families.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Early spring helps to drive up house prices

andrews — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:08:58 +0000

Warm weather, tight housing inventory and low mortgage rates all contributed to driving up house prices. The average price of a home in Oakville, for example, was up by 14 percent in March over the same month last year. The average price in March was $640,000 compared to just over $560,000 in March 2011.

Oakville has been the hottest local market. Burlington, in comparison, saw its average price increase by 5.6 percent for the same period – $436,568 compared to $413,336 in March last year.

In the Hamilton area as a whole, first quarter sales of all property types were 2.4 percent higher than the first quarter of 2011 and average sale price was 7.1 percent higher than the same period last year.

The average selling price in the GTA was $501,614 in March – up by 10 percent in comparison to March 2011. “The GTA resale market has not suffered from a lack of willing buyers this year. Buyers have been spurred on by the positive affordability picture brought about by low mortgage rates,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. “The challenge has been a lack of inventory. Many listings have attracted multiple interested buyers. Strong competition has led to annual rates of price growth well above the long-term average.”

A recent Royal LePage House Price Survey showed the average price of a home in Canada increased between 2.2 and 5.0 percent in the first quarter of 2012, compared to the previous year. According to that survey, market activity in the first quarter of 2012 was unusually high resulting in tight inventories and strong price appreciation in most major cities including Oakville. Buyers were attracted into the market by historically low mortgage rates and sellers brought listing inventory to market earlier than normal, encouraged by unseasonably warm weather.

“Our housing market is being pulled in opposite directions by opposing economic forces,” said Phil Soper, President and Chief Executive of Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd. “On one hand, there is the rapidly strengthening U.S. economy, increasing Canadian consumer confidence and what can only be called a national mortgage sale encouraging activity and bidding up home prices. On the other, we have signs of over-shooting values and strained affordability in our largest cities. We are likely to see much more modest price appreciation as the year unfolds.”

Price appreciation and strong unit sales reflect Canadians taking advantage of borrowing rates that for the first time fell below 3.0 percent for a five year fixed mortgage and a banking environment that the Royal Bank of Canada has referred to as “hyper-competitive.”

Across the country, consumers sought to buy into what they believe is a good investment market. The Conference Board of Canada’s consumer confidence index continued to rise in March, gaining 4.3 points to stand at 79.5, its third consecutive month of gains, and attitudes towards major purchases, such as real estate, were particularly strong.

Whether you are looking to invest, buy or sell, The Dan Cooper Team has the experience and expertise to handle all your real estate needs and the stellar track record to back up their claims of being able to sell your home for top dollar – fast.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning Broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Appleby College celebrates 100 years of excellence with Centennial Gala

Dan Cooper — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:12:46 +0000

On Saturday May 12, Appleby College will welcome more than 600 of Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga’s most influential business and community leaders to its 12th biennial gala auction.

I’m pleased to be an auction sponsor for this special fundraising event in celebration of the College’s 100-year history, supporting the ongoing enhancement of Appleby College student life.

Fascinating minds since 1911, Oakville’s Appleby College has established a global reputation as an innovative leader in the development of teaching and learning methodologies.

Founded by John S. H. Guest, Appleby opened its doors on September 14, 1911. That day, the school welcomed its first students, 29 boys who arrived from as far away as Chicago and Winnipeg.

“What started as an all-boys’ school in one building on 32 acres of land is today a 725-student strong community on a 60-acre campus, welcoming young men and women from more than 30 countries around the world,” said Guy McLean, Appleby College’s Principal.

Rich in history with an impressive legacy, Appleby has achieved a number of significant milestones and developments which have propelled the day and boarding school continuously forward in the area of academics, arts, athletics and service.

Appleby College’s curriculum offers an exceptionally diverse education that combines rigorous academics with dynamic arts, athletics and community service. As a not-for-profit, 100% of tuition fees paid to Appleby College are directed towards its educational program. Capital building projects that improve student and community life are funded by donations from the Appleby and greater Oakville communities. For more information, visit www.appleby.on.ca.

“Give where you live” is a slogan adopted by many charitable organizations across North America, but it really does sum up my own personal philanthropic objectives and the approach of The Dan Cooper Team when it comes to donations and giving back to the community.

Spring signals a fresh start for many of us, but none more so than the many worthy charitable organizations around us. My team and I support a number of youth organizations, everything from minor sports teams to major campaigns that will have a significant impact on the quality of life we enjoy here in the Oakville and Burlington areas.

