There are many good reasons to put your property on the market. Some examples include a relocation, the kids leaving the nest, the need for something bigger or smaller, and the list goes on and on. However, there are also some less-than-obvious indicators that it may be time to sell.

Consider the following:

1. Your Property is no longer a Good “Fit”

Your home may have been perfect for you when you bought it. But things change. Families grow. Needs evolve. For any number of reasons, your property may no longer be a good fit for you. If that’s the case, it makes sense to at least take a look at what’s available on the market. Who knows? Your next “perfect” home may be for sale right now — within your price range!

2. The Neighbourhood is Changing

You may have been in love with the neighbourhood when you first moved in. But, over time, the characteristics of any area can change. Those changes don’t necessarily mean the neighbourhood is getting worse. In fact, it may be changing in a positive way; perhaps becoming more urban. But, “more urban” may not be what you want. So take a look at the direction your neighbourhood is heading. Ask yourself, “Do I still want to be living here in two years?”

3. You’re Ready for Your Dream Home

Remember when you purchased your current property? Did it have every feature you wanted? Was it your dream home? Or, did you have to compromise on a few things, such as the size of the kitchen? If you had to make some tough choices back then, it might be time for you to finally get the home of your dreams.

Those are just three indicators it may be time for you to make a move. Of course, there are many others.

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Providing valuable information and helpful services to valued clients like you is important to me. So, if there’s anything else I can do to help you with your real estate investment – such as offering additional advice, information or recommendations, please remember I’m here for you.

If you want Market Statistics for your area please give me a call!

416-779-8732

When you’re viewing a home for sale, you may get swept up by its initial appearances. Everything may look clean and beautiful, with all the features you’re looking for.
Indeed, you may even be considering making a serious offer. So, during that viewing, don’t rush. Take a close look at the important details.

For example:

• Will it need any major renovations?

• If the property is old, are there items (kitchen stove, furnace, roofing shingles, etc.) that will need to be replaced soon?

• Do you like the neighborhood and surrounding area?

• Is there anything that might bother you? (For example, a single rather than two-car garage.)• Does the closing date work for you?

• Are the size and orientation of the rooms to your liking? (You might want a spacious living room if you entertain regularly.)

There may be other details you’ll want to consider as well. Most of what you need to know can be found out during that initial visit. So, take the time to view the property carefully and ask all of your questions. Then, if you choose to jump on the opportunity quickly, you’ll be ready.

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It’s incumbent upon homeowners to ensure that fire safety is top-of-mind at all times. An all-encompassing approach should include steps for preventing, detecting, extinguishing and escaping potential fires. Prevention entails careful monitoring of any ignition procedure, whether it’s in the kitchen, utility room, workshop or garage, and ensuring that any active flame (or burning cigarette) is never left unattended. As well, prevention should include making fire-safe decisions when buying renovation materials, appliances, drapery, upholstery, and mattresses.

As for detection, there are various types of alarms to consider. Be mindful that all battery-operated alarms should have their batteries replaced twice a year. Fire extinguishers, of course, can limit costly damage and prevent a small fire from getting out of control.

Strategically place a fire extinguisher in key locations throughout your house. Be sure each extinguisher is designed for the type of fire it is designed to extinguish (i.e. A, B or C grade fires). As with all safety equipment, check that operational dates are not expired. If you’re ever unsure, invest in a new one.

Finally, every household member needs to know multiple exit paths in case of fire, especially from above or below the entrance level or ground floor. Be sure to designate a safe meeting area as part of your escape plan, and have a fire drill and/or conversation about it once a year.

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If you need to upsize or you’re simply ready for a change, it’s tempting to consider a major renovation. After all, renovating means you don’t have to go through the process of selling your property and buying another more suitable home. You just fix up the one you’ve got!

However, you need to carefully consider the pros and cons of renovating before going this route. You don’t want to invest in a costly renovation only to end up with a home that still doesn’t meet your needs.

Say, for example, your current property doesn’t have a home office. Since all the bedrooms are taken, you decide to renovate a portion of the basement. Building that new home office may seem like a simple project, but once you consider new electrical, flooring, lighting, etc., it really isn’t. Like most renovations, it will probably cost more than you think. Plus, you’ll need to consider whether you’ll really want to work in the basement.

In this case, it might make more sense to find a new home with an extra bedroom that can be converted, or, better still, a dedicated home office space — with windows!
Of course, there are many circumstances in which a renovation may be the best way to go. If you don’t like your kitchen, for example, upgrading it may not only get you the kitchen you want but also add value to your property.

