Light Your Way to a Faster Sale

Remember the last time you visited an upscale furniture showroom? The furniture and fixtures on display probably looked great. The colours and textures jumped out at you. It was a feast for the eyes! There is a good reason for this: lighting.
Of course, the quality of the products has a lot to do with how appealing they look when on display. But smart retailers know that proper lighting is key to making those products look their best. In fact, some retailers even hire lighting consultants!
What does this have to do with selling your home quickly, and for the best price?

Obviously, when showing your property to potential buyers, you want your home to look its very best. Proper lighting can be a big help. When preparing your home for sale, review the lighting in each room and make sure the space is sufficiently well lit. You want the lighting to be strong enough to prevent dark or shadowy areas, yet not so strong that it’s uncomfortable for the eyes.
As a rule of thumb, the total wattage of lights in a room should equal the room’s square footage times 1.5. So, if a room is 120 square feet and has three light sources (ceiling light and two lamps) then the bulbs in each should be 60 watts.
Pay particular attention to traditionally dark areas, such as the garage, basement, and closets. Make sure those areas are well lit.
If you have a viewing scheduled during the day, take advantage of natural light through windows. Open the curtains!
Finally, one of the most important areas is the foyer. Always make sure the entrance has sufficient lighting. You don’t want buyers to think they’ve entered the home of classic TV’s The Adam’s Family!

Want more ideas for preparing your home for sale? Call today.

How to discourage a Buyer from purchasing your home.

If you’re listing your home for sale in Aurora/Newmarket, then of course you’ll want to make the best impression possible on potential home buyers. But, just to have a little fun, say you don’t want to sell your property. What could you do to discourage those who view your home? Well, you could have your pets in the home during viewings. That will certainly make it uncomfortable for some buyers – especially those with pet allergies. You could also leave personal items around, such as family pictures and trophies. That will make it more difficult for a buyer to imagine himself and his family living there. It might even make him feel a bit like an intruder!

Clutter in bedrooms, closets and other areas of the home will make those spaces feel less spacious than they really are, as well as make visitors feel uncomfortable.

If you really want to turn off a buyer, then put off doing any minor repairs. A dripping tap, flickering light, dent in the wall, or other maintenance issues are certain to gain a buyer’s attention. If all that doesn’t shoo away a buyer from your home, then stick around during a viewing and follow him and his family from room to room. That will certainly make him feel uneasy. Of course, we’re just having a bit of fun here. When you put your home on the market, you want to sell it. It’s easy to avoid all the pitfalls described above and ensure potential buyers appreciate the full value of your home. So when you’re preparing for a showing, think of ways you can make your property appear its best, and make the buyer feel welcomed and comfortable viewing it. Want more ideas on how to sell your home quickly and for the best price? Call today.

Trying to sell yourself!

Its no secret that Buyers in Newmarket/Aurora have always had the choice to sell their homes themselves. Some have actually been successful while other; yeah the picture describes it.

I showed my clients whom we just sold their home in Newmarket a property listed with one of those do it yourself listing brokerages(NULLFREE). They liked the property and we moved to put in an offer. The Sellers were very nice, sweet and appeared desperate to sell their home so I started my interrogation process (Hey that’s what happens when your not represented by a professional). I quickly discovered their emotional attachment to the property and motivation to sell(They had just bought), was I supposed to know that? Once I saw that milk flowing I pushed for more question and got answers. O.K. so if your looking to sell your home yourself, let me just say one thing to you; just ask what your asked in as little words as you can because when you go off with your beautiful stories, you give me ammunition to tear you apart.

So I get to the home and notice that they Sellers agent(NOT HIRED just doing a favor) is there on the couch. I acknowledge everyone there and begin my presentation. As I begin to go through the offer, I see the Seller getting edgy. I discuss who the Buyers are, where the home is located, intentionally skip over price, discuss amount of deposit and to the conditions. As I went on I knew he was waiting for the price. So then I communicated the price and oHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BOYYYYYYYYY!!!!

I thought it was July 4th(that’s the American Independence day right?) and fireworks started coming out of this guys ears. I thought his wife was going to throw one of the 18 months old twins at me. He turned red and started “how dare you insult me in my own home, have you not done your research, who do you think you are!” OMG what’s wrong with this lunatic?

I quickly advised him that if he was not to control himself , lower his voice and allow me to lead this offer presentation that I would remove my offer and excuse myself. I informed him that I was there to represent the best interests of MY clients and did not care about him as he chose to represent himself. I also informed him that his options were to accept, reject, or counter my offer. Plain and simple! He then started informing me of his visits to many homes before he bought and how he did research on each one before he put in the offer. So I asked him “are you telling me that after seeing all those homes, and once you found your home, that you offered them the highest price based on your research?” You guessed it, he was silent. I later told him that I was there as a professional agent not as a professional wrestler even though I had moments I wanted to put him in a headlock or a figure 4 leg lock.

