The single most cost effective way to prepare your home to list is with a fresh coat of paint. This works for two reasons.
1) A fresh coat of paint covers up the small scratches, dings and wear and tear that occur over the course of a family living in a home, it's natural, but it's not pretty. When you apply new paint, the home now has a fresh, well kept, well cared for appearance. It no longer looks or feels old or worn, and this is ideal.
2) New paint that is neutral and pleasing to most people allows a buyer to picture themselves living in the home. Bright, dark and too trendy colour choices are distracting to most buyers - have you ever noticed one of the most common comments on those real estate shows from buyers is about paint, and specifically, paint that they don't like.
If you are preparing to sell and you think that it's too much work to paint your home, imagine how the buyers feel... they are contemplating making a huge purchase and right off the bat they see work that needs to be done. Do it for them and I guarantee you will have more successful showings.
If you don't want to paint because you believe that the buyer may not share your tastes in colour selection, pick a colour palette that is generally appealing to the majority of people, believe me, most of these buyers are watching real estate shows and have pinterest boards that are showcasing the relaxing neutrals that are timeless classics. If they have more wild tastes, it's much easier for them to get excited about painting an accent wall than painting the entire home.
Another important thing to consider is continuity through the home, painting each room and hallway a different colour is a poor choice as it makes the home feel broken up and compartmentalized. Buyers want open concept so carry a theme of 2-3 colours through the entire home and if you really want some variation choose another shade on the same chip so that you don't break up the flow.
If you are thinking of listing and want really expert advice I can align you with a local paint guru that will custom match a colour palette for you and your home based on everything from the architectural style to the flooring and even available natural light! I can attest to the prowess of this expert, he helped me choose the paint colours for the entire interior of my home plus the exterior colours as well. He is amazing!
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Monday, May 21, 2018
Holiday Monday in the Office!
I have been having a lot of conversations with people lately that are thinking of getting into the real estate industry. They are asking for my thoughts and ideas on how to make that transition, and if it's a good idea for them.
There are quite a few factors that need to be considered while contemplating making a career change, especially to real estate. The biggest discussion is about income, and yes, this is a commission only career, no salary. The downside to this is you are not guaranteed a minimum paycheque every two weeks. The upside is that you have absolutely no cap on what you can make in a day, week or month. As an example I received the largest single transaction paycheque that my broker had ever issued since becoming a franchise owner ten years ago. And I had only been practicing real estate for just over 3 years at the time. And at Exit there are multiple ways to make money. As a sponsor, by simply introducing a new agent to the broker, you stand to make up to $10,000/year from Exit for this introduction for as long as that agent remains with Exit. And you can sponsor as many agents as you like! (No this is not a pyramid silly, it's only applicable to ONE single level of residuals!)
It is tough to get started, but with the sponsoring program I can help you learn the ropes, and I have a vested interest in making sure that you last and are successful. No other brokerage uses this model. Exit also has the best administrators in the business which in turn makes your job easier. Our admin do all the data input of listings so that you are free to go get more business, you won't be stuck behind a desk all day!
I have discussions with people all the time that have toyed with the idea of getting into this business, it's intriguing and appealing to a lot of different types of people. And it's flexible so that you can tailor the career to how you want it to fit into your life. I went on a 25 day trip to Southern Asia/India this winter because I have the flexibility to make my own schedule and the income to be able to go away and still have my business flourishing when I return!
If you are thinking that this type of lifestyle might suit you, reach out! I would love to get together with you to talk more about it! I haven't once woken up on a Monday morning since starting this career dreading the week ahead. Think about that. Seriously. It's a vibrant holiday Monday and I am writing a blog about how much I love my job. There's something special here.
There are quite a few factors that need to be considered while contemplating making a career change, especially to real estate. The biggest discussion is about income, and yes, this is a commission only career, no salary. The downside to this is you are not guaranteed a minimum paycheque every two weeks. The upside is that you have absolutely no cap on what you can make in a day, week or month. As an example I received the largest single transaction paycheque that my broker had ever issued since becoming a franchise owner ten years ago. And I had only been practicing real estate for just over 3 years at the time. And at Exit there are multiple ways to make money. As a sponsor, by simply introducing a new agent to the broker, you stand to make up to $10,000/year from Exit for this introduction for as long as that agent remains with Exit. And you can sponsor as many agents as you like! (No this is not a pyramid silly, it's only applicable to ONE single level of residuals!)
