Who helps families upsize in Barrie?
I do. I’m Gessica Pizzuto, a REALTOR® with Royal LePage First Contact Realty, Brokerage, and helping growing families sell and buy a bigger home is my focus. I work in Barrie and across Simcoe County using my five-step Movin’ On Up Method.
How do I sell my house and buy a bigger one at the same time?
You plan both moves together from the start. That means knowing what your home is worth, getting your budget from a mortgage broker and lining up the two closing dates. I coordinate the moving dates with your sale, and I work with your broker if the dates don’t match up. The strategy we choose depends on you and the current market.
Should I sell first or buy first?
There’s no one right answer, because it depends on you and the market. Each option comes with its own risks. Sell first, and you could be short on time to find your next home. Buy first, and you could end up paying for two homes if yours takes longer to sell. Once I get to know your budget, your timeline and what you’re comfortable with, we’ll look at what the market is doing right now and decide together, with your mortgage broker’s input, before you commit to anything.
What if I have to close on the new house before my old one sells?
A bridge loan may be an option. It’s short-term financing that can cover the gap when the closing dates don’t line up. Your mortgage broker can tell you whether it makes sense for you and what it costs.
How do I know it’s time to move instead of renovating?
It’s probably time when you’ve already tried to make the house work and it still doesn’t. Maybe the kids are sharing a bedroom, you’re embarrassed to host holidays, or you’re tired of lugging everyone to the park because you want more yard space and privacy. A renovation can’t fix a space or location problem, so that’s usually when moving makes sense. We can compare the options before you decide.
How do I keep my house show-ready with kids and pets?
You get a plan for it, and you won’t be keeping it perfect for weeks on your own. The stager gives you tips for keeping it ready or getting it ready fast, and I can bring in cleaners or a handyman if you need them. I handle the calls and showing appointments.
How do I find a home in the right school zone?
I check it for you. I can look up which school each address is zoned for and whether it’s on a school bus route, so we only tour homes that work for your family.
How should I price my home if I’m also trying to buy?
Price it on what similar homes around yours are selling for right now. What you hope to walk away with doesn’t change what buyers will pay. I once watched sellers turn down an offer and end up selling for $35,000 less five months later, so I’ll tell you this early, even when it’s not fun to hear.
Do I have to find a home that checks every box?
No. Sometimes the right home has good bones and enough room in your budget to fix the rest. I had clients who almost passed on a house over a missing basement bathroom, bought it for $20,000 under asking and had room in the budget to add the bathroom themselves.
Which part of Barrie should a growing family look at?
It depends on your commute, your work and how much yard you want. The south end has more new builds and is the one I’d recommend for GO train commuters, the north end is the older side of the city, and the east end suits people working at Georgian College or the hospital. Look closely at new builds, because some have very small yards and a third bedroom that’s basically a crib room.
How long is the commute from Barrie to Toronto?
Plan on about 2 hours to drive from south Barrie to downtown on a weekday morning, and sometimes up to 2 hours and 20 minutes. The same drive takes about an hour and 15 minutes in the middle of the night. The drive home is heavy from about 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., so the GO train is worth a serious look.
Is it hard to find a family doctor in Barrie?
Yes. A lot of offices say on their voicemail that they aren’t taking new patients. Ask people you know in Barrie who their doctor is, sign up for Health Care Connect, and call offices in nearby communities to ask whether they take patients from outside town.
Do you need a car in Barrie?
Yes, I’d recommend at least one. Transit isn’t the best, trips across town can mean switching buses downtown, and the hills make walking and biking harder outside of downtown.
How bad are winters in Barrie?
They can be really brutal. We get a lot of snow, quieter streets are plowed after the busy ones, and the plow will push snow back into the end of your driveway. Get snow tires and a snowblower.
Do you need a water softener in Barrie?
I’d say yes if you’re on city water, because Barrie has hard water. Some properties on the outskirts are on a well and septic system instead, so check which one you’re buying.
Is Angus or Springwater cheaper than Barrie?
Generally, yes, on property taxes, and houses in Angus are a little cheaper too. Angus has been attracting young families and is about 10 to 25 minutes from Barrie, depending on which side you’re heading to. Springwater gives you more land and neighbours who are further apart, but there are fewer homes to choose from and fewer amenities.
What areas do you serve?
Barrie, Innisfil, Orillia, Angus, Essa Township, Springwater, Midhurst, Bradford, Elmvale, Collingwood and Wasaga Beach.