Let me refer you to a Great Agent!

Winter has arrived in Southern Ontario with full force, over the last couple of weeks.  I am sure there are some of you who are already sick of shoveling, especially in the London or Barrie areas. I know my friends in Shelburne are getting hit hard as well.

We are entering the time of year when many people start to think, I want to move south for the winter or permanently, I can’t handle the winter anymore!!

If you hear someone say that, just let me know and I can hook them up with a great Realtor in the south. I have contacts all across the US and Canada. These are people that I have met at events as well as people in my Royal LePage Network of Agents.

Even if you are only a couple of hours away from Brampton I have many contacts all around Ontario that I would trust my Clients, Friends and Family with. In Fact just last week I met some great agents from Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal and Thorn hill.

So if you or your Family or Friends has a hard time finding a Real estate agent in your area or the area in which you want to move to.  Give me a call and I can refer you to one that will take care of you just as I would.

Having a Home Budget is Very Important!!

I went to a Conference this week and one of the subjects that they spoke about was having a working home budget.  Most people have an idea of how much their bills are but many do not have this information written down.  

It is important to sit down and take the time to so that you know exactly where your money is going. It is not going to be a fun exercise for most. You should always ensure you have enough money to pay the bills and put some money into a saving account. Once this is done you will then know the amount of money you have for other expenditures.  

The advice I was given during this presentation was to spend the time to write out to information for the first couple of months and then to enter the information into a program.  

There are some websites that I have found (listed below) and there is plenty of software programs that you can buy for your computer that will allow you to store all of your information from month to month (budget and actual) and should also provide detailed reports.

Start 2011 with a working home budget!!

http://www.youngmoney.com/home-budget/

http://www.simpleplanning.net/Financial%20Calculators/BudgetPlanner.html?gclid=CKOqn9qX3qUCFcbsKgod6zco4A

Listing your house in December has its benefits.

There are a couple of reasons why listing your house right now is not such a bad thing.

As most people know the busy market is in the spring. There is a large inventory so you are competing with more properties.  If you list in December your competition is less.

The buyer’s are serious buyers. Most people are very busy around the holidays so taking the time out to view houses usually means that they are serious about buying.

There are also a number of things that should be done in your home to help it sell during the holidays.

• Keep the holiday decorations to a minimum. You don’t want the buyers to be distracted by your decorations or offended if it does not match their religious believes.
• De Clutter - Pre-pack all unnecessary items and store in a storage facility or garage. If a house is cluttered with “stuff” potential buyers will have a hard time looking past it all to see the house and what it has to offer.
• Don't keep presents out in the open during showings. That can be too tempting for some buyers or their children.
• Don't burn a fire in your fireplace or light candles for showings. Yes they will smell great and are nice to look at but they can be dangerous when unattended.  Instead have fresh cut flowers or air fresheners to help make your house smell wonderful.
• It is getting dark out much sooner and many showings are in the evening. Keep all lights on (inside and out).  A light, bright house sells.
• Fresh paint is the best investment you can make in your home. Remember, keep it neutral and remove ALL wallpaper. Wallpaper is one of the biggest decorating faux pas you can make since most all buyers will want to remove it and they know how time-consuming and boring it is.
• Keep the driveway and walkway clear and shoveled. You want to make it as easy and safe as possible for people to get to your front door

These are just a few tips that can really help you sell your house now and really anytime during the year.

Do you know your Credit Score?

Last week I heard a great presentation on Credit Scores, and why it is important to know your own.

Did you know that it is important to check your credit report every 6 to 9 months?

The reason for doing this is to ensure that your credit is in line. Confirm that there are no outstanding leans going towards you that could negatively affect your credit. These are the types of issues that could hinder your ability to get a mortgage or loan in the future. Many companies will use your Credit Score to see if you are a good credit risk or not.

An Excellent credit score is 680, but most lenders will look at qualifying you if you have a score of at least 620.

You can check your Credit Score by going to:

www.equifax.ca

www.transunion.ca       

There are a few things that you can do to improve your credit score such as:

·         Always make the minimum payment on your credit cards and on bills. Never miss a payment.

·         Have more than one type of credit (Visa, Master Card, Line of Credit, Car loan, etc…) but make sure you use them if you have them.

·         Keep balances low in relation to the available credit. Keeping balances below 25% of the limit will improve your score, and if you keep the balances over 75% of the limit, this will decrease your score.  

I feel that this information is very valuable and it is something everyone should know about. Check your Credit Today!