It is tough to get started, but with the sponsoring program I can help you learn the ropes, and I have a vested interest in making sure that you last and are successful. No other brokerage uses this model. Exit also has the best administrators in the business which in turn makes your job easier. Our admin do all the data input of listings so that you are free to go get more business, you won't be stuck behind a desk all day!
I have discussions with people all the time that have toyed with the idea of getting into this business, it's intriguing and appealing to a lot of different types of people. And it's flexible so that you can tailor the career to how you want it to fit into your life. I went on a 25 day trip to Southern Asia/India this winter because I have the flexibility to make my own schedule and the income to be able to go away and still have my business flourishing when I return!
If you are thinking that this type of lifestyle might suit you, reach out! I would love to get together with you to talk more about it! I haven't once woken up on a Monday morning since starting this career dreading the week ahead. Think about that. Seriously. It's a vibrant holiday Monday and I am writing a blog about how much I love my job. There's something special here.
Thursday, May 03, 2018
Feeling HOT! HOT! HOT!
I recently
attended the Kentville Home Show as a vendor and got a great chance to speak
with people about what’s going on with the local real estate market. It was so
nice to connect with people that I wouldn’t normally see and chat about the
recent trends. Most people that I come across are noticing a significant
upswing in the number of properties getting sold lately, it’s true! Year to
date sales in the Annapolis Valley are up almost 23%! In case you don’t have a
benchmark of what’s normal in terms of fluctuations in sales, this is AMAZING!!
In the past 5 years since I have been a REALTOR® I have noticed maybe a couple of percentage points difference up or down. The general trend has been that of a Buyers Market. Well as of 2018 that has changed, there are more properties selling each day/week/month than properties getting listed. Get this! There are several shortages of inventory in a few different price ranges too! I have people looking for specific properties to purchase and they are selling almost immediately after coming on the market, we are seeing multiple competing offers on places, homes selling for above list price!
As an example, I recently wrote an offer on a property, we knew we were in a competition when we wrote the offer so we went in significantly above list price with no conditions. Unfortunately, we did not win the bidding war, but I later found out it sold for more than 60% above the list price!! WOWZA!! Obviously, this is an extreme example and the property had some very special circumstances surrounding it to go for such an astounding amount above the listing price!
The general consensus with the professionals in the industry (and even the public) is that the market here in the Annapolis Valley is HOT! HOT! HOT! If you are thinking of listing, it’s absolutely imperative to get it price correctly and marketed aggressively so that you can get top dollar! If you are thinking of purchasing, get an agent that has their finger on the pulse because you may find you miss out if you’re not completely prepared before making an offer on a popular property!
Need to discuss things? Call me anytime and let’s chat about your needs!
(902) 680-2736
In the past 5 years since I have been a REALTOR® I have noticed maybe a couple of percentage points difference up or down. The general trend has been that of a Buyers Market. Well as of 2018 that has changed, there are more properties selling each day/week/month than properties getting listed. Get this! There are several shortages of inventory in a few different price ranges too! I have people looking for specific properties to purchase and they are selling almost immediately after coming on the market, we are seeing multiple competing offers on places, homes selling for above list price!
As an example, I recently wrote an offer on a property, we knew we were in a competition when we wrote the offer so we went in significantly above list price with no conditions. Unfortunately, we did not win the bidding war, but I later found out it sold for more than 60% above the list price!! WOWZA!! Obviously, this is an extreme example and the property had some very special circumstances surrounding it to go for such an astounding amount above the listing price!
The general consensus with the professionals in the industry (and even the public) is that the market here in the Annapolis Valley is HOT! HOT! HOT! If you are thinking of listing, it’s absolutely imperative to get it price correctly and marketed aggressively so that you can get top dollar! If you are thinking of purchasing, get an agent that has their finger on the pulse because you may find you miss out if you’re not completely prepared before making an offer on a popular property!
