Discover Burlington Situated only 30 minutes West of Toronto on the sandy shores of Lake Ontario is our safe and comfortable community, Burlington. Whether you are looking to relocate your family or your business, Burlington provides the perfect blend to suit all tastes. That was my discovery when I made the decision to relocate both my family and my business to this fine City over 20 years ago. From astounding naturalistic settings to lavish, cultural venues, Burlington offers so much to its residents. We are surrounded by many of North America's best schools, it's not surprising the area has one of the highest rates of participation in post secondary education in the world. But, don't take my word for it. Travel your way through my site to learn all about Burlington's offerings and discover for yourself. When I can be of assistance, please let me know. Empty Nest Syndrome? When the first realization appears and thoughts turn to trading in the family home, most initial reactions are a fleeting glimpse of reality, at best. Then, denial, then fear, then resignation. I have been privileged to service the 'empty nester' or 'down-size' market much more so in the past five years. Maybe that's because I myself have already bought the bungalow plan and I can relate. Let me tell you that selling the family home does not have to be an unpleasant experience approached with trepidation. As with any move, your head and your heart must agree. Set out your goals and aspirations. What do you wish to achieve with your move? Then, head in that positive direction. If you wish to add travel, daily golf outings and an executive turn-key lifestyle to your routine, a condominium is likely your wisest decision. Many die-hard detached home owners will dispute my recommendation. But, consider that your monthly fee acts as almost an insurance policy to preserve the value of your initial investment. The reserve is set aside to maintain and replace costly home items such as roofs and windows, ensuring your turn-key lifestyle is sustained. Condo living may not be for everyone, but, some of you should investigate the option before discarding it outright. Let me know if I can help! High Tech Versus High Touch Our high tech world sometimes can make it tough to know the right balance with technology and a customer's want and need for a high level of service. I'm in a service industry. So, it's not hard to see the mistakes in other industries. Take the airline industry. They'd rather you go online, make your own reservation, get an e-ticket and print out your own itinerary and receipt. Same goes for banking. When was the last time you stood in line to do your banking? I don't think companies intend to avoid customers. But, I know I am being overrun by technology. Recently, I attended a 'Realtor Tech - Day' put on by our local real estate board. Touting the latest tech gadgets, one of the speakers enticed us with being able to send and receive e-mail while out on the road. Reality check. That means while I'm applying to sell your home, I'm also accumulating e-mail, pages, cell phone messages and voice mail messages. All of which, I can now return while not in the office. That may sound efficient, but, I for one, think there's way too much margin for error here. Not to mention it's much more professional to leave the cell phone and pager in the car and give you my undivided attention. The misuse of technology, in my opinion, has hurt this business. Let's face it, it's still a face to face business. Don't get me wrong. I love the technology, when it is relevant to use it. I'd much rather answer detailed questions by e-mail because both the client and myself then have a written record of what was said. I love voice mail because a client can leave a very specific message and I can return the call with a specific response, rather than playing phone tag which wastes a whole lot of time. Technology has been instrumental in ensuring I will stay on an even level playing field with the bigger guys, but, customer service is where my niche is. What Does Today's Buyer Want? In my career, I've been fortunate to gain experience through working with numerous builders. My brokerage has represented Arthur Blakely Limited, Starward Homes, Parkshore Homes , West Manor Homes, Monarch Construction, and Branthaven Homes, to name just a few. Inevitably, at the outset of each project the discussion of 'buyer wants' surfaces. If you've ever spent a Sunday afternoon recently looking at new homes you may have wondered if builders ever ask buyers what they hope to find in a house. The answer is an emphatic 'yes'! But while builders do ask would-be-buyers what they want, buyers don't always buy what they say they want. Let me explain. While consumers want large kitchens, most are reluctant to see the kitchen expand further at the expense of other space. With baby boomers starting to make their down-sizes, they typically want 1,770 - 2,071 square feet. One storey homes are preferred over two-storey homes by a margin of 52% to 35%. And, most buyers still want 3- 4 bedrooms (one used as a guest room, one as an office). Many simply cannot part with the family-sized dining room suites....for those annual family get-togethers, so a separate dining room becomes another must. With the two car family now the norm, a double garage is necessary. The question I often ask of the buyer is, 'What do you hope to achieve with this move'? Of the builder, I ask, 'What profit margin do you need'? Of the sales representative, 'Who are our target markets'?. The buyer must be realistic. If you're downsizing, remember, you don't want to go through this whole thing in another year or two. The children are capable of hosting family dinners. And, they should move out...don't give them an option to move back in! That sounds harsh, but, how many of you reading this have young adults still living with you? Builders are in the business to make a reasonable profit margin. Construction costs have risen steadily. I know some builders who are selling off their land, rather than building and risking the loss. Sales representatives have to be