22 Powerful Questions To Ask

22 Powerful Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent Before You Sign a Listing Contract to Sell Your Home

Contact Us if you have any questions or would like more information about anything. Visit our Buyers Page orSellers Page for all your home buying and selling needs.

1. How long have you been selling real estate?
2. What is the percent of Sellers compared to Buyers that you serve?
3. Can we cancel the listing if we're not happy?
4. Do you have a licensed personal assistant?
5. Do you recommend that I hire an attorney?
6. May I see your resume or personal brochure?
7. What systems do you have in place that will keep you in constant contact with me during the listing and the transaction?
8. Are you fully automated with your own personal computer, fax machine, copier, pager, mobile phone, etc.?
9. May I see all the paperwork that you are going to ask me to sign?
10. What professional designations do you have?
11. I want to give my home the advantage of the latest marketing strategies. How much time and money do you invest each month in professional training?
12. Why are you personally motivated to sell my house?
13. Why should I list with you rather than any other REALTOR® who is calling on me?
14. What kind of experience and training do you have in negotiations?
15. How many homes do you sell in a year?
16. Will you personally be there when contracts are presented and handle all the negotiations?
17. Do you have a web site?
18. Will you directly market the property on the Internet?
19. Do you follow-up on all showings on the house and report the comments back to me?
20. Do you have an assistant to make sure no details are overlooked?
21. What part of your business is from referrals/past clients?
22. Do you market with direct mailings on my property?

It's likely that you don't interview people very often. And yet, in order to find the REALTOR® who is right for you, you may interview several. The quality of your home selling experience is dependent upon your skill at selecting the person best qualified.

It's interesting that in the real estate business, someone with many successfully closed transactions usually COSTS THE SAME as someone who is inexperienced. Bringing that experience to bear on your transaction could mean a higher price at the negotiating table, selling in less time, and with the minimum amount of hassles.

The world is populated with REALTORS® who are wrong for you. For example, the housewife who sells an occasional house because she needs a little pocket change, or the insurance salesman who believes he can handle two careers, or perhaps your cousin, who really needs your business.

The sale of your home could well be the most important financial transaction you have ever been involved with. The person you select can make it a satisfying and profitable activity, or a terrible experience. It's your home, and your money. The choice of your REALTOR® is up to you. Make the selection carefully.

Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

Contact Us if you have any questions or would like more information about anything. Visit our Buyers Page or Sellers Page for all your home buying and selling needs. 

Ditching the land lord and taking the leap into the realm of home ownership? While it can be frightening, consumers who have the resources to buy a home shouldn’t shy away from this type of financial decision. But you must be prepared and you much have the money to do so, or you may incur years of unavoidable debt.

With the help of your Realtor® or real estate representative, and some research,buying a home for the first time will be less daunting and complicated. The best thing you should do is to not rush into a decision and to prepare well ahead of time.

Here are some tips, guidelines and advice for those who are thinking of buying a home:

