Thursday, July 26, 2012

The “Do’s” and “Don’ts” of Selling Your Brantford Home!

In my opinion, it doesn’t matter if it’s your first time selling your home in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market or you’ve done it a few times. The transaction is never as easy as you think it will be. There are a number of reasons people run in to obstacles while putting their property in the market. A lot of it has to do with the housing cycle. The real estate industry goes through booms and busts, and while in Canada we’ve been faring better than most other countries we have still had our own struggles. Many sellers in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market have been reluctant to proceed with listing their home for fear of taking a financial hit.

While we can’t control the real estate market, what I can do, as a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent, is tell you what you can do to get more buyers interested in your home. If you follow these common do’s and don’ts of selling a home, then you can have a speedier and less stressful transaction:

•    Don’t do any major renovations just before selling. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, but most of the time you won’t see the return on investment during the home sale. You could end up taking a big hit financially.
•    Do make sure that your house is accessible during showings. If your home looks uninviting, buyers won’t be as inclined to walk through the door. Clear all walkways to your house, make sure your landscaping looks nice and de-clutter the inside. Buyers should have an easy experience once they walk inside.
•    Do market your home in a few different ways. Your Brantford/Brant County real estate agent should use the right combination of internet, print and word of mouth marketing when selling your home. This involves a strategy. Before hiring an agent, ask them their strategy for marketing your house.
•    Do showcase your home’s best features. The key to getting multiple offers is to highlight your home’s best assets. If you have a spacious, open floor plan, you need to emphasize that. If your home is bright, that needs to be shown off. Make minor adjustments before showings to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward.
•    Don’t take a “hard sell” approach. Many buyers are tempted to stick around during showings to “show” buyers the best parts of their home. This is a huge mistake. Most buyers feel uncomfortable when the seller is present at a showing and feel pressured. Let your agent handle the sales pitch. You focus on getting your house ready to show!

As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent, I highly recommend that my sellers employ these tactics upon listing their home. I’ve found that these approaches produce better results and create a more stress-free transaction. If you ever have any questions about the best way to sell your home in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask. I’d be happy to help you. I hope to hear from you soon!



Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
Over 525 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8
Direct:  (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!
 

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Tight Credit? You Can Still Get Financing For Your Brantford/Brant County Home!

While it’s true that the Canadian real estate market is faring better than others worldwide, lending restrictions are still quite tight. Many have suffered a financial blow during the recession, and thus have had to face multiple credit issues. This causes a problem during a time when banks are incredibly selective about whom to give a loan to. As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate agent, however, I have worked with buyers of all walks of life. I can safely say that even if you are facing tight credit, you can obtain the loan that you’re looking for in your real estate transaction.

If you practice these three tactics when you go about getting a loan, then you’re far more likely to see success and obtain the Brantford/Brant County home of your dreams.

1.    Submit all the correct paperwork at once. Most banks aren’t requiring any more paperwork than usual, however they are paying close attention to all the necessary documentation in order to meet their strict lending guidelines. If you submit everything that you need at once, your application will be reviewed more quickly and you’ll look more organized.
2.    Submit all of your pay stubs, bank statements and financial documents for the bank to review. It’s much easier for you to obtain a loan if the bank knows exactly how much money you make and what you can spend on each monthly mortgage payment. The more up-front you are about your finances, the easier it will be for your bank to find the right loan for you.
3.    Pay attention to your credit score. You’re going to want to be on your best financial behavior after applying for a loan. Large purchases or missed payments will put a ding in your credit score, and that can raise some red flags for your lender. Even if your credit isn’t the best right now, if it’s apparent that you’re taking the right steps to get back on track and are actively working to rectify your mistakes, then you’re far more likely to get a loan. In my opinion, honesty is the best policy. The more up front you are with your lender and the more proactive your actions, the better.

As simple as these actions may seem, they go a long way in obtaining a mortgage loan during a time when so many are struggling to get financing. Navigating a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate transaction is far from easy, and I consider it part of my job to take some of the stress out of the process. If you have any questions about how you can go about purchasing a Brantford/Brant County home, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask. I’d be happy to help. I hope to hear from you soon!


Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
Over 525 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8
Direct:  (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!
 

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Great Skills to Know When Owning a Brantford/Brant County Home

When you own a home in Brantford/Brant County there are many things to think about. Most of the time home buyers are thinking of the big things like furniture and appliances. However, there are certain skills every homeowner should know in order to take care of their home properly.

One skill that every homeowner should have is being able to locate a stud within your wall. This is extremely helpful when decorating and putting nails in the wall. While having an electronic stud finder is great, you can’t always depend on it. A great way to find studs is to start at the corner, where there will always be a stud, and then measure out every 16 inches. Studs are placed 16 inches apart so once you locate one, finding the rest will be simple.

Unclogging a sink is another great skill to have as a home owner. You see commercials everyday for products that will unclog your drain, but there are ways of unclogging it by yourself. A great way to do this is by using a flat head plunger to try to plunge the clog out of the drain. Another helpful tip, if you know for a fact that hair is causing the clog, bending a meal coat hanger into a hook, you can scoop the hair out, relieving the clog.

Burnt out light bulbs can be a pain, but it is even worse when you go to remove it, and the base of the bulb stays in the lamp. Due to the sharp glass it is not wise to just try to unscrew it with your bare hands. A handy tip is to get an uncooked potato, preferably one that fits comfortably in your hand, cut the potato in half and then stick the open end onto the leftover bulb, then screw it out the bulb.

Know your circuit board. When the power goes out, and you head to your circuit board with a flashlight, you should know which switches to flip, and which ones not to. Flipping the wrong switches can cause more damage than originally occurred.

Being friendly with your neighbors is also a good idea. When you first move into your Brantford/Brant County home, getting to know the people around you will give you a sense of comfort. Knowing your surroundings is always an excellent idea.

If you have any questions, or are interested in buying or selling Brantford/Brant County real estate, feel free to contact me! I look forward to hearing from you!


Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
Over 525 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8
Direct:  (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!
 

Monday, July 9, 2012

Just Listed: 11 Briarlea Cres, Port Dover


JUST LISTED BY WALLY DUFRAT AT RE/MAX TWIN CITY REALTY, INC:


Listed At:  $249,925
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2


Congratulations, you've just found a perfect gem! Boasting a superb location, this owners of this outstanding home are relocating. Enjoy a quiet area, complete with a scenic view from your back patio and deck. The absence of houses behind the property ensures your privacy.

You'll immediately notice the property's full landscaping, featuring wonderful perennials and trees. With no renovations needed, this immaculate home boasts wide hallways, ideal for wheelchairs. This is the perfect home for independent living. A studded and insulated basement completes the home.

A fifteen minute walk is all that's needed to enjoy the beach or downtown Port Dover. If you're looking for schools, churches, a community centre, arena, sports field or medical centre, you need only drive for five minutes. Reap the benefits of this exceedingly nice neighbourhood!

Property Features

Cable TV Natural Gas Deck, Fenced-In Yard
Electricity Phone Landscaped Property
High-Speed Internet Central A/C, Forced Air Heat Attached Garage


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Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8
Direct:  (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantofordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!