Windsor Real Estate Blog

When selling a home, you want the highest possible price plus the fastest possible sale. Key Motif will help your home stand out from its competition and appeal to your target buyers with home staging and digital interior models. The 3D models are important to show potential in rooms that haven’t been finished yet, example unfinished basements or out dated bathrooms. For most people it is hard to visualize the potential a home has when a room is unfinished. These models will help buyers see what they are investing in for their future, and insure the best possible results. Digital interior models of unfinished rooms will bring the staging process to the new generation of real estate marketing and are cost effective for home owners.

There are many levels to staging a home that Key Motif has to offer, from home assessments, to digital interior models that will ultimately add the architectural flair to any home. See our website http://www.keymotif.com for details on staging packages offered.

Testimonials:

Having just moved into the house in November, we were a little nervous about how we would find the time to get the house in order to entertain guests by Christmas. You instantly put us at ease by helping us organize our existing furniture and belongings and giving us creative ideas that truly warmed our rooms and gave us the festive look we were after. Thanks again!
-David Kaspek

“I wanted to pass along my excellent experience in working with such a talented designer. Thanks Danielle for all your help working with me on some finishing touched for my condo. It has been a real pleasure throughout. you have been so helpful – from finding the perfect drapery fabric, to solving the problem with a “challenging” chair and rescuing the bedroom from a painting mistake. I can’t believe what a difference your contributions have made to my place.”
-Kelly Hall

A sale can be made or lost as a direct result of your home’s curb appeal. When it comes to selling your home, the first impression is probably the most important impression. If the outside of the property doesn’t create interest or appear well-maintained, a buyer may choose to not even come inside the home. Here are five ways to create curb appeal.

 Paint and polish. A fresh coat of paint breathes new life into a tired-looking home. If your home looks dull or suffers from peeling, cracked or chipped surfaces, a paint job is a great investment. Polish the doorknocker and mail slot on the front door, as well as any light fixtures by the entry. Re-condition your deck. Consider renting a power washer to clean dirt and mildew from the wood, and then apply an all-weather sealer or stain.

 Manicure the grounds. Mow and edge the grass, and trim the trees and bushes. Also, clear away dead leaves and flowers, and mulch and weed the beds. Check to see that tree branches are not touching the home’s roof or outer walls. Add some color to your landscape by planting annuals and placing planters of flowers in strategic spots. You can even spruce up the property by hanging flowering baskets. Add flowering plants in the back yard, too. 

 Make needed repairs. See if anything is unhinged, loose or just an eyesore. Fix everything including broken fencing, windows and screens. Make sure winter’s cold weather didn’t leave any gutters sagging or loose. Replace any missing shingles from the roof. Try the doorbell. Check stairs and railings. Test doors for squeaks and rusted hinges. Don’t forget to take a critical look at the property at night. Make sure the lights work, and replace dim and burned-out bulbs.

 Unclutter. Tidy up the deck, patio and back yard. Rearrange the outdoor furniture to look inviting.  Put away gardening tools and toys. Clean up the barbecue area. Eliminate any “evidence” of pets, and restrict them to the back yard when showing the home. Move extra vehicles from the view of passersby.

 Clean. Clean the windows, inside and out, wash down the walks and driveway, and hose down the siding. Clean outdoor furniture and cushions. Check for oil spots on cement surfaces, especially the garage floor.         

The old saying about making a good first impression couldn’t be truer than when you are selling your home. Even the smallest enhancements can make a big difference in creating love at first sight for buyers.  For more information and other helpful tips visit windsor real estate

You’ve made the decision to sell your home. Even if you’ve sold a house before, this process can be daunting because it is a major financial transaction that involves many steps from selecting a sales professional and marketing the home, to negotiating with buyers and finally receiving funds at the closing. Yet, the home-selling process doesn’t have to be intimidating if you know what to expect. The process can be divided in nine steps.

Step 1: List your property with a real estate professional. Select someone who is knowledgeable, listens carefully, and with whom you feel comfortable. Interview at least three real estate professionals. Use their listing presentations to compare their preparation and professionalism. Don’t base your selection solely on selling price or commission. It’s probably best to avoid working with someone who promises you the moon—in this case, an unrealistically high price—then has to make price reductions until the property sells. Instead, focus on marketing plans, service and past results.

Step 2: Establish price and time frame. Determining a fair asking price is crucial in this market. Price the property too high and it could languish on the market. Of course you could always decrease the price later, yet you’ve lost potential buyers. Your real estate professional can help you determine true market value based on a comparable market analysis, which will include recent home sale transactions as well as homes currently on the market. Supply and demand, craftsmanship, amenities, condition and any special circumstances can also impact price. For instance, a relocation move might necessitate a quick sale.

Step 3: Develop and implement a marketing strategy. To get the most exposure for your home, you should have a marketing plan with clear objectives and an outline of specific resources to be used. Your plan should include a mixture of conventional and online marketing to optimize your reach to potential buyers.

Step 4: Get Your Home in Show Condition. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression. So make sure your home is in tip-top shape inside and out. Eliminate clutter and remove personal items. Refresh the paint, clean the carpets and make minor repairs. Keep the grass trimmed and add color to your landscape. You may also want to consider hiring a professional to stage your home. A home in move-in condition is much more attractive to buyers in a competitive market.  

Step 5: An offer is submitted. Once your home is on the market, a buyer will make an offer through his/her real estate sales professional. The buyer’s sales professional will present the offer to your representative, who will promptly relay it to you and help you evaluate the offer.

