Thursday, November 29, 2012

Some Brantford/Brant County Real Estate “Don’ts”

As the year comes to a festive close, many of you are probably thinking about the changes you want to make in 2013. For some, that might mean listing your home for sale in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market. This is a big step, and in this market, you can’t afford to make mistakes. There is a lot of competition for a limited number of buyers, particularly in the off season. As a Brantford/Brant County real estate agent, I do everything that I can to give my seller clients the advice that will create a stress-free transaction. A large part of that requires knowing some secret strategies to successfully selling your Brantford/Brant County home.

When you first start showing your home, it goes without saying that there are some things that shouldn’t be in it. The things that you want removed, however, might not be what you think. Here are a few of them:

DON’T stick around during showings. When a seller is present at a showing of their own Brantford/Brant County home, it creates an awkward situation for everyone involved. Buyers don’t feel comfortable giving their honest feedback about your property, and they’ll feel rushed. You want buyers to be able to spend as much time in your home as they like, and you want them to feel comfortable. After all, they have to be able to envision themselves living there one day!

Find a pet sitter. It might seem unfair, but you will have to find a temporary home for your pets during showings. Not everyone is comfortable around animals, and even if your chocolate lab is friendly as can be, they could end up scaring away potential buyers. The best thing to do is temporarily board them, find a doggy day care, take them to a dog park for a few hours or find a friend to watch them for you.

Avoid a themed room. We know that you might love your hockey-themed room, but having a space that’s so strikingly categorized can turn off buyers. It’s distracting, and they find themselves paying attention to the theme you’ve chosen for the space instead of its potential as a room. People may have a problem seeing past what you’ve done with the place instead of what they can do with it.

De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter. You want clean, organized surfaces. You don’t want each space to look bare, but you DO want to avoid too much personal clutter or decoration. Remember: you want potential buyers to see themselves and their belongings in your space. This is hindered by an abundance of your own clutter everywhere they look. Get organized before showing time.

Try to keep things as impersonal as possible. All of your décor, furnishings and publicly shown items should be as impersonal as possible. It’s not that your taste in decorating is bad, per se, but showing too much of yourself to potential buyers could shape their opinion of your property in a way that is unfavorable to you. It’s best to keep things as neutral as possible.

If you can avoid having these items in your home after listing it for sale in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, then there’s a much better likelihood that you’ll have a seamless real estate transaction. More buyers will be interested in your home. The key to having a speedy and successful transaction is to proactively avoid potential conflict on your side of the deal. These are a few steps you can take to have a flawless selling strategy.

As always, if you have questions about what you need to do to list a home in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to give you guidance and advice throughout your entire transaction. I hope to hear from you soon!


 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.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!
 



Thursday, November 15, 2012

Your Brantford/Brant County Home’s Pre-Inspection Checklist!

The home inspection is one of the most anxiety-provoking aspects of a real estate transaction, particularly from the seller’s perspective. As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent, I do everything that I can to ease my clients’ worries about this particular step in the process by preparing them for the inspection itself.

There are a number of things that you need to remember to do in order to prepare your home for inspection. None of these items are steps to be taken lightly. A poor home inspection can result in a decrease in the amount buyers are willing to offer. You could also run into issues during negotiations if certain things aren’t taken care of prior to inspection, as buyers will have more leeway and cause for concern. That’s why I’ve come up with this quick pre-inspection checklist. If you take care of these important steps before the inspector arrives, then there will be less of a chance for problems after they leave.