Need to discuss things? Call me anytime and let’s chat about your needs!
(902) 680-2736
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Wrong Place, Wrong Time!
Is there such a thing as being too confident? I recently had a majorly comical moment which was directly correlated to me thinking I was at the right place, at the right time. But I was NOT!
I had negotiated a deal for a client who is a friend of mine, I have known him for a while and he's got a very outgoing, gregarious personality. I had to stop in to see a couple of his family members (who I do not know at all, have never met them). My client gave me directions, I called ahead to book the appointment and arrived feeling like I already knew the people.
I pulled into the driveway and called out to the woman by name, I got a funny look but carried on, unfazed. I got out of the car and followed her into the house, jokingly I asked if I was at the right place. No response. The husband peered around the corner at me quizzically so I thought to myself "my friend certainly doesn't get his jocular personality from his parents, odd bunch".
I took off my shoes and headed into the house with the paperwork, exclaiming that it wouldn't take long, you know, to set their minds at ease because they obviously weren't thrilled that I was there. Finally one of them pipes up "um, what paperwork?" I replied with the clients name, a blank stare was returned. I started to get a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach, and a bit more softly repeated the clients name followed up by a repeat of the question "Am I in the right place?"
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPE! As it turns out I had gone to the property next door by accident, it's a good thing such mixups don't embarrass me! I promptly put my shoes back on and got out of their home, I can only imagine what kind of questions must have been going through their heads!
"Who is this lunatic in our house? Why is she here?"
"Are we selling our property? She seems to think so..."
"Is this a gag TV show? When is the punch line?"
I thoroughly enjoy a harmless mistake and love to share these hilarious mishaps with others for the purpose of a good laugh! I hope you enjoyed my story! My confidence is a great asset and occasionally a comical liability.
I had negotiated a deal for a client who is a friend of mine, I have known him for a while and he's got a very outgoing, gregarious personality. I had to stop in to see a couple of his family members (who I do not know at all, have never met them). My client gave me directions, I called ahead to book the appointment and arrived feeling like I already knew the people.
I pulled into the driveway and called out to the woman by name, I got a funny look but carried on, unfazed. I got out of the car and followed her into the house, jokingly I asked if I was at the right place. No response. The husband peered around the corner at me quizzically so I thought to myself "my friend certainly doesn't get his jocular personality from his parents, odd bunch".
I took off my shoes and headed into the house with the paperwork, exclaiming that it wouldn't take long, you know, to set their minds at ease because they obviously weren't thrilled that I was there. Finally one of them pipes up "um, what paperwork?" I replied with the clients name, a blank stare was returned. I started to get a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach, and a bit more softly repeated the clients name followed up by a repeat of the question "Am I in the right place?"
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPE! As it turns out I had gone to the property next door by accident, it's a good thing such mixups don't embarrass me! I promptly put my shoes back on and got out of their home, I can only imagine what kind of questions must have been going through their heads!
"Who is this lunatic in our house? Why is she here?"
"Are we selling our property? She seems to think so..."
"Is this a gag TV show? When is the punch line?"
I thoroughly enjoy a harmless mistake and love to share these hilarious mishaps with others for the purpose of a good laugh! I hope you enjoyed my story! My confidence is a great asset and occasionally a comical liability.
Wednesday, March 07, 2018
The Goldilocks Photo Syndrome
I am very picky about the photos that I publish online, I always have been, and I am getting worse about it. I encountered a listing today that I have buyers from out of town interested in and guess what... There are ZERO photos of the property online! I contacted the listing agent, who didn't even have any on file!! ABSURD!!
The vast majority of buyers these days are doing a huge amount of preliminary research long before contacting an agent. They are pouring over online information, statistics and photos/videos. The way that your property is being represented online is extremely important, and there is a fine line between photos that are good, and photos that aren't.
There are 3 kinds of photos out there, it's a bit of a Goldilocks syndrome... some photos are really bad with spots on the lens, out of focus, or at worst - taken with a cell phone! UGH! I have even seen cell phone photos, taken in vertical format, where the agent didn't even bother getting out of their car! You can tell because the edge of the car window is in the frame! You should be fired if caught being this lazy!
