Dan and Rachael Polakovic are dedicated to making your real estate experience easy and enjoyable. "Whether you are a first time home buyer, new to the City Of London or a long time resident looking for a change we make it our mission to find your perfect match and turn your dream of home ownership into a reality!" And the quality service doesn't stop there. For those looking to sell their home we guarantee our complete dedication to promote your listing continuosly and effectively until it is sold. Weekly open houses, extensive online promotion and full colour ads are just the start.  Our performance beats all promises! Experience the advantages of working with an Executive. We look forward to working hard for you.   Literally two Realtors for the price of ONE! Dan and Rachael Polakovic... 09/24/2009

Should You Have Your Ducts Cleaned? Most people are now aware that indoor air pollution is an issue of growing concern and increased visibility. Many companies are marketing products and services intended to improve the quality of your indoor air. You have probably seen an advertisement, received a coupon in the mail, or been approached directly by a company offering to clean your air ducts as a means of improving your home's indoor air quality. These services typically but not always range in cost from $450 to $1,000 per heating and cooling system, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, climatic region, and level of contamination. Duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components of fo... 09/24/2009

September 20th 2009 in the City Of London Walk A Mile In Her Shoes took place. This is a charity for Women's Community House of London Ontario where those who are Man Enough (men only) walk one mile around Victoria Park of London in a pair of red high heel pumps.                                                                                                   This year we were proud to be a part of such an exciting event. Not only was $45,000 dollars raised for Women's Community House of London but to see the support of our community for such an important organization was breathtaking.   For an album of pictures please visit our website at www.two-realtors.com A special thanks to those who came out in support of this great event! We hope to see you all again next year! Dan And Rachael P... 09/21/2009

 I am very passionate about my career. Not just my career.. but anything to do with Real Estate at all. This is really starting to show. We were out at the local fall fair. Us, our kids, some friends and their kids. We were enjoying a slice of pizza and a chat. It all started with how the company that used to offer pizza from that station is no longer there. It had been replaced with another really well known name in the business that can be found at various other stations throughout the fair grounds. This observation then spun into how possibly there was a clause in their contract that no other pizza vendor be within a certain distance and if the old vendor's lease expired or if they were paid out and asked to leave. Then if something like this is allowed and so on and so forth.       ... 09/17/2009

10 Tips for Creating a Household Budget MAKE GOALS Goals can be as short-term as buying a new pair of shoes next week, or as long-term as going on vacation next spring. INVOLVE YOUR ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD If it's just you, great. But if you have a spouse and/or children, create a budget together, and explain to everyone that they may be asked to make sacrifices. BUDGET IN FUN A budget that leaves no money for an occasional dinner out or for a family outing at an amusement park is designed to fail. Your budget should help you, not put you in a bind. MAKE THE EFFORT TO SAVE Most people look at saving as putting away money for a rainy day. But a better way to look at it is putting away money for a nice vacation. TAKE INVENTORY If you don't know where your money goes, how do you expect to manage ... 09/16/2009

Whenever I list a home or help a married couple purchase one, usually one of the spouses is the financial decision maker. Now, I am not going to hang myself by saying if it is the husband or the wife, but this little anecdote below may give you a sense of what I am finding out! Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business. When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed a wife with which to share his fortune. One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away. 'I may look like just an ordinary man,' he said to her, but in just a few years, my father will die, and I'll inherit $20 million.' Impressed, the woman obt... 09/15/2009

One of the crimes most frequently reported to the police is residential burglary. It's also the most preventable. It doesn't take much or cost much to out-smart most burglars. They're usually not professionals, but rather people taking advantage of an easy target. Burglars may do more than steal things. If they're surprised by someone coming home or if they choose a home that's occupied, someone may get hurt. Tips on Safeguarding Your Home Make sure all exterior doors have good locks-at least dead-bolt locks with a 1" throw. Always lock up when you go out, even if only for a few minutes. Secure sliding glass doors with bars or locks, or put a broom handle in the door track. Make sure your windows have good locks, especially those at ground level. Make sure all porches, entrances, and o... 09/14/2009