I would like to Thank Teresa Martin Grier from the Mortgage Medics team for her presentation and the information I have been able to provide today.  

Why should I use a REALTOR® to Buy or sell my house?

This is a question that has come up a lot lately. There is many reasons why using a REALTORS®, should be seriously considered when buying or selling your home.

I would like to start with a quick explanation of ‘Who is a REALTOR®’?

Not all licensed registered brokers, or salespeople are REALTORS®. Only real estate licensees who are members of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) are REALTORS®. These REALTORS® are held to a high standard of professional conduct, ongoing education, and to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice.

Here are some of the Benefits of using in REALTOR® in any Real Estate transaction.

•Your REALTOR® will walk you through the entire sales process from the initial contact to the closing of your transaction.

•Your REALTOR® can help determine your buying power and refer you to a mortgage specialist best qualified to maximize your loan and minimize your cost.

•Your REALTOR® provides local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, etc. They can help you find the best location for you and your family to grow.

•Your REALTOR® has the details on comparable pricing, neighborhood trends and housing market conditions, which is important for deciding when to sell and also when to jump into the housing market.

•Your REALTOR® has full access to all the features of the Multiple Listing Service.

•Your REALTOR® is able to negotiate the best deal. There are number of negotiating factors, including price, financing, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs or furnishings. With the experience and training your REALTOR® has you will be in very good hands.  In the end the goal of most REALTOR®'s is to reach a Win-Win scenario.  

•Your REALTOR® assists you in providing due diligence to evaluate the property. This may include inspections for mold, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests. Your REALTOR® can assist you in determining what conditions to recommend and assist in finding qualified professionals to investigate and provide a report to you.

•Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often REALTORS® will provide guidance on staging or repairs that enhance the property. Your REALTOR® will harness the power of the Multiple Listing Service to expose your property to a large network of qualified buyers as well as coordinate marketing through the most effective array of other advertising media such as Email notifications and Facebook.

On top of all the benefits listed above, you are protected when you work with a REALTOR® for a number of reasons:

•All REALTORS® are graduates of a real estate education program and are committed to pursuing ongoing professional development courses;

•REALTORS® must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice; which guarantees professional conduct and service excellence.

•All REALTORS® carry errors and omissions insurance;

•A licensed brokerage supervises the business conduct of all REALTORS®

To sum it all up, a REALTOR^® works for you and must, by law, look after your best interests.

What is Curb Appeal?

This weekend I was doing an open house at a very nice house but what caught alot of people’s attention was the house directly across the street (which was not for sale).  It was the curb appeal of that home, which had some of the people asking me about that property instead of the one I was showing them.

When you get out of a car and walk up to a house, some strong first impressions are made within the first few seconds.  This is Curb Appeal.

So, when you are thinking of putting your house on the market, yes, you have to clean and paint the inside of the house to show well, but the outside of the home is just as important, as it can either get people excited to see inside the house or it can do exactly the opposite.

Here are a couple of ideas that can help improve the curb appeal of your home.

Create perfect symmetry

Symmetry is not only pleasing to the eye, it's also the simplest to arrange. Symmetrical compositions of light fixtures and front-door accents create welcoming entryways

Replace old hardware

House numbers, the entry door lockset, a wall-mounted mailbox, and an overhead light fixture are all elements that can add style and interest to your home's exterior. If they're out of date or dingy, your home may not be conveying the aesthetic you think it is.

Install outdoor lighting

Low-voltage landscape lighting makes a huge impact on your home's curb appeal while also providing safety and security. Fixtures can add accent lighting to trees or the house or can illuminate a walking path.

Create an instant garden

Container gardens add a welcoming feel and colorful appeal to any home exterior -- quickly and affordably

Renew planter beds

Get garden beds into shape by pruning growth, pulling weeds, planting flowers, and adding new mulch to restore color that was taken away by sunlight and harsh weather. If stone or brick borders your bed, consider cleaning and resetting any pieces that are soiled or dislodged.

Dress up the driveway

If your driveway is cracked or stained or has vegetation sprouting from it, you can upgrade it without doing a complete redo. First repair the cracks and stains (and kill the weeds), then dress it up by staining the concrete or affixing flagstones.

Upgrade railings

Porch and stoop railings can deteriorate quickly if not treated properly. If your railings are past their prime, look for quality wood or metal components to replace the existing material.

Maintain your Lawn

Make sure you mow the lawn a couple of times a week, remove all toys and garbage from the front lawn.

Thanks to Better Homes and Gardens