A Christmas Present to Myself – A Box of New Beginnings

This is my final week as a licensed real estate sales representative. I have been struggling with the decision to leave all year. After my husband retired, I wanted to spend more time with him and to go on longer trips. It was clear that I could not provide top level service to my clients if I was going to be gone several weeks or months a year. So….. as my license was coming up for renewal in January, I finally wrapped up all my concerns about not having a specific plan for the future and decided to gift that freedom to myself.

As I have been telling my friends and clients of my decision, the first question that almost all of them have asked is “What are you going to do about your blog?”. I am going to continue. I have lots of experience to draw from, lots of thoughts and some ideas of activities that will keep me in the house-related area.

For the time being, I am going to enjoy the holidays ahead. In January, I will open the box of new beginnings and see what is in store.

Wish me luck!!!

Photo credit: Gift @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/72153088@N08/6510934443/

My Buyers’ Agent Promise

 

As your Buyer’s Agent, I will:

I will visit you in your new home, get the tour and see how you are settling into the neighbourhood. 

I will come to your housewarming party!

Photo credit:  DSC_0831

This list has been reviewed and modified from a posting by Christine Smith , a Buyers’ Agent in Canton MA.

Dead is so yesterday

Buyers talk about finding ‘the’ house, about a feeling when they are in some homes and sometimes they talk about karma.  What they are really saying is that the home appeals to all of their senses,  If you are putting your house on the market, look around your home for anything dead in the house and either toss it or pack it away for your next home.  What should you take away?

Make your house overflow with life and vitality.

Photo credit:  Hearst Castle – Stuffed Owl

I poured Spot Remover on my dog.  Now he is gone.

Happy 2011!

 

May this new year bring us peace, health, love, friends, family, contentment, success, the sound of children laughing, tears of sorrow and of joy, challenges, hope, new interests, a sense of exploration,  a bright future, things to look forward to and things to remember fondly. 

Here is to a bright and prosperous 2011. 

Feather your nest

When you are selling your home, Buyers need to find every room as perfect as you, the Seller, can make it.  Sometimes a room just needs a little punch of colour and/or texture to make it attractive.  Paint is the cheapest way to get the biggest impact – but work is involved.  The next way is through accessories. 

Buy some toss cushions.  Target / Winners/ Homesense / TJ Maxx stores have great pillow selections.  Watch for the sales as some can be dirt cheap.  These will freshen up the living, family and bedrooms.  Here are a couple of hints: 

When it comes to staging and decorating…… 

Lay down your weary head.

Just fence me in.

Unlike the Lone Ranger, free to roam with Silver across everyone’s property, your city yard is improved with a good fence.  It will keep the dog in the yard and your kids out of the neighbours’ yards.  Make sure your fence is in good shape before putting your house on the market.

If you don’t have a fence, you might want to look into putting up a fence before putting up a For Sale sign. 

  • Research height restrictions in your area of the country.  While 9 feet may block out the view of the neighbour suntanning in his speedo, most limits are 6 feet. 
  • Talk to your neighbours, sometimes the neighbours will all chip in for the fence.
  • Look into the requirements for Good Neighbour Fences.  Some by-laws say that the nice side of the fence have to face the neighbour and not you, even if you paid.
  • Find your property survey.  If you are doing this on your own, stay inside your property line.  If you are sharing with the neighbours, find and agree to build on the line.
  • Research material.  Most people want a fence requiring limited maintenance.  PVC is good but some people baulk at plastic fencing (I like it.).   Cedar is great but never ever paint it.  Let it age to a lovely silver sheen.  Either stain or paint the rest. 
  • Ooops.  I forgot to mention that chain link just screams ‘I have a rottweiler and a rack of guns.’ and barbed wire at the top of a concrete block fence says ‘Beware the junk yard dog.‘

Good fences make good neighbours and a good sale.

Photo credit:  Good fences

Pass the salt, please

Winter is just starting.  For most of Canada, the northern US and poor poor Colorado, this means treacherous walking and driving season.  Ice will form on the sidewalks and front stairs and along the railings and banisters.  If you are selling your home, I know you don’t want prospective Buyers to harm themselves on your property.  Just a couple of tips may help. 

Imagine a real buyer trying to sign an offer with his arms in casts from slipping and falling on your property. Okay, just imagine him wanting it submit and offer after that horrific accident.  Imagine your insurance company canceling your insurance from the number of claims.  Makes shoveling and salting look attractive, doesn’t it?