Basically, you need to ask yourself: “Which is more likely to get me the home I really want – a renovation or a new home?” If your answer is a new home, then there is probably a property on the market right now that would meet your needs. Let’s talk.

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Imagine you’ve found the perfect home. You love it. You’ve made an offer that’s been accepted. So far so good! The only catch? You’ve wisely made the offer conditional on passing a professional home inspection.

What happens if that home inspection reveals a major issue?

First, you should know that, depending on the age of the property, a home inspection will typically turn up at least a few areas of concern. The inspector might find loose insulation in the attic that is thinning out or roofing shingles that will need replacing in two or three years. Issues like those are not usually deal-breakers.

However, if the home inspector finds a major issue — such as old wiring that’s worn and presents a safety concern — then you’re facing a potentially high cost of repair should the deal go through.

In a situation like that, as your real estate agent, I will address the issue with the seller, usually through the seller’s agent. Since neither of you will want to lose the deal, the seller often agrees to get the repair done at his own expense or, have some or all of the estimated repair cost deducted from the sale price.

Will the deal be in jeopardy? Usually not. In most cases, if you have a real estate agent like me working in your best interests, it all works out.

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You’ve probably heard about “home staging”. As the name implies, it’s all about arranging each room in your home in a way that will make the best impression on buyers. Here’s what you need to know about staging if you’re thinking of listing your property.

1. Staging can get you a higher price.
   On average, a fully-staged home tends to sell for 17% more than an
   unstaged home of the same type in the same local market.
   Depending on the current market value of your property, doing some
   staging in your home could put thousands of extra dollars in your pocket,
   post-sale.
2. It can speed up the sale.
   A study by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) showed that fullystaged homes spend an average of 90% less time on the market. So, if
   you need to sell quickly – without dropping your price – or you just want
   the comfort of having offers come in sooner, staging will definitely help.
3. You don’t have to go crazy.
   Completely staging every room in your home is going to give you the full
   benefits of this strategy. However, you don’t have to go that far. In fact,
   just implementing a few simple staging techniques to some key rooms
   can make a big difference.
4. Get professional help or advice.
   When it comes to home staging, don’t guess at it. Get professional help
   or advice. As a REALTOR®, I have a lot of expertise in this area and
   often provide clients with proven, do-it-yourself staging tips and
   suggestions. If necessary, I can also recommend a professional stager.
   Contact me anytime.

Have you ever seen those TV commercials where a luxury car drives down the street and a neighbour looks at it in awe from his front lawn? He clearly dreams of owning a car like that someday.

Unfortunately, most people can’t spend six figures on that dream car. But, if you’ve started wondering about the possibilities for your next dream home, that home may be more achievable than you realize.

Why not find out?

The first step is to make a list of the basic characteristics you want in your new home, such as type and size, number of bedrooms, etc. You’ll also want to note any special features you’re looking for, such as a larger kitchen or better view. Don’t forget to include the neighbourhood. The profile of your ideal home should include the areas you’re targeting, or at least what you’re looking for in a new neighbourhood.

Once you’ve completed this step, you’ll have enough information to determine the price range of your dream home.

Next, you’ll need to figure out if such a home is affordable. For that you’ll need to find out the current market value of your existing home, which is basically an estimate of what it will sell for in today’s market. Once you know that, finding out what level of financing you qualify for is fairly straightforward.

This two-step exercise won’t take long and is certainlyworth the effort. After all, you might discover that your next dream home, which you might have assumed was too lofty to pursue, is actually realistic and achievable.

Perhaps you can even get into it this year!

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Condominium and co-op home ownership may seem similar at first, but there are important differences between them.
As with any legal description, your regional legislation and municipal bylaws dictate the actual definitions of these terms for your area. Nonetheless, it’s fair to generalize that in the case of a condo, each member owns his or her specific unit as a piece of personal property, but is also a coowner of a corporation that owns the building and grounds.
Meanwhile, co-op members essentially hold shares in acorporation that owns the entire property, and units in the building are leased back to members as tenants/residents.
Both arrangements usually include fees to maintain theoverall infrastructure, but the real difference relates tosales. The sale of a co-op entails selling the membership back to the group, which then determines what happens to the unit. That’s why it’s important to understand co-op rules regarding selling (or sub-leasing) the unit you live in.
Ultimately, the co-op decides how to replace members and what arrangements are required prior to moving in or out at the agreed time and price.
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