Potecting Your Rights

How many annoying calls are you getting?

Our clients are telling us that real estate agents have stepped up the calling. It seems some of them are subscribing to a service that accumulates information from private sale websites and newspaper ads so they don't have to "hunt" for their "leads".

How do you, a Canadian citizen, stop these annoying calls from happening? Well to start, get yourself signed up on the National Do Not Call List (DNCL). Your number appears on the list within 24 hours but realtors do have 31 days to "update their list". If you get a call from any agents (or other unwanted solicitors) in the first 31 days simply tell them you are registered on the do not call list and that if they call again you will file a complaint.

Make sure you write down their name, number, brokerage and time they called. If they call back the next step would be to file a complaint with their brokerage and the local real estate board (as well as the DNCL)regarding their lack of compliance with the the program.

Here is an example of the realtor mentality and getting your listing.


The one thing Steve said that makes sense is making sure you ask anyone that comes into your house if they are pre-approved for a mortgage. If their not, tell them to sign up for PropertyGuys.com Winners Circle and get Canada's best mortgage rate. Today the rate for a 5 year fixed mortgage is at 3.45%!

M

April Monthly Stats

The new growth of spring.

Numbers are in for both Kitchener Waterloo and Cambridge for April real estate sales. Congrats to the home sellers of Cambridge as the leak in the dam seems to have been plugged by the tulips of spring. Cambridge has shown 20-40% decreases over the last 6 months so to only be down by 1.8% over last year is quite an accomplishment. This is still a drop of nearly 20% over the 2007 numbers of 307 homes sold in Cambridge.

KW is improving as the gap between this year and last year is shrinking. This month a 14.9% gap from last year is an improvement over the preceding months.

Guelph on the other hand does not seem to be holding it's ground. Early numbers show a 26% decrease over last year and that was down nearly 6% from 2007.

Let's hope that the consumer confidence is back and can repair the levee damage so the spring/summer homes sales don't get washed away in the tidal wave of unsurity.


M

Hello There!

Does he come with the house?

A key point of an internet listing is to show your home at it's best all the time. Knowing that you may not keep it pristine 24/7 you can still have it shown 100% of the time in the best shape. Before you plan to have your photos taken make sure that your house is ready. Here are a few hints you will want to ensure you pay attention to for your photos:

• Demagnetize - Although the kids art work is dear to you a buyer wants to see the fridge! Take all magnets and associated artwork, pizza coupons, to-do lists, and extended family photos off the fridge and into a drawer.
• Zamboni the Counters - You are selling space, especially in the kitchen. Feel free to leave one, maybe two small appliances if you have more than three counter spaces (U shaped kitchen or L shaped with an island). Photos have a tendancy to make things look restricted. Clearing off the counter tops will assist in opening up the kitchen and giving the perception of having a larger kitchen. This goes for bathrooms as well.
  
• Reflect When Selling - As in the photo above you need to be very cautious of where mirrors are in relation to the camera. Sometimes it is darn near impossible to avoid having the camera in the shot, but that's why they have tripods and self timers on cameras. Don't get caught in the mirror!
• Tall and Skinny - No not a Starbucks order. Landscape (wide) versus portrait (tall) should be the standard shot. The only exceptions that I would use would be in a small powder room or the front shot of a townhouse where you pick up 3 units when trying it landscape.
• Sleeping In - Make sure you have made the bed! Don't laugh I've seen it more than you would think. The bedroom is a personal space but not so much when you are loading it onto the internet. Underwear, bras and "personal items" should be taken into consideration before the thought of a camera as well.
• Pee Wee's Playhouse - Toys everywhere worked for Pee Wee but not for selling your home. Even in the kids to room hide most of the toys in closets or out of the room to take the picture. Even the neatest, most organized room with 300 toys looks cluttered.
• The Dungeon - Call it a man cave or parlor or games room any way you slice it you need to appeal to both sides of the relationship. Not sure too many people will want to walk into the "Private Club of the Satan's Helpers!"

Now you have been hipped to that dude!

M