Hamilton Real Estate Today!

Attention: Ever Dream of Having your Home Renovated on Television?

Donna Bacher (Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:53:47 -0500

This is a message for all of you HGTV junkies! I know you've seen all the Renovation shows and have thought to yourself my house could sure use a lift, or maybe you are ready to purchase your first home and need a little assistance?

Well today is your lucky day! HGTV is holding a casting call for many of your favourite shows on the Home and Garden Television channel. Just to name a few of the shows who are casting : Colin and Justin's Home Heist,Property Virgins, Disaster DIY, and the list goes on!

The website for the Casting Call provides you with all the information you need to qualify and what you need to do to try and get on your favourite HGTV show!

Good luck to those of you who want to give it a try! What do you have to lose!

Here is the link to the Casting Call page from HGTV:
http://www.hgtv.ca/hgtv/castingCall.aspx

Real Estate 101

Donna Bacher (Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:24:33 -0500

Do you have a question about buying your first home?, what home staging is?, or just need the advice of a Realtor?, well now with the technology of live chat you can get in touch with an expert in Real Estate who you will direct you to the answers to all of your Real Estate questions!

The "Real Estate 101" chat is 100% confidential and no question shall go unanswered!

Even if there is not someone "online" leave your question or comment and as soon as the "Real Estate Assistant" signs on they will be able to respond!

Just go to: http://www.donnabacher.ca/ or http://www.realestatetime.ca/ and you will be able to access "Real Estate 101" right from the homepage!

Now get chatting!
Looking forward to hearing from you!

Earthhour 2008...the Earth say's Thank You!

Donna Bacher (Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:16:47 -0500

Last night at 8 pm, (March 29th,2008), I was one of millions who stopped consuming...for just one little hour, of one little day in one little year. It sure doesn't sound like a big thing when we reduce it. 1 out of 8760 hours in a year really doesn't sound like anything of significance. It is in fact a minuscule attempt on changing the way we live.

Climate change...what does it matter? Many feel that climate change is just hype. On one side of the scientific world, we have experts claiming that climate change is simply the natural cycle of the world. On the other side of the fence, we have experts claiming that we are on a self destructive course that will spell catastrophe for our children and their children. So, at the end of the day, when we digest all of the information that all of these experts give us...exactly what are we suppose to think about climate change?

As residents of the great land mass known as North America...we lead our planet in consumption. Our consumption is best explained in a great video called "The Story of Stuff", which explains with great simplicity how our consumption not only affects us, but affects the entire world. Of course I'm concerned about the wildlife stranded and dying because their natural habitats have been altered by humans, but I'm extremely concerned about other things as well. The number of human lives lost in "oil driven" wars, the amount of Government dollars dedicated to fight in these wars and kill people, the horrific working conditions in Third World countries producing consumables for North America, the woman and children working for a dollar a day in Mexico...yes I have huge concerns. These countries don't have the emission standards we have, and it's as if we're saying that their lives are somehow less important than ours. As long as we don't see it, we just don't care.

Canada is second to China for the production of hydro-electricity and hydro electricity unlike it's thermo energy counterpart,it is a lot more "greener" and cleaner, since it doesn't use fossil fuels. However, it's what this hydro electricity allows us to do which causes the problem. It allows us to keep the lights on so we can consume 24/7.

Earth Hour is a great idea, because it draws our attention to the need and desire for us to do something of significance, but I think it could be improved by doing more than shutting off the lights for one day. I think that if everyone in North America would stop consuming for 1 whole day each year, then we would be on our way to making big changes. A day that we stopped, no shopping, no driving, no working...just stopped. Earthday wouldn't mean people stalking up on the stuff needed for that day...it would mean using what we already have. Enjoying life and the planet that we live on. Perhaps reading about other Countries and their economies. It would mean every single car parked...for the whole day. Since it's estimated that 64% of the US population is overweight...reducing food consumption for that day could be beneficial as well! People walking, people talking and people relaxing. If we all stopped for one day, without the need to run out and buy presents, or cards, or buy flowers, make a huge gluttonous dinner or CONSUME....we would make an impact on the world. There's a possibility we would like it and would want to have an Earth Day every month.

