By Charlie Robson 

I’ve been a condo owner for the majority of the time I’ve been a homeowner. It’s not for everyone, but if you want to lock the door and leave, not worry about the garden getting overgrown, or the snow getting shovelled, then it might be the right type of home ownership for you. But there is more to condo ownership than just the space you live in, and it’s important to understand what you are buying into. Whether you’re shopping for a townhouse or apartment style condominium, you are not only looking at the space you live in, but also the Condominium Corporation that runs the property, because as an owner you are a shareholder in that corporation.

What’s in a condo fee?

Every condo owner is responsible for paying a monthly fee, which consists of a share of the operating expenses for the building or complex, and a contribution to the corporation’s reserve fund. The reserve fund is a big savings account where money is held to fund future expenditures when equipment and systems reach the end of their life cycle and need to be replaced. Your proportionate share is based on the square footage of your suite or townhouse, along with any parking spaces or storage lockers that may also be owned with the suite.

When shopping for your condo it’s key to look at what’s included in the monthly fee, so you can compare apples to apples. Generally corporations include building insurance and common elements maintenance in their operating expenses, but from there what is included can vary greatly. Fees can also include some or all of your utilities, property management, security, cleaners, and additional facilities that you have access to. Generally speaking, the lower the fee, the less that is covered.

Who’s managing your money?

You’ve found a great suite or townhouse. As an owner, shareholder, and financial contributor, you want to know when you purchase, that the corporation is well managed and properly funded.

Every condo corporation is managed by a volunteer board of directors who have been voted in by owners at the corporation’s annual general meeting, and in most cases they are aided by a professional property management company. They are responsible for setting the budget, and managing expenditures.

When you purchase a condo, you can include a condition in your offer that allows you and your lawyer to review what’s called a status certificate, before you’re completely locked in – and you should! This is to give you a snap shot of the corporation’s financial health. Your lawyer will read this, but you should too, and be prepared to discuss any questions with your lawyer, so they can follow-up with the property manager for more information.

Rules, Rules, Rules

The board of directors is also responsible for enforcing the declaration, by-laws and rules of the condo corporation. These are the governing documents for the condo corporation and are also included with the status certificate. While some of these documents contain a fair bit of legal jargon it’s important for you to read ALL of them and discuss anything you don’t understand with your lawyer, because these are the rules that you will be expected to live by when residing in the building or complex, and also outline what is your responsibility as an owner versus what is the responsibility of the corporation.

You Have a Vote

As a condo owner you have a vote. Clearly explained in the simple condo owners guide found on https://mirvishgehry.ca/, the facts are outlined as such: your corporation will hold an annual general meeting each year where you can vote on various matters, including who is on your board of directors. Many boards will hold several other meetings throughout the year, to keep you informed, get your input, answer your questions, and present opportunities for you to vote and have your say. Stay in tune with what is going on in your community by attending these meetings. You’ve made a financial investment in your community, so give feedback and suggestions to your board as well.

For more expert tips on buying a condo, contact us at Woolcott Realty today!

So you’ve begun the process of house hunting and you’ve developed a clear image in your mind of what you want your Burlington dream house to look like – that’s great. While knowing what you want is a good thing however, being overly picky about things that don’t really matter, can make finding your dream home much harder – and if you do happen to find your dream home, you will likely pay a premium for it.

The truth is, there are certain things like stucco maintenance that you can’t overlook, but others that are ok to overlook. If the previous homeowner’s taste in certain décor is not what you’d like, they are easy and relatively inexpensive to change.

Let’s have a look at some of the things that are ok to ignore during house hunting.

Paint Colours

The previous homeowner was a grandmother who had all the wall painted pink and purple. Or perhaps one of the bedrooms is a clear example of a DIY sponge paint job gone wrong. That’s okay! Paint is easy to change and if the house is otherwise to your liking, you shouldn’t let an undesirable paint colour stand in the way of you making an offer.

Hardware and Light Fixtures

Little things like door knobs, cabinetry hardware and light fixtures can have a big impact on the overall look of a room. But if you don’t like them, they are a minor thing to change. When home hunting, if you find there is something about a space that you don’t like, try to define exactly what it is.

If you can see yourself liking a room more with different light fixtures, or hardware then force yourself to ignore the outdated fixtures as you make your decision.

The Age of the Home

When it comes to home buying, newer isn’t always better. Besides having some great character, older homes have often been built with quality materials and craftsmanship. On the other hand, many newer homes have been built quickly with less expensive materials and poorer construction.

Lack of Curb Appeal

Are you looking at a home that has bushes by the front porch that look like they haven’t been trimmed in years? Or is the flower bed overrun with weeds?

That can actually be good news for you! Poor curb appeal can lower a home’s asking price. And if you decide to buy, it won’t cost you too much to have that shrub removed or to put in a whole new patch of lovely flowers.

There is a saying that you shouldn’t sweat the small things – and all of the items mentioned are small and easy to change if you don’t like them. Things that you should never ignore when house hunting are bad neighbours who don’t take care of their property, bad smells in the home and bad layouts. All of these can be difficult or impossible to change.

