Home For Sale in Peel Village 25 Terra Cotta Cres.,
Brampton, Ontario L6W 1B9

Here is an absolutely charming, sought after home.A raised bungalow style tucked away on a quiet crescent in the prestigious and very popular neighbourhood, of "Peel Village"! 

This Brampton, Ontario home will grab you as soon as you walk up the freshly black topped driveway, over the freshly painted front steps and through the front door.  You will be greeted with rays of sunshine that flows through the main hall.

The main level features a welcoming living room that opens to the dining room allowing for flexible furniture placement.  Both rooms have hardwood flooring under the broadloom and two big bay windows fill them with natural light inviting your guests to "come in and stay awhile".

The well planned eat in kitchenhas ample cupboards, new counter tops in '03 and new built in dishwasher in '09.

People love the bungalow style because of the convenience of the bedrooms being just down the hall.  Here in this immaculate Peel Village home gleaming hardwood flooring is featured in the hallway and bedroom areas.  The master bedroom also offers closet organizers and ceiling fan. The main washroom is complete with a convenient laundry shoot that delivers the laundry effortlessly to the laundry room!

Expanding your living space is the finished recreation room that will become your family's "fun centre"!  It is complete with above grade windows, wood burning fireplace that currently has an electric insert for convenience, dry bar, handy four piece washroom, an additional bedroom or home office and a laundry/workshop area.  There is lots of extra storage space found here also.

Never wonder what to do in the summer and on warm, humid fall days again.Your second entertainment centre is found right in your own backyard!  There is a large covered patio area ideal for barbequing and informal gatherings or stretch out on the chaise lounge in the sun after a relaxing swim or doing a few exercise lengths in the 16 x 32 foot inground pool. Can you imagine enjoying a lazy breakfast or relaxing on a Sunday afternoon in this beautiful backyard watching the birds & squirrels play or the rippling of the water in the pool?

This home has been given attention to even the smallest detail and other features you will enjoy include: central air conditioning '06, windows replaced in '06, roof was re-shingled in '03, new front & rear doors, new screen doors '08, pool liner replaced in '05, new filter '08 plus window coverings, light fixtures and to make your move easier, five appliances.

This lovely is home located in this very desirable Peel Village neighbourhood, where residents enjoy strolling and riding their bikes along the manicured streets or through the beautiful park of the Charlie Watson & Family Gardens, (a hot spot for wedding photographs) is close to all amenities and will give you years of enjoyment.

So, why would you want to consider living in the City of Brampton?  Good question, start right here.  Now that you have seen some of the things the City of Brampton has to offer, why would you choose Peel Village, have a look here.

Oh ya, by the way this beauty is offered for sale at $334,900.00 and the annual property taxes are just under $4,000.00

For your convenience we have prepared a short "virtual tour" for you, check your speakers and enjoy the tour.

Still need some more information, click right here.

Now there is only one thing left to do.  Give us a call and we will arrange your own personal tour and help you get your own Peel Village address.

 ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE CITY OF BRAMPTON, ONTARIO, CANADA  ALSO KNOWN AS "FLOWER CITY"

The City of Brampton is also known as "Flower City" and flowers we have.  Tens of thousands of flowers are planted throughout the city every Spring.  In excess of 266 square miles and having about 4,000 acres of parkland and open spaces, Brampton has an estimated population of 500,000 people and growing! Growing so fast the City of Brampton is ranked as one of Canada's largest and fastest growing cities.

Brampton's housing ranges from condominiums that start at $100,000 to estate homes in the millions.  The current average sale price is between $300-350,000.  A great place to invest in your first home and raise your family.  Brampton is bordered to the north by the Town of Caledon where you can find properties on large lots all the way up to and exceeding 100 acres.

This multi-cultural City grows because as their slogan says "All Roads Lead To Brampton"; and they mean major roads with the multi-lane Provincial Highways 401, 403, 407, 410 and 427 delivering people from and into the city daily.

No wonder The City of Brampton is home to big name companies such as Rogers Communications, Chrysler Canada, Maple Lodge Farms, Ford Canada, Canadian Tire Corporation, Coca-Cola, Waste Management of Canada and Winners to name a few. 

Brampton is located just north west of the City of Toronto which gives us all the pro sport teams to cheer for.  Only minutes to the Toronto Airport for all your business and pleasure trips.

After work, Brampton residents love to play and the selection of what to play at in this City is huge! Formula Kartways lets you experience the thrill of racing Nascar style with the safety of a controlled indoor ¼ mile track, Wild Water Kingdom, Canada's largest water park let's your adventure begin with a lazy river and a free fall into a heated pool, the Powerade Centre hosts their own OHL (Ontario Hockey League) team "Brampton Battalion" while they are being groomed for the NHL, Chinguacousy Park is one of several parks, here is the place to be in the summer with ponds, petting barn, boat rides, baseball games and tea room or in the winter Mount Chinguacousy provides snow for downhill skiing & tubing, Heart Lake Conservation and Claireville Conservation Areas provide the perfect spots for outdoor picnics & barbeques, swimming and non motorized boating, horseback riding and much more.  Brampton even has it's own lakes, Professor's Lake and Loafer's Lake are the largest.  If you want to hit the links, great golf is found at Lions Head Golf and Country Club, Brampton Golf Club, Streetsville Glen Golf Club & Peel Village Golf Course all within the City limits.

When looking for some nightlife entertainment, turn to the Rose Theatre in Brampton for live performances by well known artists.  The entertainment continues with outdoor fun at Gage Park just across the road from the Brampton City Hall.  You can choose one of the many local pubs which provide their own entertainment ranging from playing darts to some of the best unknown talent.

