Brian Guy : Blog : Latest Blog Posts

Buying the Right House - Then Transforming It Before Move-In

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:45:02 GMT

One of the biggest advantages I offer my clients is something most real estate agents simply can’t: I don’t just help you buy the house; I can help transform it before you even move in.

Because I’m both a licensed real estate agent and a contractor with over a decade of renovation experience, my clients are often able to buy homes others overlook, then turn them into exactly what they want.

Recently, I finished a project that perfectly shows how this process works.

Step 1: Selling the Existing Home

My clients were ready for a change but, like many homeowners in today’s market, they were nervous about timing and expectations.

We prepared their home for sale, marketed it properly, and listed it.

The result:

Sold in under a week
$30,000 over their expectations

Getting strong results on the sale gave us the flexibility and confidence to move forward with the next step.

Step 2: Finding Opportunity Others Miss

Instead of competing for a fully updated home where buyers often overpay, we targeted something different: a dated property with good fundamentals.

These are the homes that scare away most buyers but represent the best opportunity.

We ended up purchasing a house that had been sitting on the market and needed a full cosmetic update.

Because of the condition and negotiation strategy, we secured the property for $135,000 under the asking price.

That kind of discount creates instant equity — but only if you have a plan to unlock the potential.

Step 3: Renovating Before Move-In

This is where my dual background becomes a major advantage.

Instead of my clients moving into an outdated house and living through months of construction, we renovated the property before they moved in.

During the renovation we completed:

A full interior refresh
Updated finishes throughout the home
Modernized spaces to fit the family’s lifestyle
And even built a cigar smoking shed out back

By the time my clients received the keys, they weren’t moving into a renovation project — they were moving into their finished home.

Why This Approach Works

Many buyers focus only on turnkey homes, but that’s where competition, and prices, are highest.

When you combine smart buying with strategic renovations, you can often:

Buy for less
Customize the home to your taste
Increase the property’s value immediately
Avoid paying retail for someone else’s renovations

It’s a strategy that requires experience in both real estate and construction, which is why I’ve built my business around offering both.

Thinking About Buying?

If you’re planning to move, there may be opportunities others are overlooking.

Sometimes the best house isn’t the perfect one on day one, it’s the one with the right bones and the right plan.

If you’re curious about how this process works, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to walk through what’s possible.

Open House. Open House on Sunday, July 13, 2025 2:00PM - 4:00PM

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 09:07:19 GMT

Please visit our Open House at 99 Hockley Avenue in Durham. See details here

Open House on Sunday, July 13, 2025 2:00PM - 4:00PM

The Great One - 99 Hockley Ave Is now on the market. This beautifully designed home blends comfort, style, and location into one standout package. With strong curb appeal and thoughtful landscaping, 99 Hockley sets a winning first impression before you even step inside. You'll find an open-concept layout that creates a perfect flow for entertaining or family living. The modern kitchen is a true centerpiece, and each bedroom offers a calm, restful retreat. Quality finishes and architectural details are found throughout. Step out back to a private oasis featuring a hot tub and a spacious yard that invites relaxation. Located in the highly sought-after North Bowmanville neighborhood, this home offers proximity to excellent schools, parks, shopping, and commuter routes. Move-in ready and full of charm, this home lives up to its legendary address.

Open House. Open House on Sunday, July 6, 2025 2:00PM - 4:00PM

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 09:07:41 GMT

Please visit our Open House at 99 Hockley Avenue in Durham. See details here

Open House on Sunday, July 6, 2025 2:00PM - 4:00PM

Open House. Open House on Saturday, July 5, 2025 2:00PM - 4:00PM

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 09:07:15 GMT

Please visit our Open House at 99 Hockley Avenue in Durham. See details here

Open House on Saturday, July 5, 2025 2:00PM - 4:00PM

New property listed in Clarington

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:08:56 GMT

I have listed a new property at 99 Hockley Avenue in Durham. See details here

I have sold a property at 71 Fordover Drive in Toronto

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:06:20 GMT

I have sold a property at 71 Fordover Drive in Toronto on Apr 21, 2025. See details here

Welcome to this turnkey bungalow in the highly sought-after Guildwood neighborhood! This home showcases thoughtful upgrades and impeccable pride of ownership. The main floor features tile and hardwood throughout, with an open-concept kitchen, living, and dining area. Both full bathrooms have been updated and include heated floors for added comfort. The finished basement, with a separate entrance, includes a spacious rec room with a gas fireplace and a renovated home office. You'll appreciate the abundance of built-in units and smart storage solutions. Step outside to a perennial garden and spacious garage, plus beautifully landscaped backyard. Relax or entertain on the large private deck, surrounded by mature trees. As a bonus, the fully finished and insulated 8x10 shed tucked among the trees can be used all winter long making it a perfect retreat, playhouse, or creative space. Just steps away, enjoy a secluded park and scenic trails that lead to the lake, offering endless outdoor enjoyment. The friendly neighborhood is also home to excellent schools, making it a perfect place for families.

