Real Estate Blog - Real Estate

Why Good Homes Stay On The Market

A property that doesn’t generate as much interest and sell as quickly as expected isn’t necessarily one that’s flawed. There are several reasons why perfectly good homes linger on the market. Below are some of the most common.

•It’s overpriced. This is the top reason why quality properties don’t sell more quickly. Buyers tend to assume, rightly or wrongly, that a seller whose home is priced above fair market value isn’t serious about selling or open to negotiating. As such, buyers may feel they’d be wasting their time by even making an offer.

•It doesn’t show well. A home may have excellent “bone structure”, be fairly priced, and boast a great location, but if it doesn’t perform well at showings, it won’t sell quickly. What makes for a poor…

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Home Searching Don'ts

Whether you’re looking for your next home now or you’re planning to pound the pavement this spring, be sure to avoid these home-hunting “don’ts”.

If possible, don’t bring the kids – at least not in the initial home-hunting stages. They can divert your attention from where it needs to be: on the homes. Also, children tend to either love or hate each property, so it’s best not to bring them along until you’ve objectively narrowed your search down to the serious candidates, at which time you’ll want their input. D

on’t bite off more than you can chew. Filter your search to a defined area; if you run all over town without focus, you’re bound to tire sooner. And don’t schedule too many showings for the same day – you might find yourself suffering from…

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To Rent Or To Buy: The Great Choice

There are many factors to be considered when deciding to move with the first critical decision being whether to purchase some property or rent. Depending upon your circumstances, it may either be a clear-cut decision or one that requires a more thorough analysis to make that determination.

Factors to Consider

Career – For some individuals, it may not be practical to purchase property if their career will require them to relocate frequently. Although some people have the resources and inclination to accumulate property each time they move, for most of us that is either not an option or would be an undesirable outcome to find ourselves in the role of landlord. For the majority of us, that means we need to sell property each time we move, so careful…

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Preparing Yourself to Sell Your Home

Selling your home can be exciting and scary. It means the end of one chapter of your life and the beginning of another. Team Ken Richter has a few tips for you to get you through selling your home, so you can begin the new chapter of your life with no regrets!

Detach yourself emotionally: Buying real estate is an emotional decision, but the opposite needs to be true for selling real estate. Emotions can get in the way of selling your property. The more attached you are, the harder it will be to convince a potential buyer to see themselves as the new homeowner. Try to get used to the idea that the home will no longer be yours. Think of it as a product to be sold. Visit every room and say “good-bye.” Visualize yourself handing over the keys.

First…

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Home Shopping Online

The internet can be a wonderful tool to help find a new home, or it can be a frustrating time-waster. It all depends on how you use it. Let’s first take a look at the upside of using the Web when home shopping. Websites you should be visiting include some of the following:

• Pictures of homes available, including in some cases individual rooms and other property features.

• Property details, such as lot size, number of bedrooms, square footage, and other features.

• Information on the neighborhood and surrounding area, such as the location of schools, parks and public transit.

• “Virtual tours” (when available), which allow you to view a home on your computer almost as if you were walking through it in real life.

Previewing specific homes…

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The Advantages of Condo Living

If you are looking to enjoy the benefits of home ownership without the maintenance or purchase price associated with a single-family house, a condominium could be right for you.

Condominiums are popular with singles, young couples/families, downsizing empty nesters, retirees, and senior citizens because of the lifestyle they offer. The limited maintenance involved is ideal for both busy young professionals who lack the time to undertake gardening chores and older individuals who feel physically incapable of performing tasks such as mowing the lawn.

If price is your main motivation, condominiums will allow you to get into the market for significantly less than a single-family dwelling. Whether you’re in search of a bachelor or a spacious 2-bedroom,…

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4 Open House Mistakes To Not Make

When there is a showing at your home to a potential buyer, you obviously want to make the best impression possible. You don’t want to make a mistake, and miss out on an opportunity to sell. So here are some of the most common home viewing blunders and how to avoid them:

1. Being inflexible with scheduling: Don’t be too strict about when you’re willing to schedule a viewing. After all, if a buyer is unable to see your home in the times you’ve allotted, they’re not going to buy. Be as accommodating as possible. Sure, it can be inconvenient to okay a viewing on an hour’s notice, but if that buyer ultimately purchases your home, it’s worth it.

2. Hovering: It’s natural to want to guide buyers through your home and give them the tour. Regardless of your…

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Adjusting To The Market

Feeling nervous about what’s happening in real estate?

Team Ken Richter can guide you through today’s changing market. Whether you are a first-time buyer looking to take advantage of lower prices or a homeowner looking to sell in a time of high-inventory, we will help determine your best plan of action.

If you are buying: Falling prices mean that there are deals to be had if you are a first-time buyer. With high-inventory, you have more homes to choose from, and with homes staying on the market longer, you have more time to make a decision. You have more negotiating power now than in the frenzied, bidding-war market of the past. It’s a good time to buy if you are looking to move to a larger, more expensive house. You may have to sell your home for…

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Choosing a Home Inspector

Offers of purchase and sale on a home are often contingent on a satisfactory home inspection. That means the buyers have period of time to hire a qualified home inspector to do what his or her title suggests: inspect the property top to bottom and inside and out.Based on the results, the buyers can either confirm their intention to complete the purchase, or negotiate repairs or compensation for identified deficiencies.

How do you select a home inspector?

Team Ken Richter has a few home inspection companies that we use on a regular basis which we can definitely recommend.

Typically, you want someone who is certified with a recognized professional association, such as the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors. It’s also advisable to…

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Shopping For A Home

Shopping for a home doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. In fact, with a little planning, you can make the entire process fun for everyone – even if there are kids involved. 

• Get the whole family involved in deciding what kind of home you should consider. The more everyone, especially kids, feel a part of the process, the more likely they are to adjust well to the idea of moving.

• Bring healthy, light snacks and drinks with you when viewing more than a couple of homes in a row. It's difficult to have fun when your energy level is low.

• Easy does it. Don't see too many properties at one time. Feeling burnt out after viewing the tenth home on a Saturday afternoon will impact your judgement. Your fatigue might cause you to pass on a…

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