Over the course of my career in real estate I have come across many people that balk at the thought of working with a professional in the industry. There are several reasons for this, some of them valid... And some of them entirely scary.
"I want to save money on the commission".
At face value this may seem to have some truth, but once you delve deeper into the idea you will find that a REALTOR® is there to protect their client in every way. A simple error or not fully understanding the paperwork could end up costing you majorly. Not to mention omissions I hear about all the time that are potentially catastrophic in terms of resale value down the road. There are PILES of paperwork that need to be meticulously filled out, carried out and investigations of things most people were entirely unaware of!!
"I know my property the best and can highlight it's assets."
While this may be true, a REALTOR® has a level, unbiased perspective on any property. Just because the home was custom built for you, doesn't mean it will appeal to everyone. Emotional value does not necessarily equate to monetary value. A great deal of homes that are For Sale by Owner are not priced according to market value.
A REALTOR® knows things that you don't. Whether you are moving from another country or another county, a professional will direct you to testing or investigations that you may have otherwise known nothing about. Things that could have a long term effect on your investment and well being.
Negotiating is tricky, especially when talking about a purchase of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Peoples homes are very personal and I often see sellers get offended by offers that were too low, and then end up put off by the process and unwilling to negotiate with the buyer further (down the road they end up negotiating favorably with a different buyer and settling on a sale price that would have worked before - opportunity slipped away on account of improper technique). Having access to historical stats and comparables is key, as well as being able to read people and be able to solidly back up any deviations above or below list price.
Last but not least - a local professional that relies on referrals and is held accountable by a Provincial and National Code of Ethics is far more reliable than a vendor that may skip the country after the sale is complete. You can rest assured that the appropriate level of disclosure was adhered to in the transaction if you enlist the services of a licenced professional.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Thursday, September 03, 2015
Home is Where You Hang Your Hammer
I have lived in many places over the course of my lifetime, and in many situations as well! I have been awoken most mornings this summer by a construction crew either crashing through demolition work or banging away at construction. We are currently in the midst of an addition that rivals the footprint of our existing Victorian century home and this comes as the memories of an 8 month complete gut and rebuild are all but faded.
The disruption has come to a point where my morning routine includes the essentials like several strangers yelling at each other and country music blasting outside the bathroom window (which I have had to cover with a blanket, as the existing curtains were NOT providing the privacy needed). I have to admit though, the renovation is pleasingly coming together to the point that I can walk around in what will be the new 22' x 28' master bedroom and visualise where the 22' walk in closet will be... Swoon!
It's a dramatic love/hate relationship.
After much deliberation and research my husband and I decided on this project as it would seem that our relationship thus far has been consistently changing. Over our years together we have lived in 6 different communities in the Valley. 5 years ago we bought our first home together and since have renovated, landscaped and built on to that home! While I really do appreciate all the changes (once they are done), it has not been without a great deal of effort, planning and occasional headaches. I certainly have gotten a firm grasp on the foresight and issues surrounding making a house into a forever home. The truth is that more often than not, there is something that new buyers will want to change to make their new home really theirs. It may be painting, changing flooring, landscaping, increasing energy efficiency or bigger projects like changing layout or construction. In essentially all of these cases I can help as I have lived through them all!
If you are thinking about making a move I can help! Whether it be consulting on projects that will increase the resale value of your current home, or finding you a home for the future. Being a great REALTOR® is much more than just buying & selling.
The disruption has come to a point where my morning routine includes the essentials like several strangers yelling at each other and country music blasting outside the bathroom window (which I have had to cover with a blanket, as the existing curtains were NOT providing the privacy needed). I have to admit though, the renovation is pleasingly coming together to the point that I can walk around in what will be the new 22' x 28' master bedroom and visualise where the 22' walk in closet will be... Swoon!
It's a dramatic love/hate relationship.
After much deliberation and research my husband and I decided on this project as it would seem that our relationship thus far has been consistently changing. Over our years together we have lived in 6 different communities in the Valley. 5 years ago we bought our first home together and since have renovated, landscaped and built on to that home! While I really do appreciate all the changes (once they are done), it has not been without a great deal of effort, planning and occasional headaches. I certainly have gotten a firm grasp on the foresight and issues surrounding making a house into a forever home. The truth is that more often than not, there is something that new buyers will want to change to make their new home really theirs. It may be painting, changing flooring, landscaping, increasing energy efficiency or bigger projects like changing layout or construction. In essentially all of these cases I can help as I have lived through them all!
If you are thinking about making a move I can help! Whether it be consulting on projects that will increase the resale value of your current home, or finding you a home for the future. Being a great REALTOR® is much more than just buying & selling.
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