Know what you can afford: Determine what you can realistically afford to pay for your home BEFORE you start to look. I like to look at it from 2 perspectives- the price of the home based on your pre-approval AND the cost of that home on a monthly basis, including property taxes, utilities, etc. Nobody wants to be “house-poor”.
Kris
Think First: Don’t start looking until you figure out what you are really looking for. There might be a big difference between the kind of home you “want” and the kind of home you “need”. We all dream big. To avoid wasting your time and to avoid the frustration and the risk of regretting your choice later, realize that it’s important to satisfy your needs first and your wants last. In the long run, the greatest view in the world is not likely to make up for not having enough bathrooms.
Kris
When you put your offer in to the seller, one of the conditions should be that you have the right to a favorable home inspection report.
To ensure that you hire the right inspector, talk to your real estate agent, ask for recommendations, then make sure that the inspector is certified (at the moment, the home inspection industry is not regulated or licensed). Ask the inspectors how many inspections they have completed and what type of report you will receive. Also confirm how long it will take to receive the final report.
Buying a home is a significant investment and life event. The more you can learn about your potential purchase, the better. Don’t get caught blind-sided for the sake of $400 to $500!!
Kris
Just like finding any professional service, there are steps to follow when choosing a top-quality, home stager with a proven track record.
The first thing you want to see is their portfolio of work. Make sure they have before and after photos, preferably at the same angle, but at least so you can see it’s the same room. If they don’t have before photos, it’s a big red flag and suggests it may not be their work. Any reputable home stager will have a good body of work showing before and after photos. You can usually find this on their website! If you can’t find a website with samples of their work, move on!
Ask for a list of references. A good home stager always has references from clients and Realtors they’ve worked with and will happily supply you with them.
Make sure they give you all the prices up front so there are no surprises.
Always inquire about a timeline. If the job isn’t done in the timeframe specified, will the stager be charging you more or completing the work as promised at no additional cost? Again, always be on the lookout for hidden costs not agreed upon.
If you’re renting accessories: art, pillows, silk plants, centerpieces, bed linens, etc, you should know up front how much this will cost. If they can’t give you an exact price because it depends on the length of time you’ll be renting their inventory, ask how they determine their pricing so you’ll have an idea of what you’re being charged be it daily/monthly or whatever system they use as it does vary.
Kris
Resale home sales in 2011 were slightly above the five-year average of 14,326 and that’s really the story of the year. The market started off the year quietly, but gained momentum as the year progressed, including the best November on record.
The total number of homes sold through the Board’s Multiple LIsting Service® system in 2011 was 14,412, an increase of 1.7% over 2010. The average price for 2011 was $343,701, an increase of 5.2% over 2010.
Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 699 residential properties in December through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 618 in December 2010, an increase of 13.1%. The five-year average for December sales is 611. Of those sales,177 were condominiums while 522 were in the residential property class.
The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in December in the Ottawa area was $332,527, an increase of 2.6 per cent over December 2010. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $262,514, an increase of 3 per cent over December 2010. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $356,267, an increase of 0.2 per cent over December 2010. Since each area shows slightly different trends, if you would like to see what is happening in your neighbourhood, contact me and I can send you the recent sales, average prices and any other additional information that you may wish to have.
Give me a call if I can be of assistance with any real estate questions – and don’t forget that referrals can get your Aeroplan points!
Kris
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Happy New Year Everyone!
I hope you all had a good Holiday season – good food, good friends, perhaps a much-needed break from work and lots of family time!!
I would like to get 2012 started with a BANG!! To do this, I need YOU – I need your referrals. Word of mouth is a very powerful thing and a major key to success in this business. If you are thinking of buying or selling, call me now so we can plan the right timing and strategy to make things happen for you. If you know of anyone who is even remotely thinking of moving, please pass along my name – or let me know and I will contact them myself.
I would also appreciate your thoughts on how I might improve my level of services to clients. Good service differentiates me from others in real estate so feedback from you is very important to me. I am always open to new ideas.
My business success depends on YOU! I know you won’t let me down.
Kris
A resident of Ottawa since 1975, Kris has intimate knowledge of the city she has always loved and called home. Pleased to be able to share her knowledge of neighborhoods, history, restaurants, shops and points of interest, she understands the extreme importance, responsibility and integrity of helping to find the right home for the right person.