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Showing posts with label Buyer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buyer. Show all posts
Friday, April 22, 2016
3 Bedroom Stacked Townhome for Sale in Mississauga $305 000.00
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/suttonwestrealty/
Or Email: nicole@gtalisted.com
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Don't Let Your Castle Be Disrespected
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| English: Compulsive hoarding Apartment Deutsch: Wohnküche eines Messies (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| Hod Hasharon (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
At the park, I'm simply, 'Nicole, Barney Rubble's Human' (Barney is my dog). I don't advertise in casual conversation while playing with my dog what I do, it feels to pushy in such a playful setting.
Mr. L (I'll call him), an owner (of a gorgeous Doberman, I might add) was talking about agents being 'assholes', 'liars' and out for themselves and a buck. He was going on about meeting with 2 different agents recently and how ignorant they were, disrespectful and rude. I was engaged now. How on earth could 2 different agents be so horrific to the same person? I was starting to wonder if it was him. What did he bring to the table when meeting these agents? After gently stating that I am a Realtor, I apologized on behalf of my profession (which I often do - Thanks Bad Agents - because our job is not hard enough that I have to apologize for strangers as well!) and asked what his purpose in meeting the Agents was. Selling.
Mr. L lives in a home that he would like to sell and move out of the city. To be more specific he's lived in the house, on his own, with his dog for several years, In fact, he bought out his sister after his parents passed on and they were original owners. Gently, I offered that if he was interested, I would love to come take a look at his home, assess its value and we could discuss it from there. No strings, no obligations, no contracts - just a visit and a conversation. I gave him my card and I let it go. A few days later he called.
I of course did my research: current prices in the area, for sales, recently solds and had them all printed up. I ran his property through land titles, checked its size, etc etc - all things a Realtor should do before showing up to have a conversation about a home for potential sale.
I arrived on a nice sunny afternoon, was greeted quite enthusiastically by the dog and upon first glance, I knew what happened. Single man, who's been on his own for a long time, took over the family home after years away. There was a lot of stuff. A lot. Way too much for one person to handle, organize and keep up with. I wouldn't exactly say it was a hording situation, but it was close and it was over whelming. The agents who came before me, threw down a price, called the home disgusting, a mess, that he'd be lucky to get out. I cringed when Mr. L told me all this.
Certainly there were piles of boxes, a lot of 'stuff', rooms that were not really easily accessed but this was still HIS HOME. His castle. His respite and these were all of his things. Who is anyone to disrespect that? I was honest, in a nice way. I told him that in order to sell his home it would take a lot of elbow grease on his part in order to achieve maximum value. That who ever bought it would likely renovate (the entire home was original) and that it would more than likely be a renovator or contractor who purchased. I discussed with him the ranges in price for his area, the process of selling and really let him develop the timeline. It would obviously not be ready in a week or two - but as an Agent - that is really NOT for me to determine - it's up to my Seller.
Over the next month he worked diligently. Hard. So hard. I stopped by on a regular basis to chat, have a coffee, calm him down, cheer him on, bring him boxes, advise him on what ever he had questions about. I found quotes from garbage removal people, sourced out places for donated items, talked about how he could pare down items he had 3, 4 or 5 of (like full service china sets, of which he had 4). It was a lot of talking, coaxing, cheering, calming down and simply being there and listening.
The day he called to tell me it was ready, I was truly and utterly excited as it had been about a week since I had seen it last and for him to say the words 'ready' - I knew he was both exhausted and serious. I walked into an entirely new home. Well, not new, but WoW! I couldn't hide my awe, my amazement, my happiness for him that he was able to go through so much of what he owned and really pare it down. The home sparkled, it shone and it was more than presentable. I was so proud of him - and not in a 'looked down upon' way, but in a , ' You busted your rear and this is great' sort of way.
In the end, we had a few successful open houses and sold it. His final sales price was right in the range that I suggested it would be and he couldn't say enough about how nice I am. How kind. How understanding. How I never forgot about him and would drop coffees by for no reason. He felt respected and valued.
What's the moral of this story? I suppose it's simply this: don't feel less than your Realtor and don't let your Realtor make you feel less.
We are all experts at something and someone who has expertise in an area is truly an expert when they can impart their knowledge to you in a way that makes you feel like you are learning, instead of just listening. Do I know more about selling houses than my clients? Sure - it's what I do, but that doesn't make me a better person. It doesn't give me license to disrespect someone's home and environment. If the agent across from you makes you feel that way - makes you feel stupid, feel awkward, feel apologetic for your things or surroundings - send them out the door and find someone else who's willing to listen, respect and value the honor of selling your home, Being allowed in the door of a potential client IS an honor, if a Realtor doesn't see it that way, there are plenty of us to choose from who do.
Nicole Kreutzberg
Realtor
Sutton West Realty Inc.,
nicole@gtalisted.com
416-388-7384
Proudly Serving The Greater Toronto & Mississauga Area's.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Who Writes This Stuff?
