Joanna Gerber

Driving to Barrie early this morning, I've noticed some wild turkeys standing by the side of the highway...

They were waving their wings and yelling: "Pick me!  Pick ME!"

Thanksgiving Weekend is here everyone, and most of us already think about that bird in the oven... some of you perhaps just envision the tasty bird on your plate, I'm still at the stage where I frantically think: "How will I cope with all those people coming over?!"

No matter on which side of the kitchen island you stand... I want to wish you the most wonderful, safe, restful time with your Family and Friends. 

Take time to think about the past year, about things we've been through, obstacles we've overcome, goals that we've achieved and those who helped us get to where we are today.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

 

 

Joanna Gerber

Sales Representative
HomeLife
Kempenfelt-Kelly
Realty Ltd. Brokerage*
284 Dunlop St. W.
Barrie, Ontario
L4N 1B9

(705)794-6482

O:705-722-8191
F:705-725-8232
TF: 1-877-722-8191

*Independently Owned and Operated

www.Selling-Barrie-Homes.com
joanna@selling-barrie-homes.com
MOWIE PO POLSKU

What happened to my Client who Fell in Love with a home I showed him?

He went back home to Toronto, to take a closer look at his financial situation, talk to his Family and his Mortgage Specialist.  He wanted that home!  I told him that he should take care of all of this as soon as possible, to get the ball rolling.

The house was a secluded paradise with in ground pool, private, spa-like back yard and all the bells and whistles you could ever want in a luxury residence.

In fact, during an office tour, we had a tough time leaving the house, every Agent in the office was talking about it and… drum roll please… I was the lucky one to… sell it?!

I called my Client almost daily that week, and he was still not ready to make a move.  There was not much happening with the listing, as it was the priciest one in the area and quite out of reach for most local buyers. 

He was taking his time with the money matters and weeks went by.  Finally one day, I drove by the home and there was another Agent showing the property.  People leaving the home were excited and I became worried. They looked eager to get this home.

I got back to the office and called my Client.

“If you want this home… now is the time to do something about it.”  He was still not quite ready, but decided to submit an offer that day.  Regretfully, as I suspected ours was not the only one. 

To make the matters worst… my Client chose not to follow my advice and wanted to play the game of “how low can I go?”  Now, we all know that in a multiple offer situation, you need to put your best foot forward.  Most often there is no room for games and “water-testing”…

You can imagine how disappointed he was when the home he fell in love with was sold from under his nose at the above asking price. 

Now, we are in the third month of home searching (with the tiny two-week break, when I was away) still looking for the home that will touch his heart. 

Tomorrow I’m showing him 8 more. 

The sad part is that homes I’ve found since that first one, offer better value, are bigger, younger, nicer… etc. But those are not, and never will be THE home he loved.

Lesson learned?  I truly hope so.    

 

 

 

Joanna Gerber

Sales Representative
HomeLife
Kempenfelt-Kelly
Realty Ltd. Brokerage*
284 Dunlop St. W.
Barrie, Ontario
L4N 1B9

(705)794-6482

O:705-722-8191
F:705-725-8232
TF: 1-877-722-8191

*Independently Owned and Operated

www.Selling-Barrie-Homes.com
joanna@selling-barrie-homes.com
MOWIE PO POLSKU

Few months ago I was contacted by someone who found my site by Google Search.  I was impressed he said that each time he searched; I came up at the top, so he decided to give me a call. 

He was looking to buy in Barrie and currently lived in Toronto.  He gave me his must-haves, and his price range and we set the time to meet over the weekend to view several properties that I was able to find for him.

Weekend came and he arrived with his girlfriend.  Each home I showed them had most if not all of the items on his list and yet… we couldn’t “put a finger on it”.  Something was missing… the WOW factor was not there. 

To make the matters worst, quite quickly it became evident that those two people had a drastically different taste and quite frankly I could not imagine how I will ever find a home that they will both love.

After seeing 8 homes that day, quite tired we were heading back to the office.  Driving through one of the older neighbourhoods, where I spend most of my time, due to my kid’s activities… I heard a quiet “this is nice” from the back seat.

Now, “this” was nowhere near where they wanted to be, homes were about 30 years older than the ones we’ve seen that day and prices were… substantially higher here.

But there was this thought in the back of my head: “I know someone in my office has this amazing listing here, what if…?”  I pulled over and called my office.  Within 5 minutes (!) our Super Secretary, called me back with the lock box combination.

I opened the front door and my Clients… FELL in LOVE!

I could not get them out of there!  They loved absolutely everything about the home and the fact that it was listed at over $90K above their initial price bracket… was not an issue.  Or so I thought…

Read the rest of this story in "Loosing the home you Love"

 

Joanna Gerber

Sales Representative
HomeLife
Kempenfelt-Kelly
Realty Ltd. Brokerage*
284 Dunlop St. W.
Barrie, Ontario
L4N 1B9

(705)794-6482

O:705-722-8191
F:705-725-8232
TF: 1-877-722-8191

*Independently Owned and Operated

www.Selling-Barrie-Homes.com
joanna@selling-barrie-homes.com
MOWIE PO POLSKU

Hi Everyone!

