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Are you downsizing, or moving to a retirement or nursing home?
Let Estate Services offer you “a helping hand”

Estate Services recently helped, Margaret, an Ottawa senior, who had been living in the same house for twenty five years. She recalls, “I didn’t know where to start. Honestly, there were so many things to take care of–I was overwhelmed. Not only that, I was moving 700 miles away to live with a relative.” Estate Services was the solution. First, a team leader, a retired RCMP officer, ensured that her property was secure and checked on on a regular basis for insurance purposes.

Nick Knowlton, principal of Estate Services, arranged for an auctioneer to evaluate the contents of the home, an appraiser to value the house and a real estate agent to sell the home. A stamp collection was appraised and found to be of significant value to the surprise of the owner! He also engaged qualified service providers to prepare the house for sale including a chimney cleaner and workers who removed old carpeting and cleaned the hardwood floors and house. Toxic wastes such as paint and cleaning products were disposed of.

Margaret knew she couldn’t move everything 700 miles away, but she wanted nothing to be wasted. Knowlton arranged to have household items such as kitchen utensils, linens, blankets and towels donated to a church group or a women’s shelter.

Estate Services and their ever expanding services has helped 63 seniors and their families. They met Margaret’s every need related to the sale of her home and move, taking a considerable burden off of her shoulders. “Offering a helping hand when you need it most,” is exactly how Estate Services helps seniors downsize to a smaller home or to a retirement or nursing home. Estate Services can be contacted at 260-5767 or visit their website at www.estate-services.ca.

Nick Knowlton of Estate Services is a real problem solver–of other people’s problems that is. Knowlton started his unique service to help families, executors and trustees of estates who need to close down and sell a loved one’s property.

Knowlton prides himself with the ability to help others, “It gives me a lot of satisfaction to be able to help people who are grieving and under stress.”

Whether it’s a home, cottage farm or condo, the property is often one of the most valuable assets of an estate, so it’s important that it’s done properly.

For this reason, when Nick is engaged to look after a property, he ensures the security of the house with the help of a retired RCMP officer, finds the best realtor to sell the property and undertakes tasks related to maintenance, repairs and clean-up.

“Nick’s our one-stop shopping,” says Sue McIntosh, a trust officer with RBC Investments. His motto appropriately is “offering a helping hand when you need it most.” Knowlton can reached at 260-5767 or his website at www.estate-services.ca

The Following article appeared in Alta Vista News, March 10, 2005

Alta Vista Business Offers Unique Estate Services - By Kristin Harold

After a loved one dies, closing down and selling their property can be a difficult and confusing task. An Alta Vista resident has created a unique business that coordinates all of the details and makes the long process easier.

“I had an idea for a business that nobody else has had,” said Nick Knowlton of ‘Estate Services’, which began in 2000. “We basically take care of everything for the family or executor.”

Mr. Knowlton, who was a real estate broker for more than 25 years, personally oversees and coordinates all the details involved with the closing up an estate. These steps can involve securing the property, listing the contents, appraising high value items and ultimately selling the house.

Most often these coordination services are free of charge to the family or executor because he receives a referral fee from the real estate broker who sells the property.

“I’m a freebie in the whole thing because I don’t cost the estate anything,” he said. “All of the services I recommend are billed directly to the estate only after they’ve been okayed. I don’t mark up services.”

Mr. Knowlton’s clients range from trust companies and insurance brokers to trustees of estates and families who aren’t from this area.

“He’s our one-stop shopping,” said Sue McIntosh, senior trust officer with RBC Investments, who uses his services when Royal Trust is named executor of an estate. “Instead of us contacting six or seven people for different matters, he makes all of the arrangements for us.”

When a client begins to work with Estate Services, Mr. Knowlton has a check list that covers all of the details.

“We start by securing the property and I have a guy who is retired from the RCMP,” he said. “All of my service providers are people that I’ve known for years and I feel comfortable recommending.”

Estate Services can also help clients inventory the contents of the home and has specialists who appraise antiques, coin and stamp collections, china, silver and fine art.

“Nothing gets wasted,” he said. “We advise the estate about where the best place is to dispose of items, whether it’s at a Sotheby’s auction or donating to a women’s shelter, community centre or church group. Even used glasses find a home.”

He said they will remove perishable foods and toxic materials, such as gardening supplies and paint. They will also check the heating system to see if the tanks are rented, arrange for a house inspection or inspect a vacant property for insurance requirements.

Mr. Knowlton’s team of bonded contractors and professionals can also see to snow removal, grass cutting, minor repairs and painting in order to prepare the property for sale.

“The final step is a thorough cleaning,” he said. “I always tell them that it has to sparkle.”

Mr. Knowlton, who operates out of his Alta Vista home, then takes special care looking for the real estate agent and broker with the best track record in selling that type of property.

“We don’t have time to go through the MLS system and find the best agent,” said Ms. McIntosh. “Nick investigates who would work the best and my parents even used him to select an agent for themselves.”

The process of closing down an estate can take a long time, but Mr. Knowlton said he finds satisfaction in solving difficult situations.

“I enjoy helping people, especially those who are grieving and under stress,” he said.

The business has dealt with estates from around the Ottawa area, but also from Cornwall, Belleville, Kingston and Peterborough. His long range goal is to franchise the business.

“You would have to be a real estate broker because that allows you to receive referrals,” he said about someone interested in expanding the company.

For more information about Estate Services, contact Mr. Knowlton at 260-5767 or visit his web site at www.estate-services.ca.

In a situation when you’re overcome by grief, you need to find someone you can trust to deal with the issues that have to be addressed. That’s how Nick Knowlton of Estate Services, in Alta Vista, was able to offer a helping hand to a family who needed to sell a home in Elmvale Acres. The elderly occupant of the home had passed away suddenly, leaving the family in shock and grief stricken.

The family called on Nick Knowlton to help them out. “Nick guided us through the real estate issues and found the right realtor for us,” explained a family member.

Nick’s number one priority was to ensure the security and safety of the house. On further inspection of the home, mysterious vertical cracks were discovered in the living room, hallway and foyer. That’s when Nick called in one of his service providers, a structural engineer, to do a house inspection. The engineer found tree roots to be the source of the cracks and the problem was easily and inexpensively resolved. The value of the home increased by $20,000.00. The family members were happy about the increased value of the house, but most of all about the service Nick offered: “Throughout this stressful period Nick was supportive and professional. He treated us with compassion, respect and honesty.” Nick Knowlton can be reached at his website: www.estate-services.ca or at 260-5767.