I have chosen a number of outstanding organizations in which to make significant contributions, most of which will have visible campaigns beginning very soon – Appleby College is just one of the many organizations we support.

Giving where you live begins with local organizations

Dan Cooper — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:53:46 +0000

Featured in the photo: Margaret Anderson, Paula Gardin, Chris John, Dan Cooper

My team and I support a number of organizations, everything from minor sports teams to major campaigns that will have a significant impact on the quality of life we enjoy here in the Oakville and Burlington areas.

One of the most rewarding organizations I have had the pleasure to be connected with is the Ian Anderson House. The cancer hospice is playing a critical role in our society by offering a quality of life and dignity for those who are terminally ill. It is Ontario’s first in-resident cancer hospice and offers without charge, quality end-of-life palliative care by trained medical professionals.

Last month I sponsored the Fill The House benefit concert at Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts which featured vocal impressionist Chris John and jazz vocalist and Oakville native Paula Gardin. The fundraiser provided a fantastic evening and I thank the generosity of those who attended for supporting this very worthwhile cause.

Located on the Oakville and Mississauga border, the hospice has six large private bedrooms with ensuite washrooms and large windows, each with an attached bird feeder and overlooking the garden and grounds.

Residents have access to the entire house, which includes a large country kitchen, living room, sun room and covered patio. In addition, the House was carefully designed to ensure that beds and wheelchairs can be taken out on the patio and to the garden.

The Sanctuary Garden, at the back of the property, has greatly enhanced the grounds of the hospice and is much enjoyed by residents, families and visitors alike. The garden features paths for wheelchair and bed access, seating areas, a gazebo, a pond and a Memory Wall. Joshua’s Creek runs through a ravine along the back of the Garden.

Residents at Ian Anderson House receive round-the-clock individualized programs of care in partnership with the Community Care Access Centre which augment the hours of nursing and support provided by the hospice’s trained professional staff.

True to the philosophy of hospice, Ian Anderson House offers care to its residents without charge. Their operating cost, which allows them to provide the high quality 24-hour care that is necessary at the end-of-life, is currently $1,800 per day. In order to offer the medical care and the number of staff that is expected and necessary in a hospice environment, they must currently raise an additional $600,000 a year for annual operating costs.

In order to continue to offer their exemplary care and support, without charge, they rely on the generosity of individuals, service clubs, foundations, local businesses and on fundraising events such as the Fill The House benefit concert.

Building a stronger community means supporting great causes such as the Ian Anderson House. I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money or time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live.

For more information about Ian Anderson House, visit their website www.ianandersonhouse.com.

Public service is a commitment to giving back to the community

Dan Cooper — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:08:27 +0000

Featured in the photo to the left: Kevin Flynn & Dan Cooper. Featured in the photo to the right: Tim Hudak & Dan Cooper.

Congratulations to Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn on his re-election in the provincial election last week, as well as the first-time election of Progressive Conservative Jane McKenna in Burlington. I don’t know Jane, but I’m confident she will do well for her riding. I know Kevin and he is a strong representative for Oakville. I also know members of the other parties, including PC Leader Tim Hudak, and they are good people.

What these people have, regardless of their party affiliations, is a strong conviction to serve; to embrace the responsibility of being a citizen. It can be a thankless job at times, it can be challenging and long hours, and I’m certain there are many rewarding moments. But above all, it is a commitment to fulfill a civic duty that goes beyond what many of us are prepared to give.

Their service is admirable, and yet, we need to remind ourselves that we can all contribute to make our community a better one. That involves taking the time to vote, which we did last week, to ensure we have an MPP who will represent us best. But, our obligation to our community goes far beyond simply casting a vote of course. It also means supporting local causes, giving back to the community and taking a stand on political and environmental issues that impact our way of life.

We have a very vibrant community and there are so many opportunities for everyone to get involved in some fashion and at any level. Whether it’s giving your time, donations or both, we need to follow the lead of our elected officials and give something of yourselves to help make ours a better society. My team and I have chosen a number of wonderful local causes to support; everything from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, the Oakville Hospital Foundation, the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts and, more recently, Ian Anderson House to name a few. It’s all about “giving where you live” and I encourage everyone to get involved – maybe not at the level of our elected officials, but certainly enough to help improve your community.

