By: Paul Roussel

With the internet at our fingertips, we have the luxury to educate ourselves on almost anything we want. “How do I make Beef Wellington?” “How do I change the oil in my car?” “What’s this weird bump on my arm?”

Many homeowners are turning to the internet for advice and direction on selling their home privately. Rightfully so! There are many great websites & blogs filled with content on how to sell your home without a licensed Realtor. If you’re up to the challenge of selling your home privately, give it a shot but here’s the caveat:

“You Get What You Pay For”……or what you save on commission.

Here’s my guide to Selling Your Home Privately.

1. Prepare Your Home For Sale. Staged homes are proven to sell quicker and for more money than homes with no staging. Hire a staging professional to transform your house into a showroom beauty. Be aware that staging costs can add up quickly as furniture is rented by the piece on a monthly basis.
2.  Photograph Your Home. Pictures tell a thousand words and if your listing pictures stink, your home will not catch a buyer’s attention. Hire an experienced photographer.
3. Study Your Neighbourhood. Decide on a listing price based on similar properties that have sold in your area. The general public does not have access to this information so you will have to contact a member of the local real estate board.
4. Choose a Listing Service. Listing your home on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) will vary from a few hundred bucks, to a few thousand. This fee is paid upfront regardless if your home sells. Be careful which company you choose -some listing companies only list your property on the Toronto Real Estate Board, therefore your listing will not be exposed to local agents and their buyers.
5. Coordinate Buyer Showings. All sorts of buyers will be contacting you -from the tire kickers to the savvy Toronto investors. You will have to set up showing times around your schedule or you can install a lockbox and let strangers into your home while you’re at work.
6. Co-operate With Realtors. Since buyers do not pay any commission, it’s rare to deal with a buyer who is not represented by a Realtor. Buyers will hire a professional to protect their interests and you can expect to pay them up to 2.5% commission or else they will not show your home. Sounds unfair? Not really. Realtors have been working with their buyers for weeks or months or maybe years before they decide to purchase a house. 2.5% commission in the grand scheme is not excessive.
7. Full Disclosure. What you say and often what you don’t say can lead to lawsuits. As a homeowner, you are obligated to disclose any material latent defects in your home prior to negotiating an offer. Hire a lawyer and discuss any known issues with your home to determine if disclosure must be made to a potential buyer.
8. Negotiate Your Sale. This is it. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. A buyer has a signed offer for you. If the buyer is not represented by an agent, you can go at it head-to-head for an all out blood bath. If the person sitting across from you at the kitchen table is a Realtor, hold onto your hat and keep your cards close to your chest.
9. Complete The Paperwork. Usually a buyer or their representative will bring you a written offer on an “Agreement of Purchase & Sale”. Ensure the offer is fully completed and outlines such things as: inclusions, exclusions, rental items, conditions & clauses. If the buyer does not submit an offer, have your lawyer draw one up (at a cost to you).
10. Don’t Forget. There’s a reason why huge corporations spend millions on advertising -it works. Exposing your listing on the MLS helps but it’s certainly not the be-all end-all. Spend some money to get the most exposure you can afford. Oh, and don’t forget to install the “For Sale” sign into the frozen ground when it’s -8˚ outside.

Selling your home privately can be a rewarding experience. You can potentially save yourself a few thousand dollars but on the other hand, it could be a stress-filled nightmare due to the lack of your experience. “I tried to fix my car once by watching a youtube video….now I know the value of an experienced mechanic.”

Paul Roussel is an experienced listing representative with Re/Max Escarpment Woolcott Realty. He has been successfully selling homes in the Hamilton/Burlington area since 2011. Paul lives with his wife and two kids in Burlington and enjoys long walks on the beach.

Let’s consider that you have sold your home, and your move is going to take place right in the middle of winter in Southern Ontario. While winter means freezing temperatures and plenty of snow to make the process challenging, we offer several tips we’ve learned from experienced movers to help your winter move go smoothly:

1. Confirm details with your movers.

Moving in winter can be smart because it is considered the off time for moving companies. You should have a wider range of dates available to choose among, but be sure to check with your movers at least one week before the move because winter weather can be unpredictable. If you’re concerned that nasty incoming weather is going to hinder your move, call the moving company and discuss a delay if possible.

2. Cover your floors.

With all the slush and dirt that winter brings, make sure your house stays clean by protecting your carpet and hardwood floors while people are tromping in and out. If your movers do not supply floor coverings, purchase a couple of tarps from the nearest hardware store and lay floor mats down at every outside door.

3. Turn the heat off.

Remember to turn the heat down while the move is taking place because with people going in and out of the house all day as your furnace will be working hard to try to heat the house. All of that warm air will go straight out the door, causing your heating bill to rise.

4. Heat your bathroom.

If you do decide to turn the heat off in the house, run a space heater in the main floor bathroom and keep that door closed. This location will provide you with some much needed warmth when you need to freshen up.

