SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD
~Gananoque, Ontario
74 Quabbin Road, Mallorytown, Ontario
As of 3pm today, another happy family is able to move on with their lives. The Dad will be deployed to Afghanistan very very soon and it is a great relief for him to know the home is sold and they'll be moving to where he is stationed for the next few weeks. I'm going to miss those sweet little kids!
HAPPY AMERICAN THANKGIVING! Hopefully this won't put anyone off their favourite pie. I love the idea of celebrating both our Thanksgivings; our Canadian one in October and Yours in November. Gives us good practice for Christmas Dinner. Enjoy this recipe if you've got a craving for pumpkin:
A fabulous pumpkin pie is a combination of a crisp flaky crust and smooth, creamy custard. For guaranteed success, quick-chill and prebake the crust at a high temperature before adding the pumpkin custard and baking the pie at a lower temperature.
Pastry for 9-inch (23 cm) single-crust pie Filling: 2 eggs 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) cooked pumpkin puree 1 cup (250 mL) packed dark brown sugar 3/4 cup (175 mL) light cream 1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon 1/2 tsp (2 mL) cloves 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ginger 1/2 tsp (2 mL) nutmeg 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt 2 tbsp (25 mL) sour cream 1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) milk
Preparation:
Roll out pastry and fit into 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate. Trim pastry, leaving 1-inch (2.5 cm) overhang; fold under and flute edge. With fork, prick shell all over. Place in freezer for 30 minutes.
Line pastry shell with foil or parchment paper; fill evenly with pie weights or dried beans. Bake on lowest rack in 400°F (200°C) oven for 10 minutes; remove weights and foil and bake for about 10 minutes longer or until pastry is set.
Filling: Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat eggs lightly. Blend in pumpkin, sugar, light cream, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and salt, and pour into pastry shell.
Combine sour cream with milk; pour into funnel with narrow tube, blocking opening with finger. Remove finger and quickly drizzle mixture in spiral pattern over filling.
Beginning at centre, pull tip of knife shallowly through filling and sour cream mixture at 8 evenly spaced intervals. Beginning at outside, pull knife through middle of intervals toward centre to create web pattern.
Bake on lowest rack in 350°F (180°C) oven for about 1 hour or until filling is set and point of knife inserted into centre comes out clean. Let cool on rack.
November 27th and 28th both nights beginning at 7 pm.
Come out and support your local Performing Arts School: Dreams in Motion.
"All performers will be local and will be presenting every kind of comedy you can imagine", says Diane Stapley who is organising the show. The show will be made up of a variety of types of comedy and there will be 4 stand up routines.
Tickets for the Dress Rehersal on the 27th are only $5.00 and on the 28th the tickets are $15. The event is licensed and is not intended for children. Please note, it will be adult comedy!!
R & B Expressions has opened their doors this week in Downtown Gananoque.
Sterling silver, stone jewelry, crystal and some shell and glass works all created by the shop owners, Bill and Rhonda MacLean. They have been collecting rocks and shells from their travels for many a year and began by creating pieces for their 3 daughters.
If you're in the area, pop in for a visit: 123 King St East, Gananoque (613) 382-4111
Home buyer: " Is it wrong to work with more then one Realtor at the same time? I'm trying to follow proper home-buying etiquette. My friends tell me it's O.k. as long as I keep track of which Realtor showed which property. That way, if you end up purchasing, the correct Realtor is compensated. I've not signed any exclusive contracts with any Realtor.
Is it OK as long as I make sure both Realtors realize I'm working with another agent as well? Some people have told me that Realtors know customers might be working with others, and it's not a big deal."
Isn't that a good question? As a Realtor, I definitely have a 'biased' perpective and answer to that question. But since the question involves 'working with a Realtor' - who better to answer it? :)
1.)Yes - if you're working with Realtor's in two different Cities - where each has their own area of expertise! Go ahead and Use 2 Different Realtors! As a matter of fact your local Realtor can probably refer you to a Realtor in the city you're moving to.
