Established in 1972, SickKids Foundation raises funds on behalf of The Hospital for Sick Children. The Foundation’s fundraising is driven by the belief that improving the health and well-being of children is one of the most powerful ways to improve society.

Community support, separate and distinct from government and granting agencies, is a critical source of funding for SickKids. In the fiscal year that ended in March 31, 2012, SickKids Foundation invested $61.3 million in child health research learning and care.

The Boat Rally for Kids with Cancer is a unique thrilling and exciting boating event that has put the Fun into FUNdraising. Characterized as the “Amazing Race” hits the water, this exciting event features family-fun, celebrities, thrilling challenges and cottage adventure.

An exciting brunch where all of the qualified teams meet with their celebrity teammates.

The action continues as qualified teams receive their first clue and are lined up at the “starting line”.

Qualified teams along with their celebrity teammates take part in an extraordinary schedule of pit stops set along a secret route across Muskoka.

Teams will decipher clues and riddles that will take them on a journey from one location to the next.

The day ends with an incredible barbecue dinner, entertainment and the winning team will be announced.

To help Dan Cooper raise funds in support of The Boat Rally for Kids with Cancer, visit www.BoatRallyForCancer.com.

Only you can decide when it’s the right time to put your house on the market, but market factors determine which time of the year is best. Most closings are in May and June. If you want to move then, start planning by the previous year end. Ask your realtor for advice on when to list but don’t leave listing until the last minute.

If you don’t have the luxury of advance planning, the pricing and presentation of your house are critical. Don’t price your home on hunches. Have it professionally evaluated.

Setting the asking price

Your realtor can help you set the “asking” or “listing” price of your home. Discuss with him or her the sales records of similar properties in your area, comparing these properties with yours and balancing the similarities and differences. To make this comparison, your realtor should also evaluate your house on its own merits, considering special features and/or improvements.

The listing agreement

The listing agreement is most commonly drawn from a standard form approved by your local real estate board. It provides a framework for all forms and negotiations that follow, with inclusions and exclusions clearly specified. The agreement is generally signed by you, the vendor, and the realtor. The signed listing agreement is a contract between yourself and your realtor on behalf of the company he or she represents; both parties are bound to follow its terms and conditions.

The fine print

Because this is the first document in your sales transaction, the listing agreement is used as an information source for all documents to come. Spend time now to get those details right. In the first part of the listing agreement, you appoint your realtor’s brokerage company and grant the authority to find a purchaser. The duration of the agreement is stated, as is the fee for services. Generally, this fee is paid upon closing.

Be specific

The second action details the property you are selling, including the listing price and physical description: lot size, building style and materials, etc. Now is the time to decide what you’re leaving in the house and what you’re taking with
you. The general rule is, unless expressly stated otherwise, fixtures remain with a property on sale, whereas chattels (or moveables) are not included in the sale. Finally, list financial details: mortgage balance, monthly payments, property taxes, casements, rights of way, liens or charges against the property.

The Dan Cooper Group have been consistent award winners with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage since 1999. By “Leading The Way” our group focuses on putting client’s needs first and have developed a variety of helpful resources. To find out what homes like yours are selling for in today’s market just call 1-800-887-1033 x 5004 for a 24hr free recorded message or go to www.OakvilleBurlingtonHousePrices.com.

When it comes to home or business space improvement projects, nothing is more frustrating than discovering the colour isn’t quite right or the size is wrong when you finally find the time to install the product.

Budget Blinds eliminates the guesswork by bringing thousands of samples and exploring different ways consumers can dress their windows to suit their needs. Their window covering specialists go directly to customers’ homes to walk them through the sample books, professionally measure their windows and professionally install their window coverings. This is the best possible way for consumers to determine what works best with their existing décor, colours, lighting and style sense.

This process allows Budget Blinds to fully customize and coordinate window treatments throughout the home or office. The consumer never needs to travel to shop for window coverings or be concerned about taking accurate measurements.

About Budget Blinds of Oakville

Budget Blinds of Oakville began its operations in 2009 and is owned and operated by Carrie Parris-Khan. Carrie’s passion for interior design was the catalyst that inspired her to become a part of the custom window coverings industry.

Budget Blinds only partners with the most reputable vendors to offer a rich selection of high quality window coverings that include shutters, blinds, draperies, drapery hardware and shades as well as some unique products that are exclusive to us. Their goal is to use local vendors whenever possible.

All products conform to Health Canada’s regulations regarding child safety. Another advantage that Budget Blinds offers is the exclusive five year, no questions asked warranty on most products, which is a testament to the quality of the line. Of course, Budget Blinds also offers the industry standard Limited Lifetime Warranty as well.

