real estate advise: Dealing With A Home Inspection Issue - 04/27/16 09:00 PM
As you may know, it’s common to include a home inspection as a condition of an offer you make. It protects you from issues that you might not otherwise see during a viewing.
What do you do if the home inspector finds something wrong? The inspector might find a leak in the foundation, or windows that are old, drafty and need replacing.
Must you pass on a property that you otherwise like?
Not necessarily. Just because the home inspector discovered a deficiency doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t purchase the home. You should, however, bring the issue up with the seller.
Your REALTOR® will do that … (2 comments)

real estate advise: Home Shopping And The Four-Legged Stool - 04/25/16 03:35 AM
What kind of stool is most likely to keep you from toppling over when you sit on it? Of course, two-legged stools won’t even stand on their own. Three-legged stools are okay, but still unstable. Four-legged stools are rock solid.
What does that have to do with shopping for a new home?
Well, if you want to find the right home quickly and for the best price, you need to have four things in place – the four legs of the stool. They will help ensure the experience goes smoothly.
The first leg is your wish list. You need to have a clear picture … (1 comments)

real estate advise: Make Two Wish Lists When Shopping For A New Home - 04/19/16 10:54 PM
When shopping for a new home, create a wish list of the features and characteristics you want. After all, there’s no sense looking at properties with kitchenettes when you won’t settle for anything less than a full-sized kitchen that Julia Child would envy.
But there are probably some features that are nice-to-haves but not must-haves. For example, you might like a large wrap-around deck in your backyard, but would settle for a home that doesn’t have one. (After all, you can always install one later.)
That’s why it’s a good idea to create two wish lists. One list would include all the features … (0 comments)

real estate advise: 5 Secrets To Selecting Interior Lighting - 04/05/16 07:00 AM
Lighting is, perhaps, the most important element in decorating. The right lamp, chandelier or ceiling fixture can instantly make a room more attractive and inviting. The wrong lighting, unfortunately, can have the opposite effect.
Here are five secrets to making the right choice:
How much lighting is required in a room? To calculate, simply multiply the square footage by 1.5. Therefore, a 12′ x 16′ living room would require 288 watts of lighting (12 x 16 x 1.5 = 288). How big a chandelier do you need? Simply add the dimensions of the room together. So a 12′ x 16′ area could … (2 comments)

real estate advise: Lighting Matters When Selling Your House - 03/13/16 11:42 PM
Remember the last time you were in a furniture store or other major home retailer? Remember the fully decorated displays of furniture, appliances and other products? Some of those may have even been organized as model rooms.
What did most of those displays have in common?
Chances are, they were well lit.
In fact, in the retail industry, there are professionals who specialize exclusively in display lighting. It plays such an important role in showcasing and selling home products successfully that the stores are willing to absorb the expense.
And the same holds true for your house.
If you want to show your house well, and … (1 comments)

real estate advise: Rentals are Not a Joke! - 03/09/16 08:36 PM
It often surprises me how lightly some of the home owners and also some of my colleges treat rentals.
I might be wrong, but I treat rentals just as seriously as I treat sales. I will not offer to do open houses or print super expensive brochures, but the rest bells and whistles Landlords are entitled to just like home Sellers.
Our job as Realtors is to bring the world to the property (since we cant bring the property to the world) and how could we possibly do this without fabulous photographs, appealing descriptions, floor plans and all the possible advertising media.
As to … (2 comments)

real estate advise: Stay or move? How to decide - 03/04/16 10:45 PM
Do you sometimes review the real estate ads in your local paper? Do you drive by an open house sign and feel the urge to stop and check it out? Those are common indications that, at least on some level, you’re thinking about the possibility of making a move.
But how do you decide if you should actually move?
The first step is to consider whether there are any practical reasons to consider buying a new home. What’s pushing you in that direction?
Is your current home too small for your needs? Is the commute to work, for you or your spouse, too … (2 comments)

real estate advise: Understanding Market Value - 03/03/16 07:42 PM
If you were going to sell your car, what would you do? Well, you would probably check to find out how similar vehicles to yours are priced. Then you would set your advertised price within that range.
What you would be doing, perhaps without knowing it, is determining the “market value” of your car.
Market value is simply what buyers today are willing to pay for a particular product.
When you decide to put your house up for sale, one of the first things you and your REALTOR® will do is determine the market value of your property. That’s important to know because if … (2 comments)

real estate advise: Help Buyers Understand The Area - 02/28/16 10:13 PM
There’s a famous saying in the real estate business: “Location, location, location”. It simply means that where your home is located — the neighbourhood — is just as important to potential buyers as the features of the property itself.
Sellers often make the mistake of creating a long list of home features while ignoring neighbourhood features. They tout the spacious kitchen, the newly renovated bathrooms and the gorgeous backyard deck, but say little about the area.
So when you’re ready to sell your home, sit down and create two lists: home features and neighbourhood features. Buyers want to know both.
On that neighbourhood features … (0 comments)

real estate advise: 5 Things Home Buyers Don’t Want To See - 02/28/16 12:02 AM
When preparing a property for sale, homeowners often focus on the things that will impress buyers, such as clean and uncluttered spaces, well lit rooms, staged furniture designed to maximize appeal, and so forth.
But it’s equally important to pay attention to those things you don’t want buyers to see... those little turn-offs that, although seemingly minor, can distract buyers and cause them to lose interest in your property.
For example, you don’t want buyers to see these things:
Pets. Although many people love pets, some don’t. Others are allergic to them. Dogs, in particular, can take a keen interest in new visitors, jumping … (2 comments)

real estate advise: Getting A Handle On The Home Selling Process - 02/27/16 04:31 AM
You probably know there’s more to selling a home than putting up a FOR SALE sign. But if you don’t understand the process in detail, you might feel intimidated and stressed when it comes time to put your property on the market.
Fortunately, the home selling process isn’t that difficult to understand. There are basically six steps.
Step one is selecting the right REALTOR®. You need a knowledgeable, trusted expert who can guide you through the process, take care of all the details, and help sell your home quickly and for the best price.
Step two is preparation. You need to ensure your home … (1 comments)

real estate advise: Be Sensible When it Comes to Scents - 02/26/16 02:43 AM
Sniff, sniff. “What is that smell?”
 