2.)If you are Selling Your Home and Buying again - it is possible to work with a Listing Agent to sell your home and a Buyer's Agent in the purchase of your new home. Often these 2 Realtors can even be a part of a team where they tag-team each other.
More importantly however, is the Buyer asking about this from a legal or moral/ethical perspective?
First of all I want to say that Real Estate Associations in each Province and State have their own rules. There used to be 'threshold' rights in British Columbia. This is where the Realtor who introduces you to the house - is the Realtor who gets the commission. However it's not so cut and dried anymore.
If you signed a Buyer's Agency Agreement - then you are under 'contract' to work with that and only that Realtor. If for some reason you choose not to - then your new Realtor may very well end up getting paid by YOU or not at all! And YOU will be breaching a contract to work with another agent. This can get ugly ... and no one wants "ugly" ...
However if you have No Contract - Let me Tell you You some Reasons Why it is NOT a good idea to work with more then One Realtor!
Home Buyers often call on signs and advertisements and talk with MANY real estate agents until they find a home that they want to buy ... and then just work with the listing agent to buy the home. Sometimes this is not a good idea, as the home buyer may not get the best deal if the listing agent is looking out for the best interest of the seller ... not the buyer.
Or the Buyer may work with several different Buyer Agents to see who will find them the best deal. This is ALSO not a very good idea for a couple reasons ...
1. First of all all Agents have the same access to the same homes for sale via the local MLS. They all have the potential of finding the "best deal".
However Agents only get paid when they successfully find a home for a home buyer ... and it closes. All the up front work of finding the home is done without pay and in good faith that the home buyer that they are working with is using them to represent them. If a home buyer is not disclosing that they are potentially working with other agents, then the Buyer Agent does not have the ability to fairly weigh out the situation and determine whether or not they want to work with that home buyer.
There Are some exceptions though:
If a home buyer wants to work with more than one agent (for whatever reason), the right thing to do is to NOT sign a Buyer Agency Agreement and to notify each agent of this decision.
If a home buyer is considering buying different types of property or different areas, they may consider hiring an "expert" for each area.
If you're still not sure and don't know if you will like being 'married' to just one agent - Consider signing a week long Buyer Agency agreement - If after that week, the agent is not a good fit, then the home buyer can move on and find a new agent. Win Win right?
Finding ONE agent to work with is generally going to be your best bet.
Don't you just love a happy ending?! I'm having a wonderful time right now helping families understand that happy endings are possible. They're deserved. I feel honoured to participate in any way to make sure families are in their new homes for Christmas. That their New Year will be Happy!!!
The Sellers of this beautiful bungalow have been patiently waiting since Aug 2006 for a qualified Buyer to identify themselves.
With the most gorgeous of views of the mighty St Lawrence River from the front porch, to the lovely and private back yard
Well I'm happy to say, as of this morning it is SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD!
Is everyone happy? You betcha!! Patience is indeed a virtue but always remember, good things come to those who wait :o)
Home staging (or property styling as it's commonly known as on the Australian property scene) is really an art, not a science. One of the many things a professional home stager understands is that it's the house that's up for sale, not the home owner's bread baking ability or taste in music. So, from the sublime to the rediculous - here's 8 myths of staging to sell - busted!
1. Buyers can see past my stuff No - they can't. 95% of house hunters shop with a 'what you see is what you get' eye. You'll be maximising your chances of a better and quicker sale if you take the time to clean out, clean up and keep your look simple.
2. Baking bread, brewing fresh coffee and playing soft music will make a buyer fall in love with my house. Maybe once upon a time this was true - but most would-be buyers are onto that old trick. It's more likely to trigger alarm bells, with many wondering what it is you're trying to hide. Your buyers will be happy with a place that looks and smells clean.
3. I'll need to clear everything out to help buyers see themselves living here. This is only partly true. Wall to wall family photos are distracting, as is your porcelain rooster collection. These things are best put away. But don't go overboard, otherwise you'll end up with a look that feels cold and sterile.
4. If it's an original feature - it adds value. Sometimes yes - but often no. Generally a property built less than 50 years ago without being updated is more likely to appear dated, rather than classic.
