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As with every industry, there are many common myths that are heard throughout the real estate industry. We are going to go through a few of those myths and explain why they are not facts as we help you through the process of selling your home.

Myth Number 1: Selling your home FSBO will save you a ton of money.

 Many people believe that by selling their house “for sale by owner” they will be saving a ton of money by avoiding any fees associated with an agent, realtor or broker. There are many factors that these sellers are not considering, which could end up costing them far more in the long run.

Yes, real estate professionals charge a fee or commission when they help you sell your home, but with that fee comes the expertise of that professional. They use their knowledge and experience of the industry to make sure you are listing your home for the right price and marketing your home the right way. They will also handle negotiations on your behalf and make sure all transactions and paperwork are handled legally and accurately. In doing so, these professionals not only save you money but also save you time!

When it comes to one of the largest financial transactions you will make in your lifetime, don’t leave it up to chance. Hire a real estate professional who has the proper qualifications and can be trusted to handle the entire process ethically and in your best interest.

Myth Number 2: Agents, Realtors or Brokers will say just about anything to make a sale.

 As we mentioned before, it is important to choose a real estate professional to help you sell your home who has your best interests in mind. Agents, Realtors, and Brokers are often portrayed as individuals who will say and do nearly anything to make a sale.

This is not always the case, especially not with us! We hold ourselves to an even higher standard than the already strict code of ethics and regulations we are bound to as professionals in the industry.  We strive to build lasting relationships with your clients and that would not be possible if we did not conduct ourselves with integrity.

Of course, not everyone that works in the real estate industry operates the same way we do, so it is important for you to do your research and, again, make sure you trust the agent, realtor or broker before you hire them!

Myth Number 3: Every Agent, Realtor, or Broker is the same.

 As we have already touched on, this is not the case. Unfortunately, this way of thinking can lead both buyers and sellers to choose the wrong real estate professional for their situation.

Every agent, realtor, and broker have a different area of expertise, a different level of skill and a different personality. All of these factors should be taken into consideration when you are looking through your list of potential candidates. Just because someone has a real estate license, doesn’t mean they are necessarily qualified to provide what you are looking for.

Myth Number 4: You should “leave room” for negotiating when you decide on an asking price for your home.

 Making sure your home is priced correctly is one of the most important requirements if you want to sell your home quickly and for as much as possible.

Many sellers believe that if they price their home well above what they expect to sell it for, they are leaving room for buyers to feel like they are negotiating the price down and still come out where they want.

This tactic is not advised because it will typically result in your home staying on the market for a longer period of time, during which you will most likely begin dropping the price anyway. Most buyers will be conducting their research online or working with a professional and will move right past a home that is significantly overpriced.

Myth Number 5: You do not need to report the sale of your home.

 Along with the recent mortgage regulation changes, the Federal Finance Minister has also instituted tax changes that require all property sales to be reported by sellers to the Canada Revenue Agency.

These practices have already gone into effect, requiring every seller to file a tax form in April that includes general information about the sale of the home. This may include acquisition and sale dates and a description of the property, among other information.

While these five real estate myths may be commonly thought of as facts, we hope you now have a better understanding of how the real estate industry works and feel more confident in choosing us to help you sell your Guelph real estate!

Give us a call today at (519) 831-7477 so we can help you on the move!

Source: http://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-10-real-estate-myths-debunked/

Source: http://www.moneysense.ca/spend/real-estate/selling/5-home-selling-myths-debunked/

Source: http://www.hgtv.ca/real-estate/blog/8-real-estate-myths-28874/

Meet happy first-time homeowners, Meaghan and Kit!

We are so honored to have been included in the process of finding their dream home!

Whether you are looking to buy or sell your Guelph real estate, give us a call today. We can’t wait to help you get on the move!

Are you looking to sell your Guelph real estate, but aren’t quite sure where to begin? The process of selling a home can be full of twists and turns and to make it easier on yourself, we recommend starting the journey by prepping your house for sale.

As your trusted Guelph real estate agents, we want to help you sell your home as quickly as possible and for the highest amount we can get. Throughout our experience in the industry, one of the simplest ways to accomplish this is by using some of the following tips and tricks to dazzle potential buyers.

Prepping your home may sound like an intimidating or expensive task, but it doesn’t have to be! We understand that expensive undertakings like remodeling or upgrading your home may not be possible for everyone so we have included ideas for every budget that can be used to prep your Guelph real estate for sale and recoup more of your original investment into your home.

Check out these ideas and find out more about our personalized “Room-by-Room Review” below:

1. Make sure the exterior of your home is appealing to buyers. This could range from proper lawn maintenance and weed removal to planting new flowers and cleaning out your gutters. Another great way to instantly update the look of your home is to add a fresh coat of paint! Paint the front door a tasteful color that contrasts with the rest of your exterior and buy a brand new welcome mat to make your front entrance look more inviting.
2. Repaint the interior as well. Whether you have young children who may have gotten your walls dirty or your current color palette is on the bolder, more colorful side, it is a good idea to freshen up the interior of your home with a great neutral color. This will make the house look cleaner as well as allow buyers to imagine their own decor and belongings in your home.
3. Go ahead now and make any noticeable repairs to your home. While it may seem like a hassle to make these updates, you will be surprised how inexpensive a lot of the fixes can be and how much of an impact they will make with buyers. They won’t necessarily know how much each repair is going to cost them, so noticing a lot of things they will need to fix themselves could be a turn off for potential buyers.
4. Clean, clean, clean, clean, clean! This is without a doubt the least expensive thing you can do to prep your house for sale and it often has the most impact! Make sure that every room and surface in your home are spotless. Even small things like organizing you closet and closing the lid of the toilet, can make a difference to buyers. It is also a great idea to remove clutter and personal items and try to arrange your furniture in a way that makes each room look as a large and inviting as possible.
5. Make sure every room has a clear purpose. If you have a room you are using for storage, repurpose it into a bedroom, office or game room to show potential buyers that they too can find a use for that space.