I keep reading these posts about the things that your Real Estate Agent won't tell you. There seems to be a trend of articles devoted to the cause and I'd like to know, Which Agent? Which agent is not giving you the truth? The right information? Honesty? Because I'll tell you (the truth that is) - I don't hold back and frankly my reputation and career is based on honesty and transparency with my clients - not lying and misinformation. Here's some of the popular items on the list that's been going around:
- Open Houses - the articles suggest that there is no benefit from an Open House to the owner and that it's merely a way for the Agent to secure new clients. Well first off, new business is great. Not going to lie. It is in fact a great way to meet new potential clients but we don't do these based on that. More often than not Open Houses are filled with potential Buyers who already have agents and thus, we spend our time - the whole weekend in fact, schmoozing Buyers who are not using our services but the services of their own Realtor. Isn't the goal to sell? We are also introducing your house to the neighborhood and more often than not, it's a neighbor who has a cousin who is looking in the area and this would be perfect. It's called advertising. The more exposed your home is, the better chance of it being sold quickly and for your asking price, if priced correctly. Isn't that the goal? My weekends are not spent inside homes merely to prospect - I am there to sell - and sell YOUR home. Send in a friend undercover if you don't believe me. I'm okay with that!
- Real Estate Fee's. Yes they are negotiable. We do talk about this and we will negotiate but honestly, if I don't have to put money on the table, I am not going to. Do you? Would you arbitrarily offer to reduce or put money on the table in your own business if it wasn't asked, suggested or required? I'll tell you another secret - while I will offer up portions of my fee (absolutely!) the Buyer fee is usually not negotiable. Agents are offering 1% - but what they are not telling you is that they are charging 1% but you are also still paying 2.5% for the Buyers end. So 1 = 3.5%. The dirty truth of it is that most agents won't show a property if the commission is less than 2.5% (sometimes 2%) on the Buyers side. It seems greedy but in all honesty, Real Estate is the only business where we must pay to work. A Realtor in Ontario realistically pays over $10 000.00 in fee's, insurance, associations and desk costs - all of which are mandatory in order to keep their license - whether or not they make a sale that year. In addition - all related costs - marketing, gas, car, tools of the trade, cell phone etc are the sole responsibility of the agent as well. It costs alot of money for the privilege of having our career. And I do treat it as a privilege. But please remember - the entire cost of marketing your home - from website, social media, advertising, feature sheets, all of the calls, emails, texts and follow ups - are solely the financial responsibility of the agent. We do not get reimbursed. We pay all expenses out of pocket.
- There are Offers You Don't Know About. No. There are not. We, in Ontario, are legally obligated (if not ethically) to report every single offer on the table. It's not our property - it's yours. Being sued for not relaying information is not how any agent wishes to spend their time. I tell every owner about every potential offer. It's not my decision. Even if it's the lowest of the low - absurd - I will always tell my Owners. This statement is just ridiculous.
- You Don't Need a Real Estate Agent - You Can Do It On Your Own. Yep - that's true. You can. It may save you money and you may very well get it done and done well. Is this how you want to spend your time? If it is, than great. Anyone who feels they can FSBO (for sale by owner) their own property, I say, Power To Them. Really. I do know that as an Agent, I have access to so many things that you, as a lay person do not. That being MLS, my website, my social media connections, all of the Agents in my office and in every single office of every agency in the province. I have the knowledge and skill to price your home - using the same models and information as the Appraisers from the Banks and I have the knowledge and skill to go through your home and show you how it will best show. It's my job to field all calls, appointments, inquiries and information regarding your property and it's on me if something goes wrong - which is why both my Broker and I carry huge insurance policies. I don't know of many Agents who show FSBO properties to their clients and so based on that alone, you are missing out on a HUGE pool of Buyers. Buyers who don't want to deal with a private deal and wish to leave the contracts and legalities up to their agents & lawyers. Buyers who know that their Agent will garner all necessary information regarding zoning, easements, neighborhoods, history and the multitude of other seemingly unimportant pieces of information regarding a purchase that makes a Buyers time less stressful than it already is. I am not suggesting FSBO homes don't sell - they do, absolutely, but for a huge stream of Buyers - they have no interest in the process and stick to properties with less stress.
I'm not saying that all agents are awesome, honest, driven or have your back - I just know that I am and I do and many of my colleagues do as well. In all honesty, I went into real estate because of some shady agents we had used in the past and I vowed I would never disrespect any client the way I felt I had been. That's the truth.
I honestly love people. I understand people and mostly, I respect other people's money. Looking for a property in the $500 000 range? I'm not going to show you $600 000 homes, I am going to respect your budget. Just divorced? I'm not telling anyone - it's your business and I'm going to help you find a property that will suit your new normal. Just starting a family and looking for the move out of the core into the Burbs? I'll help you consider the long term plan - schools, neighborhood, transit and all of your other needs that you hadn't really thought about yet. My career, my goal is to ensure all my clients feel comfortable, welcome, valued and heard. What's important to you becomes important to me - whether it's finding a yard for your dog, being near a mosque, church or house of worship. No matter what your persuasion, orientation or inclinations - my job is about conversations. I am your agent, it is not my place to judge anything. My job is about Information. Honesty. Integrity and Listening.
