How Do I Sell My Home in This Slow Market?

You must take a whole lot of action to get your houses sold in a slow market. In a good real estate market, people can sell a house fast, so when things slow down, they figure, “Oh well, there’s nothing I can do.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only is there something you can do, but there’s a lot you MUST do to get your house sold. However, it’s not just about working hard, it’s about working SMART. You need to do things in the right order and in the right way to get results.
However, don’t focus too much on perfection before you take action. You’re probably familiar with the phenomenon of the “C” student who outperforms the “A” student in real life. This is because the “C” student is often satisfied with doing a mediocre job at something, but just getting it done. The “A” student mentality often leads to paralysis of analysis and inaction. In other words, the bottom line is getting your house exposed to as many buyers as possible, not necessarily getting it done perfectly. For example, many sellers want to show their house only when it’s convenient for them and the house is in perfect shape to be shown, instead of when a buyer is ready. While showing a house in its best condition is a priority, it doesn’t make sense to put off a ready, willing and able buyer for too long.

Time to Get Our Economy Back On It’s Feet

Nothing is more evident than the upsetting news that the economy is going down the drain. Everyone knows at this time and from past performances the only way back is with buying power. Trying to save your hard earned dollars like Mom & Dad did is not the wisest of choices to help stimulate this economy.
The only way back is to buy, buy that new car you’ve been wanting, start looking for that bigger home. You can only do so much in a 2 bedroom condo with 4 kids a dog 1 turtle and 2 goldfish.
Time to move my friend and prices are enticing.
Call up that long lost cousin of yours who’s a Realtor with that Company no one has ever heard of before.
Put that condo on the market and go buy that two storey dream home you’ve been dying to get into for years.
The economy will thank you and so will your job as well as your kids future.

Your Neighbourhood – Entertainment District

We hear about it on the news, all the partiers reveling and exiting the bars in the area and wonder, what kind of neighbourhood is it really? Well, it hasn’t stopped the developers from going into that community to build! Why? Simple, it’s not about the Entertainment District so much as it is about culture and location. Culture includes those nightclubs but it also includes other places of more refined culture such as the Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts, Roy Thompson Hall, The Princess of Wales Theatre, and all the great restaurants along King St. West.    Let’s not forget the sporting venues like the Rogers Center and the ACC!

There is another thing that is overlooked in this area, it’s proximity to the downtown business core. There seems to be an invisible line down the center of University Ave. that separates the two communities, while one has a reputation of being wild and crazy, the other has the opposite attraction, just business. The real deal is that the people who live on the west side of University are also crossing the street to work in the big towers. For them, they have the best of both worlds, walk to work, minimal commute time, and no need to drive after a few drinks.

Now, we’re seeing prestige enter the hood with new ultra-luxury projects like Ritz-Carleton and Living Shangri-la, which is going to be one of the most impressive new buildings to grace the Toronto skyline!
Think about this, if you own a relatively new condo in that area in the middle price range, a few years from now, when you find yourself nestled among the extreme wealth of ultra luxury condo owners and high end world travelers, the value of the little one bedroom suite that you bought is going to leap. Think of how Yorkville has been transformed from a hippie-den in the 60’s to what it is today? Property values there are astronomical, and why? Because the area has neat little boutiques, like Queens St. West does, great restaurants, like King St. West does, big luxury hotel chains such as Four Seasons…get the picture?

There is inventory on the market in the Entertainment District, and it’s going to be very valuable very soon! It takes some balance of pro’s and con’s but in the end it’s about the investment, and the future of the neighbourhood.

Tips to get a SOLD SIGN on your front door step…ON A BUDGET

When you decide to put your home on the market there are a couple things you should do first. Take a walk through your home an jot down some things that need some TLC. In most cases those minor little improvements you make may make your home more appealing to potential buyers and get a “sold” sign on the lawn sooner.

So you take walk through the kitchen, whether your have $150.00 or $6,000 dollars a little can go a long way. For example, change the hardware on your kitchen cabinets. By replacing them with a more modern clean handle this simple inexpensive improvement can give the kitchen a totally different look.