There is much work to be done in the Oakville and Burlington areas. On the provincial level, we have two strong members who belong to the governing party and that means our voices will be heard at Queen’s Park. Again, congratulations to the successful candidates, and for the rest of us – let’s keep working to make ours a better community.

Filling the house in support of Ian Anderson hospice

Dan Cooper — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:31:34 +0000

Featured in the photo: Margaret Anderson, Paula Gardin, Chris John, Dan Cooper.

Update:

There are only a few tickets remaining so you will need to act fast. To purchase tickets please click on the Oakville Centre link below or call the box office at 905-815-2021 in support of this most worthwhile cause.

http://www.oc4pa.ca/boxoffice.htm

It’s going to be a great night for a great cause at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Saturday. If you are in the mood to be entertained by world-class performers and, at the same time, help a very worthy local non-profit organization, then order your tickets now. They are going fast.

The headliners are vocal impressionist Chris John and jazz vocalist and Oakville native Paula Gardin.
With the uncanny ability to mimic a wide variety of voices, Chris honed his talents for impersonation through years of training and performing on stage, film and television. His credits include, leading roles in A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls, Grease and Leader of the Pack. What sets Chris apart is his unique ability to mimic a wide variety of artists. It’s truly amazing.

Paula’s powerful voice and passionate performing style have engaged many audiences whether it be live theatre or smoky jazz clubs. As a songwriter she has been able to communicate her life experiences to an even wider audience through several genres of music which include jazz, pop and Latin. Her debut album A Little Rain Must Fall evokes emotional responses from all walks of life.

Tickets are only $55 for what will be a lively evening of entertainment and fun. The cause is the Ian Anderson House. If you are unfamiliar with the very valuable work this terrific organization is doing, let me fill you in. Ian Anderson House is one of the most rewarding organizations I have been connected with and I am proud to be the lead sponsor and one of the organizer’s for Saturday’s concert. The cancer hospice is playing a critical role by offering a quality of life and dignity for those who are terminally ill. It is Ontario’s first in-resident cancer hospice and offers without charge, quality end-of-life palliative care by trained medical professionals.

Located on the Oakville and Mississauga border, the hospice has six large private bedrooms with ensuite washrooms and large windows with attached bird feeder and overlooking the garden and grounds. Residents have access to the entire house, which includes a large country kitchen, living room, sunroom and covered patio. In addition, the House was carefully designed to ensure that beds and wheelchairs can be taken out on the patio and to the garden.

Building a stronger community means supporting great causes such as the Ian Anderson House. My team and I support a number of organizations, everything from minor sports teams to major campaigns that will have a significant impact on the quality of life we enjoy here in the Oakville and Burlington areas.

A giving and caring spirit makes our community stronger – a place in which we can all be proud to live and raise a family. How we treat those in need, how we support charities and organizations that are making a difference, shape our community’s character and reputation. Today we enjoy one of the most desirable locations in Canada in which to live – because we have built a safe and caring community. I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money or time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live.

For more information about Ian Anderson House, visit their website www.ianandersonhouse.com.

Surpassing the 100th sale despite a challenging housing market

Dan Cooper — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:29:04 +0000

The Dan Cooper Team is proud to have achieved a significant milestone recently – we surpassed 100 homes sold so far this year. Despite the uncertain economic times of the past few years, we have maintained a consistent record year after year.

Reaching this level of sales so quickly is a testament to our ability to sell homes quickly in the Oakville and Burlington areas and the primary reason we are the Number 1 Team in Canada for Royal LePage.

In fact, we have been the Number 1 team for seven of the past 10 years. This is an accomplishment that does not happen by accident, but rather by design. Our dedication and commitment to selling your home, along with superior marketing strategies, have time and time again helped our clients sell their homes for top dollar.

As a home seller you will be working with a broker who has developed innovative and carefully selected methods of showcasing your home for optimum exposure. Exposure, after all, is the key to selling your home. The more people who view your property, the higher number of bona fide prospects you will attract. It’s simple math and it works.

That’s why I have developed one of the strongest advertising programs compared to any broker in the Oakville area. My listings are in numerous publications that I have personally selected for their market penetration and I have developed innovative online strategies. I am using the internet more creatively than most brokers. For example, both my main website dancooper.com and my unique dancoopertv.com website are bringing properties to life through a video-based platform. I’m proud to be one of the first to tap into this exciting form of marketing to provide you with a competitive edge when selling your home. These websites are also linked with countless retailers throughout Oakville, providing a reach unlike most others.