Regardless if Global warming is truth or fiction, Earth Day would give everyone a reason to stop and take notice of the most incredible planet and its inhabitants in the Universe....Planet Earth...and since it's the only planet in our Galaxy that we can live on.....or get to in our life time...it may not be a bad idea to make a big effort in protecting it!

Earth Hour - March 29th 2008 8pm-9pm

Donna Bacher (Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:16:32 -0500

If you haven't heard already on March 29th 2008 from 8pm to 9pm the world is being asked to TURN OFF their lights to recognize global warming and the awful affects it is having on our planet. It is a very worthwhile cause and will only take an hour of everyones time. Not only will we be saving energy for an hour but it will look pretty amazing as well!

Here is a link to see how the City of Hamilton will be participating in this event!
http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/CityandGovernment/HotTopics/EarthHour.htm

Don't forget to turn off your lights! That means real estate offices too!

Donna

Homeowners coast to coast! Save Money and Add Value to your Home!

Donna Bacher (Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:52:22 -0500

We can't get green fast enough! Homeowners....Did you know that the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario(plus most of the other Provinces), launched the ecoEnergy Efficiency program in 2007, allowing all homeowners to receive up to $5000.00 via Federal Grant and up to a $5000.00 Provincial Grant(in Ontario..other Provinces vary) for making their home more energy efficient?

The ecoEnergy Retrofit Grants are tremendous and are there for every single home owner in the Country! Over 35,000 Ontario residents have already taken advantage of the program...and if you're thinking of replacing those old windows and doors, getting a new furnace, perhaps more insulation...if your home renovations are going to make your home more energy efficient...chances are you qualify for a Grant!

Plus there's more! Take a look and find out how you can get your home greener and your wallet greener at the same time!

Federal Grant Information: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/home-improvement.cfm?attr=0 :

Q & A's: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/retrofit-homes/questions-answers.cfm?attr=4

Ontario Grant Information: http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=conservation.homeretrofit

Geothermal Energy Grant: http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=renewable.geothermal

Wind, Micro Hydro-Electric and Geothermal Energy Systems Rebate http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/refund/windgeo/

Ontario PST rebate: Homeowners may be eligible for Ontario PST rebate on their renewable installations where applicable. For more information, please visit http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/refund/index.htmlor call the Retail Sales Tax Refund hotline at 1800-615-2757.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Mortgage Loan Insurance Refund: http://www.ec.gc.ca/incitatifs-incentives/gc_fi_search_display.asp?id=101&jurisdiction=10&actionArea=2&keyword=

Energy-Efficient Housing Program: Genworth Program http://www.ec.gc.ca/incitatifs-incentives/gc_fi_search_display.asp?id=300&jurisdiction=10&actionArea=2&keyword=

Selling your Home Privately...An Insiders Guide

Donna Bacher (Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:41:24 -0500

Trading in Real Estate in the Province of Ontario, is governed under the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act (REBBA 2002). The Act outlines who can sell Real Property in the Province..and there are many groups excluded from the Act. Auctioneers, Lawyers, Banks and property owners can all trade in Real Estate to one degree or another. Yes, the majority of people do retain the services of a professional Realtor, but some homeowners decide, for either personal or economic reasons, that Selling Privately is the best way to go.

A private sale, if done correctly can not only result in the homeowner saving a bit of money, it can also be an extremely rewarding and educational experience. On an average $200,000 home sale, the commission may be anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000, perhaps higher, perhaps lower, depending on the circumstances and Realtor involved. You may not save the full amount of commission, but if you have the time, energy, the right tools and a bit of luck, you may be able to save thousands. The secret is to do it right!

The Top 10 things you can do to improve your chances of Selling your home privately.

1) Determine the market value of your home and discount it by 3% to 4%. Buyers will assume correctly that your house is more of a bargain than the MLS listings, where the home owners are paying various commission rates. One of the biggest mistakes a Private for sale makes is to list at the same price...if not more. People buying privately are looking to save! Ask a bit less...and you may just end up with more!

2) Pack away or remove anything of extreme value, such as jewelry boxes, expensive art work and collectibles. De-clutter, clean, polish and dust everything from top to bottom and get a professional home stager if necessary!

