Real Estate & Real Life: A Sutton Realtor's Blog

Friday, January 11, 2013

Seniors & Today's Real Estate Market

So much of the market is focused on the younger generation, the first time home buyer, the new family and the newly single. But what about our Seniors? In reality, you make up the largest market share of homeowners today and deserve the respect and deference that comes with longevity and the hard work it took to dedicate yourselves to raising your families. Let’s consider some issues, questions you may be asking yourself and what you should be expecting of your Realtor.

You’ve owned your home for 30, 40 or maybe more years and are now thinking it may be time to move on. Why?

Stairs have become difficult to navigate, mowing the lawn is now a chore you are just not wanting to deal with both physically and mentally, shoveling snow is too much of a burdeon, taking out the garbage and all that general home maintenance that used to be so easy to handle is just not so easy anymore. Can you still manage your daily chores like going to the market and making meals, bathing (slip and falls in the bath are so common and scary), or even cleaning? Perhaps your spouse has mobility issues, you are too far away from your grandchildren or you’d like to spend more time down South Snowbirding and wish to relocate to something smaller and more compatable with that lifestyle.

The Senior lifestyle today is much different than generations before. We live longer, healthier and have far more active lifestyles than enjoyed in the days of old. Maybe it’s as simple as wanting to be more active and involved with the community and different groups that living in your current home doesn’t help you explore that. Perhaps living in your community prevents you from getting out with new friends and exploring new opportunities and making the move to a more manageable Condo closer your friends, transit and activities will enhance and add to your life while you finally get to enjoy time off from the daily grind!

Whatever the case may be a good Realtor will treat you with respect, help you explore your options and will develop a relationship with you based on respect, patience and trust. We can help council you and your family about your options. Take a look at your long term needs and finances. We can put you in touch with Financial planners who can assist in figuring out how to best invest your money long term in order to support the lifestyle that choose and our support doesn’t stop there.

As Realtors, we can help with so many other issues. The idea of moving, packing, changing or cancelling utilities is intimidating and overwhelming. We can help you with the details. Put you in touch with the movers, packers and cleaners. We can help you stage (or rework your home) so that it shows its best for sale and we will take all the time you need in helping you find your new home, the right one, the one we sat down and discussed. We won’t push you. We won’t talk over you and we won’t disrespect your specific wants and needs.

Be wary of the Realtor who doesn’t listen. Who doesn’t take the time to explain the entire contract to you and asks for your signature before you truly understand the document before you. Ask your Realtor for the recent sale prices of homes in your immediate area and for the prices of current homes for sale. Before you sign on any dotted line, ensure you trust and the person before you and ensure they value YOUR business and time. That you’ve been heard. That nothing is moving faster than you want it to. Make sure you have your Realtors phone numbers and contact information (including cell phone numbers) and make sure they are committed to updated you regularily.

It doesn’t make a difference if you are 20 or 75, Buying and Selling homes is stressful. The Realtor you choose must understand that, be mindful of the process and ensure that all of their clients are dealt with integrity, respect, honesty and trust.

A good Realtor will navigate you through the process and make sure you understand and are okay with each step and stage.

If you’d like further information on Buying or Selling real estate in the GTA, please contact me, Nicole Kreutzberg at 416-388-7384 or email direct to nicole@gtalisted.com and I`ll be happy to help! Or visit our website, www.gtalisted.com to start taking a look at your available real estate options!

Original Blog Can Be Seen at:

Seniors & Today's Real Estate Market | Blog | Nicole Kreutzberg & Laszlo Koos

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

New Custom Built 3 Bedroom 2600 Sq Feet of Architectural Beauty in Toronto!

Beautiful Home, Designed for Spacious and Sunny Living!

Does your dream home having you living in a space amongst 2 Sky Lights, Granite Counters, White Shaker Custom Kitchen, Gleaming Hardwood Floors, Two Walk Outs, Attached Garage, 200 Amp Electrical Panel, Fully Fenced, Interlock Drive, En Suite with 4 Clawed Soaker Tub & Walk In Closet, 2 Gas Fireplaces and so much more? This Is The One!

Royal York Rd & Queensway, Toronto Ontario

Listed at $897 000.00 (mls # W2507262)

See Our Website for more Information and To Book An Appointment:

Residential For Sale | 109B Wesley St, Toronto, Ontario | $897,000 | Nicole Kreutzberg & Laszlo Koos

Can You Hear Me Now?

When I first came into Real Estate I made the mistake of showing one of my first Buyers everything. I mean everything! We looked at 10-15 houses a day for two months, made 3 offers and were Feng Shui’d out of two others. So, when is too much, too much?

It came down to being my mistake.

I didn't listen. I didn't hear. I didn't do enough background research to provide my clients with the right properties to view. The right agent, the diligent agent, will whittle it down. Believe when I tell you it was a quick learning curve for me.
Now, I listen, I ask questions, I get a list of must haves, potential compromises and ensure my clients are prequalified so we know how much money they can spend. I set up Buyers in the MLS system so that all new properties are emailed to them each day and those properties fit their criteria. If one comes up that they like, I check it out. What’s behind the house – a hydro field? A highway? Is it a corner lot on a busy street? Is it next door to a mall or a plaza? Knob and tube wiring? This is the information a client needs before they head out the door and it’s my job to ensure the information they have is accurate and true.

When I bring clients to view properties, I've already checked the street for previous ‘solds’ and ‘for sales’. I know what’s going on in the neighborhood, where the schools are and roughly how much property taxes are going to be. I no longer arbitrarily show anything and everything because that means I am not listening. I am not hearing. I am not respecting the fact that my clients’ time is valuable.

Will I show 50 properties to one client? Absolutely. Some clients need to see many properties before they decide or narrow down their wants and needs and that’s okay. It’s a lot of money to spend and let’s face it, it’s not my money, it’s theirs. I've also had clients who've seen two homes and picked one. Sold. Everyone is different, including Buyers.

I think in preparing to Buy, educate yourself. Talk to your Realtor; begin receiving listings in the area’s you are interested in so that you can see realistically what those homes are selling for and what your dollar will get. Realize that you need to have the cash for the deposit ready; you have 1 day to come up with that cash when an offer is made and accepted. Be prepared to lose a bid if there are multiple offers and always have a number in mind that you will NOT go over and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

Finally, realize that in all the homes you do see, you are not buying the furniture, the décor or that owners particular style vision. Paint is so easily changeable, fixtures easily replaced; flooring can be stained, changed or removed. Look beyond the cosmetic and see the walls in Grey, Yellow or Beige (whatever your distinct style is) and try to picture your family running the through the halls or playing in the backyard.

It may take 50 houses before you find that right one or it may only take 1 or 2 the point is, a good Realtor is going to listen and hear what your wants and needs are and help guide you so that your valuable time is not wasted.

Put together a list of what you are looking for and don’t be afraid to discuss those items, it’s your money. And one last thing, be prepared to compromise. We cannot magically procure the Million Dollar Dream Home on a $200 000.00 budget, but we’ll try our best!

If you have any questions or are considering purchasing property in the GTA (Toronto), please contact me, Nicole Kreutzberg anytime at nicole@gtalisted.com and let’s talk. I look forward to it!

Originally Posted at www.gtalisted.com/blog

Can You Hear Me Now? | Blog | Nicole Kreutzberg & Laszlo Koos