The Real Estate Podcast

Kormendy Trott Real Estate Team

The Real Estate Podcast by the Kormendy Trott Real Estate Team brings real conversations about buying, selling, investing, business, property management, and the local market. Hosted by Ariel Kormendy, Adrian Trott and other members of the KT Team, each episode shares practical advice, honest opinions, guest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insight from working REALTORS® serving Milton, Halton Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

  1. $3,000 Kitchen Refresh VS $40,000 Replacement | EP394

    6d ago

    $3,000 Kitchen Refresh VS $40,000 Replacement | EP394

    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 sell Learn more about Wet Paint: https://wetpaintservices.com/about-us/ VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 1:07 – How Wet Paint started (the $40K kitchen that sparked a business) 10:28 – Most homeowners don't know cabinet painting is even an option 12:00 – DIY cabinet painting: where it goes wrong 16:30 – Refinish vs. replace: how to decide 18:09 – Inside the process: the "5 layers of protection" 22:33 – What a kitchen actually costs 24:38 – The resale payback: real value for a few thousand spent 26:10 – The cabinet colours people choose (and the ones to avoid) 35:00 – No deposits, never a missed deadline 36:13 – Outro & how to reach Wet Paint Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/kormendytrott Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott Instagram: https://instagram.com/kormendytrott YouTube: https://youtube.com/kormendytrott Facebook: https://facebook.com/kormendytrott X: https://x.com/kormendytrott LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott The 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.

    37 min
  2. Lowball Offers Are Flooding The GTA — Here's What's Actually "Fair" | EP393

    May 25

    Lowball Offers Are Flooding The GTA — Here's What's Actually "Fair" | EP393

    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 & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – 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 – Outro Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/kormendytrott Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott Instagram: https://instagram.com/kormendytrott YouTube: https://youtube.com/kormendytrott Facebook: https://facebook.com/kormendytrott X: https://x.com/kormendytrott LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott The 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.

    16 min
  3. From OHL Hockey to Commercial Real Estate | Young Entrepreneur Mindset | EP392

    May 18

    From OHL Hockey to Commercial Real Estate | Young Entrepreneur Mindset | EP392

    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 & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 2:03 CrossFit Games & Early Athletic Career 4:56 OHL Hockey Journey & Guelph Storm 8:31 Billet Life & Team Culture 9:53 The Story Behind The Ivy Arms 11:24 How The Ivy Adapted During Covid 14:07 Why Jason Bought The Building 17:33 How To Increase Property Value 20:10 Advice For Young Investors 22:27 Most Popular Food & Drinks At The Ivy 25:27 Outro Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/kormendytrott Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott Instagram: https://instagram.com/kormendytrott YouTube: https://youtube.com/kormendytrott Facebook: https://facebook.com/kormendytrott X: https://x.com/kormendytrott LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott The 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.

    26 min
  4. Are Interest Rates About to Rise AGAIN? What Buyers Need to Know | EP391

    May 11

    Are Interest Rates About to Rise AGAIN? What Buyers Need to Know | EP391

    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 & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 0:25 Bank of Canada Statement That Could Impact Real Estate 2:12 How Higher Rates Affect Buyers & Homeowners 5:11 Could Higher Rates Actually Create Buyer Urgency? 8:23 Financial Stress & More Sellers Entering The Market 11:52 Financial Reality Checks For Homeowners 15:24 Signs Buyers Are Already Becoming More Active 18:41 The Price Points With The Strongest Demand 21:39 Outro Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/kormendytrott Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott Instagram: https://instagram.com/kormendytrott YouTube: https://youtube.com/kormendytrott Facebook: https://facebook.com/kormendytrott X: https://x.com/kormendytrott LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott The 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.

    22 min
  5. We Owned The Building | Our Business Still Wasn't Safe | EP390

    May 4

    We Owned The Building | Our Business Still Wasn't Safe | EP390

    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 out VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 1:38 – Meet Andrea & George Savard from Firepower 4:42 – From Cambridge boxing gym to a Milton CrossFit + boxing hybrid 7:43 – The brick-and-mortar lesson: why a member list isn't an asset 12:14 – A bad first landlord and the push toward ownership 13:37 – First brush with the "e-word": expropriation rumors on Main Street 15:13 – Buying the Nipissing building (and the $500K ego lesson) 16:50 – Vision vs. the weeds: how a married couple actually runs a business 17:33 – When expropriation hits: "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy" 20:11 – Lease vs. own commercial real estate — honest trade offs 21:48 – Running a triplex and a 10-plex on top of a full-time gym 23:39 – Why Milton doesn't seem to want small businesses 27:00 – What's next for Firepower: over-40 fitness and first responders 31:35 – Outro Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/kormendytrott Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott Instagram: https://instagram.com/kormendytrott YouTube: https://youtube.com/kormendytrott Facebook: https://facebook.com/kormendytrott X: https://x.com/kormendytrott LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott The 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.

