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Barrie, ON

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Tips for Preparing Your Barrie Townhome for Sale

02-09-10
Stephanie Adams
Stephanie Adams: Real Estate Agent in Barrie, ON
  • view my blog
  • Office: (705) 728-4067
  • Mobile: (705) 716-0299

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.

barrie-townhouse

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.

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Final Weekend: How condo owners can claim the (HST) Home Renovation Tax Credit

01-29-10
Stephanie Adams
Stephanie Adams: Real Estate Agent in Barrie, ON
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  • Office: (705) 728-4067
  • Mobile: (705) 716-0299

Final Weekend! Condo owners can claim the credit for renovations to their own unit – similar to what would be done in a detached home, for example – as well as their share of any renovations to common areas paid for by the condo corporation. Read more: http://ow.ly/OYWx

Source: YourHome.ca - Originally Tweeted by: twitter.com@JenSpeedy Dec 9th, 2009

Source URL: http://ow.ly/OYWx

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Barrie Condos: Staging your condo before listing in the Barrie MLS

01-27-10
Stephanie Adams
Stephanie Adams: Real Estate Agent in Barrie, ON
  • view my blog
  • Office: (705) 728-4067
  • Mobile: (705) 716-0299

Staging condos has become an important part of the condo marketing and selling process, and there are professionals that specialize in this area. There are a few things you can do yourself with your Realtor® to stage your Barrie Condo before listing it in the Barrie MLS that will add a professional touch.

Size matters – Especially when talking about furniture and wall accessories. If your furniture or accessories are too large, they’ll detract from that open concept condo look, making the room seem smaller. When choosing furniture, select smaller-scale condo furnishings that are now offered by many manufacturers.

Make good use of space – Most condos and townhomes have a smaller living space square footage, presenting you with the challenge of arranging your furniture and lighting that will present that space in the best possible way. If something doesn’t fit, you can always move it into your storage locker.

Art & Colour – Some design schools of thought recommend you stay with neutral wall colours throughout a condo, and others suggest painting one or two walls a different colour to help highlight and add definition to an area within your condo, like the dining or living area. Staying with one colour has the advantage of allowing you to use artwork to highlight your walls and space.

Georgian Estates Condos Barrie - Staging
Georgian Estates Condos Barrie - Staging

Define the space – Do you have a home office in your living room? This can detract from the overall presentation of your condo, and confuse buyers somewhat as they try to imagine themselves living in your space. A living room home office can be pulled off when kept uncluttered and well presented. Small living spaces should perform double-duty while preserving the overall feeling and appearance of your condo.

Photos – Once you have things organized the way you want them presented, then take pictures for your condo listing in the Barrie MLS. Great photos help to draw people in for showings, open houses and are proven to boost sales.

These are just a few staging considerations when getting your Barrie condo ready to sell and work with your Realtor® for listing in the Barrie MLS. If you don’t have the time, talent or inclination to stage your condo yourself, your Barrie condo real estate Sales Representative will be able to recommend a professional stager to work with you.

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Barrie Real Estate Market Summary for 2009

01-13-10
Mike Montague
Mike Montague: Real Estate Agent in Barrie, ON
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  • Office: (705) 739-1300
  • Mobile: (705) 718-6119

media release from our 2010 President, Elizabeth Wilson.

Annual sales activity in 2009 tops previous year


Annual residential sales activity in the area served by the Barrie District Association of REALTORS® Inc. was up in 2009 from 2008 levels, bolstered by a stronger performance in the second half of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter.

According to statistics provided by the Association, home sales recorded through the MLS® System totalled 207 units in December 2009, 56 per cent above levels in the same month in 2008. This is the seventh consecutive year-over-year increase.

Despite small increases in the second and third quarters of the year, year-to-date activity had been trailing 2008 levels until September. However, the fourth quarter of 2009 was the strongest on record. As a result, annual sales in 2009 surpassed levels reported in 2008. Activity totalled 4,326 units in 2009, up seven per cent from the previous year.