The company has been recognized as a leader in the franchise industry by organizations such as Entrepreneur, AllBusiness, Inc. and Franchise Business Review. For more information on Budget Blinds serving Oakville, please call 905-825-9438.

When was the last time you surveyed the exterior of your home? Is the paint peeling? Is there a shutter hanging off centre or a rusty swing set in the backyard that is no longer in use?

Sprucing up the exterior of your home can be inexpensive, deeply rewarding and even increase the value of your home. Here are a few suggestions to help prepare your home and garden for the busy spring and summer seasons.

One way to assess the condition of the exterior of your home is to assume the critical eye of a guest arriving at your home. Try taking a walk around the block and approaching your home as if it was the first time you ever saw it. Does the front door need a new coat of paint or is the doormat raggedy after a winter of dirt and slush? Consider simple improvements such as polishing the doorknob, sweeping the porch, replacing the doormat or adding a plant to your entrance way.

Attention to these small details can help your home put its best ‘face’ forward.

After a long winter, it is once again time to allow fresh air into your home.

Begin by washing salt and dirt away from storm windows, then remove carefully while labeling each window clearly foreasy identification in the fall. Store storms in a safe place until you are ready to prepare your home for winter. Examine screens for snags or holes and either patch them or visit your local hardware store for a replacement. In addition, remove any branches, bits of paper or leaves that somehow find their way into your window wells over the long winter months.

If your driveway meets the foundation of your home, ensure that the joint is sealed properly with flexible caulking to prevent leakage. Driveway cracks can be repaired on an as-needed basis, since most driveways do not need to be re-paved entirely every year. Ongoing maintenance is a necessity in order to protect your home and your pocketbook from the heavy cost of repairing water damage.

Eavestroughs and drainage pipes must be free of obstructions. You can observe the drainage process by spraying your hose onto the roof and watching the water’s pattern as it moves down your roof. Make sure the run-off water flows away from the foundation of your home to prevent water damage. If not, try shoveling a narrow drainage route that slopes away from the building and ensure that excess water does not create a pool on your lawn or street.

As the spring thaw comes to a close, you may find leftover leaves or other debris that should be picked up or raked from your front and back lawn. Use the natural waste, such as leaves, as a nutrientrich mulch.

Before you know it, it will be time to begin mowing the lawn again. It’s a good idea to ensure that your lawn mower is well maintained in preparation for the growing season. If your garden shed is cluttered, consider attaching a pegboard to the walls to hang up tools, patio furniture cushions and gardening equipment, which will improve organization and make items easy to find.

Outdoor furniture can be cleaned using a mild detergent (such as laundry detergent) diluted in water. If your furniture still appears to be in need of a makeover though in good condition, simply replace the cushions to add new life to your yard.

Give the barbecue a thorough cleaning, including scrubbing the grill with hot, soapy water, and replacing the coals. Use a pipe cleaner to remove spider webs from the inside of PVC and rubber pipes before lighting up the barbecue; a buildup of spider webs can cause fires. If your wire brush appears greasy, consider replacing it. Often, the greatest obstacle in outdoor spring-cleaning is making the time to complete all the little jobs that need to be done.

Even those dedicated to an annual indoor spring-cleaning ritual, sometimes lose track of outdoor cleaning and maintenance.

Try to make a commitment in advance for a weekend of outdoor work, so that you can attack the project with the supplies you need, sufficient time and a plan. You’ll be glad you did.

Spring is the season of blooming, rejuvenation and—for homeowners everywhere—extensive cleaning. Months of winter have scathed your home, which means that a thorough inspection and reparations are in order. Add these spring cleaning items to your checklist and remember: a happy home makes for a happy homeowner.

Outside

Lawn Care

As grass wriggles its way out of winter’s snowy blanket, your lawn will need some tender loving care in preparation for the seasons ahead. Your dormant lawnmower will likely need a tune up before it fulfills its mowing duty. Replace the spark plug, the oil and the filter, or have your mower serviced by a professional. Also, all homeowners are advised to sharpen the blades of their lawnmowers before giving lawns the first spring mow. Dull mower blades rip and tear grass, reducing their immunity to disease and insect infestation.

Gutters

In the spring, it’s time to peek into your gutter—you’ll likely discover the accrued debris of nature: petals, dams of rotten leaves, twigs and dirt. To re-mediate gutter blockage, there’s an array of tools to extract stubborn buildups. Gutter vacuums, flushing systems, blowers and gutter scoops will help you complete the job. At this time, measure the distance between your house and downspout. Extend it three to four feet from your home’s foundation, Kiplinger.com suggests.