Social media is critical and I have embraced Twitter and Facebook and I am among the first to begin utilizing the Quick Response or QR code, which is the hottest marketing tool today. Look through any magazine and you will notice a small black and white box on articles and in the ads. That’s a QR code. You simply download a QR code reader app onto your smartphone and when you click on a code, it takes you to a particular web page for more information. In real estate, I can take a potential buyer to my website or a particular listing. It’s fresh and cool and just one more example of the innovative thinking of The Dan Cooper Team.

Besides superior exposure for your home, there are a host of other benefits when dealing with The Dan Cooper Team, such as complimentary home staging consultation; instant access to our team of lawyers, home inspectors, mortgage brokers, appraisers and contractors; ongoing updates and progress reports as part of our in-depth communications; and being served by a team of multi-disciplined professionals with more than 40 years of combined experience.

Combined with my own 20 plus years in the Oakville and Burlington markets, the choice is clear – Dan Cooper of Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage. Whether buying or selling, The Dan Cooper Team is ready to serve you.

Dan Cooper is an award winning Broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Does growing sales volume mean the housing market is heating up?

Dan Cooper — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:47:42 +0000

We are now at the halfway mark for the year and the housing market has been quite interesting to say the least. After a slow start in the first few months, the market appears to be steadily improving with the volume of sales making double-digit gains.

The number of homes sold in Oakville increased by 16.8 percent in June. This followed an 11-percent increase in May and heralds a strong market for resale homes, according to the Oakville Milton and District Real Estate Board. “Sales have increased for the second month in a row,” says Jack McCrudden, President of the real estate board. “At the same time, prices are moderating, encouraging more buyers into the market.”

Meanwhile, the number of new listings, those homes being put on the market, is relatively consistent. So we have the number of homes being sold outpacing the number of homes being listed. McCrudden, however, says there is still room for sellers wanting to attract interested buyers. “If interest rates stay as they are, the Oakville, Milton area can anticipate a healthy market over the next few months, with opportunities for both buyers and sellers.”

That’s certainly good news for anyone wanting to sell their home, but also signals the importance of selecting a broker who truly knows the market and is able to market your home effectively. Carefully check the broker’s credentials – how long have they been established in this market, how are they marketing their homes, how efficient are they, and what are their results?

What’s happening with prices? In Oakville, the average price of a home dropped 3.5 percent to $599,504 in June compared with June last year. In Milton, the average price increased three percent.

For the first six months of the year, however, the average price in Oakville increased by seven percent, and in Milton it increased by four percent.

The statistics for Burlington had not been released as I was writing this column, but Burlington has typically been on par with Oakville, so I suspect the story is much the same there.

For Greater Toronto, home sales were up a whopping 21 percent in June compared with June 2010. This number represents the third best June on record – behind 2007 and 2009. “This strong June result capped off an interesting first half of 2011,” says Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. “The pace of sales was a bit sluggish at the beginning of the year, but rebounded in May and June. Because of the positive affordability picture, homebuyers remained confident in their ability to purchase and pay for a home over the long term.”

The average price for June transactions in Greater Toronto showed a 9.5 percent increase.
As we see the market continuing to rebound, I have to emphasize how important it is to select an effective broker; someone who will ensure you sell your home for the best price possible. Are they using the best print options, how effectively are they using the internet, on what websites and how often is your listing going to be profiled, are they utilizing new technology such as QR codes? The Dan Cooper Team is proud to being doing all of this and more. Our track record speaks for itself – top team in Canada for Royal LePage in seven of the past 10 years. It’s an accomplishment we are proud of and one that our clients have appreciated when we sold their homes quickly and for top dollar.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Team approach is more than simply selling homes

Dan Cooper — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:20:31 +0000

A good real estate broker offers superior service and a proven track record for selling homes quickly and for top dollar or helping to negotiate a sound investment purchase. An outstanding broker, however, takes your real estate experience to a whole new level – offering a team of professionals who will help you achieve your goals with confidence and peace of mind.