Yes it is here again!! Hard to believe that we have begun the annual good bye summer event. But we have! Once again the Western Fairgrounds of London Ontario have filled the buildings and splashed the grounds with vendors and rides and family fun galore! The band stand will be light up with lights and screaming fans for the annual demolitian derby and an appearance by Blue Rodeo. Every where you look there will be something to do. Be it shop, eat or take your chances on any one of the exciting rides. The Western Fair has been an annual event in London since 1868, and has grown to become Canada's seventh largest fair. The fair runs for 10 days every September bringing over 250,000 tourists from Southwestern Ontario and farther. Each year the program expands to include more exhibits, con... 09/10/2009

OTTAWA - The Canadian economy is bouncing back from the recession stronger than previously believed, despite ongoing worries about the impact of a strong dollar, the Bank of Canada said Thursday as it left interest rates untouched at the lowest level practicable.   In July, Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney appeared to go out on a limb in declaring the recession over - one of the first to do so - but now the central bank says even Carney underestimated the rebound.   "Stimulative monetary and fiscal policies, improved financial conditions, firmer commodity prices, and a rebound in business and consumer confidence are supporting domestic demand growth in Canada," the bank said in a statement.   "Combined with recent information on inventory adjustments and automotive production, this s... 09/10/2009

We are always trying to learn more about the City Of London. Even though we were  both born and raised here.. there is still alot we don't know. So we try to fill our brains with all we can about our city. That way when our clients ask how much we know about London Ontario.. we can confidently say EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW!! In doing research we stumbled upon this cute site. An interesting pictorial with quirky comments and photos of places we have all seen in or around our great City Of London. Enjoy!! www.doblevych.com/english/about/photo/ontario/london/ 09/09/2009

Best Bet Home Improvements If you're looking to improve the appearance of your home for resale, or you just want an updated look for your own enjoyment, there are a few things you must consider before beginning any costly project. Sure, you can spend a lot on something purely for the personal pleasure of having it - like that outdoor Jacuzzi under the attached gazebo - or you can go the practical route and make an improvement that will increase your home's market value, such as installing energy-efficient air-conditioning or repairing those shabby shingles. Be forewarned, however, and don't expect to recoup your costs on both counts. Many real-estate brokers agree that just because you put $25,000 worth of improvements into your home doesn't mean that your house is worth $25,000 more! ... 09/08/2009

Let's face it - the real estate market is still in trouble. While we wait for things to improve, you may want to consider only those changes or upgrades that will guarantee to pay off later when it's time to sell. So, which home improvement projects will give you the most bang for your buck? Here are our top 6: Painting Painting, inside or out, offers the most dramatic results for the least investment. If you plan to hire a professional, you should expect to pay anywhere from $3600 - $6000 for an average interior (2400 sq. ft.) and $5000 or more for the exterior. Landscaping A person will make a decision about your home in 8 seconds -- starting with it's curb appeal. Focus on the yard from the curb to the front door. If budget is an issue, spend most of it on perennials that come back y... 09/04/2009

Improve the appearance of your homeNothing improves the appearance of an older home like new windows. Whether you're planning to sell your home, or are just sprucing up the place, you can be confident knowing that you're improving the appearance and value of your home, and the neighborhood. In addition to improving your home's appearance, replacing your old windows can also reduce your heating and cooling costs. Much energy is lost by single-paned windows through the glass and through air leaks around loose-fitting components. Just run the back of your hand around a window on a cold and windy day - you can feel the cool air movement. Stop that air flow, and your home will be more comfortable and energy efficient. The best replacement windows will include features such as double or tripl... 09/04/2009

Cleaning fine draperies can be easy and needs only to be done approximately once every three to six months. You invest a lot of money in the draperies in your home, and it only makes sense that a little time every so often to keep them in good shape. Most of the problems with draperies are caused by household dust settling on them. If you have children, food stains and spots can happen from messy little hands, but this is easily resolved as well. Check the Labels on your draperies and clean according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you can find them, try to use cleaners that are natural, colorless, odorless, non toxic and biodegradable. A water soluble is a good option also. By following these guidelines, you will avoid harmful or toxic chemicals and residues to pets and children... 09/04/2009

