Pretend You’re A Buyer

An effective technique to help you sell your property quickly and for the best price is to put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer. Don’t just visualize this. Actually do it!

Drive to your property and imagine that you’re seeing it for the first time. What’s your impression? Is the landscaping attractive? Are the walkways clear? Is the front door welcoming?

Now walk up to the front door, open it, and step inside. Does the foyer seem neat and uncluttered? Is there anything unsightly from that vantage point?

Take a walk through your home, starting in rooms that a potential buyer would predictably view first: the kitchen, living room and bedrooms. Do you notice anything you could change or improve, that would make those areas more appealing?

Next, check out the washrooms, closets and basement. Are they clean and tidy?

Finally, think about the price you want for the home. As a buyer, would you be enticed to make an offer at that level? Are there any nagging doubts about the property that would hold you back?

Understanding the impression your home will make on potential buyers will help you sell it faster.

Looking for a good REALTOR®?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.comCondos and Houses for rent
CondoName.comNew and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers

Reposted from: http://www.marina.realtor/ixact-pretend-youre-a-buyer/

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage

1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Sell Your Home Faster With An Outdoor Makeover

When you put your home on the market, it’s important that you make the indoor living space as attractive as possible to potential buyers. The foyer should look spacious and inviting. The bedrooms, neat and uncluttered. The basement, clean and well lit.

All good advice.

But don’t forget the outdoor living space. That too has a significant impact on how quickly your home sells and for how much. You want to make the area around your property, from the front walkway to the backyard deck, as attractive as possible.

How do you do that? Here are some tips for sprucing up your outdoor living space that can be easily implemented.

  • Trim the hedges. Like a haircut, it gives your landscaping a clean, styled look.
  • Place flower pots in strategic locations, such as next to the front steps and on the deck or patio.
  • Fix anything that’s loose or squeaking, such as fence gates, shutters and deck railings.
  • Remove anything unsightly, like garbage bags and piles of garden cuttings.
  • Sweep all walkways, especially the one leading to your front door.
  • Wash the outsides of your windows. (No need for ladders, buckets and scrub brushes. Most home improvement stores now sell window washing kits that hook up to your garden hose.)
  • Check to make sure everything works: water taps, electrical outlets, exterior lights, etc.

You can probably get most of this work done in a single weekend. It’s worth it. Making your outdoor living space look great will dramatically increase your home’s appeal to potential buyers.

Looking for a good REALTOR®?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.comCondos and Houses for rent
CondoName.comNew and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers

Reposted from: http://www.marina.realtor/ixact-sell-your-home-faster-with-an-outdoor-makeover/

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage

1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

The #1 Ingredient Needed To Sell Your Home Quickly

There’s a long list of ingredients needed to sell your home quickly. Obviously, you want to make your home as clean and uncluttered as possible. You should also make sure any outstanding repairs are done. And, of course, all the little things you can do to make your home “show” well are important, too.

But the number one ingredient needed to sell your home quickly is the right price tag. If you set the price of your home just right, buyers will come to see it, and there’s a good chance you’ll get some good offers. If you price your home too high, however, few buyers will take an interest in your property and it might languish on the market for months. Worse, it might not sell at all.

So how do you determine the right price at which to list your home?

One of the best ways is to do an analysis of what similar properties in your area have sold for recently. What people are actually paying for homes like yours — in communities like yours — is the best indicator of the true market value of your home.

Looking for a good REALTOR®?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.comCondos and Houses for rent
CondoName.comNew and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers

Reposted from: http://www.marina.realtor/ixact-the-1-ingredient-needed-to-sell-your-home-quickly/

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage

1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Should You Worry About Market Fluctuations?

You turn on the television and watch a news story about housing prices going down. Then you receive a flyer in the mail about a property around the corner that sold for a decent price. Next you read a newspaper article about the housing market on the upswing again.

It’s a little like being on a roller-coaster ride!

Unfortunately the ride isn’t much fun if you’re thinking of buying or selling a home. In fact, it can be very confusing and frustrating. You just don’t know if “now” is the right time to make a move.

In reality, the housing market has been fluctuating for decades. Yet, people sell their homes every day for good prices, and just as many people get into their next dream homes affordably.

When you hear news of market fluctuations, there are two important things to consider.

First of all, a lot of media information about the housing market is national, or at least regional. If the housing market is trending up or down nationally, remember that it doesn’t necessarily mean that your LOCAL market is doing the same.

