Buyers take 3 things into consideration when viewing a property. Location, Price, and Condition.
Location: you can't change. Either it's acceptable to the buyer or not.
We have control over Price (that's my job) and Condition.
These days home sellers are inundated with information on staging homes. Properly staged homes are proven to sell for more and sell faster than their unstaged counterparts. I can vouch for that! In this market the properties that are selling...often with multiple offers, are the ones that buyers can imagine moving into and not having to do a thing to them.
Take a peek at this listing I had in April. It sold for more than asking price with multiple offers!
http://vt.realbiz360.com/Listing-129446.html
The problem is that often people associate staging with money! The cost of a stager, renting/buying new furniture, repairs, often scare people off.
Re/Max is launching a new program unique to our brokerages. It's called "Fit To Sell" and it's designed to help homeowners prepare their own home for selling. It can be used in conjunction with a home stager.
In the case of many of my sellers, instead of a professional stager, we work together to stage their home appropriately to maximize the speed and price that the property will sell for. Thus far I have not used the professional services of a stager. Although I'm certainly not against it, I often find homeowners want to keep their costs down. So, I work with my clients to get their home ready to sell using furniture they have around the house, or that can be borrowed. I try to make suggestions based on what's appropriate for my clients' budget. And I know what items get the most return and which items you won't. Anyone who knows me knows I like to save money...and helping my clients save money too!
The clips for the Fit To Sell program are available at http://www.remaxtwincity.ca/viewcustompage.php?id=3375
If you're thinking about selling your home, take a peek at the clips. They'll get you thinking about things in a way that will help you begin the process. Then, call me. When I come in to do a market evaluation of your property we'll go through some of the checklists and you can borrow my "Stage Your Own Home" dvd's to get you going.
Time and money spent in prepping a property for sale go a LONG way in ultimately selling your property faster and for more money.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Revisits and Blog Stalkers
Well, I hope you have all had an enjoyable weekend. I had a little work and a little pleasure too. Sat. I had my first open house at my new loft project in Cambridge. Once I have pics and the virtual tour up and running I'll be sure to fill you in on this really cool endeavour. (The model suite is gorgeous!).
Dinner with some clients and the mutual friends who referred them, was a lot of fun on Sat. night.
Revisits: Today I had the pleasure of taking 2 families back to the homes they've purchased for another viewing. First, this morning, D&S brought all 4 of their parents along to see their cute place in Baden. I knew the home had passed the "parent test" when both moms said "good job, kids, you bought a great house!". Phew! lol. Funny how parents can call grown adults, kids, eh? Cute!
Then this evening I was able to take M&S back to their beautiful home in Waterloo. They brought along a decorator to get some ideas for colours and furniture placement.
Funny experience though...as we're hanging in the front room pondering paint swatches we here a faint "coo, coo" coming from the fireplace. Yep, apparently they have a bird who's taken up residency in the chimney. Thankfully, the current owners were around and assure us they'll "help" the birdie find a new home before closing!!! lol. Never a dull moment....
Stalkers: So, it seems there's a few of you out there who are checking in with the blog quite frequently yet not commenting.....you know who you are!!! :) well, that's allowed. Blog stalkers are welcome here. Thanks for reading, and thanks for for the comments....on the site or in person, they're both appreciated! :)
Dinner with some clients and the mutual friends who referred them, was a lot of fun on Sat. night.
Revisits: Today I had the pleasure of taking 2 families back to the homes they've purchased for another viewing. First, this morning, D&S brought all 4 of their parents along to see their cute place in Baden. I knew the home had passed the "parent test" when both moms said "good job, kids, you bought a great house!". Phew! lol. Funny how parents can call grown adults, kids, eh? Cute!
Then this evening I was able to take M&S back to their beautiful home in Waterloo. They brought along a decorator to get some ideas for colours and furniture placement.
Funny experience though...as we're hanging in the front room pondering paint swatches we here a faint "coo, coo" coming from the fireplace. Yep, apparently they have a bird who's taken up residency in the chimney. Thankfully, the current owners were around and assure us they'll "help" the birdie find a new home before closing!!! lol. Never a dull moment....
Stalkers: So, it seems there's a few of you out there who are checking in with the blog quite frequently yet not commenting.....you know who you are!!! :) well, that's allowed. Blog stalkers are welcome here. Thanks for reading, and thanks for for the comments....on the site or in person, they're both appreciated! :)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
New House/Old House
Yesterday I attended a course put on at the KW Real Estate Board, entitled "New House/Old House".
A few tips I was reminded of...
Roofs:
* save yourselves some money when you put on new shingles....20 yr, 30 yr, 40 yr...doesn't really matter it's much more about your location to sun and trees and how the shingles are installed. No matter what the ashphalt shingle you can count on 15-20 yrs-ISH.
Don't however save money by having the roofer install shingles over the previous shingles. Just not worth it, in the end this will shorten the lifespan of your shingles. Have the old layer removed before installing the next and be sure to have them install plenty of ventilation!
Air Conditioners:
* like the looks of that tidy central air cover for the winter? Don't bother. It keeps moisture in which then can corrode your components. Instead a simple piece of plywood and a brick on the top to keep things from getting in is all you need to winterize it.
Retro-Foam:
* if you were one of the 700 homes in KW that had Retrofoam insulation put into your home in the past few years you should be contacting the government about the recall on it.
The rest of my day yesterday I spent getting ready to list a condo project on friday (exciting project...will fill in soon!) and doing a market evaluation for a cute little condo in Waterloo.
That's it, that's all! Enjoy the sun everyone!
A few tips I was reminded of...