When you are hit with the ‘hungries' there is a multitude of dining pleasures from the fast food local diners to a huge selection of well known franchises to the outdoor cafes and abundance of intimate and formal dining restaurants.

You, your family & home will always be in style and your fridge and cupboards full with the plentiful shopping found here.  We have two major malls, box stores and many outdoor strip malls to choose from.  You never have to walk or drive far when the urge to shop hits!

The City of Brampton is such a convenient place to live with libraries, recreations centres, churches, schools, parks and transportation in every neighbourhood, you will be too spoiled to live anywhere else!

MAKE BUYING OR SELLING YOUR NEXT HOME A FUN EXPERIENCE (Series Part 7) IN BRAMPTON ONTARIO

We have done a series of articles on "Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience" and for your convenience you may follow the links below:

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 1)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 2)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 3)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 4)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 5)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 6)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 7) 

IT FINALLY HAPPENED, YOU ARE MOVING!

Out on the front lawn is a four letter word in huge red letters on your old ‘for sale’ sign, SOLD.

Moving day will come upon you very fast.  The very first thing you must decide and decide quickly is how are you going to get from this property to the next?  Are you hiring a big company mover?  Are you going to call a smaller mover with two men and a truck?  Are you going to go the ‘new’ route with pods, you know those big containers they leave in your driveway for you to fill up then they come & move them?  Are you going to call in some favours from friends & family?  What is your plan?  The reason we encourage you to decide quickly is you have to have time if you are booking a mover, a pod or truck because dates fill up quickly even friends get booked!

POINTS TO PONDER – Big time moving companies seem expensive, but they are your back savers and they are insured.  If this is your chosen route, consider selecting a moving date mid week and mid month for savings, rather than the popular end of the week, end of the month bookings.  Pods are the newest idea on the market and not a bad one.  They will bring as many pods as you need right to your current residence for you to fill.  Then on moving day, they come, pick them up and plunk them right down at your new location for you to empty.  Simple.  Friends and family are usually willing allies.  If you are going to ask them, think about turning it into a fun time.

Make it a party even, like this one creative person did.  Check out their Movers and Shakers idea here: http://www.ehow.com/how_4708445_enjoy-moving-day.html

POINT TO PONDER - Before you commit friends and family though, consider how many people innocently get injured on someone’s moving day, is it worth the risk? Hands get jammed, backs get broken, heads bumped as well as furniture gets damaged. Just think it over.

Again whichever way you choose, book it now Dano!

Excitement is building in the family and probably so is chaos. Before things go totally out of control, here are a few helpful points that will keep your sanity and help you through this process as smoothly as you did selling.

Fun for the kids and to help keep you on schedule is this handy web site that will count down the days, hours and minutes to moving time. Check it out at http://thecountdownclock.com/moving-day.asp 

Alright, let’s get moving!

Make a list of people to contact with regards to your change of address.  Naturally you are going to send out pretty address change cards to family and friends, but who else needs to be advised?  To jump start your brain here are a couple of suggestions:  All the utility companies, your credit card companies, the library, your financial institution, insurance company, the clubs you belong to, magazine subscriptions, schools, doctor, dentist and don’t forget to change your driver license!  Don’t leave this to the last minute send the notifications out approximately 30 days prior to your moving date, maybe as the mail comes in, send back a moving notification.

Make up your own personal “to do” list, keep it along with a pen in one spot.  Call the designated area the ‘Moving Station’.  Never put the list down unless it's at the Moving Station.  This is where you'll keep your labels, marking pens, box tape, and other supplies.  Every family member must commit that anything used from the Moving Station must be returned immediately after use. Trust us, this will be your lifesaver as you get deeper into the moving process and will avoid upsets and annoyances about where things are, especially when boxes start piling up.

You are going to need LOTS of boxes, lots more boxes than you think. Having more than enough will make your life so much easier!  The liquor store has good strong boxes and you can also pick some up at your favourite grocery store. Have about 10 boxes set aside for last minute items on moving day, such as bedding, clothing, and cleaning supplies.

POINT TO PONDER – Don’t over pack these boxes, remember someone has to be able to pick them up! You'll need strong plastic packing tape to close up the boxes securely.

For wrapping, use packing paper or bubble wrap to wrap and cushion household items.  Again, make sure you have enough of these items on hand so that packing isn’t delayed because you ran out.

Write everything down!  You'll thank yourself later.  Before you pack even one box, create a simple system.  Create a printed list of numbers with a space to write the contents or use a notebook.

Place a number on EVERY box you pack and write the contents on your list next to the corresponding number.  When describing the box contents be specific about what’s inside, example income tax files is better than just files and blue glass dishes instead of kitchen dishes.  Mark every side and tops of the packed boxes, this makes for easy identification later no matter which side of the box is exposed.  Designate a colour for each room such as yellow for the kitchen, orange for dining room, etc for quick recognition.  Apply coloured labels on the box near the number or have the number written on the coloured labels.  In your new place, put a matching coloured piece of paper on the door to each room.  The movers/friends will know where to put everything when they arrive at the new property without asking you every five minutes or just dropping the box anywhere because they don’t know where it goes.

It's also helpful to post a big sign on the wall in the room where you want boxes stacked, ("Boxes here please") to keep them out of areas you have planned for furniture.

