When we sell a home, we do everything in our power to get as many eyes on it as possible. Nowadays, there’s no better way to accomplish that goal than with a customized marketing strategy that includes video. This increasingly-critical trend offers home sellers many benefits, which is why it’s so important to work with an agent who understands it—inside and out.

Here are five reasons video should be part of your marketing plan when you sell your home…

1) Videos Get Results

At the end of the day, videos simply help marketers achieve the best results. They increase the probability that visitors will purchase a product or service (in this case, your home) by 64 per cent. Not only that, a recent study showed that 46 per cent of internet users took action after watching an ad in this format. In other words: viewers don’t just become more interested after watching a video. They’re also more like to take the next step in the buying process!

2) They’re More Immersive Than Photos

While photography is still a crucial aspect of any listing strategy, videos can immerse the viewer in an unbeatable way. Imagine a shot of what it’s like to pass your manicured lawn and walk through the front door. Picture an overhead view of your property, or a tour of the master bedroom. This type of media can help buyers decide if your home is really right for them—and encourage those who are serious to take action sooner.

3) They’re Perfect For Showcasing Features

When your home has standout features, you need a unique way to show them off. Fortunately, through video, you can see details in a new and dynamic light. The truth is, photos only go so far in these situations. It’s hard to get the full effect of features like crown moulding in a one-dimensional photograph. Likewise, an exterior shot of a property doesn’t always do it justice. In contrast, aerial videography can capture it in all its glory to ‘wow’ buyers.

4) Video Is Perfect For Sharing

The vast majority of buyers search for a home online, and video is the optimal avenue to attract them. This dynamic media type can be easily shared across social media and online platforms, from Instagram and Facebook to listing websites and more. It’s the ideal way to extend your marketing reach far and wide!

5) They’re Easy To Create

The right agent will have the tools and knowledge required to create beautiful, professional videos for your listing. We should know—our very own Richard Silver was named one of the Top 10 Real Estate Video Influencers of 2020 by Reloquence!

As a team, we have a thorough understanding of video marketing—and we make the most of it whenever possible. In fact, it could play an important role in selling your home quickly—and for top dollar!

Thinking of selling? Let us show you the difference our video marketing—and expert team—can make in your sale, starting with a market evaluation. Book an evaluation today.

Cabbagetown is a charming neighbourhood with a rich history. Its name comes from the many cabbages grown by struggling Irish immigrants in the area during the mid-to-late 19th century. Locals started referring to it as “Cabbagetown,” and the name stuck! Of course, this quaint east end community has changed a lot since then—and as far as we’re concerned, it’s worth getting to know.

Here are five reasons we love living in Cabbagetown…

1) The Community Vibe

Talk a stroll through Cabbagetown, and you’ll immediately notice its vibrant, friendly feel. The area attracts a diverse range of residents, including (but not limited to) professors from the nearby University of Toronto, young families, and aspiring artists. Cabbagetown has an active BIA that hosts community events such as the Cabbagetown Festival, Movie in the Park events, and Art Walks, among others.

2) It’s a Great Place to Eat!

The independent shops and restaurants that line the streets of Cabbagetown add to the area’s charm and community spirit. There’s no question that residents are passionate about supporting their local businesses! Local favourites include House on Parliament for elevated pub fare, F’Amelia Ristorante for Italian dishes, and JetFuel Coffee Shop for grab-and-go coffee and baked goods.

3) The Location

Located just east of the downtown core, Cabbagetown has very accessible transit. Bus routes run through the neighbourhood, and Sherbourne and Castle Frank stations provide subway access at its north end. Motorists will appreciate being in close proximity to some of the city’s major arteries (the Don Valley Parkway to the east and the Gardiner Expressway to the south).

4) The Beautiful Green Spaces

Cabbagetown is home to the one-of-a-kind Riverdale Farm. If you’re looking for something different to do with the family, touring this unique attraction should be high on your list. At this working farm, you can visit livestock, explore over three kilometres of trail, and take a step back in time with a visit to the historic farmhouse. Right next door sits one of the city’s largest green spaces: Riverdale Farm. Here you’ll find tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a splash pad, and much more.