Step 6: The negotiation process begins and eventually an offer is accepted. One of the most critical roles played by your real estate professional is in the negotiation phase. Negotiations over the terms of a home-purchase contract can be extremely sensitive. The process of offer and counter-offer may go on until parties arrive at an acceptable contract, which can go very quickly or take days, even weeks.  

Step 7: Buyers submit a loan application and home inspections are scheduled. Most often, the loan approval is contingent upon a satisfactory appraisal and various inspections.

Step 8: The loan is approved and the closing process begins. Once the buyer’s home loan has been approved, preparations begin for the closing. The closing, also referred to as settlement or close of escrow, is the final step toward completing the sales transaction between the buyer and seller. During this process, your sales professional will funnel all the necessary closing documents to the escrow agent. This may include the deed, mortgage, tax receipts, a Certificate of Occupancy and other documents. A final walk-through will also be scheduled. Once the escrow agent receives the paperwork and the funds pertaining to the sale of the property, the escrow is closed.

Step 9: Time to move!

Of course this is a simplification of what is otherwise a complex transaction. As you are going through each stage of the process, look to your real estate professional to provide guidance so that you feel comfortable every step of the way.

As a real estate professional I would be happy to answer any questions you might have abouth any part of the buying or selling process.  Please contact me at chris@prudentialselect.ca or visit windsor real estate

Home-price adjustments in markets around the country have opened doors of opportunity for many renters.  In fact Windsor Ontario is now the most economical place to live in all of Canada based on a study of 32 major Canadian centres.  If you are transitioning from renter to homeowner, the prospect of making such a large investment may be exciting, while at the same time overwhelming.  But it doesn’t have to be. Here are six common mistakes to avoid.

1. Not understanding the homebuying process. Educate yourself. Find a homebuyer seminar that you can attend or research online. www.windsorrealestate4u.com  has a whole section dedicated to the home buying process with common mistakes, a handy home serch feature and much more.

2. Not asking questions. There are many facets and intricacies to the home buying process, so although you may gain a basic knowledge, you will still have questions. Don’t hesitate to let your real estate professional know that you are new to the process. Make sure you choose a sales professional who is willing to spend time with you and walk you through the entire process. He or she will expect you to have questions at each step—from house hunting, to making an offer to the closing. Remember, this is one of the largest financial transactions of your life, so you want to have a clear understanding of what’s going on.

3. Buying on impulse. Don’t feel pressured into making an offer on the first home you see. Buyers, especially first-timers, may be impressed by the first two or three homes they view.  Look at a good selection. List the positives and negatives about each home. Narrow the prospects to three or four and then return for a closer look. When you decide to make a bid on a property, work with your real estate professional to get all of your questions answered before making an offer. But don’t wait too long to make an offer. The longer you wait, the greater the chance other prospective buyers may place offers, making it harder for you to negotiate a good deal.

4. Looking outside your price range. Before beginning your home search, consider getting pre-qualified to so get an idea of how much you may be able to borrow.  Use this information as a starting point in determining your price range. Then take into consideration other factors that will affect your monthly budget once you are a homeowner, such as property taxes, homeowners insurance, utilities, and maintenance.  I have access to creative financing alternatives which can help with down payments, home improvements, and self employed buyers, for more information e-mail me at chris@prudentialselect.ca

5. Not planning ahead. Think about personal changes you are planning in the next five to seven years. For instance, are you starting a family, and if so, is the home large enough and will it continue to be? If this will be a starter home or if you think you’ll be relocating in a few year, you’ll probably want to pay closer attention to appreciation and resale value. If a double-income is necessary to qualify for financing and to make your payments, do your plans foresee an income sufficient to continue making payments?

6. Failure to focus on location. Don’t just focus on the house. Examine the community. Does it suit your lifestyle? Is the area safe, well-maintained, close to work, stores and schools? Find out about zoning and what new construction is planned on vacant land in the immediate area. Also consider the property marketability when it’s time to sell.

Above all, remember knowledge is key. No question is a silly question. Your real estate professional can be an invaluable asset throughout the process. Making smart home buying decisions will make the home-buying process less scary and your first home purchase a rewarding experience.

For more information please contact me directly at (519) 817-5588 or e-mail at chris@prudentialselect.ca or visit www.windsorrealestate4u.com

Looking for a relaxed and comfortable lifestyle for your retirement?  Great views, lots to do, longer hotter summers and shorter more moderate winters; what’s not to love?  Here in Windsor and Essex County we are poised to be the up and coming place to retire in Canada.

Canada’s southernmost point, bordered by Lake Erie, the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair with a great climate means shorts and short sleeves 6 months of the year.  We have thousands of acres of parkland, a great wine region, a longer gardening season and you’ll be amazed at how far your real estate dollars will go in our region.

A move south to the region could represent huge savings and a boost for your retirement savings.  Housing is the most affordable of 32 major centres in Canada and homeowners from the  Greater Toronto Area, purchasing a similar home with a prime location in Windsor and Essex County will save 30-50% or more! 

Come see what your retirement could look like in Windsor and Essex County!

Visit Windsor Real Estate

The basic strategy is to ensure that the interest you pay on your mortgage becomes tax deductible.

The tax deductible mortgage is the norm in the United States but there is now a way for Canadians to convert their mortgage interest into tax deductible interest.

Mortgage payments are made up of two components: principal and interest. By re-borrowing what you pay down on the principal of your mortgage and investing that portion into a non registered portfolio, you will create an annual tax deduction that will produce a tax refund. When you apply that refund towards your mortgage each year, you will decrease your mortgage amortization and build an investment portfolio for your retirement at the same time.

Visit Windsor real estate for more hints and tips to save you money.