Personal overnight bags for everyone. Find coloured storage tote boxes, one for each person. You could even use luggage pieces (they have to be moved too and they may as well go full!) or duffle bags. Let each family member fill theirs with items they'll want 'right away' in your new home: a set of sheets, pajamas, towel, change of clothes, nightlights, pens and paper, kleenex, soap, face cloth & towel, tooth brush & toothpaste and travel cosmetic case. This way when everyone is exhausted after a long day they will have all their own necessities without the hassle of a long search.

Keep clothing in drawers. Some moving companies will allow you to keep clothing in dresser drawers, as long as the drawers are removed from the dressers and this is a great idea also if you are moving yourselves. You can wrap the drawers in garbage bags to make sure that nothing falls out and to keep the clothes clean. Saves a bit of packing and unpacking later!

Make sure everything stays together. If there are cords that belong with particular appliances, tape or rubber-band them to that appliance, screws from a bookcase can be put into a zip lock bag and taped to the back, hooks from pictures, the same thing, so they don't become separated. The same goes for any hardware from items that need to be disassembled. Nothing is more frustrating than having things you can't use because some necessary component is missing.

Keep important papers with you. Your list of "important" papers might include: birth certificates, school records, mover estimates, new job contacts, utility company numbers, recent bank records, current bills, phone lists, closing papers, your realtor & lawyer information and maps. Keep your jewellery and boxes of expensive keepsakes with you too. Don't leave these with the mover. Keep them with you!

Set aside a box of cleaning supplies, along with a broom, mop, and vacuum cleaner.  You'll need these to go over the place one last time before you leave, unless you arranged for a cleaning service. Even if you do, though, you'll still want the cleaning supplies readily available for your new house, in case they are required.

MOVING DAY! - It is best for you and especially for them if you arrange for pets and children to be looked after by someone else away from the busy household. The day of the move is a stressful time no matter how well you planned it and thought of nearly everything.  Small children and pets do not react well to anxiety and all the commotion.

You arrived!

If you chose to use movers, before signing off and allowing them to leave, make sure that any missing or damaged items has been recorded on the contract or inventory list.

Change the door locks. You don't know who has a key to your castle unless you get new locks or re-key the existing locks. The previous owners may have given a key to neighbors, workmen, relatives, or cleaning services. You will feel more secure if you arrange for new locks for as soon as you arrive.

As soon as everything has settled down, yes, it will happen, arrange to have the pet and children brought to their new home. Make sure to give them some undivided attention and spend time with them on their arrival.  The kids are going to be excited but still a little apprehensive and the pets will be stressed until they have checked things out.  Help them adjust.

There, that was pretty easy wasn’t it?  Hopefully your new home will give you a few years of enjoyment before you decide it’s time to do this all over again!

MAKE BUYING OR SELLING YOUR NEXT HOME A FUN EXPERIENCE (Series Part 6) IN BRAMPTON ONTARIO

We have done a series of articles on "Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience" and for your convenience you may follow the links below:

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 1)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 2)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 3)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 4)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 5)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 6)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 7) 

The offer went through now what are you to do?

As the words from your Agent, "the offer was accepted" are still be ringing in your ears, the questions begin to form in your head.  Now what happens?  What is involved in the home inspection they just booked? What exactly is the home inspector going to do and what exactly will he be looking for?

Well, knowledge is power they say, so let's delve into those questions. Here's what to expect during the home inspection.  

Shall we begin outside? Here the inspector will take a walk, completely around the property. He will be looking for rotting wood around the deck, to see if the grading slopes away from the house, if there is any damage to any siding the house may have and he will check to make sure the eaves troughs takes the water away from the house.

At this time he will pull out his enormous ladder to get up on the roof. He'll want to see what condition the shingles are in and estimate the life left in them.  While he is up there the inspector will take a look at the roof vents, the condition the brick chimney is in, as well as the condition of the flashing and eaves troughing.      

Back down on the ground again the inspector will now move inside. Quite a bit of time will be spent in the basement as this is typically where the house mechanical devices are found, such as the furnace, electrical panel, air conditioner, plumbing pipes, hot water tanks and possibly sump pumps, for example.

One of the things the Buyer wants to make sure of is that the basement is dry.  To find the answer the inspector will make use of a moisture meter that will give him a reading of the dampness in the walls. He will also check for a musty odour, he'll look for mould on the drywall, insulation and any wood as well as check for efflorescence on the foundation walls as he looks for any signs of water penetration.  Efflorescence is that white powdery substance you see on the concrete walls, well in your case we hope you don't see.     

Still concerned with water, the Inspector will move on to the plumbing system!  He will check the supply and waste pipes looking for signs of leakage, if they are properly vented and are also draining properly.  He'll check the pressure of each fixture and give the hot water tank the once over.

Next up, the electrical panel! Still in the basement the home Inspector will take a look at the amperage of the main panel to see if there is adequate circuits for the day to day functions of the average family.  At this time the Inspector will make sure the fuses/circuit breakers are compatible for the use of the air conditioning unit, stoves and hot tubs etc.  The home inspector will also look for signs of do-it-yourself work making sure it was done properly.

POINT TO PONDER - Insurance companies are keeping a watchful eye that the electrical workings in homes are up to building and safety standards.  They are not always issuing new insurance policies for homes with fuse panels.  Another concern is copper and aluminium wiring mixed together.

Over to the furnace, the inspector will take off panel to have a closer look at the motor and mechanisms of the furnace.  He will be assessing the life left in it as well.