5) The Homes

Cabbagetown maintains its small-town feel thanks in part to its tree-lined residential streets and beautiful homes. Cabbagetown real estate is known for its incredible heritage architecture — in fact, it has North America’s largest collection of preserved Victorian homes. The neighbourhood has also seen an influx of development over the years. Today, you’ll find a growing number of modern condos and townhomes.

Interested in living in Cabbagetown? We’re here to help you find your dream home in this unique community. Reach out to our team today.

There’s a lot that goes into a successful home sale—and often, staging is one of the most crucial steps. From more impressive showings to better listing photos, the process can provide some major benefits. While a growing number of sellers understand the value of staging, many remain unsure about how it works in the virtual realm. Fortunately, there’s never been a better time to learn about this technology than now!

If you’re preparing to sell your home, here’s what you should know about virtual staging…

Staging Basics

Many sellers believe that staging is all about upping a property’s style quotient. The truth is, there’s a lot more to it than that. Using a few basic building blocks (such as paint, furnishings, and artwork), an agent with the right expertise can pull together a beautiful, cohesive aesthetic.

A staged property should be chic enough to look contemporary, comfortable enough to feel like home, and subdued enough that it won’t turn off buyers who have their own distinct sense of style. When you find the right balance, it’s like magic.

Ultimately, staging helps you attract the largest possible number of buyers. That can mean more offers, a better price, and even a quicker sale (90 per cent faster on average, according to one RESA study).

What Is Virtual Staging?

While staging can come with some big advantages, embracing it fully isn’t always practical. In some cases, properties are empty when they go on the market—which can make it difficult for buyers to see their potential. In other situations, sellers don’t have enough time to go through the staging process (or it doesn’t make sense for them to do so logistically).

Then, of course, there’s the potential for health issues. The pandemic has shown us that home tours can come with some degree of risk. While the right precautions can make them safer, digital technology can also help by reducing the need to hold them in-person. And when it comes to showing properties online, virtual staging is the perfect complement!

Through the use of graphic software, it’s possible to insert pieces of furniture and decor into a living space—and even change the paint. Your real estate agent can help make that happen remotely.

When it comes to digital tools, we’re big fans of BoxBrownie.com. This online hub provides high-quality photo-enhancing and retouching services, including virtual staging. The resulting images are polished and inviting, which is important given that sub-par listing photos could mean fewer showing opportunities.

Though it’s not used for virtual staging per se, Wowzler.com can also contribute to the positive impression your home makes. This virtual-renovation company allows you to show buyers what your property could look like once the basement is finished and the kitchen cabinets are updated.

New Possibilities

The truth is, most homes could benefit from a handful of improvements and a few stylistic tweaks. While it’s not a replacement for the real thing, virtual staging can help buyers imagine the many possibilities of your property. Depending on your circumstances, it may be the most helpful and efficient way to start marketing.

Being open to suggestions is key. A skilled local agent can help you understand the level of styling best suited to your home—and whether going the virtual route could help you achieve your selling goals. Remember: it’s not about your personal design preferences. It’s about growing your buyer pool and (hopefully) your return!

While we’ve all experienced our fair share of frustration in recent months, there’s no shortage of things that make day-to-day life a pleasure. Food is one of them. Of course, it’s not just the act of eating that’s enjoyable. Preparing a meal can be a wonderful way to pass the time—especially when you have new recipes and the freshest ingredients at your disposal. That’s where meal kits come in.

Fortunately, some of the most exciting restaurants in Downtown Toronto want to make preparing delicious dishes a breeze! Here are five places offering elevated meal kits in the downtown core…

1) Barberian’s Steak House

Who doesn’t love Barberian’s? This steakhouse is a Toronto institution, and there’s a reason it’s been serving patrons for over 60 years. The ambiance and wine selection (there are over 30,000 bottles in the cellar) may be part of it, but most devotees go for the food! Fortunately, you can continue savouring the restaurant’s signature dishes (including dry-aged steaks, butchered in-house) during the pandemic.