“The last half of 2009 saw a significant recovery in the resale market,” said Elizabeth Wilson, President of the Barrie and District Association of REALTORS®. “The strong sales momentum seen at the end of 2009 is likely to carry forward into the New Year.”

The total dollar value of all home sales amounted to $54.2 million in December 2009, rising 49 per cent from levels reported one year ago. The annual dollar volume of home sales recorded through the Association’s MLS® System was $1.1 billion, an increase of seven per cent from 2008.

Total sales activity in the Barrie region numbered 213 units in December, up 58 per cent year-over-year. The total value of all properties sold in December 2009 was $55.4 million, an increase of 50 per cent from December 2008.

The average price for homes sold via the Association’s MLS® System in 2009 was $263,959. This is virtually unchanged from the average price of $264,034 in 2008.

New residential listings numbered 266 units in December 2009, down three per cent year-over-year. This is the ninth consecutive month in which new listings have declined from year-ago levels.

The number of active residential listings on the Association’s MLS® System dropped 26 per cent from a year earlier to 1,043 units at the end of December 2009. This is the eighth consecutive month in which active listings have declined from the peak levels of 2008. The last three declines have all been in excess of 25 per cent.

There were five months of inventory at the end of December 2009, well below levels recorded one year earlier (10.6 months). The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.

The Barrie and District Association of REALTORS® Inc. covers a geographical area that includes the City of Barrie and part or all of the surrounding townships, including Springwater, Oro-Medonte, Innisfil, Essa, Bradford-West Gwillimbury and Clearview. The Association provides continuing education, Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), statistical information, and many other services to its members.

The Barrie & District Association of REALTORS® cautions that over a period of time, the use of average price information can be useful in establishing trends, but it does not indicate actual prices in widely divergent areas or account for price differentials, between geographical areas.

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Great Condo Management = Great Condo Life In Barrie

12-22-09
Stephanie Adams
Stephanie Adams: Real Estate Agent in Barrie, ON
  • view my blog
  • Office: (705) 728-4067
  • Mobile: (705) 716-0299

In Barrie, the condo manager acts as the corporation’s liaison so you, the unit owner, have a direct line to the building’s decision-makers. Barrie condo managers have a big job: they handle everything from owner issues, to ensuring payment is made to the professionals called in for maintenance and repair tasks.

Condos In Barrie

It can be a tough job, since they have many responsibilities to make sure there’s smooth communication between you and the building’s corporation. Building managers are the link for any general correspondence between unit owners and the corporation, and it benefits your building community greatly if they’re outgoing and well liked overall. As the collective group’s representative, they’re your front-line person whenever there’s an emergency or issue that needs resolving.

Condo management also supervises the property’s employees, including maintenance and repair, and any contract labour that may handle landscaping and snow removal.

Building management handles any bookkeeping activities, including payroll and maintaining records of all correspondence between the unit owners and repair personnel. They’re responsible for creating and monitoring the annual budget and any reporting that’s required by the corporation. Management is responsible for arranging tenders on large projects and a competent manager can help keep costs down significantly. Even a small property can be a lot of work to keep tabs on.

When owners of condos in Barrie, question a certain rule or restriction within the building community, the condo manager is the first contact to initiate an amendment, retraction or further explanation. It’s important that unit owner’s work with their building management to ensure their interests and collective position are well represented to the board of directors.

Colin Hassey, from Hassey Property Management in Barrie states that Condo managers are also responsible for working with the building consultant to develop and implement a reserve fund plan. It is critical the reserve fund study accurately anticipates future major expenditures and that the plan is implemented in accordance with the study. Having a well-funded reserve fund is something buyers are increasingly focusing on and it can have a big impact on value – something important to every Barrie condo owner. Buyers want reassurance that there will be enough money to cover future expenses and your property manager is key to ensuring that an adequate funding plan is developed and implemented.

Stephanie Adams is a Sales Representative at Royal LePage First Contact Realty focusing on Barrie Condo and townhouse sales.
Email: Steph@barriecondoteam.com
Phone: 705.716.0299
Web: www.barriecondoteam.com

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