Roof

The biting cold and heavy winter snows are likely to cause detrimental damage to your roof. Be on the lookout for curled, sunken or missing shingles. Breaks in the metal flashing around the chimney and vent stacks may also be the source of leakage. Don’t procrastinate; spot the damage while you can or else it’s only a matter of time until your ceiling springs leaks.

Inside

Basement

Stained walls and musty smells in your basement indicate a leak. Basement water can intrude from multiple sources: storm and sanitary sewer water, surface water or groundwater. To solve your leaky basement woes, consider excavating the exterior wall and applying a waterproof sealant, suggests Kiplinger.com. Homeowners that live on sloped terrain should install a floor drain to prevent flooding. You’ll also want to ensure your sump pump is working properly and backed up. In the case of a power outage, sump pumps will fail and potentially cost you thousands of dollars to re-mediate the immense water damage. StateFarm.com suggests installing a battery backup pump that will switch on in a blackout.

Attic

Crawl up into your attic to inspect for leaks on the underside and flashing of the roof. Wear protective clothing, gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask to ward off hazardous fiberglass insulation debris. Thoroughly observe the insulation for prior leaks. Any stains, discoloration or deterioration will give away the leak’s location. Also be on the lookout for vent obstructions—an unimpeded airflow will reduce cooling costs, according to HGTV.com.

For homeowners everywhere – whether you are thinking of moving or staying put – springtime is one of the best opportunities to give your home a thorough cleaning inside and out!

The feedback and response we received was overwhelming. Never again will you miss the perfect property because of slow and frustrating searches through Google and other real estate websites. This app is the first of its kind available in the Western GTA and best of all it’s free.

Enjoy some of the many benefits;

• Save time by eliminating the search through Google and dozens of different real estate websites trying to find homes of interest. Browse homes with only one easy to use real estate search encompassing thousands of listings.

• Focus only on what matters – finding your dream home as soon as possible. Search properties by map or by price, it’s your choice and it’s that easy. Appreciate the hour of time you just saved. If you are looking at 80 to100 different homes on 10 different websites with several seconds of loading time for each property, you are wasting an incredible amount of time. Get rid of the frustration of waiting and enjoy the property information loading almost instantly.

• Quickly gather crucial details of a property. No more scrolling, searching and squinting at paragraphs of text to find the number of bedrooms or bathrooms a home has. All pertinent details have been condensed in one easy to read spot.

• Have complete confidence knowing you can afford the home by utilizing the convenient mortgage calculator.

• Get a second opinion. Purchasing a home is undoubtedly one of the largest investments you will make. Get a spouse or family member’s opinion on a property quickly and easily by utilizing the “share” functions.

• If you already know what you want then save yourself time by customizing your property search and saving the homes you love under “favourites”. Your favourites will be conveniently kept in one spot so you can compare and analyze them at your leisure.

• Have a question about one of the homes? Get answers to your questions quickly and easily the way you want – by phone, email or social media.

• Throw away unnecessary anxiety of where the market is heading by keeping abreast on the latest real estate news by joining the Dan Cooper Group on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

• The app is free. Focus on what matters – finding your dream home has never been easier.

Simply visit the App store, type in “Oakville Real Estate” or “Burlington Real Estate” and download the app to get started.

The Dan Cooper Group have been consistent award winners with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage since 1999. By “Leading The Way” our group focuses on putting client’s needs first and have developed a variety of helpful resources. To find out what homes like yours are selling for in today’s market just call 1-800-887-1033 x 5004 for a 24hr free recorded message or www.OakvilleBurlingtonHousePrices.com.

Here you will easily find everything you need at your fingertips. Want to search every home for sale in the area? We have it. Need staging tips to sell your home or time saving moving advice? We have it. Want as many eyes as possible seeing your property? Our site delivers. Need to know more about the area in which you want to move? We have that too.

There is no need to jump from site to site, fearing that you may miss that perfect home. We have it all. For the buyer, our site is comprehensive and complete. For the seller, we are capturing the attention of more prospective buyers who will be seeing your property. That’s the key to getting the price you want for your home – wider exposure and attracting the attention of your best prospects.

That was our intent when we redesigned our website. We wanted it to be so complete, so comprehensive that you wouldn’t need to go anywhere else. The new site was launched in conjunction with our new look. Our new logo and corporate colours now reflect our position as a progressive and leading realtor in the Oakville, Burlington and Milton areas.

Even our name has changed – The Dan Cooper Group.

The sign of a leading realtor is one who never stands still, who reinvests in their brand and invests in new technologies in order to remain on the leading edge. We’re proud to be one of those firms that has the foresight and desire to remain at the top of the industry.