Barberian’s meal kits, which change every week, are worth the $100 price tag (for two people). The cuts of meat are a thing of beauty—and the sides (which range from heavenly corn chowder to ready-to-roast Brussels sprouts) will leave you wanting seconds. You’ll also get exclusive cooking tips to walk you through the process—and help you become a masterful home chef.

2) Wvrst

Ready to order something a little different? Take a break from the pizza and pad thai to enjoy a hearty German feast. Wvrst serves up everything from pretzels to currywurst sausage to duck fat fries, not to mention a wide selection of brews and ciders.

Right now, it’s all available for delivery and pickup (along with pantry items such as preserved beets and potato salad). Get in touch to make an order from the Union Station location—then fire up the stove, fill up your plate, and let the craft beer flow!

3) Miku

As far as we’re concerned, Miku is one of the best Japanese eateries in the city—let alone downtown. Its gorgeous cuts of fish, combined with fresh and unexpected flavours, have made the restaurant’s kaiseki menu incredibly popular. Now it’s providing a must-try option to prepare at home.

You can order Miku’s Temaki Sushi Meal Kit through Loblaws. Assemble your handrolls using high-quality ingredients (which include spicy salmon, pickled daikon, and perfectly-prepared sushi rice, among others). For just $55—and a $5 delivery fee—you can get this bundle of deliciousness delivered straight to your door. (Oh, and for all you taco enthusiasts, there’s also a PC Chef’s Meal Kit from La Carnita, too).

4) General Assembly

While every night can’t be pizza night, we’re definitely big fans of the perfect savoury slice. That’s why we’re thrilled that Bay Street’s General Assembly is offering kits that allow us all to prepare its famous pies at home. Italian food lovers, rejoice!

We’re talking about a place that, according to Toronto Life, serves up the city’s “best pizza right now.” With naturally-leavened dough and truly inspired flavour combinations, it’s no wonder General Assembly has been recognized by the magazine. If you’re planning to order a kit tonight, you can’t go wrong with a classic: the margarita.

5) 852 Curbside Collective

If you’re looking for variety, check out 852 Curbside Collective. This group of local Toronto businesses is putting out an exciting selection of foods available for pickup. First off, there are the kits. From burgers to brunches to vegan picnic spreads, these bundles contain everything you need to whip up something impressive.

If you’re looking for prepared foods or pantry items, this collective on King West also has an online market. Enticing options include fennel and ale vegan sausages, bake-at-home miso cinnamon buns, and Asian caesar salad (think nori and sesame seeds). Need we say more?

Are you ready to find the perfect home within walking distance to the best restaurants in Downtown Toronto? Reach out to learn how we can help you purchase your perfect place!

In my first years in Real Estate, the look that was selling was white walls, shag carpeting and exposed brick. As a matter of fact, we did not call the purveyors of that formula “builders”, we called them “WHITE PAINTERS”. However, it was a look that sold and it seems that in the past years we have seen “White” come and go, “Shag carpeting” has returned, exposed brick has been covered by stucco and now Stucco is being replaced with brick. Architectural staircases and Victorian detail in principal rooms are being forced out by totally open-concept and wall-less main floors.

It seems that every 5 to 10 years there is a new look adopted by the buying public. As a realtor, it is a constant challenge to keep abreast of the “Latest Look”. Luckily we now have companies like BoxBrownie.com and Wowzler.com to assist. BoxBrownie can take existing photos, change colours in the existing photos and virtually stage them. Wowzler can show your clients what an existing home can look like updated with a fresh stylish renovation. These are great assists to us these days. As a realtor, it does not take long to realize that as much as we love our clients, there are few that can see past evident challenges.

