Betty Bartusevicius

FSBO-- FOR SALE BY OWNER

As you drive around and start looking for a home, you spot "For Sale By Owner" signs. Some owners think that selling their own home will not only save them money, but they also believe they have an advantage over the sellers that have their homes listed by a reputable Real Estate Agent. Before you make the decision to take on this important and legally complicated process, remember that most Real Estate Lawyers do not recommend selling your own home yourself in today's market.

Why? Let me give you a few points to consider:

1. You are limiting your exposure to potential buyers. Your exposure will be less than 10% of what a good Real Estate Broker/Agent will generate. This means that your house will take that much longer to sell on the market.

2. The longer a house is on the market, the lower the selling price becomes. Why? Because most buyers think that if the home has not sold after this long... there must be something wrong with it.

3. The selling/buying process begins AFTER the buyer leaves your house. Most sellers think that all it takes is for someone to see their home, fall in love with it, and the offer follows. REMEMBER, the buying process begins after they leave your house. If the buyers are looking on their own and are not under Representation Agreement with a good Real Estate Agent, they usually start to talk themselves out of the buying process as soon as they leave the house. If they are represented by a professional Real Estate Salesperson, they have someone who has been trained on how to overcome buyers remorse. This does not mean that we talk someone into buying a house that they are not sure of, but we are able to provide more information regarding mortgages, neighbourhoods, inspections, comparables, and much more, to quiet the nerves.

4. With limited exposure you will likely end up with a lower selling price. In order to generate the highest price possible for your house, selling means exposure.

5. Most buyers find it very awkward to negotiate or even to talk directly with sellers.

6. Lack of negotiating experience and lack of important information often will result in a lower selling price, or what's worse -- a bungles contract and possible lawsuits.

7. The majority of qualified buyers are working with experienced real estate professionals under Buyer Agency, you will be negotiating against an experienced professional.

8. Many serious buyers will pass by a FSBO home because they know that this is not the mainstream.

9. Expected savings in broker's fees will be reduced if you offer a selling commission to entice real estate sales representatives to bring potential buyers.

10. If you are planning to use a Lawyer to help you negotiate, and personally I would highly recommend this if you are selling you are trying to sell your own house, then the lawyer's fees will be considerably higher.

11. Only real estate sales representatives have access to the up-to-date market information. News reports cannot be compared to the specificity available to real estate sales people.

12. Accepting an offer is one thing, ensuring a safe and successful closing is quite another. Real estate transactions can have problems on closing. At times, expecting the Buyers and Sellers Lawyer's to fight it out or resolve the problems, can sometimes mean the deal is lost. This is the time that your experienced real estate professional can be the most important. He/she can act as a great mediator. Lawyers MUST act only on their client's instructions and are not paid to negotiate.

Contact Betty Bartusevicius for more information or just to chat at 905 828 3434 or directly at 416 427 1875

Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage

Contact me by email; http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

I can help you save time and money by shopping smarter;
http://www.bettybart.com/createnewclientuserid/whyregister.cfm

There is no time like the present to begin your investigations into a property purchase or sale that will lead to sound decision making.

Experience is not expensive; it is Priceless.

If we all know that the better a house looks like both outside and inside, it is easier to sell, why do Sellers try to sell empty houses or ones in bad condition? It's not usually because of lack of time or lack of money. So what is it?

An answer from Real Estate Stager and expert, Barbara Jennings, says, "I think many people shut down when it comes to preparing their homes for sale. The task feels overwhelming. They have emotionally set their minds and hearts on where they will live next and just don't want to go to the trouble and expense to fix up the property to be sold."

This is very true. Most times Sellers don't want to spend any extra money because they feel they won't get their money back. Sometimes the list of repairs becomes too daunting for them. They don't want to hire anyone to help, so trying to do it themselves, and in our busy lifestyles, it seems to be an impossible task.

Here are a few reasons why every Seller should think about getting a stager to come and give suggestions:

1. A stager will point out the most glaring problems in the house. No one wants to buy a house that looks as it has been unkept for a number of years. No one will pay for someone else's lack of attention to cleanliness or a do it yourself project gone bad.