• Knowing that you’re ready: Before you even look at homes online or in the newspaper, make sure that you have the ability to buy a home. Check your finances, your credit score and budget accordingly. Ask your real estate professional or your representative at your bank to check over you financial situation to determine whether or not you’re ready. If you aren’t or if you feel like you aren’t, start saving what you can. Even if you choose tobuy a home, you’re going to have to cut your spending considerably.
• Know how much you’re going to spend before you look: After you have found out that you’re ready to buy a home, it’s time to budget yourself. Determine how much you’re willing to spend to purchase a new home, as well as for down-payments – something that usually gets left until the last minute.
• Finding the right real estate representative: If you haven’t already, you should acquire the assistance of a real estate professional. As a first-time buyer, you should never go solo when buying a home. A real estate professional can give you advice on what home is best for you, as well help you search for the most fitting home for your needs.
• Knowing what you need: Once you acquire the assistance of a Realtor® or agent, start looking for a home that suits your needs. If you’re thinking for the future, take that into account when deciding which home is best for you. But don’t be over the top—be realistic when searching for that first home.
• Getting a home appraised and inspected: To receive a quality mortgage, homeowners will need to hire an appraiser. An appraiser values your home based on the surrounding market and the condition of the home. Finding a reputable appraiser is crucial because an overvaluation can be detrimental to your economic health. An inspector is someone who comes in to check out the physical condition of your home. Hiring an inspector will let you know if you have to spend extra money on renovations or construction. Do this before you close on the deal – you don’t want to spend considerable money after you’ve bought the home.
• Understanding your options for mortgages: Do a bunch of research before you choose a mortgage. Go to various lenders and understand their rates and policies. You could also ask your real estate agent for some help or hire a mortgage broker. There are different options, so find the one that suits you.
• Getting a Lawyer/Notary: Before you make a deal, have a lawyer or a notary read over the financial documents. This is to ensure that you’re not getting into a deal that looks shaky or fraudulent. The lawyer or notary has to be a real estate specialist.
• Don’t forget about those closing costs: After purchasing a home, you may be faced with “extra charges”. Understand the various fees that you’ll have to pay before the close of the sale so you could save accordingly. These fees can include legal costs, land transfer taxes, disbursements and many others.

Buying a home should be an exciting period for you, and while it seems complicated and difficult at first, prevailing through the challenges isn’t as hard as you think. With the help of a real estate professional on your side, you’ll get a favourable deal. So if you decide that buying is the right decision for you, just do your research and you’ll be good to go.

Wondering About Home Inspections?

Home Inspections 

Buying a home may well be the largest financial investment you will ever make. Naturally you will want to know as much as possible about the property before you finalize the purchase at closing. Visit my Buyers Page or Sellers Page for buying a home or selling a home.

It's important to hire a knowledgeable, independent home inspector for advice on the overall condition of the property, Contact Us and we will put you in touch with a trusted professional. The purchase contract usually requires specific time periods for each inspection, and it's critical that these time frames be met. Usually the cost for any and all inspections and re-inspections are paid by the Buyer. Prices can range from $350 to $500 for whole-house inspections.

Some examples of common inspections are:

• Structural - Defects caused by poor construction, soil movement, water or drainage conditions, settlement, fire, etc.
• Environmental Hazards - Including asbestos, lead-based paint, radon gas or any other toxic material.
• Roof - Can include framing members, decking and shingle condition.
• EMP - Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing - Should include electrical and plumbing systems, built-in appliances, heating and cooling systems, swimming pool/spas, sprinkler systems and security systems.
• Septic and Wood Burning Systems - Ask if your inspector is licensed to conduct septic and WETT inspections.

Many companies specialize in only one area of inspection, and others will group several together and offer a package price. Whichever route you go, assure yourself you're getting the inspections you need. Many can be found in the yellow pages or Contact Us and we can provide a list of several of each to choose from. Visit myBuyers Page or Sellers Page for buying a home or selling a home

Courtesy of
Greatmoves.ca 

Good Sized Townhouse Condo in Cambridge

66 Glamis Road Unit 34

This is a great home for the first time buyer, professional on the go or investor! The End Unit home offers 3 nice sized bedrooms, two bathrooms, Kitchen & Dinette combo includes fridge & Stove, large living room with sliders to deck, a finished recreation room, and separate lower laundry/utility room includes washer & dryer. The home has been freshly painted, offers low maintenance laminate flooring (a carpet free home). Updates: roof (2014), water softener (2014), finished recreation room & lower bathroom & paint. The condo fees are reasonable currently including Water, Landscaping/Snow Removal, Garbage Removal, Maintenance, and Parking. The property is conveniently located in a mature neighbourhood with access to 401, shopping, schools, parks and coffee shops.

Please Contact for more information on 66 Glamis Road.
Open House to be announced.