The blooms of summer are gone but fall can be an equally beautiful time for gardens. It's also the time to get things ready for winter. Master gardener Joe Lamp'l shares some tips on "putting your garden to bed." Don't think of fall as just the end of the current growing season; it is the start of next year's garden as well. Along with the pleasure of enjoying the garden in the cooler fall temperatures there are important duties that should be addressed as we clean up and clear out. It is also the best time of year to get our gardens in shape for next spring and the growing season beyond. In fact, I look at this time of year as the start of my next year's gardening season. Putting the garden to bed each fall is important for a number of reasons. Besides the obvious of cleaning and tidyi... 09/04/2009

August stabilizing Last month, 747 homes exchanged hands in the jurisdiction of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR), a 2 per-cent decrease over August 2008. This includes 600 detached homes (down 1.2 per cent from August 2008) and 147 condos (down 5.2 per cent from August 2008). Year-to-date 4,619 detached homes and 1,069 condos have been sold - down 8.4 per cent and 18.2 per cent respectively compared to the same period in 2008. Sales in St. Thomas doing well - 75 homes exchanged hands in August 2009, a 50 per cent increase over August 2008. The average residential price year-to-date in St. Thomas is $183,571 a 1.2 per-cent decrease over last year. Poulopoulos says that both the number of sales and average price are stabilizing with sales only down 2% over last ... 09/03/2009

In August, 747 homes exchanged hands in the jurisdiction of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR), a 2 per-cent decrease over August2008.    This includes 600 detached homes (down 1.2 per cent from August 2008) and 147condos (down 5.2 per cent from August 2008).   Year-to-date 4,619 detached homes and1,069 condos have been sold - down 8.4 per cent and 18.2 per cent respectively compared to the same period in 2008.  Sales in St. Thomas did extremely well - 75 homes exchanged hands in August 2009, a 50 percent increase over August 2008! All of this is good news because it is an indicator of a positive outlook from consumers and helps the local economy in many ways. (One way is I get to put food on the table this month!)  "Homebuyers recognize that interest rates and p... 09/03/2009

Dan and Rachael Polakovic are dedicated to making your real estate experience easy and enjoyable. "Whether you are a first time home buyer, new to the City Of London or a long time resident looking for a change we make it our mission to find your perfect match and turn your dream of home ownership into a reality!" And the quality service doesn't stop there. For those looking to sell their home we guarantee our complete dedication to promote your listing continuosly and effectively until it is sold. Weekly open houses, extensive online promotion and full colour ads are just the start.  Our performance beats all promises! Experience the advantages of working with an Executive. We look forward to working hard for you.   Dan and Rachael Polakovic Sales Representatives Realty Executives Elit... 08/31/2009

Space sells. In home staging one of the goals is to make small spaces seem more... well... spacious. Here are some tips to make a small room seem bigger. Clear out the clutter! Can't reinforce this enough. Less is more. If a shelf is completely full then nothing on it stands out and it gives the impression that there is not an inch of spare space. A buyer will think that there is no room for their belongings in the home. Pack up the collections. Create small groupings of two or three items and have tons of free space to show off shiny surfaces. Which leads me to the next tip... Make it shine, all of it. Surfaces should sparkle and reflect light. Pearly or light paints on walls are another bonus. We've all heard that light paint makes rooms look larger. It's tried and true. How about mak... 08/27/2009

Whether your child is moving to a new neighborhood or making the leap to middle or high school, the first few weeks may be filled with anxiety as well as excitement. These 10 tips will help your child make a smooth transition to your new school. 1. Make it a team effort.  If you're choosing among a few schools, talk with your child about what each school has to offer. When it comes time to select specific classes, make sure your child is part of the process. 2. Keep a positive focus.  As the first day draws near, begin talking to your child about her expectations, hopes and fears for the upcoming school year. Reassure her that other children are having the same feelings and that she's sure to have a great year. Present school as a place where she'll learn new things and make friends. 3.... 08/27/2009