Knowing what you can ignore as well as what you should not ignore, will help you in your decision making and it may even help you land your dream home for a better price.

If you are in the process of selling your home, you will have to make the decision of whether or not you will “stage” your home. Some people avoid home staging because they feel it is too expensive, or time consuming or that in the end, it really doesn’t matter.

But statistics say otherwise. Homes that are staged typically sell faster and at a higher price than those that are not. As for the amount of work it requires – if you follow the advice of a professional, it won’t be much more work than you would already have to do anyway in terms of cleaning and decluttering.

It is recommended that you stage your home before you list it in order to get the most bang for your buck and to make the best impression on potential buyers.

Reasons to Stage your Home

If you need more reasons to stage your home, then consider the following:

1. Staging your home will help you get the best price. Imagine walking into a clothing store – in the front of the store there are neatly pressed, items organized and folded or hanging. In the back, there is a bin of crumpled items in disarray. If you’re like most people you’ll assume that the disorganized items are on clearance – maybe last year’s styles.The same kind of thinking holds true in the real estate market. People naturally assume that a well-presented home is worth more.

2. You’ll be able to sell your home faster. According to the Association of Property Scene Designers, homes that are staged sell an average of 43% faster.

3. You’ll be forced to declutter and depersonalize. As sentimental as your grandmother’s china or your daughter’s hockey trophies may be to you, it is important for potential buyers to imagine the home as THEIR home. Clutter and personal items interfere with this. And since you’ll have to pack up these items sooner or later, being forced to do so will give you a head start in getting them ready for your move.

4. You will learn about interior design. You may have great taste and even a knack for decorating and arranging a room – but there is always something you can learn. If you work with a professional stager, you may learn a better way to arrange artwork or a better way to coordinate colours and patterns – and you can take this knowledge with you and use it when you are decorating your new home.

5. Not staging can cost you time and money. If you haven’t staged your home before the first potential buyer looks at your listing photos or attends an open house, then you’ll never know how much unnecessary time your home has been on the market or how many dollars you have lost on offers because your home wasn’t shown in its best possible light from the start.

The old adage that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression is true. So take the time and put in the necessary work to properly stage your home. You’ll be glad you did.

Contact Woolcott Real Estate today to find out about our Stage and Declutter program!

The time has finally come for deciding to sell your home. Any good realtor will tell you that it takes a bit of work to get your home in tip-top shape for attracting potential buyers. One of the most important aspects of attracting potential buyers is sprucing up your outside landscaping to improve your home’s curb appeal. You could also hire someone from https://ziehlerlawncare.com to do the landscaping for you.

The front of your home is the first thing that home buyers see, so you want to create the best first impression possible before they enter your home.  Surveys show that landscaping determines whether your home feels inviting and this is money well spent. Seventy-one percent of potential buyers say that curb appeal has a tremendous influence on their decision making process when choosing a house. So as soon as you managed to put all interion cleanup on Katy TX maid service from Ready Set Maids – start the “magic” on exterior. If the outside of your home is clean, neat, tidy and attractive, the impression will carry over that the inside of the house is likely the same.

Unfortunately, many homeowners overlook revitalizing their outside landscaping in preparation for the sales process, but this can prove to be a costly mistake. A home with an attractive and well-maintained landscape will add value to your home and contribute as much as 10 percent of its worth.  When you consider that your home is probably the biggest investment you own, the return on investment is something you seriously want to encourage to maximize its full potential.

About one month prior to showing your home, you should start the cleanup of the property.

By getting a head start before the commencement of the interior showcase, you ought to have enough time to get things in order. You want the exterior of your home to look just right before the next phase begins.

Here are some top landscaping tips that will help you sell your home:

1. Your cleanup should include removing dead branches, dog droppings, weeds or anything that might be broken. You should add to the list cleaning downspouts, so they’re functional and water doesn’t pool. Take a good hard look at your hard-scapes, such as patios, walkways and fences to make sure that they’re level and roots haven’t pushed up through the sidewalks or patio stones. Check your deck for any wobbly railings or loose steps and fix them. If your patio needs to be replaced hire patio construction LA company.
2. Your landscaping should pull potential buyers eyes to the front door, so dress it up with outdoor plant containers bursting with colour. Alternatively, large tropicals can add considerable appeal to the entryway or interest to any doorway where buyers are entering or exiting the house. Large plant container displays on patios add a touch of panache and demonstrate the endless possibilities for designing this area.
3. Nothing is more refreshing and appealing to the senses than a new application of mulch around a pristine man made pond, pond installation service has improved over the years and is no longer inaccessible. Whether it’s natural, red or brown cedar and even cocoa mulch, adding a fresh layer of mulch to your garden beds makes everything pop. What’s great about mulch is that it’s inexpensive, easy to apply and creates a dramatic effect.
4. You can create a beautiful splash colour around your property by planting seasonal colours. Plant flats of annuals and mix up the colours for a variation of eye-catching tones. Whatever fits with your house will create a stunning display of interest for potential buyers.
5. Trim and shape any unsightly shrubs or overgrown trees for a neat and tidy look. Pruning and maintenance indicates to potential buyers that you take pride in your property and gardens as well as your home.
6. If you happen to have a water feature, like a fountain or pond, get rid of any visible algae and remove any leaves floating in it. Clean the filters of the system so that the unit is functioning properly and the water is crystal clean.

