Spring listing? Get Spring Cleaning

Spring is one of the favourite times for Sellers to list their homes. People roll up their sleeves and get busy with the dusting and decluttering, window cleaning and painting, until the interior of them homes literally glows with pride of ownership. Just as important however, is the outdoors. Don't overlook the yard, which is probably looking tired after the Winter ravages. Especially at this time of year, late March and early April then nothing much is happening out there. The grass is often damp and soggy, nothing is growing in the borders, and if you have a dog, then there is probably a couple of months of Poop waiting to be scooped. I know, it really IS a dirty job, but the good news is that you don't have to do it. There are companys springing up all over the place now who specialise in cleaning up Animal Waste, and many offer a Spring Cleaning service. See below

www.superscoopers.ca
and
www.the2crew.com
Ok, so now the yard is lovely and clean, how about getting it to look more like a garden. Re edge those borders, clear away dead leaves and plant debris, put a little colour out there in the form of patio pots or baskets. Don't have time? then check out gardening businesses locally who offer a mobile service. One such service in my area is

www.katesgarden.ca

Kate and her crew will come around and have your garden looking great in no time and without breaking the bank.

So there are just a couple of tips for you. Another thing that buyers have a problem with is actually visualising what the garden will look like in Summer. If you have some photographs of your garden in full bloom then leave them where the potential buyers can see them. ditto, if you have a pool. Visual aids are very important and help people see that those poor leafless trees are actually an oasis of tranquility in late Spring and Summer. If your garden is a great entertainment area then show it off to it's full potential. These little touches are so simple to achieve and get great results.
So Happy Spring, and Happy Spring cleaning......................

Executive Town Home

Beautiful Executive Town Home in Sought After Area.












Absolutely Perfect / Shows A 10++! / Desirable 'Chateau By The Park' Executive Townhome / 2051 Sq.Ft. / Beautifully Decorated Throughout / Gas Fireplace / Crown Mouldings / California Shutters Throughout / Luxurious Solid Wood Cabinetry In Kitchen That's Perfect For The Gourmet With Pass-Thru & Breakfast Bar / Extra Large Principal Rooms / Gracious & Elegant / Direct Access To Your 2 Indoor Parking Spots / 2nd Floor Laundry & Much More! Must See !!!
Extras: Fridge, Stove, B/I Dishwasher, Washer, Dryer, All Electric Light Fixtures, All Window Coverings, All California Shutters, Broadloom W/Laid. Condo Fees Incl 'Premium Cable Pkg' Plus 3 Digital Boxes. Party/Meeting Room Available To Residents
Do not miss out. Arrange your viewing today. Call Kathy Webster at 416-419-5500

The Beaches of Durham County?

Last week I talked about my cycling trip along the Waterfront Trail and the amazing communities that are right on the waters edge. Pickering in the region of Durham is just one these communities. Pickering is just 20 minutes away from downtown Toronto on a clear road, and yet it is an oasis of calm just outside the City. The Go train also runs a very regular service between Pickering and Union Street station, which makes the community an ideal choice for those looking for a shorter stress free commute. The beaches and the Petticoat Creek conservation area are beautiful, and great for those with Children or Dogs.




The walk through the park takes you right by the cliff edge and the views are amazing

Just a mile or so from the Petticoat Creek Conservation area is Frenchmans Bay which has undergone a considerable facelift in the last few years and is now a very chique and disirable area filled with newer contemporary homes


There is also a lovely mix of older homes which have been tastefully renovated and updated, these generally boast larger lots and are situated on beautiful mature tree lined streets. So if you are tired of the hustle and bustle of City Life and would like to live in a calmer more tranquil environment, give me a call. I would be happy to show you the great homes that are available and find you your own little piece of paradise.

I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love

With MY Neighborhood. I live in Markham Village which is North of downtown Toronto. It is just an awesome place to live. Not only is it very beautiful

But it has a wonderful sense of community too. Most of the businesses in the Village are Family owned and run which is very special. One of my favourite restaurants Fulco's

Not only serves the most amazing food, but has also introduced a Dinner & Movie night which is very well attended and lots of fun too.
Markham main street is a very lively and busy place, not only does it have a variety of bars and restaurants, it also boasts a Farmers Market and hosts a many different festivals throughout the year.

And of course we have some very beautiful Real Estate here too, from the newer and very popular community of Cornell

to the older more established community of Old Markham
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So whatever your real estate tastes, or lifestyle you can find something to enjoy in Markham. I hope you visit us soon.....................

Queuing Around the block

This remains the picture throughout the GTA as Buyers queue up to either move up or get onto the property ladder. With interest rates at their lowest ever level, more and more people are deciding that it is the right time to buy. Three of the most influencial factors in the public decision making is the HST which is due to come into effect on July 1, 2010. Interest rates which are likely to rise in early summer, and the mortgage approval changes which come into being on April 19th. All of which have many people racing to get approved before the deadlines. For anyone who dosen't yet know what the Mortgage approval changes are, please see below