He cooled off, apologized for his childish and unprofessional conduct(being a legal assistant he should know better) and blamed it on a crazy week he had with the twins and his frustration that he DIDNT think agent were cooperating in showing his property because he was with a DO-IT-YOURSELF brokerage. He was frustrated at the amount of work it has taken to get his home ready, do the marketing, be available for the showings, doing an open house and WHY HE WAS TAKING IT OFF FROM THAT DISCOUNT COMPANY AND LISTING IT WITH AN AGENT(the guy on the couch).

After I left I spoke with the agent who was ashamed of the words and actions of his client.

Selling on your own is not for everyone. As some people think they can save $$Thousands$$, most end up losing $$Thousands$$ as they lack the experience to:

1) Properly identify the list price based on comparables and market conditions.

2) Lack any marketing background to showcase the property to the potential buyer

3) Disclose crucial information about their motivation

4) React with emotions rather than intelligence

Hiring a Real Estate Professional  can be the most valuable choice you make. Make it wisely and call me next time you are looking to buy or sell.

 

 

Getting your home ready for the Spring Market!

 

Spring is right around the corner, and for most home owners it’s an exciting time to get your home ready. In the winter time, many portions of your home are neglected or aren’t used as often because of home owners staying inside their homes. From the interiors of your home to the exterior, getting your home ready for spring will ensure you’ll be ready to enjoy the warmer weather once it hits. Space out your maintenance tips and by time spring is here, you will be able to enjoy the season!

Start on your exterior: The outside of your home has taken more wear and tear from the harsh winter, than the interior so start here. Walk around your home and examine caulking around windows and doors, as well as open windows and doors and look at weather stripping. Replace old or cracking caulk and replace weather stripping. Inspect the roof for broken or missing shingles, or tiles, and clean out gutters and downspouts at the same time.

Landscaping tips: While it may not be time for you to start planting flowers and watering your lawn, it isn’t too early to ensure you will have ready your garden hoses, walkways, and adjacent areas to your landscaping. Replace cracked or old garden hoses, and rake away leaves, tree limbs and debris from sidewalks, plant beds and surrounding areas. If you no longer have snow in your area, now is a good time to start planning out your spring landscaping ideas and lawn care maintenance regimen. Pressure wash concrete and paver areas that have become dirty and power wash vinyl siding, brick walls and vertical surfaces on your home if need be.

Check your interior systems: The fall and spring are the two most important times to review your home’s major HVAC – heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems. Right before the harsh climatic changes are going to occur. Ensure air filters have been replaced or cleaned and stock up on new air filters if you use disposable one. Check your air conditioner before the summer to ensure it is in good working order. If you need to have a service person look at it now, it will be a lot less expensive than 3 months from now.

Interior spring cleaning: By now your windows – inside and out could use a cleaning. You will be surprised how much you can see out your windows, once they are cleaned. Clean off ceiling fans, and clean out your wood burning fireplaces from use over the winter. Test your emergency systems in your home: home alarm, smoke fire alarm, fire extinguisher, and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working properly. Most home owners forget to test these regularly; fall and spring maintenance time is a perfect opportunity to ensure they’re in good working order.

For more information please visit http://www.wasimjarrah.com.

Should You Buy the “Less Than Perfect” Home in Aurora/Newmarket?

When you’re shopping for a new home in Aurora/Newmarket, you want to find a property that has all the features and characteristics you want. A large deck surrounded by picturesque landscaping … a beautiful kitchen with gleaming marble countertops… a cozy finished basement with fireplace….You should look for the ideal home. You deserve it! But some home buyers make the mistake of becoming fixated on finding the “perfect“ property in Aurora/Newmarket, and passing too quickly on those homes that don’t quite measure up. Why is that a mistake? Because some of those less-than-perfect properties have the potential of becoming your next dream home.

First of all, a home that is lacking some desirable features, such as a finished basement, will probably cost less. Those savings may be more than enough to cover any needed upgrade or renovation. Secondly, if you look at a home in terms of its potential, rather than the features it happens to have now, there will be more properties available on the market for you to consider. If you’re determined to have a large wrap-around deck for entertaining, for example, don’t cross homes that don’t have this feature off your list. At least not yet. Instead, view these properties with an eye on potential. Is the backyard big enough to accommodate a large deck? How would a deck like that look if added to this particular property? How much would such a renovation cost? There’s no doubt about it. You want to find a home that has all the features and characteristics you want. If you work with a great REALTOR® like me, there is a good chance you’ll find a property that has most of them. But keep an open mind. Sometimes a “diamond in the rough” can – with an upgrade or renovation – become a home you’ll treasure for years.

