Housewarming Gifts – Tool Box and Ladder

When I first moved out of home, I had nothing.  Over time, I realized the importance of having a few tools to be able to do very basic things in my house.  One year, I asked my dad to give me a tool box and a few tools so that I would not always be routing through his stuff.  That Christmas I received a red metal tool box, a saw, hammer, small wrench, screw driver (multiple size heads) packages of picture hanging wires and hooks, some nails and screws and a level.  I was over the moon.  I eventually got the small ladder at a garage sale.

If you are moving out of your parents’ home and would like a really useful gift from them or from your friends and family, ask for a tool box and tools.  I have heard of brides being registered at Canadian Tire so that the couple can receive the types of tools that they need.   I know it doesn’t seem glamourous, but these gifts will last forever and always have a use.  The fern you received from your Aunt Sally will be dead long before the hammer wears out. 

If you are the giver:  When you know the recipient has everything, surprise him or her with battery pack drills.  Feel the power.   

 Photo credit:  Courting Bad Luck @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxypar4/971472133/

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa, Canada ~ 613-723-5300 ~ Vzinger@royallepage.ca

Zingers #33 – Touch with your eyes

As a buyer, if you are at Open Houses or out looking with an agent, please remember to touch the sellers’ things only with your eyes.  Unless the furniture, fridge, etc are for sale, there really is no need to touch it.  No one happily has strangers wandering through their home.

Respect the sellers’ possessions and privacy. 

Sometimes it is not about real estate (6)

In Niagara Falls, what sandwich is served in the honeymoon suite?

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lettuce alone.

Photo credit:  lettuce @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/trinity/43900/

Housewarming Gifts: Salt – Bread – Broom

Last week I had a conversation with a friend about housewarming gifts.  She said that you must always give a new homeowner salt and a broom.  I had never heard of this and often brought my friends and clients storage containers, organizing gadgets, spa days, plants, etc.  However, and here is the serendipitous thing, one of my Buyers was taking possession of her first house in the late fall.  My husband was concerned that she would be unprepared for winter and took her a shovel, a bag of outdoor salt and a broom.  See, without knowing it, we had brought her a traditional gift. 

Traditional – whose tradition?  I did an Internet search and found out that the Germans, Italians, Austrians, Jewish people, and likely every European nation have brought similar housewarming gifts.  The meaning seems to be:  Bread so that you will never go hungry; Salt to replace tears, spice up your life and good luck; and a Broom so you will be able to sweep troubles and bad luck away. 

Well, nothing succeeds like success so add to the list:   wine, candles, coins, sugar, plants, rice and/or wood.

Finally, there is the belief that, if you find an old broom left behind by the previous owners or you are going to bring your old broom to your new house, don’t.  Apparently it is bad luck.  You must disposes of it.

Photo credit:  Grains of Salt @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/2769134850/

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

Zingers #32 – Julie Andrews

Appeal to all of the buyers’ senses.  Your home is enhanced with leaving Ipod, satellite radio or CDs playing.  Pick background music.  I like almost anything done by the Marsalis family, Ottmar Lieber, Kenny G (now that he likes Canada), Norah Jones and any light classical/ instrumental music.  

Make your sale come alive with the Sound of Music.

Right Of First Refusal – Why Would an Ottawa Residential Home Seller Want This?

From time to time a seller may want to counter an offer to purchase his or her home with a clause that allows the Seller to continue to offer the home for sale and accept offers with the condition that, before accepting an offer from a third party, the first Buyer has the opportunity to waive or complete all conditions on the sale of the home.  Here is an example of how this works:

Bill and Sue have their home for sale.  Melinda, the Buyer, loves the home and puts in an offer.  Included in Melinda’s offer is the condition that she must first sell her home before completing the offer on Bill and Sue’s home.  Melinda has included a time frame of four months to have her home sold.  If Bill and Sue accept this offer as stated, they will have their home conditionally sold for up to four months without knowing if Melinda actually will be able to sell her home during this period.  Bill and Sue want to continue to try to sell their home and insert a clause in the Agreement for Purchase.  This clause will state that Bill and Sue will continue to sell their home.  If during the four months, they receive an offer that is acceptable to them, they will provide Melinda with a predetermined amount of time (say 48 hours) to complete the Purchase Offer (likely by waiving her conditions) or the deal with Melinda will die.  Bill and Sue will then be free to accept the new offer.  Melinda has been given the Right of First Refusal on the purchase of Bill and Sue’s home.

The Offer to Purchase is a contract, covered by contract law.  The clause on First Refusal is a legally binding clause that ties all parties (Seller(s) and Buyer(s)) to a condition of sale. 

If you are in a similar situation as Bill and Sue, discuss your counter offer options with your real estate sales representative and/or your lawyer.   

Photo credit:  Treasure 8: my Montblanc pen @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/shaun/3004998013/sizes/s/

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

 

Buyer Anxiety – What if you lose the house or a better house becomes available?

Don’t be rushed into a purchase from which you cannot easily escape and don’t freeze from indecision. 

Yes, you have a little wiggle room to change your mind after you have made an offer.   You can possibly back out if the building inspector finds significant faults, if your banker will not give you a mortgage or if you do not sell your current house.  These three items are the usual conditions on a sale.  If, on the other hand, you cannot get a pen to an offer because there just maybe something better, time to reevaluate. 

