When it comes time to estimate the fair market value of a home, all that matters is this: “How much are similar homes selling for?“. Why is this all that matters? Because if you’re buying, why would you pay more for Home A when you can buy Home B, which is very similar, for less money? […]
Peggy: You never say thank you. Don: That’s what your paycheque is for. Michael (in a rare cameo appearance): Don, money’s not enough. People want to feel appreciated for what they do and a paycheque doesn’t do that. In my books, saying please and thank you and being honest, considerate, respectful and grateful are the […]
Preparing your home for market involves a lot of work. At times, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do and might be tempted to leave some things undone. Resist that temptation! Here’s why: A few weeks ago, a client asked me “Do I really need to fix that little […]
For different reasons, some people prefer to sell their homes without listing them on MLS. It may be because they don’t want the hassle of buyers parading through their homes or because they think they’ll save on the commission or for some other reason. Whatever their preference, my view is that they’re entitled to do […]
How would you feel if you thought you bought a brand new home, but found out later that it wasn’t really all brand new? I know how I’d feel, but I can’t use words like that in a blog like this. In the older parts of Toronto, some builders incorporate part or all of the […]
Have you ever wondered why it’s important that signatures to an agreement be witnessed? If you have, you’re not alone. Recently, we’ve done deals with other agents who have tried to tell us that signatures don’t need to be witnessed if an offer is negotiated by fax or email and that it’s okay to witness […]
Buyers who don’t have their own agents either go to open houses or ask the listing agent to show them the home. Recently, many buyers like these have been asking me if they can put their offer in through me. This has been happening with increasing frequency not just to me, but to many other agents, as […]
How many times have you heard someone try to justify unethical behaviour by saying “but it was okay to do that because it was business”? I don’t know about you, but I don’t buy that. Not at all. There isn’t one set of rules for our personal personas and another for our business personas. Ethics […]
This isn’t the type of question to which there’s a “one size fits all” answer. (Just like most real estate questions, don’t you find?) Every situation is different so the best way to figure out which way to go is to analyze your own situation by asking yourself the following questions: 1. Why do you want to move? […]
If the three most important things in real estate are location, location, location, then the fourth, fifth and sixth most important things are timing, timing and timing. Some timing issues are fairly obvious. For example, don’t try to time the market perfectly because that’s pretty much impossible. Also, if you have a choice, don’t list your home […]
We’ve already discussed what staging is all about in Is Staging Necessary? so I’ll assume you agree it’s a useful and necessary component of the house selling process. At this point, the question running through your mind is probably something to the effect of “how much is this staging business going to set me back?“. That’s […]
When should you list your home? I hear this question almost as often as I’m asked How’s the Market? The best time to list your home depends on your circumstances. Do you live in Toronto? In what area? What kind of home do you have? Do you need to move by a certain date? There’s […]
So you’ve read Part 1 about bulls and Part 2 about bears and don’t think you fit neatly into either category? That’s perfectly okay. Maybe you’re a regular person, which is probably the best thing to be when it comes to residential real estate. It’s time to find out! You know you’re a regular person if you […]
If you read Part 1 and don’t think you’re a real estate bull, then maybe you’re bearish on the Toronto real estate market. How can you tell? Here are a few signs to look for to determine if you’re a bear: You know you’re a bear if thoughts like these cross your mind…… 1.You’re of the […]
There are as many opinions about the real estate market as there are people who have opinions. Some people are bullish (prices will keep going up), some are bearish (prices and the sky will soon fall) and some are in between. Which way to turn and who to believe? Or should you form your own […]
Everywhere you look someone’s talking about the real estate market. What do you make of this quote from a recent article in the Globe & Mail (Feb. 25, 2013): “Manhattan is in the throes of a boom in ultra high-end condos that has drawn wealthy people from around the globe and shattered previous sales records. The […]
I was watching an episode of The Newsroom the other day when I realized that some of the shows I’ve enjoyed most over the years have been about people doing what’s right and standing up for what they believe in. I’m all about being honest and doing the right thing, but I’m in a business […]
When Advocate Realty was formed in 1995, the idea was to create a real estate brokerage that would get it right. A place where you could be sure that your best interests would always come first and that you’d receive the best service possible. I was reminded of this recently thanks to a couple of good […]
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like overpaying. Yes, there are times when we might overpay for things because we NEED them right away or REALLY want them, but don’t you usually shop around to get the most bang for your buck or is that just me? What about when it comes time to […]
True or false: If you receive 6 offers for your home and sell it for well above list price, you made out like a bandit and should be jumping for joy. You’re probably thinking “That’s so obvious! What do you take me for?” Well, sorry to tell you this, but “true” isn’t necessarily the right answer. […]
