The Real Estate Podcast

🏡 Not all home inspectors are equal — and your agent's recommendation might be doing more work than you think. Ariel and Adrian unpack a viral home inspector TikTok that sparked a real conversation about agent steering, referral fees, and what actually makes a home inspection worth the $750 you're spending.⚠️ If you've ever wondered whether to skip the inspection or bring a contractor friend instead, this episode will change how you think about it.✅ Why agents recommend (or steer away from) specific inspectors✅ Communication skills vs. technical skills: why both matter✅ When skipping a home inspection might make sense — and the real risk✅ Why your contractor buddy is NOT a home inspector✅ What happens when appliances fail before closing✅ New home inspections: why brand-new builds often have more issues than resale************************0:00 – Intro1:03 – The TikTok that started it all: agent steering clients away from inspectors3:10 – Why agents recommend certain inspectors (and why communication matters as much as skill)5:57 – Real story: a small garage door issue that almost killed a deal8:30 – Should you always get a home inspection? Risk tolerance explained9:39 – What buyers miss without a proper inspection (attics, panels, outlets)11:08 – When appliances fail before closing: what's negotiable14:41 – New home inspections: more deficiencies than a resale?17:14 – Shady inspectors, referral fees, and what actually gets disclosed18:33 – Should you use your contractor friend instead of an inspector? Hard no.22:07 – Why you need a written report to negotiate effectively26:18 – Outro************************Want more real estate podcast discussions?Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh6ZhC8lV-eOUYLU_wfdN4g/Listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kCatch clips and highlights of the show here: http://www.instagram.com/kormendytrott************************Our Social:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kormendytrottInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/kormendytrottYouTube: www.youtube.com/user/kormendytrottFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/kormendytrottX: http://www.x.com/KormendyTrottSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/ktrealtyPinterest: http://www.pinterest.ca/KormendyTrottTikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@kormendytrott?lang=en************************In 2011, Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott formed The Kormendy Trott Team, now often referred to as KT (thanks to our logo!). The foundation of KT is built on providing unmatched value and attention to detail in everything we do. From our ever-expanding, comprehensive list of exclusive services to our expertly trained team, you will receive the highest level of care throughout your entire real estate journey.Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, the KT Team has grown into a large team of exceptional REALTORS®, a client-care department, and now includes KT Media, KT Commercial, and our sister company, Renti, allowing us to provide our clients with a complete lineup of genuine, professional, and proven services across Halton Region, Peel Region and the surrounding Regions within the Greater Toronto Area.We'd appreciate it if you'd subscribe and follow us for behind-the-scenes footage, real estate tips, industry secrets, exclusive listings, The Real Estate Podcast, and more!

A tired, dated kitchen doesn't always need a $40,000 gut job. With the right process, a few thousand dollars and about two weeks can get you a near-new kitchen — without emptying a single cabinet. In this episode, Ariel and Adrian sit down with Nasir Ishmail, owner of Wet Paint, who's spent 18 years building one of Ontario's only dedicated cabinet-refinishing companies. He breaks down what the work actually involves, what an average kitchen costs, the colours worth choosing (and the ones to avoid), and why a kitchen refresh before you list can pay you back at resale.What you'll learn:- Refinish vs. replace — how to know which one actually makes sense- What an average kitchen really costs (and what drives the price up)- The full process, start to finish — and why it's "5 layers of protection"- The DIY mistakes that turn a weekend project into new doors- The cabinet colours people keep choosing — and the ones to skip- How the right refresh can add real value before you sellLearn more about Wet Paint: https://wetpaintservices.com/about-us/VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro1:07 – How Wet Paint started (the $40K kitchen that sparked a business)10:28 – Most homeowners don't know cabinet painting is even an option12:00 – DIY cabinet painting: where it goes wrong16:30 – Refinish vs. replace: how to decide18:09 – Inside the process: the "5 layers of protection"22:33 – What a kitchen actually costs24:38 – The resale payback: real value for a few thousand spent26:10 – The cabinet colours people choose (and the ones to avoid)35:00 – No deposits, never a missed deadline36:13 – Outro & how to reach Wet PaintWatch on YouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kLinktree:https://linktr.ee/kormendytrottInstagram:https://instagram.com/kormendytrottYouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottFacebook:https://facebook.com/kormendytrottX:https://x.com/kormendytrottLinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealtyTikTok:https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrottThe Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

Is a 10% under-asking offer a smart play or an insult? In this episode, Ariel and Adrian break down what actually makes a real estate deal "fair" — and why the lowball offers flooding the GTA right now are getting rejected even in a buyer's market. Whether you're about to make an offer or weighing one on your own home, this is the negotiation reality check both sides need.They get into why "fair" is a range (not a number), how an agent's reputation can swing a deal, a real negotiation where a seller's games cost them, and a hard lesson for sellers sitting on a fair offer hoping for better.VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS0:00 – Intro0:57 – 8 years and nearly 400 episodes3:19 – Why lowball offers are flooding the GTA4:11 – Is it really a lowball? Pricing vs. market value4:51 – Why a deal has to be fair for both sides6:25 – Don't send a backhanded offer — do your homework8:00 – "Fair" is a range, not a number8:48 – Fair isn't just price: revisits & inspections9:58 – How reputation changes the whole negotiation10:21 – The seller who played games (and lost the deal)13:33 – Sellers: don't turn away a fair offer chasing more15:23 – OutroWatch on YouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kLinktree:https://linktr.ee/kormendytrottInstagram:https://instagram.com/kormendytrottYouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottFacebook:https://facebook.com/kormendytrottX:https://x.com/kormendytrottLinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealtyTikTok:https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrottThe Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