It's so good to be home.  I jus had an opportunity to visit some European places from my childhood and it was great to see some of my family again.  I was fortunate enough to travel to different cities and countries on the Old Continent and was amazed at the changes happening there. 

Eastern Europe is beaming with activity, new road construction, new, faster train connections, and basically every tiny town and village is a construction zone as people of all walks of life build their dream homes everywhere you look.

On the way there I had an opportunity to talk to people from US and Great Britain who work there, helping develop infrastructures and those who work with farmers, creating new, more productive farms.  All were amazed with possibilities that those Easter Europe countries offer for anyone who is willing to start a new life there.

And, even thought most of my Family and Friends were still talking "Global Crisis" and "Bad Economy" it was difficult to see it there!  I even noticed that after 20 years of same old complains on "how difficult it is to live here (Eastern Europe)" and "you have it so much better over there (America)"; I finally did not hear those same complains and comments. They finally noticed what was happening all around them, and opened their eye and minds to new possibilities.

Some are still struggling, but most are happy and eager to achieve great things with new opportunities provided by the European Union.

AND... if you ever hear people complying about home prices in Toronto or Vancouver... tell them to take a closer look at any of the larger European cities!  How about $800CA/sq.ft. for an apartment with bare walls, no fixtures, no kitchen cabinets, no outlets and no doors? Talk about a sticker shock! 

It's GREAT to be home!

Joanna Gerber

Sales Representative
HomeLife
Kempenfelt-Kelly
Realty Ltd. Brokerage*
284 Dunlop St. W.
Barrie, Ontario
L4N 1B9

(705)794-6482

O:705-722-8191
F:705-725-8232
TF: 1-877-722-8191

*Independently Owned and Operated

www.Selling-Barrie-Homes.com
joanna@selling-barrie-homes.com
MOWIE PO POLSKU

While leave the office, I got a phone call. Elderly voice was asking for an appointment; she sold her previous home with HomeLife 21 years ago, and now was time to sell again, so she called us. She told me that she was interviewing several Realtors and would like me to come in as well.

I did my research, took pictures, surveyed the neighbourhood, delivered my Home Sellers Tools CD, and was ready to talk to the owner the next day.

Nice, elderly couple welcomed me into their home. From the street, small looking home surprised me with the light and spacious interior. Tidy and fresh with non of the unnecessary clutter, the home was ready to be listed, the owners ready to hear what I had to say about it.

Going over the recent sold and currently listed properties, I could see that they were following with ease and that we were on the same page. After all, this was their first time talking to the Realtor in over 20 years.

The Couple have planed to move to the Retirement Community in Wasaga Beach, you could see the excitement in their eyes. They told me how much money they would need to make the move

We proceeded to the pricing part... Based on the recent activity (not as recent as I would like it to be) and the Market trends in our area we came up with the number.

My range was $225K to $235K Sale price. One of only three home that sold in that area months earlier, similar to theirs went for only $212,500! But since Spring is just around the corner and I am positive and quite optimistic... Since it is a nice area, the home had a chance to sell even at the top end of that price range.

Problem was that to make the move they needed at least $245K

The 23 year old home has all original features, kitchen, bathrooms, windows, carpets... it is clean and nicely decorated, but it also needs upgrades. I could not find the justification that I needed to listed higher than $239,000 (to have room to fight for that $235,000...) believe me I tried.

But since I was not the only Realtor visiting... the next thing I heard was:
"This other Realtor said that we can GET at least $249K!"

She was holding onto the belief that what she has heard earlier, was true. It was painful to watch them both. Deep inside they understood the reality of the current market.

I felt I connected with the Sellers and we all felt at ease. So I asked them to consider their reasons for the move. Perhaps, this was not the best decision to sell right now. After all, they've been there for over 20 years, why not wait that 2-3 years longer? By then, the Market will be on it's way up again. I gave my Parents that same advice just days earlier in fact.

We said goodbye and I left their home. I walked out of there without a listing, but I felt good. I did a good thing, I was honest.

How did this other Realtor feel when he left? Pulling that $249,000 out of his.... (let's stay civil here). For what? To get that listing? Perhaps he will, in fact I will not be surprised if he does get it. I will see the reduction in a week or two.

Is BUYING his listings in best interest of his Clients? Did he listened to their plans, has he seen the excitement in their eyes when they spoke about those plans? Talk about the Thick Skin and ME personality!

I still don't know what to say when I come across situations like this. It's shameful, and it hurts the entire industry, but to change it... we all need to step out to the plate and weed out those who would not know the Code of Ethics if it hit them on the head...

Wishing you a wonderful Spring beginnings!

Joanna Gerber

Sales Representative
HomeLife
Kempenfelt-Kelly
Realty Ltd. Brokerage*
284 Dunlop St. W.
Barrie, Ontario
L4N 1B9

(705)794-6482

O:705-722-8191
F:705-725-8232
TF: 1-877-722-8191

*Independently Owned and Operated

www.Selling-Barrie-Homes.com
joanna@selling-barrie-homes.com
MOWIE PO POLSKU