It's All In The Details

Can you see it?

People are becoming more specific when searching on the internet. Search engine text strings are getting longer. People have a better understanding of what they want.

When people are searching for a house they generally want to weed out the houses that won't fit their requirements. The internet always listens. One of the complaints I often hear about searching for a home with an agent is even after telling them your needs or specifically your dislikes you end up in homes that are not what you are looking for.

As a seller you need to be sure that you put all the info available into your listing. I suggest this not only on your PropertyGuys.com listing but also on your MLS listing form available through our Ontario Flat Fee partner Harvey Real Estate. This way if people are searching on PropertyGuys.com or Realtor.ca they will get what they are looking for.

Handling things on your own makes sure you can do this without having to rely on someone else to check the box. Just like Ian points out!!


M

The Power of the Vote

As we head into municipal elections across the province an important vote, one that will impact how people buy and sell homes, took place yesterday in St John's NL.

Nearly 100 of the real estate boards from across Canada voted to ratify the agreement between CREA and the Competition Bureau. Now as many have pointed out this vote hasn't really changed anything as far as rules go. What it has done is given plain language to the boards on what they can and cannot do in regards to "mere listings". Here is a quote from the media release:

The Commissioner and CREA have agreed that its rules as well as those of its members should not deny or discriminate against REALTORS® wishing to offer mere posting services. CREA does not believe that such rules exist today, but if they do, they must be repealed or Boards will lose their license to operate under the MLS® trademarks.

Now just to clarify this does not mean that John Q. Public can just upload their home for sale on www.realtor.ca. The system is still a closed, member to member system, as it should be. What it opens up is the ability for brokers to offer flat fee listings to people that just want to post a home for sale. This maintains that someone be held responsible for the information being entered into their system.

You may be asking yourself "If the realtors are going to make less money on listing homes for sale and private sellers won't offer the "standard" 2.5% commission how will the realtors pay for their Cadillacs?"


"we have ways of going around that" these guys are too much. Their sense of entitlement for your money is overwhelming. "Buyer Beware" takes on a whole new meaning.

M

It's simple...it's all there in Black & White

Sometimes seeing things in black & white can change your perspective.

I have said it many times before. Your price (as it relates to your product) will be your biggest stumbling block in selling your house. So many people are lost in their home and don't realize that they are taking THAT with them. You are not selling your home. You are selling a house!!!

I have often joked the the difference between a house and a home is about $15,000. If you have even the slightest idea that you are house proud (do you think yours is worth more than your neighbours?) than I suggest you invest in some professional advice and get an appraiser in to give you the information you need to price your house correctly!

The last thing you want is the big $ sign and the little house...