$200.00-$500.00 do a little DIY and install some nice undermount lighting, new updated kitchen faucet, or some snazzy pendent lights over the kitchen island. Adding light gives the space an airy open feel, this will really grab the buyers attention.

$3,000- $5,000 cabinets look a bit dull out dated? try painting them! Old clunky appliances go out and check out some new stainless steel appliances. Just by painting and adding new appliances it can really take a traditional kitchen and make it modern and sleek looking.

Take a walk into the bedroom…The number one thing noticed when you walk in is the BED.

$150.00-$250.00 go out and buy some new fresh linens and bedspread. If you go with a plain duvet, jazz it up with some colourful pillows or throw and tag along a nice crisp bed skirt.

$200.00-$250.00 try and find a nice leaning wall mirror of a clean simple mirror you can put above the bed. This will give the room an illusion that it is larger.

$200.00-$250.00 Give the bedroom a fresh coat of paint. Try keeping it a warm neutral colour.

Revive your laundry room, there’s nothing worse then walking into a laundry room that is cluttered and unorginized.

$100.00-$200.00 give the laundry room a fresh coat of paint, make it look fresh and clean. Stay neutral and use a calm soothing colour.

$300.00-$500.00 replace the old aged floor with some nice new ceramic tiles or stone use a material that is easy to clean and is durable.

$500.00-$1,000.00 add some nice custom cabinets and shelving. This way you can keep all your cleaning supplies all tucked away and have none exposed. This will make it a real functional space.

The exterior is next, first impression does count! this is the first thing potiental buyers will see. If you have dead plants, over grown shrubs, cracked driveway etc it wont look good and some buyer may just walk away.

$200.00-300.00 give the garage doors a face lift with some fresh paint, re- paint any window shutters etc. Cut back all over grown trees and shrubs. Plant some nice flowers and maybe place a nice potted plant at the front entry. Try laying some dark red wood chips all aorund the garden area, it will give it a nice clean pop of colour.

$300.00-$500.00 add some curb appeal buying replacing that old light fixture and put a nice new one. Change the numbers on your house with a more modern style. Place a nice new doormat with a hint of colour, you have to try and give your home a nice welcoming entrance.

So if your thinking of selling, take a stroll through the house and before you put out that For Sale sign on that lawn. Make sure you make those small minor improvments in most cases it may get you an offer quicker then you expected.

Good Luck!

What Goes On Behind The Scenes At That Lovely Sales Center?

If you’ve been looking for a newly built condo then there’s a good 

chance that you’ve been onto one of those presentation centers.  Depending on your budget, they are from simple to opulent.  Most of them are very nice and these days developers hire designers like Brian Gluckstein and Ciccone Simone to make them  into a dream like oasis that we all wish we could live in.  

The people there are very nice and guide you through the presentation center and genuinely do their best to encourage you to buy, or at least sign a document that you then have 10 days to reconsider.  

These Salespeople can work directly for the developer, or they could work for a Real Estate Brokerage to take care of all of the sales and legal document administration.  The difference is that the sales people who work directly for the developer are not obligated to be licensed Realtors.  The sales people who work for the Brokerage, are licensed.  Either way, they both represent the interests of the developer.  He’s paying the bills.  That can be an intimidating environment to find yourself in if you’re not accustomed to it.  

So many people don’t know what to ask and before they’ve thought of everything, they’ve already signed the papers.  There is a free guide for this environment, a Buyer’s Agent to be on your side.  It’s like having a lawyer with you in a courtroom.

Oftentimes, a good Buyer’s Agent has spent a lot of time visiting many places like this.  They get to know the people who work there and also know what to ask on your behalf.  Best of all, a Buyer’s Agent’s service to you is at no charge because the developer pays your agent for introducing you to the development!   

I’ve spent my career in Real Estate working in these sales centers in all capacities.  I am always impressed when a realtor knows what they’re talking about when they are acting on behalf of their client.

The bottom line is, you owe it to yourself to have a Realtor with you on your first visit to one of those lovely sales centers.