I have sold a property at 58 Ted Miller Drive in Durham

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:06:40 GMT

I have sold a property at 58 Ted Miller Drive in Durham on Oct 25, 2024. See details here

Large executive home built to perfection by Brookfield. Almost 3000 square feet of meticulously detailed home. This house has 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, office room on main floor, large kitchen and Juliet Balcony overlooking the grand family room with a large chandelier and windows - luxury meets perfection. No sidewalk, long driveway (four full size parking driveway + two in garage). Remodelled throughout. Hand scraped 7 inch hardwood on main, and more modern hardwood on 2nd floor. Pot lights, smooth ceiling and new light fixtures throughout. Partially finished basement with new floor paint and large cold cellar room. Walking distance to schools, shopping center (Walmart, Canadian tire, home depot, lots of restaurants, others), and near the future go train. Private and beautiful home with a large partially finished basement for more future potentials. HRV. Remodelled garage with work bench and shelf and new paint. Large backyard with shed and deck. Book your showing today.

I have sold a property at 105 Westover Drive in Durham

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:06:40 GMT

I have sold a property at 105 Westover Drive in Durham on Oct 24, 2024. See details here

LINKED house by foundation only. Welcome to your dream home! This spacious 4-bedroom family residence, situated on a generous pie-shaped lot, offers everything you've been searching for. The open-concept main floor boasts a modern kitchen with ample cabinetry and updated quartz countertops, perfect for both everyday living and entertaining. The family room, complete with a cozy gas fireplace and sleek pot lights, creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. Step outside to a large backyard oasis featuring an expansive deck, ideal for gatherings, and a convenient garden shed for extra storage. Upstairs, you'll find four generously sized bedrooms, providing comfort and privacy for the entire family. The recently finished basement adds even more living space, including a rec room, exercise area, and a stylish two-piece bathroom. This home is the complete package-don't miss your chance!

Open House. Open House on Saturday, April 12, 2025 2:00PM - 4:00PM

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:10:03 GMT

Please visit our Open House at 71 Fordover Drive in Toronto. See details here

Open House on Saturday, April 12, 2025 2:00PM - 4:00PM

Open House. Open House on Sunday, April 13, 2025 2:00PM - 4:00PM

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:10:03 GMT

Please visit our Open House at 71 Fordover Drive in Toronto. See details here

Open House on Sunday, April 13, 2025 2:00PM - 4:00PM

New property listed in Toronto E08

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:13:32 GMT

I have listed a new property at 71 Fordover Drive in Toronto. See details here

I have sold a property at 892 Marinet Crescent in Pickering

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:02:03 GMT

I have sold a property at 892 Marinet Crescent in Pickering on Jul 14, 2024. See details here

Welcome home to this beautiful main section of a semi detached house. Enjoy family gatherings in the open concept kitchen with a center island and granite tops. Livingroom overlooks the dining room and kitchen with an electric fireplace and Bell Fiber optics cable ready to be hooked up. 3 bedrooms with an updated bathroom including a stand-in shower and smart mirror. Close to Pickering Go and 401. Short drive to Frenchmans Bay, waterfront, Marina, and Pickering Casino

I have sold a property at 1065 Edward Bolton Crescent in Oshawa

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:02:03 GMT

I have sold a property at 1065 Edward Bolton Crescent in Oshawa on Jan 30, 2024. See details here

Welcome to this beautiful 4 bedroom home located in the desired area of Pinecrest. The large open concept main floor features an eat-in kitchen with granite countertops, center island, and stainless steel appliances. Bright and spacious living and dining room with gas fireplace and large windows. Convenient main floor garage access. Find your large primary bedroom with a walk in closet, and 4 piece ensuite with a large soaker tub and stand in shower. Additional 3 large bedrooms upper floor laundry!

I have sold a property at 1072 Edward Bolton Crescent in Oshawa

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:02:03 GMT

I have sold a property at 1072 Edward Bolton Crescent in Oshawa on Dec 11, 2023. See details here

This is the one! 4 bedroom house with a large open concept main floor. Kitchen has a center island and breakfast bar where you can keep an eye on your kids at the park; Main floor garage access with auto opener. Primary ensuite with soaker tub, glass shower and W/I closet. Large bedrooms. Convenient upper floor laundry. Room for the whole family with the full nanny suite in the basement. Meticulously maintained home and original owners in a friendly community. Move in and enjoy.