The top 10 reasons to hire an agent…

Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent

With so much information readily available online, clients sometimes ask me, “Why should we hire a real estate agent?” They wonder, and rightfully so, if they couldn’t buy or sell a home through the Internet or through regular marketing and advertising channels without representation, without a a real estate agent. Some do OK, many don’t. So if you’ve wondered the same thing, here are 10 reasons why you might want to consider hiring a professional real estate agent.

1. Education & Experience

You don’t need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. Henry Ford once said that when you hire people who are smarter than you are, it proves you are smarter than they are. The trick is to find the right person. For the most part, they all cost about the same. Why not hire a person with more education and experience than you? We’re all looking for more precious time in our lives, and hiring pros gives us that time.

2. Agents are Buffers

Agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits. If you’re a buyer of new homes, your agent will whip out his sword and keep the builder’s agents at bay, preventing them from biting or nipping at your heels. If you’re a seller, your agent will filter all those phone calls that lead to nowhere from lookie loos and try to induce serious buyers to immediately write an offer.

3. Neighborhood Knowledge

Agents either possess intimate knowledge or they know where to find the industry buzz about your neighborhood. They can identify comparable sales and hand these facts to you, in addition to pointing you in the direction where you can find more data on schools, crime or demographics. For example, you may know that a home down the street was on the market for $350,000, but an agent will know it had upgrades and sold at $285,000 after 65 days on the market and after twice falling apart.

4. Price Guidance

Contrary to what some people believe, agents do not select prices for sellers or buyers. However, an agent will help to guide clients to make the right choices for themselves. If a listing is at 5%, for example, an agent has a 5% vested interest in the sale, but the client has a 95% interest. Selling agents will ask buyers to weigh all the data supplied to them and to choose a price. Then based on market supply, demand and the conditions, the agent will devise a negotiation strategy.

5. Market Conditions Information

Real estate agents can disclose market conditions, which will govern your selling or buying process. Many factors determine how you will proceed. Data such as the average per square foot cost of similar homes, median and average sales prices, average days on market and ratios of list-to-sold prices, among other criteria, will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide to do.

6. Professional Networking

Real estate agents network with other professionals, many of whom provide services that you will need to buy or sell. Due to legal liability, many agents will hesitate to recommend a certain individual or company over another, but they do know which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency and competitive pricing. Agents can, however, give you a list of references with whom they have worked and provide background information to help you make a wise selection.

7. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality

Top producing agents negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction and because they are skilled. It’s part of their job description. Good agents are not messengers, delivering buyer’s offers to sellers and vice versa. They are professionals who are trained to present their client’s case in the best light and agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests.

8. Handling Volumes of Paperwork

Today’s purchase agreements run 10 pages or more. That does not include the federal- and provincial-mandated disclosures. Most real estate files average thicknesses from one to three inches of paper. One tiny mistake or omission could land you in court or cost you thousands.

9. Answer Questions After Closing

Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come back to haunt. For example, taxing authorities that collect property tax assessments, doc stamps or transfer tax can fall months behind and mix up invoices, but one call to your agent can straighten out the confusion. Many questions can pop up that were overlooked in the excitement of closing. Good agents stand by ready to assist. Worthy and honest agents don’t leave you in the dust to fend for yourself.

10. Develop Relationships for Future Business

The basis for an agent’s success and continued career in real estate is referrals. Few agents would survive if their livelihood was dependent on consistently drumming up new business. This emphasis gives agents strong incentives to make certain clients are happy and satisfied. It also means that an agent who stays in the business will be there for you when you need to hire an agent again. Many will periodically mail market updates to you to keep you informed and to stay in touch.

Are you afraid of the “as is” clause?

When searching with my clients for a home in Aurora/Newmarket, we often come across some homes that have “as is” in their description. My clients are usually terrified to even visit the home  as they think its going to fall on them or the rodents will be infesting it. Therefore I wanted to address this issue for other.

 

Q: What do I need to know about buying a home listed in “as is” condition?

A: When a home is listed for sale “as is,” it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is in a poor state of repair. The term simply means the property is being sold in its current condition and the seller will not be making any repairs to complete the sale.

The “as is” condition might mean the homeowner does not have the time or money to make repairs, or in the case of a foreclosure or estate sale, the seller may not be familiar with the condition of the house.

Whatever the reason, if you’re interested in the property, the only way to know the true condition is to have a home inspection carried out. Consider including a contingency clause in your offer based on your satisfaction with the inspection. If a deficiency with a budget-busting repair cost is uncovered during the inspection, you’ll want the option to walk away without penalty.

The advantage of an as is sale is the purchase price may be comparatively lower than similar properties in the neighbourhood. But be sure to factor in the cost of repairs and renovations when accounting for the total cost of the purchase.

Buying as is isn’t for everyone. If you’re planning to ask the owner to address a defect or are unwilling to follow-through on the purchase if the inspector finds anything wrong, you’re probably best to avoid making an offer on an as is property.

For more information visit http://www.wasimjarrah.com or call me at (416) 899-5566.