The Dan Cooper Team is such a brokerage. If you go to http://www.dancooper.com/partners.php or simply visit my website and click on Preferred Partners, you will find a valuable resource of professionals, government and community services, charitable organizations, local business connections and much, much more. After more than 20 years in the Oakville and Burlington markets, we have amassed an impressive network of key professionals who can help you sell your home for more money, build your dream home, design and furnish your new home or help you get settled into the community.

We are not simply in the business of selling homes – we work with our clients to get the very best deal they can. Whether that is securing a favourable mortgage, assisting with legal matters or staging your home to ensure it will sell quickly and for more money. The Team in Dan Cooper refers to more than experienced sales representatives and a professional and friendly administrative staff – our team includes architects, designers, mortgage brokers, lawyers, builders, furniture and lighting specialists and many more.

Occasionally a client will want to build a home. Approaching a real estate broker is often overlooked as a resource for securing an architect or a builder. And yet, why not? We know the market, we know the ideal locations, we know where good building lots are located and we can introduce you to the right architect and builder whose styles match your personal preferences. I sell a good deal of new and custom homes, so I have an excellent relationship with a number of award-winning architects and builders in this area.

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions count. That’s why it is critical that the small details be addressed to ensure you will get the most return on your home. We offer valuable complimentary tips based on our years of selling experience, but home stagers can work magic. They will suggest colour schemes and will bring in new furnishings and accessories if necessary. It’s important to remove as much of your personality so a potential buyer can see themselves in your home. Professional stagers can recreate a living space that you wouldn’t even recognize, and provide that needed “wow” factor.

Often, small home repairs and improvements are required. My resource catalogue includes a number of home repair and home improvement specialists who are reasonable and above all can be trusted. We also have an excellent relationship with a number of home inspectors, another trusted partner who will help you to confidently make informed decisions about a real estate purchase.

Our job is to help you make the best choices – with confidence, working with trusted professionals and securing the best deal possible.

And when it’s all done and you have successfully settled into your new home, treat yourself to dinner at one of the area’s many fine restaurants. Here again, you will find some of my personal favourites on my website.

Shaking up the roofing industry with an eco-friendly product

Dan Cooper — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:04:28 +0000

I often come across interesting home products and when I do I like to share these finds with my clients – especially if I believe they can help a homeowner increase the pleasure or value of their home. These treasures can range from landscape products to home automation to furnishings and art.

An exciting product I discovered recently has great potential in the Oakville and Burlington areas. The Enviroshake is a composite roofing product that has the authentic look of cedar with lifetime performance. I say it fits right into the housing styles of our area because the cedar shake look is a popular choice here.

Traditional cedar shakes add beauty and rustic charm to a home’s exterior, but nature’s elements can exact a heavy toll, requiring a homeowner to replace the roof every 10 to 15 years. With Enviroshake, you can now get a lifetime of curb appeal with a cedar shake style and never have to invest in another roof again.

Enviroshake Inc. has been developing composite blends and formulations for more than a decade to create durable, attractive and premium-quality roofing products. Its signature line is the long-lasting alternative to cedar shakes – Enviroshake, which replicates the size and appearance of a natural cedar shingle. In fact, through special engineering, the shingle actually lightens to a grey colour in three to nine months just as a natural cedar shingle would. But while Enviroshake takes on an aged appearance, it stands the test of time. Guaranteed not to peel, separate, flake, rust or rot, the roof is warranted for the lifetime that the original purchaser resides in the home. If you sell, the warranty is transferable and non pro-rated to the new owner or owners for a 50-year period from the date of manufacture. How many other roof systems guarantee a lifetime or at the very minimum, 50 years?

What truly impresses me is that this incredible system can been installed for the same cost as cedar and yet it provides increased durability, UV protection and resistance to mould, mildew, rot and insects. Enviroshake is made with 95 percent reclaimed products, including post-industrial plastics, recycled rubber elastomers and cellulose fibres. Even the scrap materials in manufacturing are recycled back into the system. And the finished product itself is recyclable. For those of us who are ever-conscious about how we treat the environment and concerned about our carbon footprint, supporting recycled products and responsible manufacturers simply makes sense.

So next time you are looking to replace your roof and you want the wow factor of cedar shakes without the worry of rot or damage or the cost of replacing real cedar shakes, look into Enviroshake. The company has achieved a number of green certifications and has appeared in numerous publications for its innovative roofing solutions. You can find out more about the company and their products at www.enviroshake.com.