Roofs:
* save yourselves some money when you put on new shingles....20 yr, 30 yr, 40 yr...doesn't really matter it's much more about your location to sun and trees and how the shingles are installed. No matter what the ashphalt shingle you can count on 15-20 yrs-ISH.
Don't however save money by having the roofer install shingles over the previous shingles. Just not worth it, in the end this will shorten the lifespan of your shingles. Have the old layer removed before installing the next and be sure to have them install plenty of ventilation!
Air Conditioners:
* like the looks of that tidy central air cover for the winter? Don't bother. It keeps moisture in which then can corrode your components. Instead a simple piece of plywood and a brick on the top to keep things from getting in is all you need to winterize it.
Retro-Foam:
* if you were one of the 700 homes in KW that had Retrofoam insulation put into your home in the past few years you should be contacting the government about the recall on it.
The rest of my day yesterday I spent getting ready to list a condo project on friday (exciting project...will fill in soon!) and doing a market evaluation for a cute little condo in Waterloo.
That's it, that's all! Enjoy the sun everyone!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
MCM Architecture and Mannheim
MID CENTURY MODERN ARCHITECTURE:Last month I had the pleasure of selling the home above. It has beautiful wood beamed ceilings and upper windows, in typical Mid-Century Modern architecture. I had quite a bit of interest in this property and sold it very quickly for very close to asking price.
Yesterday I came across another home in KW with similar architectural design, not quite as nice, but a nice location. I had a large number of buyers come thru my open house last month and two gentlemen in particular who quite obviously really apprectiated the architecture of the home. So, I've popped them an email about this new one to see if they're interested.
MANNHEIM: Just got back from some showings in the lovely village of Mannheim. Mannheim is a neat little place with a newer area with some very expensive homes (some custom built easily 700-over a mil), as well as an older section with some slightly less expensive homes (300-600ish).
The lure of Mannheim is often the property size, large lots that are just much harder to find in the city. It's convenient to the expressway as well as to the west side of Kitchener (only a few minutes to the Sunrise centre! :). Interestingly enough, the area of newer homes is hooked up to municipal sewage, but if you're looking in the older section, those homes usually have their own septic tanks. One of the main concerns with septic is often where it is located in relation to your water source (wells). Thankfully in Mannheim most of the homes are hooked up to municipal water.
That's it for today! Not sure I'm going to be able to post something interesting EVERY day but certainly come back and check in again! And please leave comments or questions for that matter! I'd love to know what everyone would like to hear more about.
Enjoy your long weekend!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Welcome!
Well, a girlfriend of mine recently gave me the idea of starting a blog for Real Estate. So, here I am. Not entirely sure what I will put on this, so if you have suggestions by all means let me know what you'd like to see! But I thought it would be a great way to share some experiences and tidbits that I learn each day on the job.
Yesterday, I spent the morning in a mortgage course put on by Genworth (they insure high ratio or low downpayment mortgages). Learned a bit about some of the changes that have happened with the shifts in our economy.
All in all it was a good day yesterday. I was able to complete the last of the paperwork firming up A&D's purchase of their new home in Waterloo. We listed their home on Friday and had it sold firm by Wednesday. Let's just say we were all pleased! I'm sure they will enjoy moving into their new home. It needs a bit of work but has a beautiful piece of property!
Also, had the pleasure of receiving a call from another referral yesterday. I'll be meeting with A&C on Saturday to begin their search for a new home.
As many of you know, referrals are how I get business. It's such a joy and an honour for me when a friend or previous client pass my name along to someone else.
Well, I'll close up with a few interesting facts from my course.... Enjoy! :)
MORTGAGES: In the US, they don't require insurance for high ratio mortgages like we do here. In Canada, if you have less than 20% down you are required to get the loan insured (CMHC or Genworth).
In the US those mortgages made up 35% of their mortgages. In Canada? only 3-5%. One of the reasons our economy seems to be holding up better.
CREDIT SCORE: Ever wondered what your credit score (Beacon Rating) is? You can fill in this form and send it in and Equifax will give it to you. http://www.equifax.com/ecm/canada/EFXCreditReportRequestForm.pdf
It is suggested that you check your own score once a year to see where things are at. 80% of Canadians are between 650-700.
Yesterday, I spent the morning in a mortgage course put on by Genworth (they insure high ratio or low downpayment mortgages). Learned a bit about some of the changes that have happened with the shifts in our economy.
All in all it was a good day yesterday. I was able to complete the last of the paperwork firming up A&D's purchase of their new home in Waterloo. We listed their home on Friday and had it sold firm by Wednesday. Let's just say we were all pleased! I'm sure they will enjoy moving into their new home. It needs a bit of work but has a beautiful piece of property!
Also, had the pleasure of receiving a call from another referral yesterday. I'll be meeting with A&C on Saturday to begin their search for a new home.
As many of you know, referrals are how I get business. It's such a joy and an honour for me when a friend or previous client pass my name along to someone else.
Well, I'll close up with a few interesting facts from my course.... Enjoy! :)
MORTGAGES: In the US, they don't require insurance for high ratio mortgages like we do here. In Canada, if you have less than 20% down you are required to get the loan insured (CMHC or Genworth).
In the US those mortgages made up 35% of their mortgages. In Canada? only 3-5%. One of the reasons our economy seems to be holding up better.
CREDIT SCORE: Ever wondered what your credit score (Beacon Rating) is? You can fill in this form and send it in and Equifax will give it to you. http://www.equifax.com/ecm/canada/EFXCreditReportRequestForm.pdf
It is suggested that you check your own score once a year to see where things are at. 80% of Canadians are between 650-700.
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