Ontario

When it comes to selling Barrie townhomes, there are a few things you can do to prepare your unit to make it more appealing to prospective buyers. Here are some tips to help you (and your Realtor) prepare your Barrie townhome for a successful sale.

Price – This is a major point that will affect the sale of your townhome. If your townhome is priced competitively according to the local market, your days on the market should be relatively short. Your real estate professional is your industry resource, and they know the local market best, so it’s a good idea to follow their advice about where to price your townhome.

Effective Lighting – Good use of lighting will help make a dark or small room seem larger, and help open up the space. Using light strategically throughout your townhome for photos and showings will not only ensure the unit is well-lit, but that it’s showcased it at its most appealing.

Bust the Clutter – Knickknacks, pictures, magazines, and other items you like and live with may be scattered throughout your townhome, but by reducing or removing the clutter entirely it will help prospective buyers see more of the home and not your stuff. Tuck extraneous ‘extras’ into drawers, or get your packing started early with items you don’t need that may help de-clutter your townhome’s appearance.

Garage – removing clutter from your garage and organizing it properly will enhance the appeal of your unit. People want to know that they have “space” to move in and that they have room for their belongings.

Furniture – If you think you’ve got too much, put some into storage. You may want to reorganize your furniture so that larger items are situated around the outside walls to add space, and guests see the focal point from the room’s entry.

Odours – Plug-in air fresheners and scented candles can add pleasant smells and atmosphere to your townhome. When you’re living in your home while it’s on the market, try odour-neutralizing products to reduce any cooking odours that may linger.

Pets – Send Fluffy to a day spa or take her out while your townhome is being shown, and move any pet dishes, beds, and toys. Additionally, pets can have a distinct odour that can be challenging to remove. Pet stores have specialty products designed to deal with pet odours that will help.

Wall Accessories – When items are proportionate to the room and wall’s size, it further helps to open up the space. Adding mirrors will not only help with this, but will also reflect light to brighten the room.

Organize Closets and Storage – Storage and closets are important to all buyers, and they’re sure to be a place that will be looked at. Organize this space as well as you can, clear out some of your clothes if necessary (again, get a head-start on your packing) to create a neat, uncluttered presentation.

You don’t have to completely reorganize your life to sell your townhome, but incorporating some or all of these tips will help make the process quicker and easier for you. The Barrie Condo Team will work with you to help you prepare your Barrie townhome for sale, including open houses, photos and showings, and can recommend services such as professional cleaners and stagers if needed.

It really is a booming market here in Canada.

After a great day on the TSX Index, RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (REI.UN.T) named one of Canada's Hot Stocks by the Globe and Mail:

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100209-713187.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesAmericas

Online chatter of experts seconding the notion, latest quote "Has the best portfolio of shopping centre properties in Canada. Good yields."

Check it out:

http://www.stockchase.com/Company-sl--slq-ID-slv-RioCan--Real--Estate--Investment.php

Are you confused when your doctor says you have this or you are going to get tested for_________? With years of detailed research and many months of trials, I am pleased to offer you this breakdown of the most popular medical terms.

A word of caution. You should seek another opinion if you feel any of these pertain to you.

Artery................ The study of paintings

Bacteria................ Back door to cafeteria.

Barium...................What doctors do when patients die.

Benign.................. What you be, after you be eight

Caesarean Section........ A neighbourhood in Rome.

Catscan.......................... Searching for Kitty.

Cauterize........................ Made eye contact with her..

Colic........................... A sheep dog.

Coma........................... A punctuation mark.

Dilate......................... To live long.

Enema........................... Not a friend.

Fester.......................... Quicker than someone else.

Fibula.......................... A small lie.

Impotent........................ Distinguished, well known.

Labour Pain.................. Getting hurt at work.

Medical Staff................ A Doctor's cane.

Morbid........................... A higher offer. (also a real estate term)

Nitrates...................... Cheaper than day rates.

Node........................... I knew it.

Outpatient..................... A person who has fainted.

Pelvis......................... Second cousin to Elvis.

Post Operative.................. A letter carrier.

Recovery Room................ Place to do upholstery.

Secretion...................... Hiding something.

Seizure........................ Roman emperor.

Tablet........................... A small table.

Terminal Illness............. Getting sick at the airport.

Tumour....................... One plus one more.

Urine.......................... Opposite of you're out.

A comprehensive guide for preparing your house or condominium for maximum profit! Find out how to make both the outside and the inside of your house a seller's dream- even if you are short on time or tight on money!

I. From House Seller to Marketer

Selling your house can be a stressful and time-consuming process, and it is very easy to get frustrated if you do not get the response you want from buyers. After all, you cannot believe someone criticized your gorgeous Victorian bathroom, calling it old fashioned and dated...how dare they!

Unfortunately, developing a thick skin is a necessary part of selling your house. It can be difficult, though, especially if you are moving from a house you love. An attachment to your house makes it especially difficult to see the house's faults, but that's why I'm here. It's difficult, but helpful to first condition your mind into thinking, we are selling "a house," not "our beloved home."

