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        <title>The Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.dewarrealty.com/blog/2022-01/</link>
        <description>Greg Dewar is a realtor in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and Guelph. His real estate blog shares everything you need to know about buying and selling a house successfully.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.dewarrealty.com/blog/negotiating-the-sale-of-your-home.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.dewarrealty.com/blog/negotiating-the-sale-of-your-home.html</link>
        <author>greg@dewarrealty.com (Greg Dewar)</author>
        <title>Selling Your Home: You Have Received An Offer Now What?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
You Have Received an Offer Now What?





You never truly know what buyers are thinking when they make an offer, but, the ease of negotiations will be directly linked to the amount of preparation you've put into listing your home.  Below are your main areas of focus.


Working with the Price


If you get your asking price, or even over it, that's fantastic If you don't find the price appropriate you can sign the offer back. This means you're refusing the offer and would like to make changes. One thing to remember is that buyers ultimately decide what your house is worth. If the showing feedback &amp; offer history shows that your price may be high, then be flexible. There may be other ways to save money.


Working with the Closing Date


When do you need to move by? If you don't have a specific date in mind then give the buyer their closing date. You can use it as a tool to negotiate other areas of the offer. If the offer is lower than your asking price, a quicker closing will save you monthly expenses.


Working with Inclusions


Are the buyers asking for your stuff? Homes are commonly sold with Appliances and other personal items such as window coverings, light fixtures, and furniture. If there is anything you don't want to sell with your home remove it prior to listing or exclude it in the offer.


Working with Conditions


Most buyers use conditions when making an offer. This allows them to ensure they are making the right choice. The most common conditions found in an offer are:






 Financing, Home Inspection, &amp; Insurance – Each of these conditions should take approx. 5 business days. Allow for short extensions if necessary, but don’t allow weak offers to drag on and tie up valuable marketing time for your listing.






Status Certificate – If you’re selling a condo the buyers will need to review the Status Certificate. This will detail several item related to the Condos Corporation.  Some items that are of most importance are the Condos financial records, the by-laws, any pending lawsuits, and any restrictions that are imposed on the owners. This condition can take 10 – 15 Business days to satisfy.






Sale of the Buyers Property – Often times in order to buy a new home people need to sell their current one. If an offer to purchase your home has this condition, don’t be discouraged. Typically this conditions can take weeks or months to be fulfilled but you will still be able to offer your home to other buyers during that time. 






Working with Buyers


Every buyer is looking for something different. If buyers are unreasonable simply deny their offer. But if they are trying to work with you then reciprocate. This may be the only person willing to buy your home, so treat them respectfully. If issues come up during negotiations then understand the buyer's concern. A middle ground can almost always be found when people have the same goals.


Get Professional Advice


Are you ready to sell your home? At Dewar Realty we Guarantee Your Home SOLD in 15 Days, or You Get $10,000*  Experience a true Full-Service approach to selling your home. We Take Care Of EVERYTHING We handle any renovation projects to increase your home's value, the complete professional staging of the entire home, and we back it all up with the best in-house marketing package around


Call Dewar Realty today, we are ready to help


Contact Dewar Realty


*conditions apply
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 28 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.dewarrealty.com/blog/buyers-remorse-avoiding-costly-surprises.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.dewarrealty.com/blog/buyers-remorse-avoiding-costly-surprises.html</link>
        <author>greg@dewarrealty.com (Greg Dewar)</author>
        <title>Buyer's Remorse - Avoiding Costly Surprises</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Buyer's Remorse - Avoid Costly Surprises


Buying a home is a process that most people will only go through once, and it should be a fun and positive experience. After all, this is the biggest purchase you are likely to make in your lifetime, and big moments are to be enjoyed. So you grab your list of new home &quot;must-haves&quot;, start searching online for local listings, and you begin making calls to book some house showings. Eventually, you find 'the home', you put in an offer, and congratulations you are now a homeowner But what happens when the dust settles, and you realize that your new home is full of surprises - and some are unpleasant ones?


There are so many details to consider when house hunting, that it can be very easy to overlook even big issues within a home. While sellers in Ontario are required to disclose any major issue with their home when selling, this does not mean they are always honest or transparent. The average buyer doesn't know what to look for throughout a house, and why would they - it's not what they do. This is where an experienced Realtor shines the brightest They know exactly what to look for, how to spot red flags, and they have a network of trusted professionals to conduct full proper home inspections to eliminate any surprises.


Dream Home or Nightmare?