2. A staged house will lessen the defects of the house. There is no such thing as a "perfect house". It doesn't matter if it is a brand new home from a builder or a resale home that is older -- all homes have defects of some kind. Not every house will meet the needs and wants of every potential buyer that sees it. The key is to minimize the defect so that the house will appeal to most buyers.

3. By staging a house, the seller will learn how to accentuate the good points. Each and every house has it's own charm, and there is a buyer for every house. The job of the seller is to work at bringing out this charm. The best feature of the home must be enhanced. Sometimes sellers just can't put their finger on why they bought the house to begin with, but with the help of a stager the best feature can be brought front and centre.

4. A staged home can reach the buyers on an emotional level. It is a known fact that buyers make offers only if they have an emotional connection with the house. How many times have you walked into a house with a buyer and within 10 seconds they tell you that "this is the one". You may go through 5 or more houses before this happens, perhaps even more. Most buyers will have a difficult time visualizing their furnishings in the home. First time buyers have the most trouble with this. This is very natural. Seeing a home to it's fullest potential if the floors have not been washed, or if it hasn't been painted in 10 years, is difficult. A properly staged home can make a dramatic statement because it helps buyers "see" themselves living in the home and may even suggest decorating ideas to the buyers.

5. Staging brings ideas to life. Some buyers like seeing the bones of the home. But all buyers are attracted or deterred to a house from the time that they drive up the driveway and approach the front door. Once problems are fixed, staging a home can create a comfy/cozy feeling that helps potential buyers make a connection.


Contact Betty Bartusevicius for further discussion on listing your property or just to chat at 905 828 3434 or directly at 416 427 1875

Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage

Contact me by email; http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

I can help you save time and money by shopping smarter;
http://www.bettybart.com/createnewclientuserid/whyregister.cfm

There is no time like the present to begin your investigations into a property purchase or sale that will lead to sound decision making.

Experience is not expensive; it is Priceless.

There was a fresh line reported in the Toronto Sun by Stephen Dupuis. It stated, "A new year, a fresh start". This is so positive, that I would like to share this with everyone.

The second half of 2008 is part of a year that we all would like to forget. Let's hope this year is a little less exciting, hope that there is a lot less negativity in relation to real estate news. The comparison between what is happening in the U.S. housing market and a projected similar outcome for Canada has been blogged and reported to death. At one point, I decided not to write any more bad news about real estate. Now, with a new year facing us, let's take a closer look at what the Canadian Home Builders' Asssociation (CHBA) has to report. Note the important word -- CANADIAN.

As the CHBA report notes, some of the media have drawn a parallel line between the Canadian housing situation and the extreme difficulties in the housing market in the U.S. "There is absolutely no merit in drawing such a parallel," the CHBA reports. There are enormous differences between both countries.

Among the many points - the CHBA cites underwriting standards, mortgage features, mortgage insurance, mortgage arrears, equity levels, appreciation trends, inventory levels and many other factors, all of which we compare favourably on.

On underwriting standards, the difference is that we have standards whereas in the U.S. there were no standards. On mortgage features, the U.S. had things we have never had -- teaser rates (the mortgage starts out at an artificially low rate and rises later in the term.) U.S. borrowers had this blow up on them when the rising rates and declining prices occurred.

In Canada, mortgage insurance is mandatory on loans of over 80% of the value of the real estate. U.S. borrowers got around that with something called "piggy-back loans".

Considering price stability - we are truly different here in Canada, thankfully. Home buyers should be reading the media information with an open mind, or discussing finances with a mortgage broker/specialist. Canadian prices DID NOT rise nearly as far or as fast as in the U.S., so we're not likely to fall dramatically either.

The final conclusion of the CHBA report is that "there is nothing in Canada that compares with the vast over-supply and plunging housing prices that characterize many U.S. housing markets, nor is such a scenario likely to occur."

Thank you Stephen Dupuis, Toronto Sun, for such a refreshing message to start what I hope will be a prosperous coming year. Let's all enjoy the Presidential Inauguration on Tuesday, January 20th 2009.