Alright up to the main levels the inspector will go next! Here he will check the water pressure of all the faucets, toilets and how fast the toilets & sinks drain.  He will pull out his trusty polarity tester to test all your outlets to make sure they are working properly, he'll open and shut all the windows and doors to see if they operate properly without sticking, check screens, turn all the lights on and off and he might even pull out a Kleenex and hold it up to the ducts to see if the air from the furnace or air conditioning is blowing through.

Equipped with his flashlight and ladder, now Inspector Gadget will move up into the attic.  By doing this he will be able to determine how well the area is insulated, if there are any problems with the roof and/or ceiling structural supports, if there is rot and/or mould or leaking and if the attic is properly ventilaed.

The actual inspection can take on average, three hours to complete.  Usually the Buyer and Buyer Agents attend with the Inspector. 

POINT TO PONDER - We recommend that you and your family vacate the premises while this inspection is being conducted.  The reason?  If the home Inspector discovers deficiencies that concern the Buyer and you are there, the Buyer Agent and/or Buyer may turn to you right then and there looking for a commitment from you for the repairs.  Some even use these deficiencies to try and renegotiate the original transaction.  With six pairs of eyes staring at you, you may feel compelled to agree to something you don't wish to or that isn't necessary.  If you are not available the Buyer and their Agent will have to contact your Agent and discuss their options.  This will allow your Agent an opportunity to protect you and solve the issues at hand.     

The thought of a home inspector looking around their property inspires an Owner to feel nervous hoping the Inspector won't uncover any crimes of grime, ghosts in the attic or major deficiencies.

By following a few maintenance steps before the inspection, you can alleviate the feelings of anxiety. We recommend you pull out the old vacuum and eat up the cobwebs around the motor of the furnace and filter or better yet, install a new filter.  Run down to the hardware store and pick up some new caulking for around the bathtub & shower stall if they are mouldy looking, grab a washer or two for the dripping faucets, whip out a can of WD-40 and spray sticky door hinges, (don't forget the kitchen cabinets!) and maybe install a few missing or broken handles, mix a bag of mortar for cracks in the concrete steps, tighten any loose handrails inside & out, wash the windows, level any wiggling patio stones and replace burnt out or missing light bulbs. Oh, while you are hustling around, you might want to clear the area around the attic access, the Inspector's going up there, so you may as well be ready beforehand, especially if the access is in one of your closets!

You are not being deceptive; you are only cleaning up the little niggly items that the Inspector will have to mark down on his report that will look like thousands of repair dollars and hours of work to the Buyer.

Just remember, the Buyer is hoping the Inspector won't find any flaws with their new dream home. They just want the process to provide peace of mind and confirm the purchase they are about to make.  

Hello Active Rain,

Are you heading to Florida for your holidays.  If you visit the St. Pete's area (west coast) and find some time on your hands and needed something to do, we would suggest you give the Dolphin Racer a go.

Dolphin Racer Speedboat - St Pete Beach/S. Pasadena, FL
Starlite Cruises
3400 Pasadena Avenue South
St Pete Beach/S. Pasadena, FL , FL 33707
Order Now: 1-800-987-9852

We had a great ride out into the Gulf of Mexico and our Captain found a school of Dolphins that loved to chase the boat.  That was the highlight of the cruise but the tour of the coastline was also great.

Just is case you missed the Dolphin Racer we have included a few pictures of our encounter with the Dolphins.

MAKE BUYING OR SELLING YOUR NEXT HOME A FUN EXPERIENCE (Series Part 5) IN BRAMPTON ONTARIO

We have done a series of articles on "Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience" and for your convenience you may follow the links below:

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 1)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 2)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 3)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 4)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 5)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 6)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 7) 

You Got ‘THE' Call, WHOO-HOO!...an Offer on the Property! YEAH!

You're excited the Agents are on their way over. ‘Wow', your thinking, "we're actually moving"!  Whoa, wait a second, before your guests arrive let's make sure you are aware of how the offer is going to be conducted and what is your role in this next very important step.

First and foremost, this is a business decision, that's why Uncle Bart and neighbour Sue are not representing you.  Remember the lesson back in Series Two? Rely on your Agent, follow their lead and listen to their advice.

Never let your emotions rule over this decision.  If the offer comes in at a lower price then you were expecting, no need to be insulted.  This is just business and part of the negotiating.  Don't get mad at this Buyer for trying his low offer, think about all those Buyers that came through your property and didn't do anything!  It shouldn't concern you where the Buyer chose to start the negotiating, but consider where they expect to finish.    

Alright, let's take a look at exactly what you will be negotiating. 

With most offers there are four parts that are the usually debated at length, we call them "The Four 'C's".  The Cash, the Conditions, the Chattels (basically means, your stuff!)and the Closing date.  

The cash and closing date (the moving date), will be individual to you and the Buyer.  By conditions, we mean your property will be sold once the offer is accepted, provided these conditions have all been met.

Here we will explain a few of the common conditions you will be asked to consider.

Condition on the Buyer arranging financing.  When a Buyer decides to buy a property they go to a financial institution to be pre-qualified.  Based on the Buyer's income and loans, the financial institutions give them the amount of mortgage they qualify to carry.  This is a prequalification only.  Once the Buyer has an accepted offer, then the Bank will confirm their incomes and loans and approve the Buyers mortgage.  This is a normal clause and usually the condition is for five to seven banking days.   

Condition on Property Inspection.  Pretty much all of the offers today contain this condition. What the Buyer is asking here is for time for them to hire a qualified home inspector who will come into your property for a few hours to check things out.  Some of the things the inspector will be looking for and will check are the projected life of the roof shingles, furnace, windows, plumbing, and the condition of the electrical wiring.  It is customary for this condition to run simultaneously with the condition on financing as most Buyers will want their financing in place before they spend money on the home inspector.