The other end of the spectrum is where the photos are TOO GOOD. The lighting has been altered and overly processed, angles and creativity in the shots omits very important details of the property, or worst case scenario - the photos have been photoshopped!! There's nothing worse than a buyer being sorely disappointed in seeing a property in person because the photos were not an accurate representation, disappointment is not a good emotion for buyers.
There is a happy medium though! Somewhere in the middle where the photographer has professional equipment, knows how to use it correctly, and has an eye for what needs to be showcased in a real estate photo! Not too hot, not too cold, juuusst riiiight!
Bravo to the agents that can find this subtle middle ground, it takes some time and investment but it's worth it in the end. If you are a buyer looking to purchase, be wary of those super slick photos! If you are a seller, check out prospective agents photo quality, make sure it's happy medium style!
The vast majority of buyers these days are doing a huge amount of preliminary research long before contacting an agent. They are pouring over online information, statistics and photos/videos. The way that your property is being represented online is extremely important, and there is a fine line between photos that are good, and photos that aren't.
There are 3 kinds of photos out there, it's a bit of a Goldilocks syndrome... some photos are really bad with spots on the lens, out of focus, or at worst - taken with a cell phone! UGH! I have even seen cell phone photos, taken in vertical format, where the agent didn't even bother getting out of their car! You can tell because the edge of the car window is in the frame! You should be fired if caught being this lazy!
The other end of the spectrum is where the photos are TOO GOOD. The lighting has been altered and overly processed, angles and creativity in the shots omits very important details of the property, or worst case scenario - the photos have been photoshopped!! There's nothing worse than a buyer being sorely disappointed in seeing a property in person because the photos were not an accurate representation, disappointment is not a good emotion for buyers.
There is a happy medium though! Somewhere in the middle where the photographer has professional equipment, knows how to use it correctly, and has an eye for what needs to be showcased in a real estate photo! Not too hot, not too cold, juuusst riiiight!
Bravo to the agents that can find this subtle middle ground, it takes some time and investment but it's worth it in the end. If you are a buyer looking to purchase, be wary of those super slick photos! If you are a seller, check out prospective agents photo quality, make sure it's happy medium style!
Thursday, February 22, 2018
What a Long Strange Trip It's Been
Sometimes you go on a trip and it really gives you a lot to mentally digest. A new perspective, and an appreciation for what we have and what we have been given by simply being Canadian. I just got back from an epic trip spanning almost a month in South East Asia. Every few years my husband and I forego the all inclusive/resort vacation for an adventure type trip (or at least our version of adventure) this trip was 100% amazing.
We took 14 flights, visited 6 countries and really made the most of our time over there. Highlights included 5 nights on Kandolhu Island in The Maldives. This place is heaven on earth, it took me an entire day to come to grips with actually being in such a luxurious and beautiful place. We were able to stay in one of their over water villas with floor to ceiling windows, our own private infinity pool and sundeck with stairs down to the ocean & house reef. Private dinners on the beach, cocktails with the head chef and managers, yacht excursions, and stocked coolers with champagne on deserted islands. I feel humbled and so completely thankful to have been able to experience this with my husband and longtime friends Marc & Laura. It will be one for the books for sure, and not soon forgotten.
Now on to Vietnam! We met up with a larger group and visited many places in the northern part of this beautiful country. I was not exactly sure what I was in for when we booked this part of the trip, I had prepared myself for emotional and thoughtful moments aplenty. Having just come from one of the most expensive places I have been, surrounded by affluence and opulence, Vietnam was becomingly grounding without being too jarring in terms of poverty and basic human needs. The people of Vietnam are amazing! They are friendly and warm and extremely welcoming. We were always very comfortable being in the large cities or in the small rural communities. Personally I enjoyed the country settings a bit more, but I am a 'country mouse' and enjoy my space and nature more than bright lights and the hustle & bustle.
Other stops along the way included Hong Kong - a lovely city of many millions that was clean and friendly with lots to see and do.
