Zingers #97 - Search and rescue

You will be getting a packet of documents ready when selling your home.  Dont’t forget to search for the receipts for such things as your water test and cleaning the septic tank, having the chimney swept, having the vents cleaned, having the annual furnace inspection, etc.  While not required, these will give your house a…

Clean bill of health.

Things Ottawa Home Buyers May Notice #34 - Open up and let the sun shine in

   At a recent showing of a home, the Buyers noticed that every window blind and curtain was completely closed and drawn.  Although it was a beautiful spring day with plenty of sunshine, the house was dark and cool.  One of the home owners was still in the house.  After I had opened a couple of blinds, the owner came behind me and closed them.  I asked why everything was closed and the owner said it was so that there would be no sun damage on the cupboards and wood floors.  Okay.  I admit that the floors looked brand new as they were so well maintained but……

If you are selling your home - a product - then you need to display it in the best manner possible.  When it comes to homes - open the drapes and, if warm enough, open the windows.  Let light into the home.  Almost all home owners see themselves in a light bright home with sun shining in and a sense of peace and contentment.  Stage your home to provide this feeling.

 Photo credit:  Chair in front of open window @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/72955502@N00/2243422737/

Zingers #95 - Parking lot mania

On the day of your Open House, move any cars, that you are not using, to a parking lot near your home. Who cares what kind of car you own?  Leave the driveway and the front street open for your visitors.  The empty garage will allow the Buyers to imagine their own cars being kept safe and dry.

Park your pride of car ownership.

It is Impossible to Erase all Trace of Visitors When Your House is For Sale

No matter how hard they try not to disrupt a house, people coming into your home, to view it or inspect it for purchase, will leave some evidence that they have been there. 

I recently accompanied a Buyer on his home inspection.  The inspection went very well.  This was his first home and he brought 4 other people to walk through the inspection with him.  Imagine - an inspector, the Buyer, 4 friends/relatives and the real estate agent!!!  Too many.  Everyone was careful to remove their shoes.  I watched to ensure that the Sellers’ things were respected.  The inspector put everything back where it belonged (such as the cover on the electrical box) and tried to put ornaments back in their right location when he had to move the to get access at doors, cranks, tapes, pipes, etc. 

Before leaving the house, I did one final tour to ensure that all doors were closed and locked and that all lights were turned off.  I left and was not more that 15 minutes away when I realized that I had forgotten my binder.  I returned within the 1/2 hour to get my binder. 

Imagine my surprise to find a very distressed homeowner, vacuum in hand and tension emanating from every pore.  I assumed that she was worried about the results of the inspection so I mentioned that it had gone very well and that the she would soon be hearing from her real estate agent about the inspection and any other conditions.  Her distress, and it was significant, was related to the table in the kitchen being moved (the inspector had opened the windows to ensure that the cranks were functioning) and that three dining room chairs and her plant had been moved in the dining room - where the inspector, Buyer and I had sat discussing the inspection and getting the final written report. 

I felt badly for her.  It was obvious that any unknown visitors were an intrusion and that the selling process had been very difficult.  Although her house was only 5 days on the market, every day must have been torture.  I apologized for moving the furniture and left. 

If you are selling, remember that It is impossible for people to spend 3 hours on an inspection in your house and not leave some trace of being there.  If you are a Buyer, keep in mind, the motto - “Touch with your eyes.” unless you are with a home inspector. 

Photo credit:  footprint.JPG@ http://www.flickr.com/photos/greencolander/1413601855/

Zingers #94 - Pre-sale check-up

For $300 - $450, a Seller can have a home inspector do a full house inspection – in advance of selling their home.  Why would you do this?  First, it will give you an opportunity to repair major issues that would prohit a sale and, second, you could offer it to a home buyer as part of the purchasing package.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Zingers #93 - Key to success

When you have an Open House, remove all of the keys that are hanging by the back and front doors.  Not everyone is a thief and not everyone will want to steal your keys for later re-entry into your home but why test this.  The best advice is to put away all of your spare keys for doors and vehicles until after everyone has left. 

Don’t lock the door after the “key” has bolted.

Home Buying in Ottawa - Buyers Use Their Senses

Most Buyers start out thinking that they are going to “see” several homes before making a purchasing decision.  In fact, we all use our 5 senses.  As Buyers walk through a home the senses are alert and, over time, trained to notice things.

Sight - It seems to be all about the way a house looks, colours, furniture placement, order of the rooms, size of the rooms, etc.  While primary, the other senses should be kicking into alert.