Condition on arranging Home Insurance.  It is now becoming quite common to see this clause.  Mortgage companies today are asking for proof from the Buyer that the property will be insured.  This has caused the Buyer to make sure properties qualify for home insurance before making their offers firm.

Condition on the sale of the Buyers Property.  This clause will need to be looked at very carefully and with an open mind.  It means, you are agreeing that the Buyer will only purchase your property if their property sells. Make sure if you are accepting this clause, that there is a provision for you to keep your property on the market and to look for another Buyer, while this Buyer tries to sell his property.

If your property is a condominium, you will see a condition on the Buyer getting a Status Certificate (in the Province of Ontario - other locations may vary).  The status certificate assures the Buyer that the monthly common expense fees are up to date and how much they are, the amount of the Reserve Fund and if the Condominium Corporation is involved in any lawsuits, among other things. By law, the Condominium Corporation is allowed 10 days to provide this document.  The Buyer will then ask for a few days for their lawyer to review it, typically two to three days after receipt of the document.

There are numerous other conditions that may or may not be in your offer but the above mentioned conditions are the most popular ones.  You may even see a few unusual conditions such as a condition to allow a family member of the Buyers to see the property or a condition that allows time for the Buyer to be released from a previous transaction for example. These conditions should be reviewed by you and your Agent at face value to see if they are acceptable.      

Now that you understand the conditions that may appear in your offer, we can move on to the procedure of the offer.

The Buyer Agent will arrive with, or may have faxed or emailed their offer to your Agent.  If the Buyer Agent is present, it is a good idea to read over the offer and hold your questions or comments until you are alone again with your Agent. As we said at the beginning follow your Agents lead, let them ask the questions and make statements to the Buyer Agent on your behalf. 

It is very rare that an offer comes in perfectly acceptable to you. There will usually be changes of some kind, whether price, the terms of conditions, the items the Buyer would like you to leave that you are not willing to, or the closing date.  You guessed it!  The most common change is price!

Your Agent will stroke out and make the necessary changes to the offer to reflect your wishes. This is called a counter offer. The Buyer's Agent will then take the offer to the Buyer.  They can accept your changes or counter again, giving you their changes.  This may go back and forth and back and forth a few times, before it is acceptable to everyone.

POINT TO PONDER - Keep in mind that no matter how friendly or nice the Buyer or the Buyer's Agent is, this is a game of friendly warfare. You and your Agent want the most money for the property and the Buyer and the Buyer Agent wants the property for the least amount of money.

There you go! Now you know a little about what to expect of the offer you are about to be presented with. 

Please don't be emotional, don't be nervous.  Think of it as a game of Poker, just remember the stakes are high, very high. The stakes are one of your biggest investments.

Good Luck!

MAKE BUYING OR SELLING YOUR NEXT HOME A FUN EXPERIENCE (Series Part 4) IN BRAMPTON ONTARIO

We have done a series of articles on "Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience" and for your convenience you may follow the links below:

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 1)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 2)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 3)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 4)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 5)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 6)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 7) 

The first couple of weeks on the market are very important weeks.  This is when there is a lot of excitement about the ‘new' listing.  You and your Agent will want to make sure you capitalize on this attention.  This is the time to get everything in full motion right now, quickly!  This is not the time for a laid back attitude. This is the time to move it, move it, move it and get things done without any delays! 

Hopefully, the Agent you selected is one of those in the 11% category we previously talked about (remember 11% of Agents sell 89% of properties) and has your marketing plan in full motion. You should be seeing newspaper ads, flyers, internet exposure, Agent contact, Buyer contact and open houses, along with all the exposure from the Multiple Listing Service that we discussed.  You should be getting constant feedback from your Agent as to the progress that is being made. 

Maybe we should take a look at a few of those marketing mediums.

Local newspaper advertising is a great way to attract attention from your City residents.  People put down roots in a particular City, they join social groups and sports teams, the children go to school there and they generally just feel comfortable knowing their way around town.  So people tend to move up or down in the same locale.  Your property may be just what they are looking for, will they see it in your local paper? 

Flyers are another source of attention, especially if they are sent out to ‘target' areas.  What we mean by this is that the flyers are distributed to areas where a Buyer for your property may come from.  We usually look at school zones, (so the family can move without the children changing schools) or properties that are in a neighbourhood that is approximately fifty thousand to seventy five thousand dollars less than your property (this makes a comfortable ‘move up' for someone). It's best if these flyers are sent out through the postal system as opposed to door to door delivery, where they may or may not reach the targeted destination or inside the newspaper where they become one of a hundred other flyers that go directly into the recycle bin!  Something in the mail usually at least gets a minutes review.

Internet exposure, we can't say enough here. This is one of the means you do not want to be excluded from. It is a proven statistic that people are now browsing the World Wide Web for a new home, before they even contact an agent.  In addition to Realtor.com and Realtor.ca, they are searching any one of the many websites that offer 'houses for sale' such as Craigslist, Point2Homes, base.google, vast, oodle and lots of others.  Is your property on these websites?  You want to be part of their research, you want to be found!   Make sure your Agent has a good presence there.

POINT TO PONDER - We are told by the majority of people we talk to, and that's a lot of people let us tell you, that if there are not any pictures available and a good selection of pictures, they do not consider that property.  The public feels if there are no interior pictures, then there is something wrong with the property.