3) Take some time and view the competition. You can view it on line, during open houses, or even calling the listing agent for a viewing. Remember to always let the Agent know that you plan on putting your home on the market. He or she could be your best ally. They may just happen to have a buyer for you right then!

4) Prepare: Your advertising/marketing campaign. Where are you going to advertise to get the best response? How much are you going to spend? Spend some time researching your options and your budget. Also, address how you're going to handle inquiries. E-mail, phone or direct contact via open houses? Do you have a blank "Agreement of Purchase and Sale"? Have you discussed how you should handle things with your Lawyer? How much the Lawyer is going to charge to handle the Offer? How much of a deposit you would like? What safety precautions are you going to implement in showing your home? Make a list of qualifying questions you can ask over the phone. (ie..Where do you live now? Do you have to sell your home? Where do you work? Do you have your financing in place?) If a person is a serious buyer, they will provide you with the information you need to comfortably show them thru your home. **It does no harm to cross check a phone number to an address to verify identity. ( ww.canada411.ca ) In the world of cell phones, make sure you get a home phone number and home address before you allow anyone to view your home. Make notes.

5) Prepare feature sheets. Get as detailed as you like! Make sure you include things such as your legal description, lot size, current taxes, and room sizes. Write a brief owners statement, telling prospective Buyers when you bought the home, what you really find appealing about the house and why you are moving. Make sure you list the improvements you have made to the home and when you did them.

6) Prepare your ad copy. This is crucial. Advertising space is always limited, so choose your words wisely and make sure the most important features of your homes are mentioned. Allow your ad copy to work in your favour by filtering out people asking questions like "How many bedrooms?", "Is it Brick?", "How much?" How many bathrooms? An example of good filtering ad copy would be..."Fantastic 3 bedroom Brick 2 story single family home, in great South East area. Features new laminate flooring, new solid oak kitchen, updated 4 pc bath. Private side drive and garage! Immaculate inside and out! Only $xxxxxxx." By writing your ad copy like this, you are answering a lot of questions that a Buyer may otherwise have to call you for. When a buyer does call you, chances are they will be setting up an appointment to see it!

7) Co-operate with Real Estate Agents! One of the biggest mistakes, that a person selling privately does...is exclude Realtors. By doing this, they are also excluding the clients that those Realtors are working with. Yes, when a Realtor calls you to see your property, they may be more interested in persuading you to list with them then they are viewing your home, however, if you agree to pay Real Estate professionals for selling your home, it could very well be a winning situation for both of you. You may end up with a great offer, professionally written, plus save on the commission as well! It also gives you an opportunity to silently interview Realtors, giving you a good idea of who you would feel comfortable listing with if you're not successful selling privately.

8) Hire a professional to take your pictures, including a virtual tour. Good quality pictures make all the difference when marketing on line. Professional photographers not only have better camera's, they're also experts in lighting. This allows them to avoid shadows and dark area's which amateur photography is notorious for.

9) Obtain a Home Inspection Report. This is also very important. A Professional Home Inspection report will serve as a buffer between you and a potential buyer. It's a second opinion about your home and is totally objective. Good inspection reports will assess all the elements of your home, inside and out. Not only will the report serve as a form of disclosure and reassurance to a Buyer, it will also give you an idea of deficiencies that you have the time and money to rectify prior to selling.

10) Detach!!!! To sell your home affectively via Private for Sale, you must detach from it. After you've cleaned, polished, perhaps hired a professional stager, fixed all of the items the home inspector pointed out to you, you may have an overwhelming urge to stay put...or even ask more money! Try not to do this. Remember why you where planning on moving to begin with and give yourself a pat on the back for giving your home a competitive edge! Don't take anything a buyer says to you personally. Rehearse your showings, making sure that you point out important features along the way. A normal showing should last 15-20 minutes. Be cordial and personable, keeping the conversation focused around the sale of your home. Treat the showing in a professional manner, finishing at the front door, and let the Buyers know how you would like them to proceed if they want to give you an offer!

Selling your home takes time, dedication and money to do correctly and it isn't as simple as putting a "For Sale" sign on your front lawn and an ad in the paper or on line. The Internet is flooded with Private for Sale sites and deciding exactly which one to use can be a challenge in itself. Set a budget and set a reasonable time limit to get the job done. If you don't like the way things are unfolding, don't hesitate to call in a professional Real Estate Agent!