Sri Lanka - a newly discovered tourist area, I feel like we got there just in time to experience the place and people before it becomes more commercialized.
Bangkok - we only had a few hours layover here so we took in the insane craziness of Khao San road, it was pretty unbelievable. I may be too old for places like this now.
Kuala Lumpur - the capital city of Malaysia, another layover so we took in the highlights of the downtown and treated ourselves to a massive suite at a lovely hotel after being in the tiniest hotel room I have ever seen in Hong Kong.
Vietnam - included Hanoi, An Bang Beach, Hoi An, Danang, and a private boat charter of Ha Long Bay. Google this place, it's a UNESCO World Heritage site and breathtaking.
Seoul - a quick stop here on our way home, I had no idea that South Korea could get so cold. We got to see a televised version of the opening ceremonies of the Olympic in nearby Peyongchang, a very different experience to see Canada march into the Olympic stadium from another countries perspective.
I certainly want to point out that leaving North America for several weeks and traveling to the opposite of the earth would not be possible with most other jobs. I am very fortunate to be able to make my own schedule and to have a team of people here that can look after my business while I am away. For the most part I am my own boss, but at Exit, we have a great brokerage model and exceptional administrators that make my job much easier.
The biggest thing I took away from this trip is how much we can take for granted as Canadians. It's so damn easy to get wrapped up in our own world here and not see the bigger picture of what's happening in the rest of the world. We have been given a life of choice and ability, of opportunity and freedom of thought, of clean air and water... It's one of those things that you can't truly appreciate until you leave it behind and see that what you take for granted, others could only dream of. There is beauty in every corner of this earth, and I have come to appreciate this corner that much more now.
Saturday, January 06, 2018
#stormblog
Winter, ugh! The most dreaded of Canadian seasons is upon us at last! I am currently cozy as can be with my home office set up in front of my wood stove in my living room area. I was out this morning to show a few places, and it was a bit of a mission to get to one of them (a rural location on the top of a hill) but I made it there and back and I am not leaving again for the foreseeable future.
2017 was a phenomenal year for my business and I am extremely excited to be heading into 2018 with a huge amount of momentum built up. For REALTORs winter can be slow at times, but this is the perfect opportunity to get systems in place and organized for the mayhem that is the Spring Market! I am going to be using this (theoretically) slower time to make sure that I am refreshed and ready for my clients to be in 2018. As far as when I am going to get that down time, I am still waiting! This morning I confirmed the sale of a property, I wrote an offer last night for a buyer that just got Accepted, and I showed a property to some first time home buyers this morning that was an excellent fit for them. We are currently researching the zoning so that they can make sure that their home based business adheres to the municipal by laws for the area. Somebody asked me once when I get time to sleep, I replied "February" LOL!
In the meantime, before heading to a warmer location for some vitamin D, I will remind you that there is a shortage of listed properties in the Annapolis Valley right now and lots of qualified buyers who are keen to find something before the spring rush. If you are thinking of listing in 2018, call me! I might just sell your property before I leave for my trip!
902-680-2736
exit@meganwhite.ca
2017 was a phenomenal year for my business and I am extremely excited to be heading into 2018 with a huge amount of momentum built up. For REALTORs winter can be slow at times, but this is the perfect opportunity to get systems in place and organized for the mayhem that is the Spring Market! I am going to be using this (theoretically) slower time to make sure that I am refreshed and ready for my clients to be in 2018. As far as when I am going to get that down time, I am still waiting! This morning I confirmed the sale of a property, I wrote an offer last night for a buyer that just got Accepted, and I showed a property to some first time home buyers this morning that was an excellent fit for them. We are currently researching the zoning so that they can make sure that their home based business adheres to the municipal by laws for the area. Somebody asked me once when I get time to sleep, I replied "February" LOL!
In the meantime, before heading to a warmer location for some vitamin D, I will remind you that there is a shortage of listed properties in the Annapolis Valley right now and lots of qualified buyers who are keen to find something before the spring rush. If you are thinking of listing in 2018, call me! I might just sell your property before I leave for my trip!
902-680-2736
exit@meganwhite.ca
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