Buying Tips	Selling Tips

Buying Tips

When considering the purchase of a home you're likely to have many questions. How do we start looking for a home? How much money will we require to purchase the home? How much will the mortgage payments be each month and can we afford it? How does the home buying process work and what can we expect along the way?

We can provide the answers to your questions and walk you through the entire process, from viewing potential homes to making an offer and setting up mortgage financing. Although buying a home can be overwhelming, you can be confident that we will be available to help you every step of the way. We can make buying a home simple and straightforward, eliminating any confusion and doubt and allowing you the opportunity to enjoy your new home, worry-free.

Home inspection

A home inspection is an objective visual examination of a home's structure and systems.

Why get a home inspection?

There are a number of reasons why we recommend a home inspection including:

• To ensure you are not surprised by major defects

• So you can be advised about the various elements of the home including - heating and cooling systems, structure, electrical and plumbing

• To learn about how the mechanical systems work and need to be maintained

• Most homeowners are not expert in the numerous components of house construction
  A third party can be objective as there is no emotional attachment

Who should you hire?

Alex & Gai can provide you with a list of inspectors. We look for inspectors that are trained and certified by a national organization such as Canadian Association of Home Inspectors (CAHI) or National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI) and who have errors and omissions insurance.

Lawyer

Purchasing a home involves a lot of paperwork, most of which are contractual documents that will legally bind you to the numerous terms and conditions. For this reason it is important to have a good lawyer acting for you. Someone to protect your rights and interests.

Lawyer's Function

You will need a lawyer to process your purchase and ensure the terms are met:

• the correct property is purchased

• transfer title to your name(s)

• ensure title is free and clear of prior owners encumbrances

• your mortgage is registered properly on title

• ensure that your deal closes on time
  

Finding a Lawyer

If you don't have a lawyer, you can look for a referral from friends, family or business acquaintances. Look for someone with real estate experience and discuss their fee scales. RE/MAX ALEX & GAI MICHIE can help you locate a reliable professional, whom you feel comfortable working with.

Selling Tips

20 Tips for Selling Your Home

As a homeowner, you can play an important part in the timely sale of your property. When you take the following steps, you’ll help us sell your home faster, at the best possible price

1. Make the Most of that First Impression
   
   A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted – or at least freshly scrubbed – front door. If it’s autumn, rake the leaves. If it’s winter, shovel the walkways. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better.

2. Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends
   
   Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to your property. If you’re worried about time, hire professional cleaners or painters to get your house ready. Remember, prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look "with a little work."

3. Check Faucets and Light bulbs
   
   Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolours sinks, and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned out light bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home.

4. Don’t Shut Out a Sale
   
   If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospect’s mind. Be sure to plane sticking doors, and lubricate the squeaky ones.

5. Think Safety
   
   Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, unrolled extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your residence as safe as possible for uninitiated visitors.

6. Make Room for Space
   
   Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.

7. Consider Your Closets
   
   The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now’s the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.

8. Make Your Bathroom Sparkle
   
   Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats, and shower curtains.

9. Create Dream Bedrooms
   
   Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture. Colourful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must.

10. Open up in the Daytime
    
    Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is.

11. Lighten up at Night
    
    Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside - when showing your home in the evening. Lights add colour and warmth, and makes prospects feel welcome.

12. Avoid Crowd Scenes
    
    Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they're likely to hurry through. Keep the company down to a minimum when showing your home.

13. Watch Your Pets
    
    Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favour: Keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.

14. Think Volume
    
    Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction. When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo or TV.

15. Relax
    
    Be friendly, but don't try to force conversation. Prospects want to view your home with a minimum of distraction.

16. Don't Apologize
    
    No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let your experienced realtor handle the situation.

17. Keep a Low Profile
    
    Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But we know buyers - what they need and what they want. We will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay in the background.

18. Don't Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store
    
    When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.

19. Defer to Experience
    
    When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, let them speak to an expert - your realtor.

20. Help Us Sell your House
    
    We will have an easier time selling your home if showings are scheduled with our customized plan in place. You'll appreciate the results!

Why Not Sell It Myself?

The desire to save the commission on a property is the reason most people decide not to work with a Realtor. Prospective Buyers who look for properties that are "For Sale By Owner" (FSBOs) are also wanting to avoid the commission, and to get a " less than market value" deal. However, nothing is saved in the majority of FSBOs. Listing your home with a real estate professional can save you money, spare you the inconvenience of showing your home, and save you the time you would spend talking to Buyers who could not qualify for a loan.