Happy Selling!

Donna...."Your Realtor with a Heart!"

www.donnabacher.ca

The First Offer Syndrome...saying goodbye to the most money!

Donna Bacher (Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:41:50 -0500

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that one of the most difficult scenario's we face as Realtors, looking out for the best interest of our Clients, is dealing with an offer that materializes within the first 48 hours of the property going on the market. If we have done a thorough Comparative Market Evaluation, really researched the competition, both sold listings and active listings, and then taken into consideration the current market conditions for that area, the price tag we've advised the Sellers to put on the property should truly reflect the current value. If this is the case, then there should be no alarm at the quick offer. It should be dealt with like any other offer. Statistics show that the first offer is usually the best offer, regardless of when the offer is obtained.

The Ready and Educated Buyer: Recently I had a client who was looking for a little home that she could move into and fix up. We started by looking at everything within her price range in the area that she wanted. Within a 2 week span, many of the homes that we had viewed, sold, thus she soon became aware of what the value was in the area. Not only had she seen the properties while they were listed, she now knew what they had ended up selling for. She was becoming a very educated consumer. One day I delighted when I saw an Estate Sale come on the market and called her immediately to go thru it, and soon thereafter, I was preparing an offer for her. She was already pre-approved for her Mortgage and had made arrangements for a Home Inspector.

My Listing is Hot! The day after the listing was processed thru the MLS system, I was sitting at the kitchen table presenting my offer to the Executor and his Sales Representative. Regardless of what the property was listed for, my offer reflected the true value of the property, was well within 5% of the asking price and was to close in 25 days. The Executor laughed and demanded a full price counter. There was to be an Open House the next day and he was hoping there would be many bidders at that time. I gingerly argued my case, stating that my Client was extremely qualified and knowledgeable and that she had given him an excellent offer. The Listing agent supported the Sellers view, even going as far as to tell me that he could sell it 10 times over for the amount that they were countering the offer at. At the end of the presentation, I was sent away with a counter offer of 1% less than list. My client did not except the Counter Offer...in Real Estate lingo, we say "she walked"...simply because within the short course of that day, another listing came on the market. It was bigger, better and of better value, even though it was 20K more. She bought it. The only reason the Seller saw an offer so fast was there just happened to be a qualified buyer looking right then. That is not always the case. The "Law of Substitution" states that a person will not pay more for a property when he or she can get buy one of equal or better value in a similar area for less. Timing is everything in Real Estate. In reality, you never know who may be putting a "For Sale" sign up and you have no control over what they may be asking.

My Listing is Cold! 3 weeks have gone by since that Offer Presentation, and the property is still on the market. According to the Sales Rep, the Executor is kicking himself. There have been no other offers since. Lots of showings, but no offers and the next step will be to reduce the asking price of the property. In a very buoyant Real Estate area, Buyers start to question a house that has been up for sale longer than a couple of weeks. Why should they buy it...if no one else has wanted it? What's wrong with it? Not only does the Estate now stand a good chance of receiving less money than the First Offer would have provided them, they also must look after the property until it is sold and the deal closed.

The Powerful First Offer! There is nothing better for a homeowner, than a fast, clean sale, at a reasonable price. There's nothing really great about having your house on the market for weeks or months. If the Sellers Realtor has done his or her job correctly and it is priced right, then the house should receive an offer within 5% of list much sooner than later...and if a Seller is lucky enough to have another Agent and their client waiting for a listing like his to come on the market, then that Seller has hit the jackpot! The Selling agent has done a great job by pricing the home with expertise, and the Buyers Agent has done their job by scouring the new listings on a constant basis to find the perfect home for their Buyer. That very excited, anxious and educated Buyer is not going to mess around. They are looking hard...and there's a good chance that the offer they give you will be the best one you will see.