Agent Contact- Most likely your Agent has had a property listed that has recently sold, that was similar to yours. To get a jump start on the exposure, it is a good idea for your Agent to contact those Agents right away that showed that previous listing either by phone, e-mail or special flyer outlining the highlights of your property to them.   Who knows they may still be working with their Buyers and your property may be perfect for them. 

Buyer Contact - this is similar to the Agent contact but this time your Agent will be contacting those potential Buyers that may have called them on the previous listing we just spoke of.  Again, your Agent will contact those prospects either by phone, e-mail or letter, advising them of your property.  You just need one perfect Buyer, the Agent just has to find them and match you two up, like a dating service!

MLS exposure - Again we must stress the importance of pictures of your propertyand on the MLS service it is of the utmost importance. Use as many here as the real estate board allows and for the same reason pictures are important on the other internet sites. On the MLS service however, you are actually advertising to two groups. First it is an ad to the real estate Agents and to the public via Realtor.com and Realtor.ca.  Most agents now use the pictures on the MLS service to select the properties they wish to show their clients. They also have admitted that if there are no pictures available, they too, skip over that listing.      

The there is always the old stand by:

Open houses - If prepared for properly, this could be a good medium to attract buyers. What we are suggesting is, to be successful, an open house needs lots of signage in prominent areas, it needs to be advertised ahead of time by way of flyers to the immediate neighbours and/or in an area where potential Buyers may come from for your property, ads in the newspapers as well as an open house rider on top of the for sale sign during the week ahead of the open house for example.  On the day of the open house, the Agent needs to ‘stage' the property with all the lights on, soft music, fireplace on if a cool day, and have lots of feature sheets on hand. Keep in mind however, that the statistics for selling the actual property from an open house are low.  It is a good source of Buyers for the Agent though.

Make sure at the very least all of this is under way then you should be see a high level of activity on your property that will produce an offer on the property for you to review shortly!

MAKE BUYING OR SELLING YOUR NEXT HOME A FUN EXPERIENCE (Series Part 3) IN BRAMPTON ONTARIO

We have done a series of articles on "Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience" and for your convenience you may follow the links below:

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 1)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 2)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 3)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 4)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 5)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 6)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 7) 

 So You Have Your Agent Chosen, Congratulations!

Now it's time to get going and get the property officially ‘out there' on the market; but wait, first things first.   You invited a few other Agents over in addition to the Agent you selected, for an evaluation and they were good enough to give you their expert advice.  Please take a few minutes and let them know of your decision.  They were willing to give you their time, it is only courteous for you to give them yours by giving them a quick phone call, advising them of your decision, rather than them finding it listed.

So now with that out of the way, let's prepare for your meeting with your new partner; your Agent of choice. Here are a few items they are going to require, so have them ready.

• Gather together a key and make sure it works beforehand. The Agent will need a key to be able to show the property when you are not available. 
• A copy of a survey of the property that they can take with them, this is especially important if you have a pie shaped or premium sized lot.
• It's not necessary but always nice to have, is the builder's floor plan if you have one.   
• You will need your mortgage documents with your current balance and terms.
• The current year's property tax bill, again not necessary but nice to have is a total of all of your utility bills, Buyers will ask for these to budget their expenses. 
• Have a piece of photo identification (drivers licence) handy for the Money Laundry & Terrorist Financing Act form that will be required to be filled out.  
• Also, what is really helpful to your Agent is a list of any upgrades you have done and the date in which they were carried out.
• Oh, don't forget to have ALL your contact numbers listed.  When the big day comes and there is an offer on the property, your Agent will want to call, text or email everywhere to find you, and in a hurry!

Now you are almost ready for your meeting to put the property on the market, but before the Agent arrives, there are still a few things you need to decide, so you are ready to answer their questions.   

What Is The Best Way to Have the Property Exposed?  

Well now this one brings a few questions to mind, doesn't it? First question; you want the most money obviously, so how are you going to go about achieving this? 

Consider this for a moment.  Should you list your property exclusively with them or have it placed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).  The best way to compare this is, if an article was for sale at an auction in a room of 50 people, or was in a room of 1,000 people; it would go without saying the article would probably sell faster and for more money in the larger room with the greater exposure.

When you list exclusively with an agent; you only get exposure to his/her clients, and the clients of the other sales representatives in his/her office.  It is similiar to the above example of being in the room with only 50 people. 

When you list your property using the MLS service, you will be taking advantage of exposing the property to all of the members of the MLS and all of their clients, regardless of which company your Agent works with.  Currently the Toronto MLS has almost 30,000 Agents. 

Without question, an article or property has a better chance of getting the highest possible price and in the shortest time when exposed to the largest market available. 

POINT TO PONDER - This is not a bias statement but a statement from experience.  Even during the "boom" times most properties sold quicker and for more money when they were exposed through the MLS service because of the competition, even when you factored in the savings of commission if any, on an exclusive listing.

Where Will Your Pets Be During Showings?

Many times your property is going to be shown to potential Buyers when you or your family are not at home. You are trying to present your property in the best possible light, with the least distractions to the Buyer and their Agent.  It is hard to say how your pets are going to react to strangers on their turf, but it is easy to say how the Buyer and some Buyer Agents will react. (not in your favour)

It is ideally the best, if your little Pheefee or big Fido is not around. One time an Owner told us, "oh Dragon here is a big old friendly mutt", (we might add he was 100 pounds), upon showing the property and getting to the second level, old Dragon decided to plunk himself down on the staircase snarling and wouldn't let us back down! Funny now, scary at the time, needless to say the Buyers did not buy! Best you make arrangements for doggies not to be home during showings, because even if closed in a separate room or garage, a barking dog, is a distraction to the Buyer.