•    Make sure all utilities are turned on and functional. If you’re already living in the Brantford/Brant County property you’re trying to sell, then this shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re selling it after you’ve moved out, then make sure you take care of this early-on.
•    If there is natural gas or propane service, then all pilot lights should be lit.
•    All wood-burning stoves and fireplaces should be cleaned. Please don’t use any of these appliances 24 hours before inspection. Appliance manuals and WETT Certificates should be handy, if they are available to you.
•    Make sure your attic is readily accessible. All stored items should be removed so the inspector can move about the space.
•    All crawl entrance spaces should be readily accessible.
•    Furnace and water heaters should be accessible and operational.
•    Sinks should be clear of all dishes.
•    Showers and bathrooms should be clear of all personal items.
•    Built-in appliances are operational and user manuals are readily available.
•    Do not lock or block electrical panels. The inspector will remove the cover and examine the system, so the more clearly accessible those are, the better.
•    Have a site plan identifying where your well and septic field are located, if you have a well or septic tank. Find out when the tank was last pumped and how old the various components are, too.
•    All areas of the home should be accessible and vacant. Don’t have any locked doors or closed off areas throughout the property. The inspector needs to be able to access every square inch of your home.
•    If you have pets, make sure they are either secured in cages or removed from the property.
•    Building permits and receipts for repairs and improvements on the home should be readily available.
•    Schedule at least three hours for your home inspection.

If you take the steps listed above to prepare your home for inspection, then there’s a much better likelihood that you’ll pass. A smooth inspection can make your Brantford/Brant County Real Estate transaction proceed in a timely fashion. As your local real estate professional, my main concern is guiding you through a stress-free transaction. The best defense is a good offense, so before you face that dreaded home inspection, take the steps to make your home as perfect as possible.

If you have any questions about what you need to do to prepare your home for sale in the Brantford/Brant County real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m happy to help!


 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.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!
 



Monday, November 5, 2012

5 Tysons Way, Oakland, ON-Welcome to this Great Country Estate in an Excellent Location!


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

Listed At:  $699,900
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3


Welcome to this 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom country estate in an unbelievable location! Set in a wonderful location, the luxurious amenities both inside and outside this home are enough to make any buyer swoon. Warm up by one of the two stone-faced fireplaces, one of which is in your private master bedroom. Slate flooring runs throughout the home. Upon entering the bathrooms, you'll notice both the beautiful ceramic flooring and glass door showers. Enjoy ample light in all closets. Walk outside to your rear patio and take a dip in the 20'x34' salt water pool with solar heaters (gas fired heater available). Dry off in the 10'x14' pool house with bar & electrical service. Let your little ones run free in the 8x5 tree house. The 18'x26' storage barn for those extra items. Store your car in one of the spaces in the roomy three-car garage. The exterior walls are foam insulated - 2" Panels - Approx R32. Other amenities include a hot tub 7'x7', Pella aluminum clad Low E windows, air exchanger, 2 Hi efficiency furnace, 2 A/C's, foam insulated basement walls. 9'-10' & 11' ceilings, oak  and granite kitchen, 2 skylights den that could become a 5th bedroom and 2 walk in closets. This gorgeous estate, named Malcolms Mill, was the site of last Canadian battle in war of 1812. This is a must-see home in Oakland!

Property Features

Pool and Jacuzzi Patio Three Car Garage
Pool House, Storage Barn, Treehouse 2 Stone Fireplaces
Oak and Granite Kitchen Slate and Ceramic Flooring


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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.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!
 


Just Listed: 60 Arthur Street at $235,000-Great Real Estate Opportunity for the Right Buyer!


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

Listed At:  $235,000
You know what they say: location, location, location! This well-maintained 4 plex could be a big opportunity for the right buyer! All this hidden gem needs is a little TLC. Complete with a newer furnace updated in 2002, shingles updated in 2006, wiring updated in 2004, 2 gas water heaters, 4 refrigerators and 4 stoves, this 4-plex comes complete with 2 driveways--enough room for seven cars! Rents include utilities at this time. Rent is $33,188.00, utilities are $5,725.97, hydro is at $4,266.28, gas is at $501.85 and equipment rental is $573.52. This is one real estate opportunity that is NOT to be missed!

Property Features

Cable TV Dryer, Fridge, Washer Carbon Monoxide Detector
Electricity Utilities included in rent
High-Speed Internet Hot Water


Photos 








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.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!