tips: Shop for Insurance Before You Close - 04/08/16 11:59 PM
After purchasing a new home, buyers are often focused on securing a good mortgage, hiring a reputable moving company, and preparing for moving day.
Those are all important. Just don’t forget about home insurance! It’s an easy detail to miss. If you wait until the last minute to make those arrangements, you may not have time to shop around and get the best policy and rate.
When is the ideal time to shop for home insurance? When your offer is accepted. Don’t leave it until the last minute.
 
… (1 comments)

tips: 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)

tips: Making Sure Your “Wish List” is Complete - 04/02/16 01:39 AM
Before shopping for a new home, people often create a “wish list” of the features they desire most. That's a good way to ensure you choose a home that best fits your needs and desires. For example, you might want an extra bedroom for guests, ample space for a home office, a local playground for the kids, and so forth.
However, many buyers don’t make their lists complete enough. You might find a home with the extra bedroom and nearby playground you want, only to realize, too late, that your commute to work becomes twice as long. You missed the importance of … (3 comments)

tips: When the Home Inspector Finds Something Wrong - 03/24/16 12:53 AM
You shop for a home. You find one you like. You make an offer — conditional on a satisfactory home inspection.
Okay so far.
Then the inspector discovers a problem with the home that may require an expensive repair or renovation. Perhaps the frame in the front door is cracked; or there's a leak in the roof; or the furnace is due to be replaced.
What do you do?
You don't want to pass up an opportunity to purchase what could be your dream home. On the other hand, you don't want to have to deal with potentially costly repairs.
First, keep in mind that you … (1 comments)

tips: 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)

tips: Preparing Your House for Sale in Less Than a Week - 03/13/16 03:20 AM
It’s great when you have lots of time to prepare for something important. But life doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes you have to move quickly, and do the best you can with the time you have.
Say, for example, you had to get your house ready for sale, and you only had a week to do so. What could you do in those few days to make your home as attractive as possible to potential buyers? Here are some ideas:
Clean the house from top to bottom. Make it look “guest ready”. Get rid of as much clutter as possible. If … (1 comments)

tips: For Crying Out Loud, Just Say Something - 03/10/16 09:06 PM
We are all staring at our smart phones days and nights. From the age of 1 to the age of 99. The phones are ringing, beeping, and making all sorts of sounds to be noticed. So, why on earth don't we respond?
Why on the phone, via text or e-mail cant we be polite just like we are in a face-to-face communication?
You received documents, or information, or e-card - just say "thank you"!
Someone asked you a question - just respond something, acknowledge, tell them you are working on getting the answer and will get back to them later.
Your phone rings and you … (5 comments)

tips: 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)

tips: Don’t Over Improve Your House Before You Sell - 03/08/16 09:50 PM
If you're considering selling your house, you might be tempted to sink some money into home improvements. After all, gleaming new hardwood floors or a stunning wrap-around deck will make your property sell a lot faster, and for more money. And you'll more than recover your investment with the higher selling price. Right?
Maybe not. While those types of upgrades will certainly make your house more attractive to potential buyers - and may nudge the selling price up a little – you may not recoup all of your costs.
That's why major home improvements should be done for your own personal enjoyment, not … (3 comments)

tips: 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)

tips: 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)

tips: 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)

tips: 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)

tips: 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)

tips: 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)

tips: Does Location Really Matter? - 02/20/16 10:38 PM
You find a beautiful home available on the market, but you’re not so sure about the location. Does it really matter all that much? Yes, it does. That’s why you’ll often hear REALTORS® say, “Location, location, location.”
The location of a home you’re considering buying will affect you in two ways.
First, it will affect the property’s future resale value, especially if the neighbourhood is becoming less desirable.
Second, it will affect your lifestyle. If the area doesn’t have the features you want — nearby schools and playgrounds, walking trails, proximity to activities that interest you, such as golf or theatre — you probably … (3 comments)

tips: 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)

tips: 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)

tips: No Offense Meant, Home Seller, but some Buyers are Taller then You!!! - 02/10/16 09:46 PM
I am tall. Well, not super tall, just a bit taller then average. The problem is that I can also see higher then average. And I have quite a few buyer clients who are way taller then me and obviously they can see even higher. For some reason many home sellers expect their potential home buyers to be the size of a 5-year old. What makes me think so?
 
Well, of course, the way some home sellers clean and prepare their house for sale. Often enough the house is spotless and sparkly all the way up to about 6 feet. 6 … (50 comments)

tips: 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)