tenacious. Invest in a laptop computer to ensure you have available on-line MLS Service at your fingertips so you can show consumers current market trends. Remember, most buyers don't buy and sell ever day. An educated decision will always feel better than an uneducated one. If you're thinking of buying new, assess, then re-assess your needs. If you need to downsize, downsize! If I can help, give me a call to see what new home projects are coming up. Merits of the Home Inspection Ever wondered about the merits of home inspections? Often the key to a faster and more productive home sale is knowing the condition of a home. A home sells because of a buyer's perception. Legally and ethically, a sales representative must be honest and open about the condition of your home. One way a sales rep can do this is through the vendor disclosure statement (where the seller answers specific questions concerning the home's condition). Another way is through a pre-listing home inspection. 'Isn't this supposed to be at the buyer's expense'?, I've been asked. It can be. Or, to add that extra assurance, you can undertake to have one done in advance so you can be sure there are no hidden deficiencies which may make a future sale fall through. Case in point. I recently came across a transaction where a home inspection uncovered deficiencies to the tune of about $15,000. Well, we had three choices. The buyers could walk away, allow the vendor the opportunity to remedy the situation to the buyers? satisfaction ( we had included wording that allowed the seller the opportunity to correct any deficiencies found), or, return to the negotiation table to re-negotiate the purchase price to reflect the work that had now come to light. The seller chose to re-negotiate. So, the buyer paid $15,000 less than they had originally intended, but, took on the extra expense of the repair work. You can bet there were some heated discussions over whose responsibility it was to ensure the asking price properly reflected the repair work needed. Realtors are put in a tough position here. It's not alway easy to estimate the costs or requirements for repair. Not to mention that a Realtor may not have the experience to advise what repair work is required. Small stuff, maybe, but the big stuff should be left to the professional contractor. When in doubt, I'd recommend having a pre-listing home inspection done. You then can use this as one of your enticements to purchase. A home inspection offers tremendous protection to buyers and really benefits all parties to the transaction. Too Many Treasures Frequently I run across a disappointed buyer who hardly looks at a house I thought she'd fall in love with because all her attention is caught by an abundance of furniture, collectibles and fine art. Can a house actually be too well decorated? Usually not, but it can be too full of stuff, even though it is excellent stuff. It's difficult to tell people they simply have too much, that less, in home selling is always more. A buyer must be able to assess a home's suitability in typically less than an hour (I book a house per half hour). And, in a hot market, they've got to act fast. Often, there's not enough time to go back for a second look. It makes their job so much more difficult when they can't see past the knick knacks to determine whether the kitchen has room for a high chair. So, what's a seller to do? Reduce the collectibles. If you're serious about selling keep in mind you're going to have to start packing sooner or later. So, start sooner. It may be you have too many pictures in a small room. Removing some will only make the room look more spacious. Kitchen counters look more generous if most of the appliances, bowls, bottles and notepads are gone. Even an over-magneted refrigerator door can be distracting. If I can help, give me a call! Low Cost Ideas to Make Your Home Saleable If your home has been on the market for a while, you may want to take note of the following. Most buyers predictably respond to the same things; clean, clutter free homes in good repair. Your Realtor may have already suggested a few minor repairs to complete before introducing your home to the market. Always look at a home from the buyer's prospective. Be objective and honest with yourself. If something bothers you about your home, chances are good it will bother the buyer too. Do what you can to get rid of the problem. Preparing your home for the market means you'll likely have some work to do. Here are some tried and tested ideas:
1. Get rid of clutter Now step back. Is the house warm and inviting? Does it feel like home? Where Does My Business Come From?
Housing Tips From CMHC Indoor air quality in our homes is a growing concern. Ventilation can be achieved either by natural or mechanical means. Opening windows is not ideal in most seasons for the energy conscious. Central air conditioning requires us to open windows less. Introduction of fresh air into the living space or what is called 'air changes' and expelling contaminates, excessive moisture and odour from the living area are crucial. Expelling contaminants at the source is a good principal to follow. Exhaust fans should be located in washrooms and kitchens where excessive moisture is generated from showering and cooking. Choosing the right fan is critical! Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) go a step beyond simply exhausting air from your home. The HRV is designed to run continuously to exhaust and bring in fresh air from outdoors. Exchanging most of the heat from the air being exhausted with the fresh air brought in reduces heat loss. An HRV balances air exchange by introducing the same rate of fresh air as it exhausts. This system can be installed by several methods including incorporating your furnace. Contractors should be certified by the Heating Refrigeration Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI). Airtight homes benefit significantly where air change is a concern. Compliments of CMHC November, 2000 www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca Where Buyers Come From
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