150 years!!

Gather some neighbours and friends and let’s celebrate this wonderful country we call home.

Phew, the spring rush is over! I hope you all got your gardens planted and that you are seeing them fill out and bloom! It was a super spring with the right amount of water, sun, and cool temperatures to make things grow here in Niagara (this week has been another story with such a crazy amount of rain!!). Did you notice how long the tulips, daffodils, and spring flowering trees continued to bloom? Unfortunately it was an awful spring for those that experienced severe flooding in other parts of Ontario and Canada!

One of the hardest parts of a growing season are the extremes. Extreme high and lows in temperatures, too much rain or too little.  That’s really the challenge for us gardeners. Every year is a whole new experience. We never know what to expect, so we adapt and try to make our gardens gorgeous using the tools that are available to us.

I’m finding the same thing in real estate. The market, like the weather, can change in a few days/weeks as we are experiencing right now in the current market. Today I’m doing an open house for a colleague and just before leaving my house, I grabbed my laptop in case it wasn’t busy. Good thing I did…I haven’t had one looker yet and I’ve been here for an hour. Just a month ago this would not have happened since there would have been dozens of people through the house already. Last week in my office someone described the hot market as if every house seemed to be the last house on earth. So in real estate as in gardening, the elements and circumstances can change. It’s now a buyer’s market.

So, why is this a good thing? Since there are not as many bidding wars, houses are going for prices closer to their true value and the locals, young singles and couples/families can enter into the market….whereas last month it was just a dream for many.  Currently I have a nice list of people who are looking for a home with specific details, and that takes time to find the right property. However in this market it will be easier since there are an abundance of homes for sale out there today! I love matching people to the right home; I definitely have found my niche (another one to add to my list :)).

A few tips for you about gardening:

• Tease (gently) the roots of plants before planting them in the ground or in a container.
• Fertilize with an all purpose fertilizer. Containers weekly, gardens bi-weekly. Be sure the soil is moist before fertilizing.
• Deadhead and pinch back plants that are getting long and straggly.

I’ve noticed loads of aphids on roses, burning bushes, any plant with new young growth. Spray them with a natural pesticide (active ingredients are pyrethrums).

• Buying and selling a house (and moving!!) can be very stressful. The right person walking alongside you can (and will) make all the difference!
 

Big news!

My updated website is up and ready to view at www.karinvermeer.ca. You will find tips for both home buyers and sellers, plus lots of great information. Tell your friends and family that I am now active in real estate as well as gardening. I can be your home and garden realtor! I’m working out of the RE/MAX Niagara Realty office in St Catharines on Martindale Rd. If you are curious about what’s happening in the housing market, or you would like to know what your home is worth, give me a call!
Have a wonderful weekend celebrating and be safe!