Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Market Report September 2023

Please don’t hesitate to reach out for detailed stats that are specific to your neighbourhood, or even if you’re just curious about what the house down the street sold for – it’d be great to hear from you!

K-W OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATIONS

There’s so much to do in the K-W area during Oktoberfest!

The air is crisp and the leaves are starting to change colour which means that Oktoberfest is just around the corner!

K-W’s Oktoberfest celebrations began way back in 1969. It’s by far the largest Bavarian festival in North America attracting visitors from all over Canada and beyond!

This year, the festival has extended its run over three weekends between Friday, September 22nd and Saturday, October 14th. The official keg tapping will also take place in downtown Kitchener on Friday, October 6th.

Between Thursday, October 5th and Sunday, October 8th, Downtown Kitchener will be transformed into a bustling Bavarian village with a biergarten, authentic German cuisine, a local vendor market and a variety of live entertainment!

There’s also Kinderfest which takes place at Bingemans on Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st. This fall festival event offers fun for the whole family including carnival rides, pumpkin cookie decorating, face-painting and much more!

The various festhalle events are a big part of the Oktoberfest experience but there are also a wide variety of cultural events to enjoy throughout the city. Celebrating friends, family, community and fun is what the ultimate Wunderbar Oktoberfest experience is all about. Prost!

BEWARE OF BUYER TURN-OFFS

Make sure to address these common turn-offs so buyers don’t run for the door!

When you put your home on the market, it’s important that it appeals to a large cross-section of buyers in order to generate a frenzy of activity.

That said, buying a home is such an emotional decision that even a seemingly small issue can create a bad first impression that will stop buyers in their tracks. Here are a few common buyer turn-offs to be aware of:

Get Out
Make yourself scarce during showings as nothing turns buyers off more than a stalking seller.

Something Fishy
It’s best not to cook fish, bacon or other strong-smelling foods while your home’s on the market.

Dog Gone
Pets and their associated smells will put many buyers off so relocate them before showings and hide their bed, bones, toys, etc.

Killer Clutter
Buyers want to imagine themselves living in your home but most can’t look past other people’s clutter, even if it’s tucked away in closets and cupboards.

Minimal Maintenance
If buyers see that basic items such as leaky faucets and loose hinges haven’t been taken care of, they’ll assume that more serious items, such as the furnace, have also been neglected.

Basement Blues
A damp and dreary basement is a huge turnoff, so do your best to air it out. If it’s unfinished, consider painting it an ivory shade to make it feel more bright and spacious.

Grubby Grime
It’s imperative that your entire home remains thoroughly cleaned, right down to the inside of your microwave. Neglected personal spaces like bathrooms will have buyers running for the door!

When you sell your home, your goal is to get the highest price in the shortest amount of time. Sometimes the best way to do that is to focus on the small stuff. It’s definitely worth the effort and the good news is that depersonalizing, decluttering and thoroughly cleaning your home doesn’t cost a fortune.

ADJUSTING TO A NEW SCHOOL

Starting a new chapter at a different school can sometimes be a challenge.

Switching to a new school can cause children a considerable amount of stress. If your child has just started at a new school, the following tips may help them settle in:

Be Positive
Discuss your children’s fears while encouraging a confident approach to making new friends.

Fear Not
Chances are, you’ll be a little nervous too so be careful not to transfer your anxiety over to them.

Lighter Load
Consider dialing back chores for the first little while to give them a bit of extra time to relax and connect with their new classmates.

Join Up
Encourage your children to join school clubs/teams and participate in after-school activities so that they can have fun and meet new friends.

Lead the Way
Setting an example is key so consider attending field trips and other school events so that your kids will follow suit and become more involved themselves.

Moving to a new school can be a difficult transition so try to emphasize the positive when discussing the challenges and opportunities your children will face. If you encourage them to share their feelings with you, it’ll be much easier to help them adjust to their new surroundings.

Nothing makes me happier than helping someone find the perfect home! If you’re thinking about relocating, reach out so that we can discuss your next move!