When you’re trying to sell your home, those first impressions of the outside of your home go a long way in telling potential buyers that pride of ownership exists. It will be obvious to them that since you take such good care of the landscape around your home, the rest of your home is well worth considering.

Moving can be a big and often stressful event for every member of the family – and this includes your pets. When transitioning from one home to another, don’t forget to look after the needs of Fluffy and Fido. Here are a few tips to help make the process easier:

Before you move:

Before you move, you want to do a bit of research on how life with a pet is going to be in your new digs. Ask your current vet if he knows and can recommend a vet in the area you are moving to. If not, you’ll have to look around on your own.

You’ll also want to find out about available dog parks and contact the municipality about pet licensing and by-laws.

During transition:

The act of packing up and moving can cause a lot of commotion for even the human members of your family. So imagine how it must feel for your pet!

To ease them into it, a good idea is to set out your moving boxes a few days before you actually start packing them, so that your pet is used to seeing them. If your cat or dog is not used to travelling in a crate (and needs to for the move), you should also do your best to acclimatize them to it as well.

Open houses:

These can be especially tricky for families with pets. You may love your pet like one of your children, but to a potential buyer, pets often mean dirt and damage – and a lower home value. The best thing you can do to ensure you get the best possible price for your home is to remove your pet and all traces of the little darling before your first open house. It sounds harsh, but it’s the truth.

Consider having a friend or neighbour look after them once you start showing your home or sending them to a kennel.

If this is out of the question, then at minimum you should take the following steps before potential buyers start coming through your home:

• No pictures that include pets should be posted on your MLS listing.
• Litter boxes should be kept out of sight and very clean.
• Keep bowls, doggie beds, squeak toys and the like out of sight.
• Hire professional cleaners to remove any pet stains from carpets.
• Have someone who doesn’t live in your home come over and do a sniff test to see if there are any pet odours. If there are, try to remove them with an enzyme cleaner. (Avoid air fresheners as these may cause allergic reactions for some people).

After your move:

Moves are most stressful on cats since they are territorial animals. To help your cat transition, keep them in a separate room with the door closed while your belongings are being loaded into the house. It’s also wise to keep your cat indoors for at least a couple of weeks.

If you see strange cats in your yard, chase them away to help your cat establish its territory.

Dogs seem to adjust easier to moves but can still use a bit of help. Take them on frequent walks to help them get used to their new neighbourhood. But don’t plan these walks to end just before you have to go somewhere. Remember, the idea is to make the whole experience a positive one.

Perhaps the most exciting purchase you will ever make in your life is your first home. Having a place to call your own may be something that you have dreamed of since you were a teenager; or perhaps after years of renting, you’re finally ready to buy a piece of Burlington real estate. Yes, buying your first home is exciting, but it’s also a substantial investment. And if a first time home buyer is to be a good investor, it pays to enter the process with some strategies from the experts.

The following are five important tips that every first time home buyer should follow:

Location, location, location

This phrase has become ubiquitous in the world of real estate – so much so, that few people actually stop to consider what it means. Sure you probably already know where the ritzy neighbourhoods in Burlington are, but this alone shouldn’t guide your decision. You have to consider the best location for YOU. This means carefully examining your budget to see what you can afford, considering the commuting time to and from your workplace and if you have or are planning to have children looking into what schools and daycares are in the area. It’s also a good idea to discuss location with your realtor as they may be aware of other factors that might affect the area’s future real estate value.

Own your search

Nobody knows your needs and preferences better than you do, so it’s important that you are involved in your home search. Spend some time viewing online listings to see what home styles you like. If there are must-haves on your list such as space for a home office or a backyard large enough for a vegetable garden, let your realtor know. Otherwise, you could end up wasting time viewing homes that don’t really fit the bill.

Research, research, research

Buying your first home involves a lot more than picking out the place with the perfect kitchen or pristine landscaping. You need to have a solid understanding of your own financial situation, how your mortgage will work, property taxes, lawyers’ fees etc. Fortunately, information on these and other subjects are readily available online from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) as well as through the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). You can also find a lot of valuable information on the Woolcott website. And be sure to focus your research on local markets since trends can vary from one neighbourhood to the next.

Don’t let emotion rule the day

There is no doubt that you will experience many emotions as you go through the process of purchasing your first home. But don’t let those emotions lead you into hasty decisions. Never get so attached to a house that you are willing to buy it for any price. The Burlington real estate market is an active one and there is always another great listing just around the corner.

Work with a professional

Even the most well-read and well-studied homebuyer can benefit from the assistance of a professional. At Woolcott, we have years of experience in Burlington helping first time homebuyers make that all important decision. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.