All photography courtesy of

Staging Your Kitchen For Sale

How To Stage Your Kitchen For Sale

When it comes to selling your home, your kitchen can be a deal-breaker. At an open house, most potential buyers will spend considerable time in the kitchen to check out the finishes, appliances, fixtures and, more importantly, the amount of space and storage. Having an inconvenient and inadequate kitchen can be a curse to homeowners. Before you may have had long fought battles with your kitchen, but the buyer of your house doesn't have to feel that way. Just think of your kitchen as product; what do most people like to see in a kitchen? Even if your kitchen is out-dated, this doesn't mean you have to burn a hole in your wallet to make it look appealing and attractive. Home staging is a vital part of home resale, and even though it’s good to do for every room in the home, the kitchen is especially important because of the amount of time most people spend in there. Refreshing, refining and staging one of the most important places in your home will have prospective buyers smiling, and not running for the door.

Tidying, not just the counter tops -- but everything 
If you’re like most people, you at least do one thorough cleaning of your kitchen once a week. Well, imagine doing that, but with ten times more effort. You must scrub every counter top, clean every visible mess and remove all clutter. But, homebuyers are particularly picky and nosy people. They will open your fridge, open your cabinets, and yes, they will open your dishwasher. Be sure to have everything organized. For the dishwasher, make sure there are no dishes in there, especially dirty ones. Use vinegar to rub out any hard water scale and build up inside of the washer. You’re going to have to depersonalize your kitchen a bit. Remove pictures and some items that you use everyday – which someone else may not – off the counter tops. As well, remove almost everything off your fridge. You want to optimize the space in your kitchen so the potential buyer can visualize their things in the space.

Refresh, refine, stage! 
There are many different aspects of the kitchen, so take time to focus on each one at a time. You may have to pay a little to get some of the changes you need, but here are some tips for each section of the kitchen:

-Counter tops: If you’re moving, you probably don’t have the budget to purchase new granite or marble counter tops. Instead, thoroughly clean your counter tops, including you sink. If you feel you need to refurnish, then buy new faucets and maybe new – and usually inexpensive – laminate counter tops. Tile, for counter tops, is relatively cheap too. Though you’re optimizing for space, you may want to decorate; think as if you’re inviting your celebrity crush to your kitchen. Add some vignettes, nice look ornaments and maybe put out a pitcher of cold ice water and some nice looking glasses for refreshments.

-Cabinets: Like replacing a counter top, it can extremely expensive to install new cabinets. To rejuvenate the look, use warm water and mild soap or wood cleaners, such as lemon oil based cleaners. You may also want to refinish them too. If you have some cash lying around you could also hire a company to reface your cabinets. While it is possible to reface them yourself, it is difficult and extremely time-consuming to do so. Clean and organize the inside of the cabinets too. Remember, people are nosy.

-Paint: Repainting can be an option. Neutral colours work best, but try not to choose ones that are boring. Lighter, yet neutral yellows, reds, and oranges work well in the kitchen. This will brighten up the room and make it look larger. But keep in mind the colour of your cabinets and counter tops – you want it to match. 

-Lighting: Lighting in a kitchen is particularly important because most people like to see where they’re cooking. Most kitchens do have a lot of natural lighting during the day, but during the evening lots of light is vital as well. Make sure you generate as much lighting as you can. You can also install lights underneath cabinets to highlight working areas. To many, the kitchen can make or break a sale. Small, cluttered and narrow kitchens are somewhat tough to sell, but with some refreshing and de-cluttering, you could make your kitchen a shining part of your home – something that buyers love.

555 Montrose Street N, Cambridge, ON.

Well maintained bungalow in the heart of a desirable Cambridge neighbourhood. Featuring wonderfully landscaped grounds, updates kitchen w/ breakfast bar, living room with large windows, vaulted ceiling and fireplace, 3 bedrooms, main floor laundry, storage room, partly fenced, 2 sheds. Carport converted to a 3 season sunroom. Centrally located, close to schools, shopping, restaurants & coffee shops, parks & highway access.

Photography courtesy of