When it comes to winter and selling, throw some salt over your left shoulder and onto the sidewalk.

Photo credit:  Austin shoveling snow

Valerie Zinger  email: vzinger@royallepage

Have you ever wondered what professionals are saying about – FUZZY BATH MATS AND TANK COVERS?

Well, now you can find out.  Yesterday I posted on ActiveRain about why Sellers should never have fuzzy bath mats and toilet tank covers.  I received over 80 comments from the 740 readers (plus over 25 of my responses) on this post.  Now it is time to share with my website readers…….  Here is the post:

Don’t flush away a sale

Get rid of those fluffy toilet tank covers and any floor mats or carpeting. 

There I have said it. 

What?  If you, the Seller,  have them and your house is not on the market, okay enjoy.  But…..  They have two huge negative factors going for them: 

1.  The Granny Factor – You know, Grandma had the tank cover, the toilet seat cover and a floor mat all in the same colour.  She also had a Barbie doll stuck in a roll of toilet paper with a crochet skirt.  Do you want people to think your house is so outdated that you have not moved away from the 50s.  A half century later and Barbie lives. 

2.  The Yuk Factor – when it is your house and your body bits in the carpet, who cares.  When you have your house for sale, get rid of any type of floor carpet.  It just turns Buyers off. 

There are some easy and cheap fixes for your house and the bathroom is likely the least expensive room to update with the biggest impact.  I found the photos below on Flickr that nicely illustrate the point.  I might have removed the throw mat.  Enjoy.

Photo credit:  Bathroom Metamorphosis @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexik/422735652/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Here is who commented: 

Wow, it’s funny to find a discussion based on my bathroom :) I am the owner of the above home; I’m glad it helped you illustrate your point Valerie! I lived in that house for 5 years and gradually did the work you see above. Disgusting toilet covers aren’t the only thing that should be destroyed though, don’t forget to replace all the cheap brass 80′s fixtures and door knobs. Swapping out ivory outlets/switches for pure white also makes a subtle but big difference.

All in all, renovating that house cost about $10k (the largest expense was Pergo flooring.) But in a neighborhood of un-remodeled homes, I was able to recoup that on the sale 5-fold.

(Also, Ellen, pulling down the wall paper was a royal pain in the ass!)     Alexi

 

Comments received as of 8:00 AM this morning.  I encourage you to go to the  site  and read through everyone’s comments.  Funny and instructive ~ just they way I like them 

The meaning of “I can live here” when House Hunting in Ottawa

It always surprises buyers that they can step into a home, be in the foyer, and say “I can live here”.  Hey, what about the inspection, checking the room sizes, knowing the age of the furnace and the condition of the roof?  What happened to your must-have and nice-to-have lists?  What happened to “I need to buy a bungalow” and then have the ah ha  moment in a 2 storey? 

It is my experience that we have a whole lot of flex in our buying criteria (including price) and that we are not sure of which is the priority until we see the house – the one that seems to speak to us.  Really, was it magic?

Nice HouseYes.  There is something in the “Ah Ha” house that gels our real criteria.  Before going in, you have read the feature sheets, know the price, know the heating systems, have assured yourself that there is central air conditioning and the REALTOR® has told you about the taxes, the neighbourhood and other interesting things.  Who lives in the bedroom?  You don’t need see the bedrooms.  Who lives in the basement?  You don’t need to see the basement.  Who lives in the backyard?  You don’t need to see the backyard.  It really is about the feeling from the front of the house and the entrance that gets reaffirmed as you walk through the home. 

With your positive feeling, you will be looking at the kitchen, family living areas and bedrooms in a good frame of mind. All the things that bothered you in other houses, now seem not to bother you in the “Ah Ha” house.  All of that is the magic.  Enjoy.  Having this feeling means that you are going to consider buying the house. 

It is my hope that every buyer gets an “Ah Ha” moment. 

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa, Canada ~ Ph. 613-723-5300 ~ Email vzinger@royallepage.ca

 

Working to Meet Your Needs

This site is continuously being adjusted to meet your needs.

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Look for changes or regular blogs. I look forward to offering you ideas, perspectives, information, and news you can use to help you navigate through the process of buying or selling your home in Ottawa.