5. Board your pets.

Now is not the time to have your dogs underfoot while the movers are trying to get your belongings out of the house. Check with your local boarders and make arrangements for your four footed friends to have a warm, cozy place to stay a day before and while the move is taking place.

6. Clear the sidewalks and driveways.

Be sure to shovel and salt the walkways and/or driveway so the movers will be safe. You don’t want anyone slipping and falling, or pulling a muscle, especially when it’s preventable.

7. Check the utilities at the new house.

There is nothing worse than moving into your new home with no heat and lights during a winter move. Contact the utilities well in advance to make sure that everything is turned on and working before you start moving.

8. Keep winter clothing with you.

Make sure that you keep some extra clothing layers, like coats, snow boots, hats, gloves, scarves, and blankets in the car. You never know when the extra layers will come in handy.

Finally:

Moving in the winter months doesn’t have to be as hard if you have a little forethought and consideration for all the people involved. You can still make it the best day despite the winter weather.

When you work with Woolcott, we’ll make certain that you are prepared for your move no matter what season you buy or sell your home. With locations in Burlington, Waterdown and Dundas Ontario, our team of professionals are ready to serve you.

If you are buying or selling your home, you may be tempted to forego paying a commission to a real estate agent and instead, opt to complete your real estate transaction on your own. However, this may not be the best route to take.

Especially in today’s highly competitive market, you need a specialist who is well versed with the real estate industry. You trust so many other specialists to do a job well – like the mechanic who oils your car, or the dentist who cleans your teeth – why entrust anyone other than a good Realtor to be involved in the major financial and emotional undertaking of buying/selling your home?

Specialists in Real Estate Transactions

When selling or buying a home, you need a Realtor – someone who is a specialist in completing real estate transactions. Like any other specialist in your life, they are educated and certified in their industry. In Canada, the agent must be a member of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), which ensures the individual meets certain expectations and remains committed to a standard of conduct. This standard of conduct ensures that you will be provided with quality service, including ethical treatment and honesty regarding all transaction-related matters.

Insider Knowledge about the Industry

Realtors are professionals who are committed to remaining knowledgeable on current market trends. They are an invaluable information resource, which can enable you to make educated decisions. As a member of CREA, Realtors must complete regular professional development so that they always have a high level of current market knowledge. Real estate laws and regulations change, and as a buyer/seller, you want someone who has up-to-date experience.

Realtors have an expanded search power including industry contacts, which enables them to find properties that may not be advertised. They can also help you avoid wasting time on outdated listings.

Experts at What They Do

Not everyone is a good negotiator, and sometimes it’s difficult to keep financial transactions from getting personal. However, choosing to work with a Realtor to buy or sell your home will ensure that the real estate transaction remains professional.

Realtors Can Help Eliminate Stress

Having a Realtor take care of all the contract details for you will eliminate stress from filling out countless forms, reports, disclosures and other technical paperwork. Realtors will ensure that a purchase agreement is created that allows enough time for inspections before the sale is completed. As experts in their field, Realtors are well-versed in technical jargon that may be unfamiliar to you.

Keep these tips in mind to help you select the right real estate professional:

• Ensure the person you select is someone you trust, who listens and respects your views and is someone you feel comfortable working with.
• Make sure they are knowledgeable and know the current real estate market conditions.
• Don’t be afraid to ask them about their experience and past results.
• Choose someone with a good reputation. Talk to friends, family and colleagues.

Partner with the Woolcott Group to Buy/Sell Your Home!

The Realtors at the Woolcott Group will expertly handle your real estate transaction. Contact us today to find out more about our services.

If buying a home isn’t confusing enough, along comes a bully offer. Until 2016, a bully offer was a rare occurrence mind you, prior to this year as many as 10 offers or more on one home was also rare. More and more we are seeing a pre-determined offer date advertised in an MLS listing. This date is usually set out 5-7 days from the list date of the property. The idea behind this being the property can be marketed to as many potential buyers as possible in the hopes at least one but, ideally several offers will be available for presentation on the offer date.

In this competitive market with historically low inventory levels, a bully offer is becoming a preferred method of securing a home for some buyers. Simply put, a bully offer is an offer to purchase a property in advance of the pre-determined offer date.

For the bully offer to work there are 3 key factors:

• A bully offer is almost always full asking price or well above asking price.
• The seller has to agree to look at the offer and the set offer date is no longer applicable.
• The bully offer is almost always free of conditions (inspection/finance/insurance, etc) and is submitted with  a bank draft deposit “herewith”.

A listing agent is legally obligated to present all written offers to their client even if it is before the pre-determined presentation date and it is up to the seller whether or not they will consider it. In some cases, multiple offers may still arise as the Listing agent must make all agents who have shown the property aware of this bully offer. By setting a short window of time for the offer to be valid can sometimes force the seller to act quickly in hopes that no other buyer has an opportunity to re-act.