5. My place isn't worth staging. All homes are worth taking the time to present in a positive light to buyers. The trick to knowing where to start and what to do is in having a good idea of what buyers in your target market will expect, along with learning more about what competing properties in your area are offering.
6. Empty rooms look bigger.
This is rarely the case. Buyers will always prefer to see how a room is used and what will fit in it, rather than be left to guess. Very large rooms can also be too intimidating for some. Even borrowed furniture can help buyers get an idea of scale and give the eye something of interest to focus on.
7. Converting a bedroom into a home gym won't be a problem. Bedrooms are one of the most valuable commodities of the 'for sale' property. Having a home gym set up in a bedroom will prompt buyers to wonder why that is. I remember once looking at a house where this was the case. When I came across the bedroom with the gym in it, I immediately began to question if a bed would even fit. Always give the rooms in your house a purpose.
8. No need to worry about wardrobes and cupboards. Home storage is a big deal to most buyers and is surprisingly valuable. Prospective buyers will open storage cupboards in kitchens and bathrooms, so keep them tidy. Keep only what you're using on a daily or weekly basis, and pack the rest away ready for the move.
Have you got a staging myth you'd like busted? Share them with me here.
Donna Ross
Great Impressions Real Estate Staging
"I love helping Sydney home owners and real estate agents catch the eye of choosy buyers with their 'for sale' listings, with fast, simple and inexpensive decorating fixes."
10 Reasons Why The Holiday Season Is A Great Time To Sell. Below is a list of reasons why now is the time to list.... Don't wait until spring.
*Sellers are dropping out of the market for holidays, less competition
*Buyers who are looking in the winter tend to be more serious buyers.
*Singles, couples, and empty nesters tend to wait while school is in session to buy, less competition for them.
*Interest rates are at an all time low
*Buyer scan buy more house right now.
*February and March produce the highest amount of homes sales, but November and December and January don't have as many homes for sale so there is a higher ration of homes sold to those for sale.
*The holiday spirit can help sell your home, you decorate for your guests, but buyers will find your home more charming while it is decorated for the season.
*Most homes are never cleaner and never smell better, or are better decorated than during the holiday season.
*If you don't want to move during the holidays you can negotiate possession for your own convenience.
*Sellers can usually negotiate their best deals during the holiday season.
Sellers who take their homes off the market or postpone selling them during the holidays won't save any money; they will simply postpone their own dreams and perhaps find more competition when they decide to enter the market again.
Are you ready to postpone your dreams or are you ready to move ahead and live your future now?
Kim Boekholder, Keller Williams, Moving to Utah? Moving Around Utah? Contact me for help
iUtah - Utah For Utah places to go and things to do. KSL's community Calendar.
p.s. "By the way, if a friend or family member you know could use a caring and competent agent, I would enjoy meeting them. Thanks for thinking of me with your referrals. I am certified in short sales, foreclsoures, buying, selling, investing, luxury homes, relocation.
Kim Boekholder Associate Broker,
Keller Williams Utah Realtors, Chair Ambassador Murray Chamber
After 2 years on the market and 6 different offers, 1373 Briarwood Drive in Brockville has SOLD !
That's the good news. The Sellers agreed to a Dec 10th closing date.
The Buyers had looked at this home almost 2 years ago but couldn't get their own home sold. When they finally had a solid buyer they approached my Sellers after they had taken down their sign and had decided to not sell until they did some upgrades in the spring.
We all sat around the dining room table on Wed evening and worked out an acceptable sale price, etc. and together we put up the SOLD sign.
Everyone left the table happy and then it hit my Sellers - they didn't have a home to move to!!
After some hectic scrambling yesterday, we found the perfect place for them . . . a home that has been waiting for a new owner for more than 4 years!
What are the odds that those Sellers could move in less than a month? Well, we signed the papers this afternoon and I drove home in such a glorious mood - good things happen to good people. All three families have been waiting far longer than normal to get on with their lives and today it happened and I couldn't be happier! It is for days like this that I stay in this business!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.