What To Do With You!

While you are making arrangements and considering where is the best place to keep your pets during showings, now is a good time to think about where you and your family will be during showings. Clients look at a property much more relaxed and less hurried if you are not around. We know it is inconvenient to remove yourself but it is in your best interest. However, if you must be home, keep everyone together all in one room and out of the way.  Another suggestion would be to wait until the Agent and clients arrive, then go outside for a short walk.

Lockboxes - The most convenient method for storing your house key is with the use of a lockbox.  It is hung unobtrusively over your door handle and holds your key.  The use of a lockbox encourages more showings on your property.  

POINT TO PONDER -When animals are in the house and/or keys or lockbox unavailable, it is proven that properties take longer to sell and in some cases never receive an offer.

Is Your Property Ready to Smile?

Be prepared to have you house "picture perfect" in case your Agent takes pictures right then and there for advertising.

Okay, with all that organized, you are completely ready to meet with your Agent, get the property on the market and start letting all those Buyers in.

MAKE BUYING OR SELLING YOUR NEXT HOME A FUN EXPERIENCE (Series Part 2) IN BRAMPTON ONTARIO

We will be doing a series of articles on "Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience" and for your convenience you may follow the links below:

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 1)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 2)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 3)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 4)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 5)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 6)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 7) 

In part one we laid the foundation for selling a property

Ok,  You Have To Choose an Agent, How Do You Select the Right One?

We suggest that you interview two or three Agents that you see are active in your area.  We can't believe we said that, can you?   We would love you to just call and hire us, but we have to be honest.

Today's the Day; Set It Up Right.   What we mean is, even before the first Agent steps in the door, make sure your home is in "showing" condition.   You've already spit polished it, so this won't take long.  You just have to tweak the presentation. 

Add a vase of fresh flowers to the kitchen and dining room tables, fluff up the pillows, turn the television off and play some soft, quiet music.  Bake cookies or bread for a fresh down home aroma. Not a baker? No problem; drop a few drops of vanilla extract on a red hot stove burner or a few cinnamon sticks in a pot of boiling water and, viola, same enticing smell.  Think of a romantic dinner here, no, we are not trying to romance the Agent, but we do want them to fall in love with your property!

If it's night time and cooler temperatures, turn lights on low and have a fire going if you have a fireplace.  In summertime, have the patio furniture displayed complete with chair pillows, umbrella up and again pots of flowers around. Do you see where we are going with all of this?

Point to ponder - It's best to have the children and pets away at the babysitters or at the very least playing quietly in a separate room. You will be having important discussions with these Agents, and you don't want to be distracted.

Set up appointments with those two or three agents. Book the appointments one in the afternoon, one in the evening or on different days, rather than booking these agents an hour or two apart. This is less stressful on you; you won't feel rushed or worried that the next Agent is going to be at the door soon.  The Agents will appreciate it as well, no uncomfortable feelings as they exchange places.  Besides, how much real estate talk can you actually take all in one evening!

Ask them to bring the comparable sales for your property (recent sales), and properties that are currently listed (your current competition). Ask them to show you their marketing program (their plan of action) and outline their strategies and experience for you.

This probably will be one of your biggest investments, you want to make sure the Agent you hire is experienced and knows how to negotiate very well.  Remember it will be YOUR money they are dealing with.  This is not the time for friends and family, we are looking for experience here and what's best for YOU. Sorry to be blunt, but just because Uncle Bart, neighbour Sue or best friend Joe has a real estate license doesn't mean he/she is your best choice. Family is family, friends are friends and you probably want them to remain as such.  If things aren't going to plan, it is harder for you to make that shake up call or worse, if it comes time to say "YOU'RE FIRED" to them!

All Agents are not the same.  Working with an Agent to sell your property is a lot different than working with an Agent to buy a property.   

The selling Agent must have a plan of action that includes many things in addition to MLS.  Whereas a buyer's Agent need only show enough homes to you until you find one you would like to buy.  We would lean to an Agent that has several houses listed for sale, usually that is a sign of a strong listing Agent. 

The tougher the market, the more experienced an Agent you need.  Don't be afraid to ask questions that you may have that were not covered in the Agents presentation. 

Here's a few need to know questions:

1. How long have you been selling real estae?
2. Why do you work for the Company you work for?
3. How many homes have you sold this year?, last year?
4. How many homes do you have listed right now?
5. Is Real Estate your full time profession?
6. How, how often and where will you advertise our home? 
7. How close is your sale price from your suggested listing price?
8. How many listings do you take that do not sell?
9. How long is your listing contract?

Point to ponder - Do not choose the Agent because they suggested a high listing price (oldest trick in the book to get a listing) or one that offers a commission that is less than you found to be the average (2nd oldest trick in the book to get the listing).  Base your decision on the Agents experience and performance that way, you can't go wrong. 

One of the things to keep in mind and to yourself during these interviews is, IF the reason you are selling is due to a separation or financial issue. The reason we say that is, you will only be hiring one of these agents. There is a possibility that down the road one of the other two, may be representing the Buyer for your property and there is no advantage to you for them to know your situation.

While you are conducting these interviews, make note of which Agent really listens to your wants and needs, not their own and spends time with you. See which Agent you feel comfortable with, who has your same thoughts and ideas in mind, and who you "click" with personality wise. 

We are sure at the end of these interviews you will know who you want to work with and you will also be very knowledgeable about the market in your area and what to expect.  