I have sold a property at 105 Westover DR in Clarington

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 09:02:05 GMT

I have sold a property at 105 Westover DR in Clarington on Oct 24, 2024. See details here

Open House. Open House on Saturday, October 19, 2024 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 09:01:49 GMT

Please visit our Open House at 105 Westover DR in Clarington. See details here

Open House on Saturday, October 19, 2024 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Open House. Open House on Saturday, October 12, 2024 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 09:02:03 GMT

Please visit our Open House at 105 Westover DR in Clarington. See details here

Open House on Saturday, October 12, 2024 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

New property listed in Bowmanville, Clarington

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 09:02:02 GMT

I have listed a new property at 105 Westover DR in Clarington. See details here

I have sold a property at 892 Marinet CRES in Pickering

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 09:02:56 GMT

I have sold a property at 892 Marinet CRES in Pickering on Jul 14, 2024. See details here

New property listed in West Shore, Pickering

Fri, 31 May 2024 09:02:49 GMT

I have listed a new property at 892 Marinet CRES in Pickering. See details here

I have sold a property at 1065 Edward Bolton CRES in Oshawa

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:02:25 GMT

I have sold a property at 1065 Edward Bolton CRES in Oshawa on Jan 30, 2024. See details here

New property listed in Pinecrest, Oshawa

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 09:02:35 GMT

I have listed a new property at 1065 Edward Bolton CRES in Oshawa. See details here

I have sold a property at 1072 Edward Bolton CRES in Oshawa

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 09:02:21 GMT

I have sold a property at 1072 Edward Bolton CRES in Oshawa on Dec 11, 2023. See details here

Open House. Open House on Saturday, December 2, 2023 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 09:02:58 GMT

Please visit our Open House at 1072 Edward Bolton CRES in Oshawa. See details here

Open House on Saturday, December 2, 2023 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Open House. Open House on Sunday, December 3, 2023 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 09:02:58 GMT

Please visit our Open House at 1072 Edward Bolton CRES in Oshawa. See details here

Open House on Sunday, December 3, 2023 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

New property listed in Pinecrest, Oshawa

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 09:02:44 GMT

I have listed a new property at 1072 Edward Bolton CRES in Oshawa. See details here

Getting Ready to Sell

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 19:19:16 GMT

In a sellers market, it's pretty easy to sell your house, the real question is how much you can get for it!

What you want is for all of the potential buyers viewing your house to be walking in and saying "WOW! I have to have this place". When a buyer walks through your house and they see a bunch of items that need to be updated or repaired, you can bet they're going to allocate some of their total house budget towards fixing those issues.

Here's my process:

First off, every situation is different, which is why you want to start with an analysis. You'll want to do a comparative market analysis of the houses that recently sold in your area and prepare a report of your own home. Put together a gam plan of what should be done along with ideas that could be done. Compare those changes with your market analysis to see if the costs in those improvements would be worth it..

Your home report should also include a list of everything that could disappear for the next month. Stagers can help immensely with this portion. They can go through the house to give suggestions on what should go, stay, or be replaced. Don't think it's worth it hiring a stager? A detailed analysis will probably show you otherwise.

So what type of updates are best. In most cases, decluttering, a fresh coat of paint, cleaning, and staging is the quickest way to increase your potential selling price.

It's more than likely not worth it to do a full scale kitchen reno, but every situation is different. If a kitchen or washroom is really beat up, how much would it cost to redecorate and how much more might you get based on you market analysis. What about if it's just a little dated? Could you do a small "lipstick" reno? It's possible to take a week, put in $5,000 in ready and increase your potential market price by $50,000 or more. Especially in a sellers market, but this can hold true in a buyers market by making your house look the best in the area.

There's many different things you can do to increase your value and sell quickly. If you'd like a free consultation, I'd be happy to talk!

Brian Guy

REALTOR®

Right at Home Realty Inc., Brokerage

242 King St E, Ste 1

Oshawa, Ont.

L1H 1C7

Blind Bidding

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 16:04:35 GMT

Are you a fan of the blind bidding in Ontario? The feelings are mixed across the industry, but I will tell you that I am not.

Whether your buying or selling, I believe having an open bidding system would help protect everyone.

The main argument for blind bidding is that it would infringe on sellers rights. And let me just say, I bet a few those are the shady agents that lie about offers they have to get more money. Here's the thing, as long as they have an offer, they can say what they want. If a complaint is lodged against them to RECO, RECO can't even verify what the offer was, just of the existence of the offer. I'm not saying all the agent's for blind bidding are shady, but there's an issue in the industry which I will get to in my next post.

I believe that open bidding would actually help protect sellers too. I spoke with countless lawyers and many are telling me more and more buyers aren't able to close because of financing. People are over extending their budgets. Now say for example you're trying to buy a house and get caught up in a bidding war, are you ok with spending $50,000 more that the next offer. How about $100,000 more than the next highest offer? It happens and one of the worst situations to be in as a seller is the buyer over extending themselves and not being able to close; most of these sellers are in the process of buying their new house which then effects their financing.

I don't think open bidding would slow down the soaring house prices that much. It's all on supply and demand. Most people in the GTA are completely fine offering $20,000 over similar house that just sold just to start and in many cases if there's multiple bids, they're still fine going way over the next closest comp. I believe open bidding would just be an extra layer of protect, and piece of mind, for both buyers and sellers.

Brian Guy

REALTOR®

Right at Home Realty Inc., Brokerage

242 King St E, Ste 1

Oshawa, Ont.

L1H 1C7