In this episode of The Real Estate Podcast, Steve Cecchetto sits down with Jason Dasilva — OHL hockey player, CrossFit athlete, entrepreneur, and the young owner behind one of Milton’s most iconic local spots: The Ivy Arms.Jason shares how his competitive sports background shaped his mindset in business, why he decided to purchase the commercial building instead of continuing to rent, and the lessons he learned about commercial real estate investing at a young age. The conversation also dives into adapting through Covid, building strong tenant-landlord relationships, creating long-term value in real estate, and what makes The Ivy Arms such a staple in downtown Milton.VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro2:03 CrossFit Games & Early Athletic Career4:56 OHL Hockey Journey & Guelph Storm8:31 Billet Life & Team Culture9:53 The Story Behind The Ivy Arms11:24 How The Ivy Adapted During Covid14:07 Why Jason Bought The Building17:33 How To Increase Property Value20:10 Advice For Young Investors22:27 Most Popular Food & Drinks At The Ivy25:27 OutroWatch on YouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kLinktree:https://linktr.ee/kormendytrottInstagram:https://instagram.com/kormendytrottYouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottFacebook:https://facebook.com/kormendytrottX:https://x.com/kormendytrottLinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealtyTikTok:https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrottThe Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

In this episode of The Real Estate Podcast, the team breaks down a key statement made during the latest Bank of Canada announcement — and why it could have a major impact on the real estate market in the coming weeks. They discuss how potential future rate hikes could influence buyers, sellers, affordability, inventory levels, and consumer confidence across Milton, Burlington, Oakville, and the GTA.The conversation dives into financial stress, mortgage affordability, buyer psychology, upgrading in today’s market, and which price points are currently seeing the strongest activity. Whether you’re thinking about buying, selling, upsizing, or simply trying to understand where the market is heading, this episode offers practical insights and honest perspectives on today’s housing landscape.VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro0:25 Bank of Canada Statement That Could Impact Real Estate2:12 How Higher Rates Affect Buyers & Homeowners5:11 Could Higher Rates Actually Create Buyer Urgency?8:23 Financial Stress & More Sellers Entering The Market11:52 Financial Reality Checks For Homeowners15:24 Signs Buyers Are Already Becoming More Active18:41 The Price Points With The Strongest Demand21:39 OutroWatch on YouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kLinktree:https://linktr.ee/kormendytrottInstagram:https://instagram.com/kormendytrottYouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottFacebook:https://facebook.com/kormendytrottX:https://x.com/kormendytrottLinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealtyTikTok:https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrottThe Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

What does it actually cost a small business to lose its building? Andrea and George Savard — co-owners of Firepower Training in Milton — spent 10 years navigating an expropriation that reshaped their business, their finances, and their view of the town they helped build. In this episode, Steve sits down with the Savards (George is also a 28-year Toronto firefighter) to unpack their journey from a Cambridge boxing gym to commercial ownership, multi-residential investing, and back to leasing — and what they learned the hard way about real estate, town politics, and building a business worth selling.Check out Firepower: https://teamfirepower.com> Why a member list isn't a sellable business> The $500K mistake their ego almost cost them> What expropriation actually feels like (vs. what you're told)> Lease vs. own commercial real estate — the honest pros and cons> Self-managing a triplex and a 10-plex while running a full-time gym> Why Milton's small business owners feel pushed outVIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS0:00 – Intro1:38 – Meet Andrea & George Savard from Firepower4:42 – From Cambridge boxing gym to a Milton CrossFit + boxing hybrid7:43 – The brick-and-mortar lesson: why a member list isn't an asset12:14 – A bad first landlord and the push toward ownership13:37 – First brush with the "e-word": expropriation rumors on Main Street15:13 – Buying the Nipissing building (and the $500K ego lesson)16:50 – Vision vs. the weeds: how a married couple actually runs a business17:33 – When expropriation hits: "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy"20:11 – Lease vs. own commercial real estate — honest trade offs21:48 – Running a triplex and a 10-plex on top of a full-time gym23:39 – Why Milton doesn't seem to want small businesses27:00 – What's next for Firepower: over-40 fitness and first responders31:35 – OutroWatch on YouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kLinktree:https://linktr.ee/kormendytrottInstagram:https://instagram.com/kormendytrottYouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottFacebook:https://facebook.com/kormendytrottX:https://x.com/kormendytrottLinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealtyTikTok:https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrottThe Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.