I'm always here, so if you're in the GTA & looking to Buy or Sell - give me a call. I'd love to help. It's why I do what I do.
As always, questions, comments or if you are just plain curious about the value of your home,
Email: nicole@gtalisted.com,
Website at:: www.gtalisted.com,
Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/suttonwestrealty
Twitter: GTAListed
Text me at: 416-388-7384
Nicole Kreutzberg
Realtor
This blog is not intended to solicit those under agency agreement and has been written as the agents own opinion not to be used as legal advice or otherwise
Friday, December 6, 2013
The Right Real Estate Agent: How Do You Choose?
Your home or your purchase is possibly going to be
the single greatest purchase or sale you make.
Trusting that kind of money to someone is a big deal and should be
treated as such. It’s that simple.
First:
Talk to a few Agents, there’s many of us and like with any purchase you want to
compare. See who’s right for you. Who’s
listening to YOUR needs and who understands what YOU want to do, where you want
to go and how much you want to spend.
The Agent must respect YOUR money.
Second:
Ask to see the numbers. As agents we all have access to the same figures. The same Data, the same Sold statistics and
when pricing your home, ask to see what has sold in your area and ask to see
the homes in your area that are comparable to yours. Comparing a bungalow to a 2 story is not
accurate and not the same.
Third:
Don’t be swayed by the Agent who gives you the highest price they can sell your
home for. They may be telling you what
you want to hear and it may not be what the actual reality is. Ask the Agent who tells you that your
Detached can be sold for $500 000.00 when 2 others have stated $475 000.00,
where or how they arrived at that number.
The biggest disappointment doesn’t happen when the For Sale sign goes
up, hit happens 2 weeks later when they tell you that you need to reduce the
price and then 2 weeks later they tell you the same thing again. Next thing you know, you’ve arrived at the
$475 000.00 price you were quoted by 2 other agents and it feels like you were
mislead.
Fourth:
When you see the numbers, accept them.
You may think that your home is worth so much more but the reality is
the numbers. If Bungalows are selling
for $500 000.00 on your street or neighborhood, chances are you will not be
selling your bungalow for $600 000.00.
It’s all about the numbers and they don’t lie. I’m not stating that you won’t make more,
that you shouldn’t list it higher as every home has a unique and special quality
to it that can translate in to higher sales figures but trust that the data you’ve
asked to see is correct.
Please keep in mind that timing is also
everything. Will you generate higher
offers in November verses April? Which months are the best to sell or buy? Seasons are important and can impact the
sales figures. Homes sold in the spring
typically generate higher sales figures than those sold in the late fall. Selling in December is more difficult than
choosing February or March. There’s a
Buyer and a Seller in every season, the question is, how many of them are
there?
Fifth:
Yep, Commissions are negotiable. That’s
the truth. Some agents won’t drop theirs and others do so without blinking an
eye. If you don’t ask and they don’t
offer, you’ll be charged, as a seller, the “standard” rate.
The reality is this, most agents will reduce their
sales commissions when the Seller is also buying, what we don’t want to reduce
is the commissions paid out to the Buyer of your property. When a home is listed on MLS, what the Agents
see and what you see are generally 2 different sets of information. As agents we see what the commission rate
being paid out to the Buyers agent is and if it’s less than industry standard,
then many agents won’t show the home when there’s a comparable listing whose
commissions being paid to the Buyers agent are full. That’s the truth. Is it right? No it’s not. But the reality is, you want to expose your
home to the maximum amount of agents and buyers possible and that may not
happen if the Buyers commissions are reduced.
So when you see that sign or hear from an Agent that they will sell your
home for 1% - what they mean is this: They will charge YOU 1% to sell but still
will pay out the 2.5% to the Buyer for a total of 3.5%.
Sixth:
Finally, how do you feel with the person across from you? Did they listen to
you? Did they show the figures? Will they be there for the Open Houses
personally or will they send someone else? Did they explain the contracts to
you so that you understand them? It’s about trust and about how you feel with
that agent. Instincts are important.
I’ve often been told I am an amazing Buyer’s agent
because I listen, I follow through and provide all of the information. I take the time to explain all of the
contracts and I get answers when I am asked questions. I typically don’t show my Buyer’s properties
well over their budgeted price because I respect that it’s their money and when
heading into a multiple offer situation, I have a game plan that prevents my Buyers
from overspending. I treat all of my
clients with respect, I negotiate fiercely and finally I treat all of my
clients as clients for life, not just one sale.
I put 100 percent into everything I do and if my Buyer is looking for a
property that is worth $200 000 or $1 500 000, of if my Seller’s property is
worth $175 000 or $2 000 000, everyone gets treated with the same amount of
dignity, honesty and respect because that's just who I am and that’s what
everyone deserves.
Sales
Rep.
Sutton
West Realty Inc.
(416)
388-7384
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