Recently a story was shared on CBC about a woman in St John's, Newfoundland who is now stuck with what is basically a worst-case scenario. She searched hard and found the perfect place to call home, an 800 square-foot bungalow right in the central area of the city. Everything seemed wonderful at first, she settled in and even set up shop for her small business that she runs from home. After a few months, however, she started hearing noises in her walls and under the floor. To her dismay, she discovered that she had a rodent problem - rats, specifically. She immediately called pest control and had them come to save her from her unwanted house guests, only to learn that the rats were the least of her issues. She had unknowingly purchased a converted mechanic's garage, that had not been properly renovated or even registered with the city. Even worse news came when pest control cut an access point into her attic, where they discovered charred beams and rafters - there had been a serious fire prior to the building's conversion, one that was never reported nor repaired.


Had she consulted an experienced Realtor, she may have saved herself from this heartache. Her Realtor would have made sure the home was properly inspected and raised a big red flag when the sellers blocked requests to see the attic, twice. 


While this story may be quite bizarre and indeed a very unique case, these sorts of surprises happen all the time to unsuspecting new homeowners. Usually, it is not as dramatic as a rodent infestation or covering up a serious fire, but even small surprises could equal big headaches and a big hole in the pocketbook. Out of repair furnaces and roofs, plumbing and electrical not to code, drafty windows, and termite-infested decks are all potential surprises that can quickly destroy the honeymoon phase of homeownership - if you were unaware of them before finalizing the sale.


Get Expert Advice


As an experienced Realtor who has also completed many home renovation projects, I know exactly what to look for. This means I can catch major issues on the initial walkthrough - and my network of experienced home inspectors will catch everything else upon their inspection.


If you are looking to buy your first home, or even your fifth, using a trusted and experienced local Realtor is always the smartest way to go. We'd love to help you find the home you've been searching for, and we can even help sell the one you currently have. Give us a call today


Contact Dewar Realty
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>https://www.dewarrealty.com/blog/increasing-curb-appeal-getting-buyers-in-the-door.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.dewarrealty.com/blog/increasing-curb-appeal-getting-buyers-in-the-door.html</link>
        <author>greg@dewarrealty.com (Greg Dewar)</author>
        <title>Increasing Curb Appeal &amp; Getting Buyers in the Door</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Increasing Curb Appeal and Getting Buyers In The Door





Before you put money in to your home, the exterior should be taken care of. The first impression is made when potential buyers drive by your home or pull into your driveway. If it doesn’t look good, they are approaching with skepticism or they may just keep on driving


While exterior improvements may not have a large ROI, compared to Interior improvements, they are essential. Anything on the outside of your home that needs improvement or replacement could significantly affect an offer price or the desire to place an offer at all. Some exterior items can have large price tags to fix and the average buyer won't be willing to assume major repairs. I know everyone has a different budget when preparing their home for sale, but if you want to receive top dollar for your home, try to complete as many tasks as possible from the list below.


Roof


A home that is ready for sale should have shingles that are in good shape, Eaves-trough that allows proper drainage, and Downspouts that direct water away from your foundation. Your Soffits &amp; Facia should also be in good condition.


Exterior Walls


No matter what type of surface (Brick, Siding, Stucco, Etc..) there should be no damaged or missing material. Any existing issues should be rectified before you list.


Windows &amp; Doors


Windows and doors should all open &amp; close easily. If windows &amp; doors are drafty or allow water to penetrate the home you should replace them with new Energy Efficient products or have them maintenance by a professional.


Exterior Structures


If your home currently has a Deck, Fence, or Shed - is it in good shape? Any wobbly structures are sure to raise concerns with a buyer. Make sure these items are sturdy. Consider repairing, removing, or replacing anything you feel has seen better days.


Driveway &amp; Paths


Do you currently have pot holes or tripping hazards leading to your home? If so you may consider re-paving the drive, or re-leveling/replacing your walkways. The path to any entrance/exit should be clear. You should be able to get to and from doors and gates with ease (clear snow and lay salt in the winter).