Contact Betty Bartusevicius for your own private viewing of properties for sale or just to chat at 905 828 3434 or directly at 416 427 1875

Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage

Contact me by email; http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

I can help you save time and money by shopping smarter;
http://www.bettybart.com/createnewclientuserid/whyregister.cfm

There is no time like the present to begin your investigations into a property purchase or sale that will lead to sound decision making.

Experience is not expensive; it is Priceless.

Every week in the Toronto Star, I get ideas regarding my profession -- Real Estate. I always give credit to these writers who start the process of reminding everyone of what is going on in this field. Because it changes every day, it keeps us alert and we get to pass on important information. There are times when I give the same opinion to the few great clients that I have, and then I like to share and enhance these ideas.

Many of you may have read the same article so here goes --

The homes of tomorrow will be "smart", smaller and more space and energy-efficient. They will be wireless and run by computers. They will come equipped with kitchens with top-of-the line amenities for those of us who like to cocoon. Our get-togethers with friends and family tend to be pot luck dinners, movie nights at home (most of us have a decent television and sound system) -- these have become very popular. We also tend to invest in our homes and finish the basements, not only to increase the value of our investment but it also adds living space. Our children tend to congregate at one home or another.


The big issues for buyers, and it is starting already, is location,location,location -- where the home is located in relation to public transit and how energy-efficient it is. Homes may be hard-wired to computers that will run everything from the lights to the appliances. Also, instead of wires, it will be wireless systems which we are starting to experience already.

Homes of the future will have a spare, modern feel. The prediction is that - gone will be the Mediterranean or California feel two-story, and multi-roofline French Chateau look. Homes will also be smaller but because of their efficient design, will work like much larger spaces. Take for example homes now - if you view new homes that have at least a 9 foot ceiling and then walk into an older home with a regular 8 foot ceiling, all of a sudden you feel that the space is cramped. the home with at least the 9 foot ceiling may also be smaller in square feet, whereas the older home may be bigger but seem smaler. The older home will also have more walls making it seem smaller than a new open concept home. The homes of the future, being smaller, may also be more affordable.

Certain finishes in homes are timeless and it is predicted that they will remain so -- hardwood floors and granite. Stainless Steel appliances are very popular now but it remains to be seen how well their popularity will hold up. This will depend on prices for these appliances. Refrigerators also come with finishes the same color as the cabinets and then you try to match the rest of the appliances to the the cabinets.

It used to be a very expensive upgrade to have patio doors put in -- the ones that are floor to ceiling. Well, it no longer in considered an upgrade. The doors look great, by the way. The same way that these doors were expensive upgrades, so were granite, stainless steel apliances and 9 foot ceilings, but no longer.

The days of being able to offer just the basics in a home are over. The buyers want all the bells and whistles - be it a new home from the builder or a resale home. Buyers want all these upgrades without having to pay for it.

Just consider countertops - first-time buyers are asking for granite, soapstone and Corian. These buyers have not yet learned that you do not need life-time countertops such as these. When you buy a home, you will want to update the kitchen and the simplest way to do this is to replace the countertop. There is a product made in Caesar stone. This is a material that is manufactured from concrete and stone pieces. It is seamless, smooth and sanitary. It is also less intrusive to the environment because you don't have to mine it.

Flooring -- engineered hardwood, which is a solid wood veneer over composite, is steadily gaining in popularity. It is being used more often now because it is environmentally friendly and less expensive. Cork and bamboo flooring are also makng an appearance because the natural materials are gast growing and readily available.

There is so much information out there regarding design and materials. Buyers are very in tune with what they want. When you're looking to spend around $500,000 and up for a home in an area that you truly love, you are looking to make sure the house feels like a home. After all, it is one of the biggest investments that you will make.

Some buyers are looking for buil-in appliances and updated kitchen cabinets that can be easily refaced or repainted a few years down the road. they are looking for finishes that are easily changeable for improvement. We are looking for materials that will not be going into landfills.