In the coming pages, I will walk you through all the steps you can take to make your house irresistible to potential buyers. If you really want to sell your house and have an open mind about the suggestions I have in this book, you will really benefit from this guide, which tells you how to prepare both the exterior and the interior of your house for sale.

I know your house is a valuable commodity, both financially and more than likely, emotionally. The reality, however, of selling your house is that you may not have more than one chance to impress a potential buyer.

Prepare your house to sell well, and you may be rewarded with a faster sale and higher profit.

So, from this point forward, consider yourself a marketer, not a mere house seller. Better yet, to eliminate the emotional undertones, consider yourself a house seller (not "home seller") and your buyers- homebuyers.


The Buyers Have Spoken: Survey Says

In the National Association of House Builders' 2004 consumer survey, "What 21st Century House Buyers Want," prospective homebuyers offered their opinions on what they most look for in a new house. You may want to see if you can accommodate their desires.

Among them:

• They want larger houses with a great deal of open space; they especially favour large, open kitchens and family rooms that flow seamlessly together without any walls or doors separating them.

• Upscale features like high ceilings and kitchen islands are popular.

• A front porch, deck or patio adds to a house's marketability.

• Laundry rooms are considered essential in new houses.

• Nearly 40 percent of the respondents said they would like a minimum of four bedrooms, though 49 percent would accept three (This is of particular note if you are thinking about turning a den or study into a bedroom!).

• Twenty-five percent of respondents said they wanted at least a three-car garage, despite the cost.

• Walk-in pantries and light wood cabinets are more desirable in kitchens.

• New bathrooms with fancier features are popular. A separate shower enclosure, water temperature control, a whirlpool tub and dressing room were features respondents positively ranked.

• Forty-six percent want a sunroom.

Perhaps most telling is that respondents feel spaciousness is highly esirable; therefore, in decorating your house for walkthroughs, remember to keep everything open.

Buyers also like well-lit and bright-looking houses, as well as distinctive features, such as sun rooms and bathrooms with separate shower enclosures, that can still be decorated beautifully with less expensive fixtures.

Value in Getting Ready for the Sale

Deciding to sell your house is never easy. Everywhere you look, you see memories...the stairs your daughter first climbed, the kitchen where your family used to gather before the kids moved out and the garage where you parked your first mini-van.

It is important to remember, though, that by moving, you are not giving up these memories-they will stay with your forever. You are simply selling the house-the bricks, the wood, the mortar-- nothing you cannot find in another neighbourhood.

That said, it is critical that you realize selling your house may involve some concessions on your part. For example, even if you want to receive X amount of dollars for your house, a buyer may want to pay less due to the house's age or because of necessary remodeling.

You must be prepared for such concessions.

Once you have decided to sell, it is next necessary for you to give your house an honest assessment.

Does your house need a paint job? A new roof? Take note of these things, as you may profit tremendously in preparing your house for sale. You get used to seeing things in your house and start accepting things because you know they're good and working properly but a person looking to invest in your house wants the best look they can get for the buck.

As a first step, if you belong to a homeowner's association, inform the directors that you are selling your house. Ask if there are any lawsuits or legal issues that concern the association, and obtain copies of any documentation.

Next, understand that having a house that is visually pleasing and technically sound will help it sell much faster. And, with a house that does not require many renovations or repairs, you are more likely to get your asking price. So, if you think inexpensive improvements can be done and you are willing to pay for them so your house value will increase, suggest these improvements. Certainly, however, I will forewarn you-preparing your house for sale is a long process, requiring more than a little hard work (but it's well worth it!). So, if you're ready, let's evaluate the outside of your house first.

Create your "Must-Do List" which includes house projects that need to be completed, jobs that I recommend in this book, as well as those that the buyer's house inspector may report.

I hope you enjoyed Part 1 of this series - Preparing Your Home For Sale - From House Seller To Marketer.

Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow - CURB APPEAL: THE INITIAL SEDUCTION!

If you have any questions regarding how to prepare your home for sale call Barry today! Your Oakville & Burlington Real Estate Expert.

Here are my comments on Jersey Boys. The script is well written, the characters are real, the set is unique and constantly changing, and the music is, well it's just like it was back in the day. I remember it. When the first hits of the Four Seasons began to rise in the charts, I was around 14 years old. I liked the sound then and I still like it now. I've read that technically this is not a true musical because the dialog between the characters is not sung, it is spoken.

The Toronto performers are professional and up to the task. Personally my favorite cast member was Daniel Robert Sullivan, who plays Tommy DeVito. Jersey Boys Toronto is presented in a first class venue, the Toronto Centre for the Arts. I recommend the show and here is a link to a web page that offers a discount to "Share the Boys with a Friend".

PS - As an adult, I listened to Frankie Valli perform live in the 70's at a place named Caesars Monticello. Check out Frankie's web site for his current show schedule.