That is definitely not the reaction you want a potential buyer to have when they view your house.
The problem with common household scents – from family pets, preferred cooking styles, smoking, or even hobbies such as model-making – is that we get accustomed to them. However, someone who enters the house for the first time will notice these aromas right away.
So, before a viewing appointment or open house, be sure household scents are under control. A good airing usually does the trick.
Reposted from http://www.marina.realtor/ixact-be-sensible-when-it-comes-to-scents/
… (2 comments)

real estate advise: What is Your Priority - Time or Money? - 02/23/16 09:15 PM
There are people who will spend any time to save a bit of money and there are people who will spend any money to save a bit of time. Who are you?
Our life is just too short to become a professional in everything. You could be OK in many fields, you could be truly brilliant in just a few.
The question is, when you need something done, something that you don't do everyday and that you don't really love doing, would you spend time and effort to master the skill or would you pay to get it done?
Would you cut your own … (3 comments)

real estate advise: The Benefits of a Pre-Sale Inspection - 02/19/16 09:55 PM
Your home probably has dozens of great features that are going to help it stand out and sell faster. Perhaps it has a cozy sunken living room? Or an equipped and smartly decorated kitchen that Rachel Ray would envy? Or a location in a desirable neighbourhood?
All these things will help.
But there’s another selling feature you should consider adding: a pre-sale inspection.
A professional home inspection is usually done on behalf of the buyer before the deal to purchase a property is finalized. In fact, you can expect any offers to purchase your home to be “conditional upon satisfactory home inspection.” However, there … (0 comments)

real estate advise: Want To Sell Your Home Faster? - 02/17/16 05:27 AM
Let Potential Buyers Feel at Home!
You may think that being a host or tour guide for potential buyers who are viewing your home is a good idea. After all, who knows more about the wonderful features of your property than you do?
The problem is, buyers don’t feel the same way.
They much prefer to see your home with only a REALTOR® present. This helps them feel less like an intruder and more comfortable giving your property their full consideration.
Call Marina 416-843-1515 today!
 
… (0 comments)

real estate advise: Is Your Home Market Ready? - 02/13/16 08:09 PM
Putting your home on the market may be the last thing you have on your mind.
But as you know, life happens. Things change. You might unexpectedly find yourself in the position of wanting or having to quickly sell your home.
It happens more often than you might think. In fact, according to studies into why people sell their homes, more than a third are due to relatively quick and unexpected changes. Something happens – a job relocation, a lifestyle change – and the homeowner finds him or herself making a move.
In these situations, the biggest source of stress is caused by the … (1 comments)

real estate advise: Reducing The Stress Of Selling - 02/11/16 08:54 PM
Selling a house can be a stressful process for the entire family. You need to keep the place clean and looking its best. You need to stay away during viewings. You may even need to look for a new home at the same time.
Although you won’t be able to eliminate all the anxiety, good advanced planning will certainly help reduce it.
First, talk to a REALTOR® well before you decide to put the property on the market. A good REALTOR® can help you determine whether any repairs, improvements, or minor touch-ups should be done, so that your home will sell faster and … (1 comments)

real estate advise: Does Home Staging Really Work? - 02/08/16 06:02 AM
You might have heard about home staging and wondered what it’s all about. There are even a few television reality shows that feature staging experts doing their magic on a particular house or condo.
So what exactly is it?
Home staging is simply setting up your home to maximize its appeal to potential buyers. It involves everything from cleaning and removing the clutter, to arranging the furniture and decorating. The concept was developed by Barb Schwarz, who has become a legend in the staging industry.
Think about some of the most attractive furniture showrooms you’ve visited. Remember that beautifully set table with the … (1 comments)

real estate advise: Your Property Is The Product - 01/26/16 07:52 PM
They say, “Home is where the heart is.” How true! That’s why, when selling your property, it’s important to realize that your home – your heart — is moving to another place. Your current property is now a product that you want to sell quickly, and for the best price possible.
Making that mental transition, however, isn’t easy. After all, you probably have at least one fond memory associated with every room in your house! Here’s a tip: Pack up the personal items, such as pictures and trophies. Rearrange the furniture. Make it look like someone else’s home.
When you let go of … (0 comments)

real estate advise: Open House Tips That Turn Viewers Into Buyers - 01/25/16 05:28 AM
What do you want from an open house? Obviously, you want to attract a lot of potential buyers — and have at least a few of them become seriously interested in your property.
So how do you make your open house as successful as possible?
You probably already know the basics: make sure your house is clean, bright and uncluttered.
However, there are some other open house success tips you may not know…
Get minor repairs done. A dripping faucet, a squeaky fence door, or a scuff on the wall may seem minor to you, but these problems can stand out like a sore thumb … (2 comments)