As a buyer, if you find the perfect home that you have been searching for and it works within your budget, there really is no downside to trying a bully offer. If the seller decides not to deal with your offer, you will only be out your time. As a seller, there are also several factors to consider. The bully offer may be the best offer you’ll get. If it is a firm offer and as much or more money than you were expecting then you are free to accept the offer. Conversely, you may still have lots of potential buyers viewing your home and lots of interest in your home. You may benefit financially by waiting until the pre-determined offer date.

Whether you’re purchasing a family home or looking to buy an income property, you’re probably looking at your next real estate purchase as an “investment”. The question is – how good an investment is it. While it’s true that real estate values tend to go up over time, some areas fair considerably better than others. Fortunately, there are identifiable factors that can help you predict whether investment in a given area is primed for growth.

Realtors on Hilton Head Island shared these 12 factors to consider when making your next real estate purchase:

1. Income growth – is the area’s income rising faster than the provincial average? That’s a good indication that people will be making upgrades to their properties and that homes will demand a higher price in the future.
2. Population growth – again, compare this to the provincial average. A rapidly growing population often means that within a few years, people will be on a quest for space, driving up property prices.
3. Job growth – More jobs means higher incomes and people moving into an area from other regions, both of which are directly related to real estate inflation.
4. More than one major employer – When an area relies on a single major employer, it is putting all of its proverbial eggs in the same basket. Should the company fail or relocate, the result is usually a depression in the real estate market as families relocate to find work.
5. Nearby real estate boom – Is there an economic boom happening in a nearby community? The benefits of that boom can often spread to surrounding areas, making real estate investment a smart choice.
6. Nearby new development – New commercial developments can attract jobs as well as visitors to the area, which can mean an economic boost for the region. The construction of a new factory, college campus, performing arts centre or sports complex might be a signal that it is time to invest in real estate.
7. An atmosphere of growth – Look at the political situation of an area. Are its municipal and provincial leaders committed to facilitating growth?
8. Strong economic development – If you want to know whether a city or region is working hard to attract investment and promote growth, give a call to their economic development office and ask a few questions about how the area is growing economically. Pay attention to how helpful and proactive they are, while keeping in mind that there is a lot of confidential information that they will not be able to share.
9. An area of renewal – Evaluate some of the older portions of an area. Are they being kept in good repair and are new companies moving in? Look to invest in areas that are being renewed rather than in places with empty storefronts and office buildings (even though sites like office space in Austin Tx getting more and more popular among tenants).
10. Transportation improvement is underway – a city that is investing in its transportation system is preparing for growth and has an eye to the future – a good sign for real estate investors!
11. Attractive to baby boomers – the baby boomers are starting to retire and looking for places to spend their money! Regions that can attract these people have a good outlook for home values.
12. Short term challenges with silver linings – Challenges such as plant closures can cause a temporary drop in real estate prices – but if you see a turnaround on the horizon, then lower prices could mean a good buying opportunity.

While no one factor can definitively predict home values in the future, a combination of factors can be a good indication of how good a given real estate investment might be. If you’d like help in analysing any of these factors for yourself, then contact Woolcott Real Estate today.

In 2014 Burlington Ontario was ranked the 5^th best city to live in the entire country, measured by MoneySense. This top-ranked city is classified as medium-sized with a population of approximately 165,000 people. Burlington real estate is very much in demand as a result.

Burlington Geography

Living in Burlington gives community members a chance to enjoy the outdoors as it is located in an ideal area near the shores of Lake Ontario and one of North America’s largest botanical gardens. The city has beautiful trails for hiking or walking along the waterfront as well as the convenience of Bronte Creek Provincial Park. The proximity of Lake Ontario also helps to reduce temperature extremes throughout warm, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Burlington’s community is made up of a variety of age groups, with 50 percent of the population falling between 20 and 54 years of age.

Your Burlington Home

Burlington offers a variety of housing options, from apartments and condominiums, to townhouses, semi-attached homes and detached homes (some right on the water).  Although Burlington is recognized as a more expensive city to live in, it offers a variety of neighbourhoods that meet the needs of many different types of people.  Some examples of Burlington neighbourhoods are Millcroft; a golf course community, Aldershot; an older community with plenty of green space, Corporate; a small community with newer homes, Mountainside; a mix of old and new homes perfect for families with children and Brant Hills; a mature neighbourhood that is also family-oriented with lots of parks and schools.

Convenient Transportation to Toronto and America

One of Burlington’s best features is their superior transportation options. Not only is Burlington located in close proximity to Highways 403, 407 and the QEW, the province’s GO train service runs through all of the major city streets for adequate transportation out of the city if one prefers not to drive. This provides excellent access to Toronto and further north, and just recently expanded westward connection to the Hamilton GO station.

Life Style in Burlington

This mid-sized city offers a variety of attractions and things to do for its citizens. Along with the Royal Botanical Gardens, there is The Burlington Art Centre and the Joseph Brant Museum. If physical activity is important to you, Burlington’s impressive facilities will cover all of your sporting needs. There are 6 pools, 12 ice pads, 6 different community centres and 9 golf courses. Burlington also hosts many community events such as the Sound of Music Festival and other festivals such as Ribfest and Lobsterfest.