In fact, it’s entirely possible for housing prices to be rising in your neighbourhood while they are falling nationally, and vice versa.

Secondly, if you’re selling a current property while buying another home, then the net effect of market fluctuations may cancel out.

Say, for example, that the local market is on the upswing. You’ll probably be able to sell your current home for a good price. However, the home you purchase will likely also be priced to reflect the upswing.

The same holds true when the market is down.

All that being said, there are some circumstances in which you need to consider market fluctuations when deciding whether or not to make a move. A good REALTOR® will help.

Looking for a good REALTOR®?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.comCondos and Houses for rent
CondoName.comNew and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage

1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Increasing Foyer Appeal

You’ve heard of curb appeal. It refers to the good impression buyers tend to get when they first see your house “from the curb”. The greater the curb appeal, the more enticing your house will seem.

But there’s another type of appeal you may not be aware of: Foyer appeal. That’s the impression buyers get when they first walk in the door.

Think of what happens when someone visits your house for the first time. Chances are, they stand in the foyer for a few moments, look around, and take in the view of your house from that perspective.

That’s why, if you’re preparing your property for sale, it’s important to make the foyer look as attractive and inviting as possible.

Obviously, you want to make sure it’s clean and free of clutter. You don’t want potential buyers to trip over shoes or catch a glimpse of an over-stuffed coat closet.

If you have a welcome mat, make sure it’s clean and in good shape. Or, better still, buy a new one.

Finally, make sure that the rooms that can be seen from the foyer look attractive.

The impression you want to make is, “Wow. I can’t wait to see the rest of the house!”

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.comCondos and Houses for rent
CondoName.comNew and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage

1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Preparing Your House for Sale in Less Than a Week

It’s great when you have lots of time to prepare for something important. But life doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes you have to move quickly, and do the best you can with the time you have.

Say, for example, you had to get your house ready for sale, and you only had a week to do so. What could you do in those few days to make your home as attractive as possible to potential buyers? Here are some ideas:

  • Clean the house from top to bottom. Make it look “guest ready”.
  • Get rid of as much clutter as possible. If necessary, put some things in storage. Try to make every room look organized and spacious.
  • Get all minor repairs done.
  • Paint. It’s the fastest and cheapest way to dramatically improve the look of any room.
  • Don’t forget the outdoors. Prune the hedges, sweep the walkways, and deal with any potential eyesores — such as a rusted old bike stowed in the side yard.
  • Place some fresh flowers in the dining room and outside next to the front door.
  • Depersonalize your house as much as possible. For example, stow away family pictures. You want buyers to imagine themselves living there, not you.

This is just a partial list of ideas. A good REALTOR® can help you with more tips on preparing your house so that it sells quickly and for the right price.

Want help? Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.comCondos and Houses for rent
CondoName.comNew and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage

1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Don’t Over Improve Your House Before You Sell

If you’re considering selling your house, you might be tempted to sink some money into home improvements. After all, gleaming new hardwood floors or a stunning wrap-around deck will make your property sell a lot faster, and for more money. And you’ll more than recover your investment with the higher selling price. Right?

Maybe not. While those types of upgrades will certainly make your house more attractive to potential buyers – and may nudge the selling price up a little – you may not recoup all of your costs.

That’s why major home improvements should be done for your own personal enjoyment, not as a tactic for preparing your property for sale.

So what types of upgrades do make sense? The good news is that the home improvement projects that are most likely to help sell your house are also the cheapest to implement. If you’re planning on selling your house, consider doing the following:

  • Paint
  • Make repairs
  • Remove stains
  • Trim hedges
  • De-clutter
  • Plant flowers
  • Improve lighting

Looking for good REALTOR in Toronto, Mississauga or Oakville?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.comCondos and Houses for rent
CondoName.comNew and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers

Reposted from http://www.marina.realtor/ixact-dont-over-improve-your-house-before-you-sell

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage

1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Stay or move? How to decide

Do you sometimes review the real estate ads in your local paper? Do you drive by an open house sign and feel the urge to stop and check it out? Those are common indications that, at least on some level, you’re thinking about the possibility of making a move.

But how do you decide if you should actually move?

The first step is to consider whether there are any practical reasons to consider buying a new home. What’s pushing you in that direction?

