Jul 19, 2017 | Real Estate 101
Here’s what to do…
Imagine there’s a neighbourhood you’d love to live in someday, but, every time you drive through, you rarely, if ever, see a For Sale sign. It’s as if homes get gobbled up by buyers the moment they get listed.
It’s true, properties do tend to sell quickly in desirable, in-demand neighbourhoods. Does that mean you’re destined to either hope for a lucky break or miss out on ever living there?
Fortunately, no. There are practical things you can do to increase your chances of getting into that neighbourhood.
Your first step is to find out the kind of new home you can afford. You want to get your financial ducks in a row so when a listing does come up in the area, you’re able to respond quickly. Find out the average price range of homes in the neighbourhood. Then, if necessary, talk to your lender or mortgage broker.
The second step is to get your current property ready for sale. You don’t necessary need to list it now, but you want to be in a position to do so quickly, if necessary. You may need to clean up and declutter, get repairs done, and spruce up your home in other ways.
The third step is to talk to me.
You see, listings in popular neighbourhoods often move fast. By the time you see them advertised on the internet, they may be gone. I can closely monitor listings in that area for you, so the moment one comes up that meets your criteria, you can be alerted. This greatly increases your chances of getting that home. So if there is a dream neighbourhood you’d love to get into, give me a call.
Have questions?
Email Beth for more information
Jul 12, 2017 | Homeowners
If you enjoy frequent outdoor grilling, you may be relying on the use of a heavyduty brush to keep your cooking surface clean and free of residue accumulated from just-finished or previously prepared foods. Many of these brushes have fine bristles made of metal for a more thorough scrubbing. Users should be very cautious about using these. There have been a number of reports indicating that some bristles can break off and subsequently get picked up by fresh food placed on the grill, creating a very serious hazard if they become ingested by an unsuspecting dinner guest. For safety’s sake, consider replacing fine metal bristle-brushes with a heavy metal gauge brush with more easily detectable bristles, or a steel-wool scrubber or synthetic cleaning pad designed to remain intact during heavy scouring.
Jul 10, 2017 | Real Estate 101
Putting your home on the market may be the last thing you have on your mind.
But, as you know, life happens. Things change. You might unexpectedly find yourself in the position of wanting, or having to quickly sell your home.
It happens more often than you might think. In fact, according to studies into why people sell their homes, more than a third are due to relatively quick and unexpected changes. Something happens – a job relocation, a lifestyle change – and the homeowner finds him or herself making a move.
In these situations, the biggest source of stress is caused by the need to prepare the current home for sale.
If you’ve lived in your house for a few years, or even just a few months, you know how quickly things can pile up. The garage gets filled with stored items. Things needing minor repairs get put on hold.
That’s why it’s a good idea, every so often, to inspect your property and ask yourself, “If I had to put my home on the market this month, what would I need to do?” Then plan to get those things done. That way, if you suddenly find yourself wanting to sell your home quickly and for the best price, you’ll be ready.
Have questions?
Email Beth for more information