These types of Buyers are two ends of the buying spectrum.  There are Buyers who find a house and that no other house except this specific house will do.  The other type are Buyers who find a great house but are sure that better ones will come along any time so they want to keep looking to make sure that they are getting the best house.  Both extremes make purchasing a home difficult.  Anxiety builds up and emotions become a significant part of the buying process. 

My advice to Buyers is to relax a bit.  For the first type of Buyer I want you to know that new listings become available daily.  While another house may not have the exact same features, it may have features that are as good or better.  Don’t panic yourself into buying a house.  For the second type of buyer, frozen by indecision, my advice is to determine what you really need, focus on getting your needs met and any additional benefits in the house are bonuses.

Spending money for a house is stressful.  Realize that you may become anxious but that you can mitigate this by working with a REALTOR® and being realistic about your needs and wants.

Photo credit:  Anxiety attack at the castle @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameronparkins/174920994/sizes/m/

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

Zingers #31 – Dead is so yesterday

Look around your home for anything dead and pack it before your house goes on the market.  Check out the dried wreaths and arrangements, the flowers from your wedding, anything in an urn, mounted fish or animal heads, and any bugs, mice or other things the dog or cat may have dragged in as a gift for you.

Make your house overflow with life and vitality.

Tub Caulking – Time to Replace Before Selling

Have you noticed that the edge sealer around your tub / shower stall is poorly applied and turning black in the corners and along the edges.  This is a sign of mould.  If you notice it, rest assured, so will Buyers notice it.  It worries Buyers.  Water may have leaked behind the sealer.  Is there damage somewhere? 

You can avoid Buyer concern by buying a kit at the hardware store that will have the tools to help you remove the sealer and apply a new bead of silicone around the edges.  There are a number of websites that will give you instructions on applying sealer.  I like WikiHow  How to Caulk a Bathtub.  There are more hints than actual instructions.   The Home Improvements Topics is another site that provides diagrams and ideas on the equipment needed. 

BIG TIP:  After taking off the old sealer, fill the tub and sit or stand in the tub when applying the new sealer.  The tub will be lower filled than empty.  The silicone has flex and, the lower the tub when applied, the less likely it is that the seal will be broken when the tub is in use.

This is not a 10 minute fix. 

Spend time to do it right because your house is worth it.

Photo credit:  Bath – edges of tub lots of stains and grine @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/30561799@N08/2857455990/in/photostream/

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

Title Insurance: One Small Fee Could Save You a Bundle

The following article appeared in the October 30 issue of the EMC community newspapers.  President Heather Skuce is using the President’s Pen column offered to the Board by EMC to provide information to the public about the real estate market and to showcase the benefits of working with a member. 

Everyone who has purchased a home knows how quickly closing costs can add up. Land transfer taxes, home inspection fees, legal fees, moving companies… the last thing a buyer wants to hear is “and here’s some additional insurance you should buy”. However, in the case of title insurance, it’s a suggestion you should certainly consider very seriously. Purchasing this insurance now could save you a lot of money and stress in the future.

Allow me to provide a little background. What does “title” mean as it relates to real property? Title is the evidence of your legal ownership of property – in this case, your new home. The previous owner signs the deed for the property over to you upon closing, and your title over the property is then registered with the provincial government. 

During the pre-closing process, your lawyer will conduct a title search to find out if there are any issues that need to be resolved before closing can go ahead. Title insurance covers you if any future issues arise that are not discovered during the title search process. These issues can include: 

*           Encroachments – when any structure, such as a fence or shed, is fully or partially built on your neighbour’s property rather than your own;

*           Liens against the property – these usually occur when the previous owner failed to pay utility bills or property taxes; 

*           Errors in the property’s survey or the public record;

 *           Defects with your title that can prevent you from having clear ownership of the property;

 *           Title fraud – when someone uses forged or stolen information to have your property title transferred to them, and may then take out a mortgage on your home and disappear.

 If any of these problems arise, your title insurance will cover costs related to any losses you incur due to the issue, as well as most legal expenses you incur in the defense of your title. The insurance policy may also act as an alternative to a survey or property report, which a mortgage lender may request.

 There are some things that title insurance does not cover, including any problems with title that are made known to the buyer prior to closing. It also does not cover native land claims, liens and encroachments that are not a matter of public record, environmental issues such as soil contamination, or any issue that could only be discovered by doing a new survey or inspection of your property.

 Title insurance usually costs around $300, and must be purchased in addition to your general home insurance coverage. It is generally purchased at the time you buy your home, but existing homeowners can also purchase title insurance (the policy and premium differ slightly). There are several companies in Ontario that offer title insurance; your REALTOR® or lawyer can provide you with more information or a recommendation. The great thing about title insurance is that it covers you for as long as you own the property; the fee you pay is a one-time premium and there is no expiry date or renewal fee. It’s a small price to pay for the knowledge that you’re covered for problems with your title that may arise, even years down the road.

The President’s Pen column was prepared by the Ottawa Real Estate Board and first appeared in the October 30 issue of the EMC community newspapers.

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

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