Hearing- Can the Buyer hear the furnace clunks every time it kicks in or that the pipes rattle when the taps are turned?  Is the house on a flight path or near a transit way?  Noise can be all around the house.

Taste - While a seemingly unimportant sense when buying a house, if this is a rural or cottage property, the taste of the water is important.  

Touch - Every Buyer touches things in the house.  Is the counter smooth?  What does the floor feel like?  Is there a slope? Is the hot water tank too hot?  What fabric has been used in the window treatments?  Buyers cannot keep their hands (and feet) to themselves.   

Finally, Smell - Fridges will be opened, garbage cans may be full and food may be cooking in the oven.  Sometimes cats and other pets leave a very strong smell that the Seller no longer notices but that will put off a Buyer. 

Often Buyers will describe a house they have seen be the smell or sound and not by other features.  Be aware of everything that can assault the senses - good and bad.

Photo credit:  A glass of water @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/gromgull/4258976764/

Things Ottawa Buyers May Notice #32 - A Crawl Space in Need of Insulation

 While not the most common foundation type in Ottawa, there are homes with crawl spaces in lieu of full basements.  At a recent showing, the Buyer and I noticed that the living room and kitchen floors were really cold, even though the heat was on in the house.  This was an indication to take a good look in the basement.  After opening the trap door and crawling in, it was apparent that

  1. the crawl space had a dirt floor,
  2. the walls were not insulated and that,
  3. while there was some attempt several years earlier to put a little pink insulation between the joists, it was inadequate. 

All of this contributed to the cold in the house.  In addition, the heating ducts were not fully wrapped in insulation and they crossed the area.  When it is below zero outside, it is very cold in this type of uninsulated basement.  On the positive side, there was only a little indication of damp (some efflorescence) and the dirt was dry. The picture in this blog is not the exact basement but very close to what we saw. 

Structurally the house seemed solid.  For the comfort of the new owner and to reduce energy consumption (to heat the very cold rooms), I advise that additional insulation be added plus vapour barriers where possible.  At a minimum, the duct work needed to be protected from the cold. 

Photo credit:  Darwin repeater work 8-30-2008 @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/davef3138/2811740417/

Things Ottawa Buyers May Notice #31- Bathroom Doors

 When you think you have seen everything, there is still more to surprise you.  A few years ago, I was looking for a new house.  I must have seen over 20 homes when lo and behold - a bathroom with a clear glass door.  I thought it was a joke.  Who would want to have the most private room in the house, clearly visible?  My only thought was that nudists lived in the house.  It would be bad enough that everyone can see how clean or dirty the room is BUT it would also be a huge surprise to dinner guests and visitors. 

If you think the clear bathroom door brings light into the rest of the house, you may be right.  However, privacy will always trump light when it comes to bathrooms.  I never went back to that house and thought it was a unique ‘feature’.  Later in my search, I came across another bathroom, this time in the basement, with the clear glass door.  Was this just an Ottawa phenomenon?  Apparently not.  I recently saw a home on a TV make-over show that had the same issue.

If your bathroom door is clear glass or you see a house that you want to buy with a clear glass bathroom door, you have three choices - leave it and learn to live with voyeurism, remove the door and replace with something more standard and private or frost the glass so that it is not transparent.  A bathroom is not the place to play….

Peek-a-boo, I see you.

Photo credit:  bathroom @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/littleghoti/488561616/

The Purse or a Pocket Rule - Staging Your House

I was recently doing a walk through on a potential listing.  The owners had a wonderful collection of little statues in a specific theme.  These were located on coffee tables, end tables in the living and family rooms.  I thought they were delightful but was worried on the owners’ behalf that these would be too tempting for Buyer visitors, especially when they bring children. 

In trying to convince the owners to pack these and all little ornaments and souvenirs, I said “Don’t leave anything out and available that could fit in a purse or pocket.”  It is not that the people house hunting are thieves.  In fact, so few things are stolen that one forgets that this could happen.  But…..  there is always a first time and no home owner wants this to happen to them.  

I also advise clients to put away anything of extreme value (vases, paintings, etc).  Buyers like to touch things and why risk damage to your valuables. 

My clients asked if I would follow every visitor during an Open House.  It is not possible to do this.  When more than one visitor arrives, it is better to be centrally located.  Often, visitors roam freely while agents locate themselves near the only exit.  It would be impossible to miss a TV going out the door but I have never heard of a purse being inspected or a pocket being turned inside out.

Why risk it?  Pack up your worries.

Photo credit:  My sister’s S&P Shaker Collection @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/randysonofrobert/2758366145/

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