    32 min
  6. Most People Are Using AI Wrong | What Separates Pros From Everyone Else | EP389

    Apr 27

    Most People Are Using AI Wrong | What Separates Pros From Everyone Else | EP389

    If you're using AI like a glorified Google search, you're leaving most of its value on the table. In this episode, Ariel and Adrian sit down with Sandeep Sambhi, co-founder of Milton-based marketing and AI agency Sandbox Media, to unpack the single skill that actually separates novice AI users from the ones getting real leverage out of it — context and prompting. All three hosts trade real examples of how they're using AI day-to-day: diagnosing a frozen furnace 3 hours before a flight, analyzing 60 properties across a 139-page PDF in 15 seconds, redesigning rooms from a single photo, and running a 22-year eBay store on autopilot. They also tackle the authenticity backlash against overly-polished AI content, why hallucinations still trip up even advanced users, and how to build "knowledge documents" that keep your outputs consistent. > Why context is the difference between novice and advanced AI users > Practical AI use cases across home, hobbies, and business > How AI is reshaping real estate workflows in 2026 > Why over-polished AI content is starting to backfire > Managing hallucinations and memory limits with knowledge docs > The top tips to start getting real value out of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini & Perplexity Learn more about Sandbox Media: https://www.sandboxmedia.ca VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 1:33 – Meet Sandeep Sambhi & Sandbox Media 2:17 – Why most AI users (even heavy ones) get it wrong 5:07 – The authenticity problem with AI-generated content 9:25 – Real personal AI wins: broken furnaces, recipes & eBay 17:39 – AI in real estate: design visualization & market analysis 26:01 – Context: the skill that separates pros from novices 34:37 – The top AI tips you can start using today 40:20 – Hallucinations, memory, and what AI still gets wrong 47:10 – Final thoughts & where to find Sandbox Media Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The 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.

    50 min
  7. You're Not Actually Saving $130K — The New Construction HST Rebate Truth | EP388

    Apr 20

    You're Not Actually Saving $130K — The New Construction HST Rebate Truth | EP388

    The HST rebate on new construction homes sounds like a $130,000 windfall — but buyers who believe the marketing may be in for a rude awakening. With the 2026 federal budget proposing a full 13% HST rebate on new builds (now open to all buyers, not just first-timers), agents are flooding social media with "save $130K" messaging — and most of it is misleading. In this episode, Ariel and Adrian break down exactly how the rebate works, who actually pockets the savings, and why a struggling market is pushing some agents toward tactics every buyer should know about. > How the HST rebate works and who qualifies under the 2026 budget proposal > The $1M cap — and how the rebate phases out from $1.5M to $1.8M > Why the "savings" are likely already baked into the purchase price > Development charges — what the government is actually contributing and why it matters > The coming supply crunch: what 2026–2027 could look like > How agents are misrepresenting the rebate — and what to watch out for VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 0:50 – What the HST rebate actually is and who qualifies 1:54 – The big change: from first-time buyers to everyone 3:23 – How the $130K cap works from $1M to $1.8M 4:47 – Doug Ford already admitted this didn't work — so why are they doing it again? 5:00 – The catch: the rebate is already built into the price 5:52 – Development charges explained — what the government is covering 7:00 – Why new home builders can't move inventory right now 9:19 – A supply crunch is coming in 2026–2027 10:44 – Red tape and why it takes 5+ years to build a home in Ontario 13:47 – How agents are misleading buyers with "$130K savings" claims 15:12 – Who's actually representing the builder (and who isn't) 17:40 – Agent desperation in a slow market — tactics to watch for 21:29 – 86% of realtors did one deal or less last year 22:15 – Side conversation: the 2026 budget's ticket scalping ban 30:03 – Recap & Outro Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠⁠ The 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.

    31 min
  8. Interior Designer Explains Why Your Home Feels Off | EP387 w/ Sara Bergsma

    Apr 13

    Interior Designer Explains Why Your Home Feels Off | EP387 w/ Sara Bergsma

    An interior designer with 41 years of experience can walk into a room and know exactly what's wrong in under a minute — and it's seldom what you think. In this episode, Steve sits down with Sara Bergsma, owner of Bergsma's Paint & Decor in downtown Milton, to talk about the design mistakes most homeowners make, what's actually trending right now, and how the right choices can transform a space (and your resale value) without blowing your budget. Check out Bergsma's Paint & Decor: Website: https://bergsmaspaint.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bergsmaspaint/ > Why lighting is the silent deal-breaker in almost every room > What actually dates a home — and the cheap fixes most people overlook > Design trends worth paying attention to: warm tones, colour drenching, specialty finishes > How to get a luxury look without smashing the piggy bank > Why window treatments always get forgotten (and cost more than you'd expect) > The $5,000 resale prep plan — where to spend it if you're selling VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 1:45 – Sara Bergsma and Bergsma's Paint & Decor: 41 years on Milton's Main Street 5:19 – Lighting: the #1 reason a room feels "off" 7:17 – Decluttering and the "less is more" mindset 8:01 – What actually dates a home (caulking, grout, cleanliness) 9:39 – Why you should trust your designer, even when you hate the idea 12:29 – Design trends: warm tones, texture finishes, and colour drenching 16:42 – Personalizing design vs. following trends 22:33 – The renovation budget mistake most homeowners make 24:00 – Window treatments: the forgotten line item 27:06 – Luxury look on a limited budget 29:16 – Where homeowners waste money 33:26 – How to spend $5,000 prepping your home for resale 35:20 – Curb appeal: quick wins for first impressions 37:00 – Why staging pays for itself 41:35 – Outro Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠ Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k⁠⁠⁠ Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott⁠⁠⁠ The 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.

    43 min

About

The Real Estate Podcast by the Kormendy Trott Real Estate Team brings real conversations about buying, selling, investing, business, property management, and the local market. Hosted by Ariel Kormendy, Adrian Trott and other members of the KT Team, each episode shares practical advice, honest opinions, guest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insight from working REALTORS® serving Milton, Halton Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

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