WELCOME TO THE ABTEAM DECEMBER  BLOG!

The Most Magical Of Seasons Is Here Once Again…

December is surely the most wonderful month of the year! The air fairly crackles with excitement, promise and delight! Home to good, old fashioned Christmas baking, glittering lights on trees, festive get-togethers, and thoughtful gift giving, it is the month where we celebrate love, kindness and generosity like no other. 

At RE/MAX Jazz we are so very proud of what we do for our community all year through, but most especially at Christmas. This year, we were once again invited to help the staff at Parkwood decorate the incredible mansion for the holidays. Make sure you pay a visit to this wonderful national historic site over December and take in the festive magic we created there! Food and winter clothing drives are well underway at our offices to help out those who are critically in need in our area; feel free to drop off non perishable food items and gently used clothing to either of our Oshawa locations for distribution through local church and food bank endeavours. Under WEEMAX Children’s Charities, we continue to support the NICU at Lakeridge Health Oshawa with our $250,000 pledge to buy brand new, much needed incubators for our littlest residents here in Durham. To date, WEEMAX has funneled over $500,000 back to the community in less than 10 years; it is both our greatest achievement and our most profound privilege to have accomplished so much thus far. 

This year, it is our earnest hope that your celebrations and festivities are more meaningful than ever before; it is our sincere wish that your lives will be blessed with everything that is good and positive, beautiful and kind; and it is our heartfelt desire that 2025 usher in a year of great prosperity, happiness and good health for you and your family. 

Christmas is all about giving and all about caring. It’s the season when we embrace thankfulness, thoughtfulness and grace in our thoughts, words and deeds. With that in mind, thank you so much for allowing us to be part of your life’s story; for playing a role in the achievement of your goals, and for sharing in the journey of the attainment of your dreams.  It is our absolute honour to serve you.

Whatever your family traditions may be, and wherever your travels take you during the season, we simply wish you a very merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays! 

CURRENT MARKET STATS:

THE 12 DAYS OF HOLIDAY HOME SAFETY!

Don’t let mishaps around the house turn you into a Grinch this holiday season! Follow these easy tips to keep your family and home safe and merry all winter long.

1. Double check detectors:

Do you hear what I hear? Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and first aid kit handy at all times.

2. Don’t leave open flames unattended:

As you light those candy cane scented candles, make sure they are never left lit unattended. If you have young children or pets, consider battery-operated candles instead of traditional candles.

3. Light your tree safely:

Traditional incandescent Christmas lights can get hot and create a potential fire hazard. When buying a real tree, check that it is fresh and water it daily. If buying an artificial tree, make sure that it is flame resistant.

4. Check light strings and cords:

The holidays should be merry and bright but make sure you throw out any light strings and extension cords that are frayed or have exposed wires, loose connections, or broken sockets. Never run electrical cords through doorways or under carpets as they are a tripping hazard.

5. Watch out for dangerous items:

Kids do the darnedest things, especially if you add the excitement of the holidays. Avoid putting candles, metal hooks and breakable or small decorations within reach of young children and pets.

6. Deck the halls safely:

When the temperature drops outside, we turn up the heat inside. Make sure to keep trees and flammable decorations away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources.

7. Place poisonous plants and decorations out of reach:

There’s nothing that gets you in the holiday spirit like a festive wreath, mistletoe, holly or a beautiful poinsettia, but they can be toxic! Make sure any poisonous plants and decorations are out of reach of your pets and children.

 8. Ensure trees and ladders are stable:

Snow is the only thing that should be falling this winter. If you have a tree, double check that it has a stable platform to keep it upright. The same goes with ladders – always make sure you have someone holding the ladder while in use.

9. Keep an eye on pets:

The holidays bring extra risks to pets as they love to get their paws into everything. Accidental ingestion of chocolates, poisonous food and plants increases this time of year, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your furry friends.

10. Prevent porch pirates:

Holiday shopping includes online shopping. But, each year, millions have packages stolen from their homes — usually right from their front porch. Consider options such as porch cameras or providing detailed delivery instructions with a safe location.

11. Ensure your house is safe while away:

Heading out of town for the holidays? Hold off on sharing your absence on social media until after your return. This could be an unintentional invitation for thieves. Make sure to leave a light or two on a timer and have someone come check on your house regularly to ensure everything is in proper order.

12. Clear your walkways:

The weather outside can be frightful! If you get snow and ice, stock up on salt and shovels. Keeping the areas around your house walkable helps prevent slip-and-fall injuries.

DECEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER:

17TH - NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY

21ST - WINTER SOLSTICE

24TH - CHRISTMAS EVE

25TH - CHRISTMAS DAY

26TH - BOXING DAY

31ST - NEW YEAR'S EVE

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE ABTEAM!

We would like to wish you and your family a safe, happy and peaceful holiday season and to extend our sincere thanks for your support this past year and hope you have prosperous New Year in 2025.

As always, we are sincerely grateful for the opportunity to serve your real estate needs, and those of your family and friends, neighbours and co-workers.  It is a constant thrill to receive personal recommendations from our clients, and we have been so fortunate to be able to build our business on our name and reputation – and it’s all thanks to you!