Good luck with your decision making!

MAKE BUYING OR SELLING YOUR NEXT HOME A FUN EXPERIENCE (SERIES Part 1)
IN BRAMPTON ONTARIO

We will be doing a series of articles on "Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience" and for your convenience you may follow the links below:

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 1)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 2)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 3)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 4)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 5)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 6)

Make Buying or Selling Your Next Home a Fun Experience (Part 7) 

Selling A Property, Is It As Easy As You Think?

It can be as easy if you follow these few simple steps that we will lay out for you here as a foundation.

As a homeowner, you play a very important part in the timely sale of your property, often times it is what you "do, or don't do" that will add up to additional dollars that you receive for your property, or dollars taken away.    

What is your part in getting additional dollars?  Your most important step will be to prepare the property for presentation to the Buyers.  First impressions are paramount and remember we never get a second chance at it. It is not only important to make a fantastic first impression to the Buyers but also to the Agent who will be representing you. You want them totally excited about your property.  Well let's begin.

JOB ONE- De-Clutter!! 

Clear off your counters, both in the kitchen and washrooms. Tuck extra utensil bins, toaster ovens etc. away in the cabinets in the kitchen, in the washrooms clear off the hairspray bottles, q-tips containers and makeup bottles.  We want to show off space.

We know they are your favorite collections, your pride & joy, but you are going to be selling your house, not your belongings.  It is time to pack them up.  Why not now? You are going to be moving and taking them with you, so it will need to be done anyway.

Look around your rooms, are they filled with items that used to dazzle but have now lost their sparkle, if so throw them out! Are you housing plants that are looking a little lifeless? Throw them out!  Are your accent pillows faded and torn? Throw them out! Magazine racks filled with outdated, dog eared copies. You know the routine already, throw them out. 

If it doesn't add to the appearance of your rooms then it is detracting from them.  Put away or pack up all off season items ie Christmas lights still hanging if its summer, beach balls if its winter.   

TIP -  If you have a lot of extra belongings or furniture pieces that you can't bear to part with, but you know they are cluttering your house, consider renting a "pod". 
You can pack everything into it, the company will remove & store the pod for you, until it's time to deliver it to your new place where you can happily retrieve all your favourite things.

Okay, we are starting to make head way and seeing results.  Good!  Let's move on.

JOB TWO - Organizing!!

Closets are a must clear out & straighten.  Bedroom closets, hall closets and linen closets.  All of them need to be neat, organized and thinned out.

Down in the basement, go through the rooms with the same critical eye, clearing out as you go. You can do it and you're doing a great job so far!  Tidy up all the tools in the workshop, games & toys in the games room, laundry items in the laundry room and keep everything straightened up.

Don't forget the garage! Remember the place for the car?  Let's clear it all out of stuff you have been absent mindedly collecting over the years.  When showing the property it is always better to have the cars parked in the garage, allowing the Agent and Buyers to park in the driveway and feel like they have "arrived home"!

Let's go outside now, repeat the same steps.  If it is summer time, freshen your garden beds with new top soil, eliminate the weeds and any stringing looking plants.  Give plant pots a fresh coat of paint or buy new ones. If your steps or walkway is crooked, re-level it. Winter time? Keep your walkways clear of ice or snow and make sure all the outside lights are working and are nice and bright.  In any season, have a welcoming seasonal pot accenting your front door.  Speaking of the front door, does it need a fresh coat of paint, washing down or new hand set? How about the screen door, is it ripped and need replaced?

TIP - As you move from room to room trying to organize & de-clutter, carry a laundry basket with you, to hold the items you are going to pack or move to another room.

Right about now, you should be feeling pretty proud of yourself.  It looks better already now doesn't it? Don't you feel like you have more space and your home is more appealing?

Hold on though, we are not done yet. 

JOB THREE - The Great Big Clean Up

Do you need to give a few rooms a fresh coat of paint, are there any squeaky doors that need a shot of WD-40, dripping faucets that need new washers? Get that critical eye out again and let's take one more walk around looking specifically for things like that, small little irritants that you have become used to, but will bother the Buyer.   

Maybe you need to get even a bit more critical and look at the big irritants, the squeaky floors, wrinkles in the carpet where it needs tightened and even the musty odours or smells.  In a Buyers mind these repairs, small or large are going "ka-ching" in their minds and they are not adding up to more value for your home.   

Think of a builder's model home, simple decor, sparse furnishings and a fresh clean smell, giving that desirable effect.  That's what we are trying to accomplish here.  We want your home to be neat, tidy, spacious and free of bad odours.

Keep in mind as you travel through your home, that there will probably be at least three people walking through when it is up for sale; an Agent and usually a couple of Buyers.  Make sure there is enough room for them to easily move through your home without going out around furniture and plants.

Ok, you are almost there.  Bust out the hot soapy water, the window cleaners, toilet cleaners, brooms and vacuum.  Now do a good thorough cleaning top to bottom and let's make this baby shine!

Now, let's just take a couple of seconds and talk about your pet.  Whether it's a dog, a cat, a mouse or a rat.  They are not a selling features of your home.  Why lose a sale over them, the Buyer could be allergic or just plain scared of your pet.  Make arrangements for someone to look after them.

It may take a few weeks to accomplish all this and a lot of elbow grease by arm strong, but it will be well worth the time spent and you will reap the rewards of a quick sale and top dollar.

For more help in preparing your property for sale, watch the short little video on our web site, here's the link http://www.TheHousePeople.com

Happy cleaning!