What Happened? When this type of Buyer submits an offer, it really is a big deal. They are submitting a serious offer...and if signed by the Seller, it becomes a bona fide contract. It is not time for petty silliness and when an offer is countered, the seller is actually buying his house back for the Offer price in hopes of making a bit more money. If the offer is within 5 % of the list price, great care should be taken. Not all homes sell for full price. Not all homes are tagged with the correct list price, because Real Estate pricing is not an exact science. So, yes, countering is a huge gamble...and there is absolutely nothing wrong with accepting the first offer you see! Buying and Selling real estate only has one time...NOW...what is it worth right NOW? Another interesting fact is that Sellers can end up chasing that "First Offer" they let get away, measuring everything else against it. It forms an imaginary sale in their mind and they have a difficult time accepting anything less...this prolongs their sale even more. Sadly enough, over my 25 years in the business, I've seen many houses reduced to prices less than the price of the First Offer that was turned down. Some people may believe that it's the Realtor who loves to make a fast commission....but it's not. No one likes to see their clients suffer. Could have, should have, would have. We could have had $5,000 more, we should have accepted that offer, we would have if we knew that was going to be the best. Hindsight is blind.

A Note to the Wise- So, my advice...is to deal with all of your Real Estate transactions in the Now! Don't get caught up in the thoughts of making a few thousand dollars more tomorrow, because it may well result in selling for thousands less tomorrow. Weigh your options wisely and become a very informed and successful Seller!

A note from "The Realtor with a Heart!"

Donna

So much for an Early Spring!

Donna Bacher (Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:40:24 -0500

It is sad to say, but Hamilton is going to get hit yet again by another huge winter storm tomorrow. This has been one of the worst winters we have seen in many years. Toronto is only 30 cm away from reaching the record amount of snow in a winter.

Now I must say that I am feeling somewhat depressed from this winter weather. My spirits were up when they announced on Groundhog day that it would be an early spring. But this morning when I got up and I turned the radio on, the radio host let me know that we would most likely be expecting ANOTHER 6 weeks of winter I wanted to crawl back into my bed and set my alarm for summer. I know that Groundhog day is just another old wives tale but hey a girl can dream can't she?

I realize that I have been living in Ontario for practically my entire life and you would think that I would be used to our long depressing winters by now. This year though the bad weather has really just got me feeling a little down.

However, besides all of this dreary weather I can't complain about the housing market in Hamilton these past couple months! It has kept me busy and really kept my mind off the winter for the most part!

Here's hoping that the "weather guys" are wrong and wiarton willie is right!

Spring Cleaning!

Donna Bacher (Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:39:16 -0500

Spring Cleaning

It's just about that time to get Spring Cleaning! I know you just can't wait to get started! Here is some of my own advice to get organized for the new season!

Out with the Old and in with the New!

Instead of just grabbing all of your winter clothing, throwing it in a bin and storing it until winter comes again, sort your clothing into two piles. One pile with everything that you know you will wear next year and in the other pile put the clothing you barely touched during the winter season. If you only wore it once or twice or not at all you know you most likely will do the same next winter season. So gather up that pile and donate to a charity where you know someone in need will get much better use of the clothing! Then neatly fold up all of the clothes you are keeping and store in a container so it will be easy to unpack when you need them again!

Tackle that Useless "Stuff"!

We all have it, the stuff we buy and never use so we just put it away into storage. But this year is time for a change. Get into that storage room and take EVERYTHING out! I know it seems scary but trust me you will feel so relieved when you are finally organized. Sort all of your things into KEEP, THROW OUT, DONATE/SELL piles. Take all of your KEEP items and sort them into categories and then into bins if possible. For example, categories may be Holiday, Sports Equipment, Toys etc. Take the THROW OUT pile and obviously throw it out. However both the THROW and DONATE/SELL pile always seems to be difficult for many people, but really consider how often you use each particular item and if it hasn't been used in the last month it is gone! This activity of sorting all of your "STUFF" can really open your eyes to how much money we all waste on useless products and will most likely help you decide whether or not you really need something the next time you are out shopping! Last but not least the DONATE/SELL pile...take what you want to donate to your local charity and with all the items you want to sell, have a Garage Sale!

Clean Sweep!

Finally, once everything else has been organized it is time to clean your house from "head to toe". To make this less difficult do one room at a time. If you are living with many people give each person in your home one room to clean. If you are on your own just take on one room at a time so you are not overwhelmed. The best idea if you can afford it is to hire someone to do it all for you!

Once your all finished you can fully enjoy the beautiful Spring season!