Yard &amp; Garden


Not everyone has a green thumb, but when you're selling your home you may want to spruce up the yard a little. Trimming the trees, having some nice gardens or plush green grass can certainly appeal to buyers. If you are adding a Garden, it should be simple and easy to care for so as not to intimidate buyers with the thought of maintaining it all


The Front Door


Where all buyers will enter. I know I mentioned doors already but this one nagging issue has been very noticeable in my career. Make sure your front door and locks work I can't tell you how many times I've shown a house and had to wrestle the front door open or jiggle the key around for it to work. Getting people in the door should be effortless Please, Please, Please replace the handle and deadbolt if they cause any resistance when entering your home, and make sure that doors swing open easily at the push of the handle. No shoulder bumps allowed


The Foundation


This goes without saying, but I'm going to say it anyways - any known existing problems with your foundation should be repaired before you list. Structural problems, Leaks, and Cracks should be properly repaired by a professional (with a warranty if possible). Ensure proper grading around your home and make sure your downspouts direct water as far away from your foundation as possible.


Exterior Lighting


This a simple and effective way to improve the outside appearance. It also improves functionality. Making sure the exterior of your home is well lit is very important, especially if you are selling you home from late fall to late winter. In any case all lights should have working bulbs and be turned on for showings in the evening.


Are you thinking of selling your home, and want some Professional Advice?


Give us a call today, we will help you with every step of the process


Contact Dewar Realty
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.dewarrealty.com/blog/how-to-price-your-home-in-cambridge-on.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.dewarrealty.com/blog/how-to-price-your-home-in-cambridge-on.html</link>
        <author>greg@dewarrealty.com (Greg Dewar)</author>
        <title>How to Price Your Home for Sale</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
How To Price Your Home For Sale





Do you know what your home is worth? Do you know what your homes will sell for? Probably not


We all want to achieve the highest possible sale price for our home. Consider this when establishing an asking price. In 2014 - 6,638 homes were listed in Cambridge and 3,131 of them sold. This means that only 47 were able to sell their home. So, how do you join the SOLD percentage?


Pricing your Cambridge, ON home accurately is very important to achieving a sale, so be realistic. The price is the first thing buyers look at and if they feel your home is overpriced it can linger on the market, or encourage buyers to look at other options. Remember - Although you set the asking price, the value of your home is determined by what buyers are willing to pay. No matter what condition your home is in, ultimately you MUST price it accordingly.



What Affects Your Asking Price?




Urgency - How quickly must you sell?


Competition - Are there just a few or many homes available in your price category and area?


Available Financing - Does your home come with an assumable loan that is below today's rate? What are the current home loan interest rates? What financing alternatives are available for your home and area?


Home Evaluation - Do you know what similar homes in the area sold for within the last six months to 1 year?


Expenses - What are your selling costs?


Location - The same home could have several different sales prices depending on where exactly it is located. Keep this in mind when comparing your home to others.


Smart Renovations – Not every improvement will net you a higher sale price, but, money that has been wisely invested typically will. Speak to your Realtor if you want to know the best places in your home to invest.




What Doesn't Affect Your Asking Price?




Original Purchase Price - Your price is determined by today's market.


Over Improvements – Every price range brings different expectations. And not every improvement you make is going to equal a higher sale price. Potential buyers will evaluate your home and may include the costs to remove or replace items, or deem certain features unnecessary for the home or their enjoyment.


The Cost to Build Your Home Today - A replacement value is determined for insurance purposes only.


Personal Attachment &amp; Emotions - Buyers purchase a home based on their emotions, not yours. They may not see as much value in the items you are attracted to.


Neighbours Claims – The neighbour may not be as informed as they think.  People could misinform you as to the price they bought or sold for, or their home may not be as similar as you think. Also, the terms accepted by both the buyer and seller can greatly affect the sale price.




What Happens to an Overpriced House?




You'll Help Sell the Competition - The &quot;correctly priced&quot; homes look even better if yours is overpriced. Most buyers are competitive shoppers and will look at all the options.


Your Home Will Stay on the Market Longer - Did you know that 80 of your potential buyers will see your house in the first four to six weeks? If you don't sell them then, it takes approximately three months to replace them with an equal number of newcomers.


You'll Lose Market Interest and Qualified Buyers - Serious buyers use the value, quality and price of similar properties as deciding factors.


A Negative Impression is Created - People will wonder why your house is still on the market. they'll believe something is wrong with your home, when really there isn’t.


You (The Seller) May Lose Money - You may have to make extra mortgage payments as well as incur taxes, insurance and unplanned maintenance costs.


You (The Seller) May Have to Accept Less Money - Studies show that the longer a house is on the market, the greater the discount off the list price. Often a seller will accept less than fair market value in order to sell because of an approaching deadline.


There is the Potential for Appraisal Problems. The appraiser from your buyer's lending institution must agree that the home is worth the purchase price. If the appraiser believes the price is inflated, the loan may not be approved.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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