  • Is your current home too small for your needs?
  • Is the commute to work, for you or your spouse, too long? (Perhaps longer than you expected when you purchased the home?)
  • Are there property features you would now like to have, such as a larger backyard or a more spacious kitchen?
  • Has the neighbourhood changed in an undesirable way?
  • Do you have personal reasons for wanting to move, such as a desire to be closer to relatives in another area?

Carefully consider those things that can’t change unless you move. For example, if a major highway was recently built near you, the ongoing sound of traffic isn’t going to go away. It’s now part of the neighbourhood.

If there are no practical reasons for moving, there may still be other reasons for wanting a new home. You may want to move your family to a better neighbourhood, with better schools or you may simply want a bigger home, with a larger backyard, more rooms, and a wider driveway.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with simply wanting a better place than the one you have now. In fact, that is a common reason why many people make a move.

The point is, if you’ve been thinking about a new home for a while, perhaps now is the time to take the next step. A good REALTOR® can help you understand your options.

Looking for a good REALTOR®?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.comCondos and Houses for rent
CondoName.comNew and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage

1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

Understanding Market Value

If you were going to sell your car, what would you do? Well, you would probably check to find out how similar vehicles to yours are priced. Then you would set your advertised price within that range.

What you would be doing, perhaps without knowing it, is determining the “market value” of your car.

Market value is simply what buyers today are willing to pay for a particular product.

When you decide to put your house up for sale, one of the first things you and your REALTOR® will do is determine the market value of your property. That’s important to know because if you price your home too much above its market value, you probably won’t get any offers. Alternatively, if you price your property too low, it might get snapped up quickly but you’ll have left a lot of money on the table.

How does a REALTOR® help you determine your home’s current market value?

He or she will look at a variety of factors, such as the desirability of the neighbourhood, the features of your home, how well it has been maintained, renovations and other improvements you’ve made, and of course, its location.

Your REALTOR® will also review what similar homes in your area have sold for recently – which is, perhaps, the strongest indicator of current market value.

Once you know the market value of your home, you can make an informed decision as to how to price it so that it will attract the right type of buyers and the best possible price.

Should you price your home high above its market value in the hopes that some unwary buyer will purchase it? Unfortunately, that rarely works.

The good news is, your property may be worth more than you think. One of the best ways to find out is to invite a good REALTOR® to your home to do an assessment.

Looking for a good REALTOR®?

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.comCondos and Houses for rent
CondoName.comNew and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage

1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor

5 Things Home Buyers Don’t Want To See

When preparing a property for sale, homeowners often focus on the things that will impress buyers, such as clean and uncluttered spaces, well lit rooms, staged furniture designed to maximize appeal, and so forth.

But it’s equally important to pay attention to those things you don’t want buyers to see… those little turn-offs that, although seemingly minor, can distract buyers and cause them to lose interest in your property.

For example, you don’t want buyers to see these things:

Pets. Although many people love pets, some don’t. Others are allergic to them. Dogs, in particular, can take a keen interest in new visitors, jumping and barking excitedly. It’s best to take pets for a walk during viewings.

Unfinished repairs. Dripping taps. Gouges and marks on walls. Broken tiles. Squeaking gates. Home buyers will notice, and may mistakenly think there are other deficiencies lurking in your home. Do as many repairs as you can. Then be upfront about those that are in progress.

Clutter. It’s common for main rooms, like livingrooms and kitchens, to be clean and uncluttered during a viewing. But buyers who become interested in your property will take a closer look, and check out the garage, cupboards, backyard shed and other places where things tend to accumulate. The more you de-clutter, the better your property will show.

Smells. Obviously not something a buyer will see, but he or she will definitely notice lingering odours associated with pets, garbage, exotic cooking, and smoking. Scents have a strong influence on emotions. That’s why perfume companies do so well! So make sure your home is as scent-free as possible.

You. Nothing personal. When buyers view your home, they want to visualize themselves living there, not you. So let your REALTOR® be the host. Remove as many personal items, such as family pictures and trophies, as possible.

Call Marina 416-843-1515 today.

Your Real Estate Connection:
Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor
RentListingService.comCondos and Houses for rent
CondoName.comNew and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers

Marina Gavrylyuk
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Summit Realty Inc. Brokerage

1100 Burnhamthorpe Road West #27
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4G4

Cell: 416-843-1515 Tel.: 905-897-9555
Email: Marina@MarinaG.ca
Web: www.MarinaG.ca
Marina.Realtor