For instance…We have a wonderful listing at 2 Indian Grove in Toronto’s High Park that has what I would consider a timeless architectural design, by a prominent International Architect, John Patkau. There is a wonderful staircase centred below skylights that rises up three floors allowing natural sunlight to bathe what would have probably been a darker home. That staircase is presently painted a teal blue which with the white walls and ceilings really accentuate the architectural detail. However, after one of the recent showings, a comment was made that the Teal Blue was overpowering and that the buyer would have wanted more white. BoxBrownie to the rescue and now “We Need Your Vote”.

Feel free to comment, or email us with your thoughts!

It’s no secret that Toronto is a mecca for young professionals. With incredible employment opportunities, an abundance of housing options, and an almost endless number of things to do, this city is tailor-made for the youthful and ambitious. Of course, some areas are better suited to those who are building a career—and enjoying the perks of urban living—than others.

Here are five of best areas to live in Toronto for young professionals…

1) Yonge-Eglinton

Much of the population of Yonge-Eglinton works in the area. That’s really not surprising, given that the neighbourhood has one of the highest employment densities in the city!

Residents here skew younger, and that’s reflected in the lively amenities you’ll find nearby. Trendy local eateries (like Bar Buca and Grazie Restorante) and eclectic boutiques (such as the Drake General Store and Eko for contemporary jewellery) abound. While you’ll find everything you need in the neighbourhood, travelling to other parts of the city is convenient thanks to the Eglinton subway station.

2) Distillery District

Gorgeous, turn-of-the-century architecture. Lively local businesses. An abundance of galleries, festivals, and outdoor events. Who wouldn’t want to live in the Distillery District? While this vibrant area draws buyers of all stripes, it’s a particularly good fit for young professionals.

The Distillery District’s one-of-a-kind developments are ideal if you want to embrace condo living—without resorting to a cookie-cutter unit. Its central location makes getting downtown a breeze, and there’s an incredible selection of local places to grab a coffee, enjoy a cocktail. or savour an incredible meal. The neighbourhood also hosts a Christmas Market that’s one of the city’s biggest annual attractions!

3) Cabbagetown

If you’re looking for residential charm without the commute, there’s no better place to be than Cabbagetown. This east-end community—with its revamped Victorian homes—is pretty, peaceful, and relatively close to downtown.

Locals grab their morning fix at Jet Fuel Coffee or It’s Jenny Espresso Boutique. Those who have a car and work downtown enjoy a less than 10-minute drive to the office. After work, amateur chefs check out the incredible selection of specialty foods at the Epicure Shop, while fitness enthusiasts hit up the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre.

4) Liberty Village

West of downtown, Liberty Village is an ultra-convenient neighbourhood known for its young and vibrant population—and for being condo central. If you’re looking for a shiny new unit, you’ll find plenty of options here.

For many buyers, the biggest perk of living in and around Liberty Street is being close to the office. That usually means one of the creative agencies, startups, or other small businesses in the area’s converted warehouses and factories. The neighbourhood is also known for its hip eateries (like Mildred’s Temple Kitchen) and watering holes (think Liberty Commons Brewery).

5) King West

It might be the king of all neighbourhoods for young professionals. If you work in one of the area’s corporate offices, you’ll enjoy the convenience of living in King West. You’ll also appreciate its condo price tags, which tend to be a little lower than what you’ll find right downtown.

Buzz-worthy restaurants (like Ascari and the Green Wood), along with enticing pubs and nightclubs, line the neighbourhood’s main drag. Having the Entertainment District nearby means residents never have to endure a boring night, while the King streetcar ensures that they have no trouble getting to other parts of city when need be.

If you’re young, ambitious, and looking for a Toronto neighbourhood that will perfectly suit your lifestyle, your options are almost unlimited. By carefully considering your needs and exploring your options, you can find the ideal place to call home.

Have you got another neighbourhood that you consider to be one of the best areas to live in Toronto for young professionals? Let us know!

When you’re ready to find the right place, we’re here to help. Reach out to learn how we can ensure that your transition is as smooth as possible.