Our approach is your gain – we sell faster and for the best possible price. The timing of the launch of our site is perfect as we enter into a busy transaction period.

House prices are steadily rising from last year and having the top firm working on your behalf is in your best interest. The latest real estate figures show house prices are moving up.

In Oakville, the increase is remarkably sharp – about 10 per cent higher in January compared to the same month last year. The average price has jumped to $672,000 from $610,000 last year. In Burlington, the increase isn’t as stark on the freehold side; a 3.1 per cent increase with the average price rising from $506,995 in January last year to $522,861 last month.

The condo market is a different story and shows a 10 per cent increase with the average price rising from $293,849 last January to $324,030 last month. You can see all the properties for sale on our new website. Simply go to www.dancooper. com.

For added convenience, download our App. It’s a revolutionary search tool that is the first of its kind in the Western GTA. You can customize your search, gather details about the property and share with family or friends. Best of all it’s free.

Visit the App store, search “Oakville real estate” or “Burlington real estate” and download the App.

The Dan Cooper Group has been a consistent award winner with Royal LePage Real Estate Services, Ltd., Brokerage since 1999. To find out what homes like yours are selling for in today’s market just call 1-800-887-1033 x 5004 for a 24hr free recorded message or go to www. OakvilleBurlingtonHousePrices.com.

On Sunday, October 21, from 2 to 4 pm, you are invited to discover one of the area’s hidden gems – Forest Creek Estates in Lowville.

We want to give you an opportunity to tour an absolutely stunning open concept bungalow and a glimpse of what will be a private enclave of 10 prestigious custom homes by Bryan Turkstra Homes.
Few people are aware this exclusive development of executive homes even exists – it is just that secluded. Yet, it is merely minutes from town, shopping and highways.

Located in picturesque Lowville, the residents of Forest Creek Estates will enjoy incredible views of Rattlesnake Point, Mount Nemo and spectacular sunrise and sunsets. This idyllic setting is surrounded by forests and conservation lands with direct access to the Bruce Trail.

The 140-acre property off Britannia Road has been carefully divided into 10 estate lots ranging in size from two to 63 acres and prices starting at $795,000. Each lot will have an exquisite custom home built in an architecturally controlled environment and range from a minimum of 4,000 square feet to 7,000 square feet, depending on the lot size.

The builder, Bryan Turkstra, is a well established custom home builder with a reputation for honesty, unsurpassed quality and a passion for creating beautiful homes. The firm only builds three to four homes a year, guaranteeing that the necessary time needed to work closely with the client is established and that the Bryan Turkstra team delivers precisely what the client wants in their home.

“My personal philosophy of a close working relationship and dedication to our clients ensures every custom home we build is at the highest level of standards and craftsmanship,” Bryan explains. “I firmly believe building a custom home is a team effort with one important goal, to have our clients extremely happy with the final product and the entire process to build it.”

Bryan has launched the development with an exquisite 3 + 1 bedroom bungalow that offers an incredible attention to detail. The home features an elegant solid mahogany front entrance door, plaster crown mouldings, quartersawn red oak hardwood floors throughout the main level, 10 to 11 foot ceilings and a fabulous sunroom with panelled ceiling surrounded by windows.

Located on Willowgrove Trail, the home also features natural stone tile heated flooring throughout, three-car attached garage and a partially finished lower level with an additional 2,000 square feet of living space and boasts a spacious entertainment area with floor-to-ceiling stone gas fireplace, wet bar with custom cabinetry, a fourth bedroom, three-piece bath, refrigerated wine cellar with racking and ample storage.

The designer kitchen is spectacular with custom cabinetry, granite countertops, glass tile backsplash, KitchenAid Professional Series stainless steel appliances, large eat-in area with panoramic views, walk-out to patio and is open concept to the great room with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and waffle ceiling.

There are just too many incredible features in this home to adequately put into words. They must been seen to be believed. You can view the video at www.dancoopertv.com or we look forward to seeing you on Sunday from 2 to 4 pm.

The Dan Cooper Team is an award-winning brokerage 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. Go to www.Oakvilleburlingtonhouseprices.com to get your free 2012 September Report on Oakville/Burlington house prices. Also “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dancooperteam for the latest real estate and community news.

Decluttering is a critical step in the home-selling process. Without question, a home can sell much quicker if you take the time to remove a lot of the furniture and accessories that often overwhelm spaces in the home.