Changes to CMHC Self employed Product without Validation of income 1/ Purchase reduced from 95% to 90% refinance reduced to 85% 2/ Product redesigned for new self employed less than 3 years but at least 2 in the same field Self employed for more than 3 years must qualify by standard verification of income. Commissioned income is no longer eligible under the self employed plan without verifiable servicable earnings. Changes to Qualifying for variable or less than 5 year fixed products. 1/CMHC will be using the greater of the benchmark rate and contract rate. The benchmark rate is defined as the Chartered Bank Conventional 5 year rate published by Bank of Canada every Monday at 12:01am and can be located at the following link: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/interest-look.html, view Conventional Mortgage 5 year, click “V121764”, then click “get rates” under “quick date” to view. The most current benchmark rate is 5.39%

Buying fever being what it is right now, means that anyone selling their home is in a very good position indeed. I recently sold a very nice home in Pickering, which was on the market just 3 days, it was listed for $450,000 received multiple offers and the sellers accepted an offer of $460,200. I listed another lovely Town Home in the beaches which was only on the market for 7 days with an asking price of $399,900 again it attracted multiple offers and sold for $437,100, along with a home in Markham once again only on the market for 4 days which was listed for $579,000 and sold for $625,000.

Sadly the three factors that I mentioned earlier will affect the current market, as Spring arrives and the listings increase then the trend of multiple offers will slow, and the balance will tip in the opposite direction. As I am telling my clients. List now, and make the most of the best real estate market we have enjoyed in a long long time.

Peter The Plumber and Networking

I often have clients who are getting ready to list their homes but need a little help with just tying up the looses ends and getting to all those odd jobs that need finishing. I always emphasise how important it is to make sure that the paint is fresh and everything is tidy, and clean and in working order (want to be ready for the home inspection). Over the years I have built up a great network of people who can help clients with all the things that may be needed to get their home sale ready. From Carpet Installers, to Carpenters, Home Stagers, Appliance repair, Painters and Decorators, you name it, I can find you what you are looking for. I also belong to a local BNI Chapter, which is Business Networking International, you can read more about it here

www.bnicanada.ca

This is a great resource as we network and work together, which is great for my clients, my business and ALL our businesses.

This week a client called me to list her house and had a list of little things that just needed fixing to make it sale ready, but her worst and most pressing problem was that her Husband had decided to fix their leaking toilet instead of getting help.



The husband did this with the best intentions, but sadly the result looked something like this


So she called me in a panic. Thankfully I was able to put her in touch with Pete the Plumber who rushed to the rescue and saved the day.



I am so thrilled to have a network of reliable professionals to help me in my Real Estate business and to give my clients exactly the type of fast, friendly and affordable service they are looking for.

Cool Perspective On Water Front Living

There I am with my friend Linda (me on the right) Last Summer we spent a weeks vacation taking part in the Great Water Front Trail Adventure, for those of you who have not heard about this it is a cycle ride from Niagara on the Lake to the Quebec Border, it takes a week, it invovles cycling and camping and lots and LOTS of exercise and it is amazing.

You can check it out here.

http://www.waterfronttrail.org/gwta_web/

Not only do you get to ride through some of the most gorgeous scenery in Ontario, but you also get to see some very cool homes along the way. Homes that you would not even know existed if you were not passing by that way. Some days I did not know where to look first, Lake view, sunset, amazing home. We travelled through 41 communities all on the waterfront of Lake Ontario with all kinds of unique housing, retirement communities, new homes, older homes, established homes, vacation homes, brand new developments, and lots of it overlooking the water. By far the cutest and quirkiest that we saw were these, in Grimsby Ontario, if you ever get the chance, check them out, they are so totally unique.








I had such a good time that I am planning on doing it all over again this year. Check out the website. Come on your own, bring your partner, bring a friend, or bring the whole fam damily if you like. It's a great week. Looking forward to seeing you there..............................................

And It's Starting

I said in my last post that this uneven balance between the amount of buyers and the amount of listings available can't last, and it seems that I was right and a wind of change in blowing through the Real Estate Business. Days are getting longer, and people are looking forward to Spring and at the same time deciding to list their houses. Only this week the amount of new listings that has appeared on MLS is staggering, and it will only increase as the better weather approaches.
So. If you are thinking of listing your home, then list it now. Don't wait for a few weeks and disappear into the hundreds of listings that will be coming onto the market shortly.

Sure, if your home is renovated to the max, and drop dead gorgeous, yes of course it will sell quickly in practically any market. But, if it requires a little work here and there, and is in competition with more up to date properties in the same price range then it will get passed over in a buyers market.

The buyers market is coming people, there will soon be lots and lots of choice out there. Great is you a buyer. But for a seller the tables will turn and it will be a different story. Don't say I didn't warn you.........................

Supply & Demand

Happy New Year!! Much to everyone's surprise there was barely a lull in the Real Estate business during the holidays. Buyers were still out there in droves all clambering to secure the very few listings that were available, offering sometimes tens of thousands of dollars over the asking price, and it remains the case as I write.

I believe I said this at the end of 2009, but it bears repeating. If you are thinking of listing your home, then don't wait, do it now. I know that everyone believes that nothing sells until Spring. Well that may have been the case in the past, but not at the moment. We are seeing an aberation in the market and buyers are plentiful. Waiting until Spring will see you become one of the crowd, as everyone starts to list. Forget getting over the asking price, forget getting multiple offers, forget seeing your home sold within days. You will just become another listing in a market where the buyer is spoilt for choice.

The balance will tip and the supply will become greater than the demand. So while you still have the opportunity to be ahead of the game. If you want to make money on your home, if you want to get the best price for your home, if you want to sell it quickly. List it now........... You won't regret it................