These are just a few, very simple, steps that can make the process of prepping your home a breeze.

As you go through this list, add in the things you would be looking for as a buyer. Everyone is different and will appreciate different aspects of your home, so do your best to stay as neutral and simplistic as possible to help them to better picture themselves living in your home.

It is also a great idea to turn on all your lights and bake something sweet when potential buyers are coming to view your house! This helps to highlight all the different areas of your home, and who doesn’t like the smell of freshly baked treats?

As part of the outstanding customer service we provide to our clients, we offer a customized “Room-by-Room Review” to show you the very best things that you can do to prepare your house for sale and get the highest return on your investment!

If you are in the market to sell your home, call us or request your “Room-by-Room Review” today! We can’t wait to get your home sold!

Source: http://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/10-ways-to-prep-your-home-for-sale

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/trulia/2014/06/13/21-ways-to-prepare-your-home-for-selling/#73fb8ccb4f13

Are you interested in purchasing a home, but have no idea where to start? As a Guelph real estate agent, we have gone through the home buying process countless times and are knowledgeable and experienced enough to help anyone on the move!

Below you will find a list of the most common steps in the buying process and tips for working through them.

The buying process begins by starting your search. There are many ways to begin the search for your dream home. You can search through listing in local newspapers and real estate magazines or search online with your computer or phone on websites such as Realtor.ca. The benefit of these online searches is that you can easily narrow down your search by applying filters to your results.

While these tools can aid in your search, employing a Guelph real estate agent could make the difference between finding a house that works or finding your dream home. We have access to a larger database of homes and we are familiar with the process, so we know how to lead you in the right direction.

Once you have found the house you wish to buy, it is time to make an Offer to Purchase. It is important to remember that an Offer to Purchase is a legal document. This means that you need to put a lot of careful consideration into who prepares it for you and what is included in the document. The following are most commonly included in an Offer to Purchase:

1. Names of all parties involved in sale
2. Purchase price
3. What is included in the sale
   1. Appliances, furniture, window dressings, etc.
4. Amount of deposit
5. Closing date
6. Date the offer expires
7. Conditions

Once you have made an official Offer to Purchase, you will receive a response from the seller. There are two different responses the seller could make. The seller could accept your offer or the seller could send a counter-offer. If the seller accepts your offer, the buying process would continue to move forward. If the seller sends a counter-offer, negotiations could begin or you could decline their counter-offer and decide not to continue with the buying process. If you receive a counter-offer, keep your maximum price in mind so you don’t get caught up in the heat of negotiations and end up agreeing to more than you can afford.

Once you and the seller have agreed upon the price and terms of the home sale, you would need to secure the financing for the house. For most, this means obtaining a mortgage. We advise getting pre-approved for a mortgage before you even begin your search for a home. This gives you a better idea of the home you can afford and your Guelph real estate agent a better idea of what your options are. A pre-approval also gives you more bargaining power when negotiating prices with sellers.

Once you have secured the financing, the next step in the buying process is closing. This is the most rewarding step because it is when you finally get to call the house your home! On closing day:

1. Your lender will give the mortgage money to your lawyer
2. You will give your down payment (minus your original deposit) and closing costs to your lawyer
3. Your lawyer will pay the seller, register the house in your name and give you the deed and keys

Now you’re done and it’s time to move into your new home!

As Guelph real estate agents, we are here to make the home buying process as stress-free and enjoyable as possible for you! If you are interested in buying a home this year, let’s start your search now and get you on the move! Call 519-831-7447 today for help finding your dream home!

Source: https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/hostst/

To Rent or To Buy? That is the Question.

As a Guelph real estate agent, we are frequently asked whether it is best to rent or buy. This is not surprising given the importance of the decision between renting and buying.

Even though every client’s situation is different and there are different pros and cons for every situation, we believe that buying is usually the best option, especially in the current Guelph real estate market.

Making the decision to purchase a home doesn’t mean you need to purchase the biggest, most expensive home on the market. If you are considering purchasing a home for the first time, but you are afraid to make the leap into home ownership, you can always start with something smaller. There are currently numerous apartments, townhomes and condos available for purchase in the Guelph area.

If you are worried that home ownership is too expensive when compared to renting, that’s not necessarily true. Huffington Post recently did a study on the cost of purchasing a home in comparison with renting, and the results might surprise you!

The study was designed to show the difference between a monthly mortgage payment and a monthly rent payment in nine major Canadian cities. In four of the nine cities, the mortgage payments were actually cheaper than the rent payments, by an average of about $164 per month.

On top of being cheaper in most cities, buying a home is also a great investment. When you rent, you are essentially paying off someone else’s mortgage. When you purchase your own home, you are investing in your future, not someone else’s.

We understand that the idea of purchasing a home can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right Guelph real estate agent at your side, you will see that finding and purchasing your dream home is a rewarding experience.

Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home or would like more information on the benefits of buying over renting, contact us today at (519) 831-7447.

Source: http://globalnews.ca/news/2563940/should-you-rent-or-buy-this-real-estate-calculator-will-help-you-decide/

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/