For more on this, we turn to one of The Dan Cooper Team’s newest partners, professional organizer Steve Ilott. “Often people don’t realize the ‘normal’ they live in isn’t other people’s normal. Their personal objects, family photos, taste in art or too many pieces of furniture are the things that detract and distract from a buyer’s perspective. When one has a micro second to make an impression, one has to focus on the space. The key is to enhance the size and feel of a room. It’s all about the house, not its contents. That’s not to say a good clean Zen stage isn’t important; it is. But it must enhance the space not remove from it.”

Steve says that even homes previously on the market, that were cluttered and not overly viewable, when cleaned up and allowed trades such as painters, carpet cleaners etc. to do their work, created a catalyst for action and quicker sales as well as for a good deal more money.

“My first impression is that the rooms are purpose driven, that is, each room defined by use. A room that confuses is a room that overwhelms both the owner and buyers. A living room should not double as children’s playroom for showing. A dining room is not the computer room or a place to have a rack of clothes. Keep it simple and display for purpose. I immediately make a mental inventory of what doesn’t fit and how to use what may be around the house to make that room sing its purpose.”

When you move items out, but still want to save them for your new home, Steve says the options include: Putting items in storage on site (good reasons to clear out the basement and garage) or bring in a POD which is a trailer that is deposited in the driveway, packed up and brought away for temporary storage and later delivered to the new location. Also self storage is a good option but can often turn into long-term storage if you don’t follow up and get the items moved.

If you just want to get rid of stuff, Steve has a network of charity organizations that will take unwanted items that are in good condition. “There is no income level that doesn’t need this cathartic therapy. I call it therapy for the home, but often it’s therapy for the homeowner.”

Steve calls himself a domestic archaeologist and has a passion for challenging spaces. He is also a popular speaker who is helping audiences declutter their lives. Visit Steve’s website, www.decluttering.ca, and you will find a fun video showing you some before and afters as well as more information about his services.

When you work with The Dan Cooper Team, you have at your fingertips more than a group of professionals who will effectively sell your home. You also have at your disposal experts who can take care of all your real estate needs – legal services, mortgages, carpet cleaning, staging and, yes, decluttering.

The Dan Cooper Team is an award-winning brokerage 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. Go to www.oakvilleburlingtonhouseprices.com to get your free 2012 September Report on Oakville/Burlington house prices. Also “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dancooperteam for the latest real estate and community news.

Gabrielle’s Ride – Presenting sponsor Dan Cooper

July 22nd 2012 was a challenging but emotional day for the many cyclists who took part in Oakville’s Gabrielle’s Ride. Hundreds of cyclists took to the streets starting from Appleby College to raise money in support of Cardiac Kids and the Pediatric Stroke Fund at The Sick Kids Foundation.

More than $75,000 was raised – an outstanding accomplishment for a great cause.
Gabrielle’s Ride is a charity event inspired by the life of Gabrielle Ide Cinanni, who died far too young from complications related to a congenital heart disease. She was only 5 years old when she passed away.

When she was two months old, Gabrielle was diagnosed with congenital heart disease. She had a unique form of coarctation of her aorta with no known treatment or cure and she struggled with the symptoms of heart failure. As an infant, Gabrielle was already fighting for her life.

Before her first birthday, she had undergone numerous invasive tests, hospital stays, frequent clinic appointments with several different specialists, therapists and had three angioplasties that the family hoped would save her life.

Within weeks of being diagnosed with heart disease, an MRI of her brain showed that Gabrielle had also suffered a stroke. She was too young to know exactly how this stroke would impact her life but it was clear that Gabrielle’s body was vulnerable and her future was uncertain. Surrounded by love and support and with her own will to live, Gabrielle’s health improved. For five and a half years, her passion for life and her laugh filled the family’s home with joy and inspired everyone’s hearts.

She was a special little girl and her story has touched the hearts of many. And so, on that Sunday, cyclists filled the streets – everyone from the accomplished cyclists who tackled the 100-kilometre route to the ambitious cyclists participating in the 50K to families and youngsters who did the 15K and the 2K “Tyke ride”.

It was a special day for Gabrielle’s mother Nikki, who created Gabrielle’s Ride and whose passion is to use the memory of her daughter to help children in the future.

“I’m proud to play even a minor role to help this worthy cause become one of the best attended events in the Oakville area,” stated Dan Cooper. “Dan has been a great friend to Gabrielle’s Ride since its inception in 2011,” adds Nikki. “He is a philanthropic pillar of the Oakville community and has graciously shared his experience with our team over these months of preparation.”

Building a stronger community means supporting great causes such as Gabrielle’s Ride. The Dan Cooper Team supports 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 Oakville and Burlington.

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.
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 Gabrielle’s Ride visit www.gabriellesride.com.