There is so much information. We are becoming more and more environmentally friendly. There is a lot of testing done regarding outside materials. Brick will always be popular but more materials are being tested to see how they withstand the different seasons. With these pilot projects, more materials will be available to the builders and renovators.

Finding all this information is readily available. We are becoming a technical society. I would like to credit some of the opinions of this article to Gail Swanson, Patrick O'Hanlon, and Christene DeGasperis.

Contact Betty Bartusevicius for your own private viewing of any property of interest or to discuss the sale of your existing house at 905.828.3434 or directly at 416.427.1875.

Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage

Contact me by email: http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

I can help you save time and money by shopping smarter:
http://www.bettybart.com/createnewclientuserid/whyregister.cfm

There is no time like the present to begin your investigations into a property purchase or sale that will lead to sound decision-making.

Experience is not expensive; it is Priceless.

Buying a Home with a Challenged Credit


Are you fed up with making the monthly mortgage payments for your landlord--helping him get richer and richer--while you throw away your own hard-earned money?

Are you sick and tired of making payments month after month, yet having nothing of value to show for it? You're not alone. Now there's good news for people who are tired of pouring their money into someone else's investment...

People with credit challenges can still buy a home, even now after the housing and mortgage meltdown. In fact, it's better than before, because those risky teaser (6 month introductory rates) rate loans are gone, and home buyers are getting secure 35-year fixed rates instead. You can buy with as little as 1.5% down!

Not only that, but prices are down and interest rates are down and there is a possibility of the rates going even lower! People are taking advantage of the current economic situation to get a home for less money, with a cheaper monthly payment.

Help is Here for Renters Who Want to Own

You can enjoy the financial security, deep satisfaction and self-esteem that comes from home ownership. No matter what your credit has been in the past, don't give up. And whatever you do, don't get left behind!

This is an incredible opportunity that is available to you--but only if you take the first step. Your first step is to read this article in its entirety. I want you to understand that I can make available to you, names of professionals that will provide you with advice regarding the mysteries of buying a house with bad credit, you will discover that you can experience the joy and reap the financial rewards of owning your own home! Even if you have bad credit on your record.

Has it boggled your mind how other people with poor credit--perhaps even worse than your own--get home loans, while you get turned down? Have you been disappointed time and time again? Or have you been afraid to apply because of your credit? All that is about to change! Get ready to "kiss renting goodbye!"

My Mortgage Specialists have spent years working for some of the largest national lenders: Royal Bank of Canada, CIBC, and others. They have experience in mortgage retail, mortgage wholesale, and mortgage brokering. What this means to you is that they know all aspects of the mortgage business, and they know how the most unlikely candidates get approved for home loans.

Insider Knowledge Will Get You Approved

We know what goes on behind the scenes in the underwriting department, what it takes to get "an exception" when you don't meet the regular guidelines. My Specialists know what the underwriters want to see on the application, and what they want to read in your Letter of Explanation. They know exactly how people with bad credit get approved. We will help you turn a loan denial into a loan approval! When You Know How to Apply for the Right Loan, It's Like Knowing a "Secret Code."


Don't Fill Out Multiple Applications and Get Your Credit Checked Over and Over Again... If you apply for loans all over the Internet, you're just setting yourself up for heartache after heartache. Not only is it a waste of time, but with hits to your credit report by multiple companies, your credit score may be further damaged. Credit inquiries count for 10% of your credit score. You don't want to risk lowering your score, especially if you're borderline or already have a low score. You can't afford to make that mistake!

Lenders can see where you've applied for a mortgage before, and when see a lot of company names, it makes you look desperate, and then, like a shark who smells blood, they charge you more.


You have nothing to lose. There is No-Risk for you to sign up on my web site and have one of my financial team contact you for a private interview.


Contact Betty Bartusevicius for your names of my Mortgage Specialists at 905 828 3434 or directly at 416 427 1875

Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage

Contact me by email; http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

If not this information, how about just to chat?

I can help you save time and money by shopping smarter; http://www.bettybart.com/createnewclientuserid/whyregister.cfm

There is no time like the present to begin your investigations into a property purchase or salethat will lead to sound decision making.

Experience is not expensive; it is Priceless.