Tom Flatt, Coldwell Banker J. Kazi Realty, Brokerage: USE HOLIDAY SPIRIT TO SELL YOUR HOME IN THE FESTIV...

Tom Flatt, Coldwell Banker J. Kazi Realty, Brokerage: USE HOLIDAY SPIRIT TO SELL YOUR HOME IN THE FESTIV...: USE HOLIDAY SPIRIT TO SELL YOUR HOME IN THE FESTIVE SEASON The end of the year is not just about holiday shopping, family gatherings and oth...

USE HOLIDAY SPIRIT TO SELL YOUR HOME IN THE FESTIVE SEASON!

USE HOLIDAY SPIRIT TO SELL YOUR HOME IN THE FESTIVE SEASON

The end of the year is not just about holiday shopping, family gatherings and other festive events.  Despite the demands of the holiday season, there are still many people who will want to use the time off to view homes with a thought to starting the New Year in a new home.  If your home is for sale during the festive season, don’t stop showings and go into ‘hiatus’ until mid-January.  Instead, make the most of the warmth and festive appeal of a home that’s decorated for the holidays, and keep showing while other sellers – your competition -- may be out of action!
I offer the following tips to help sellers maximize their home’s charm and allure during the festive season and into the New Year:
Increase Curb Appeal: First impressions are critical. Make sure the snow is cleared from walkways and driveway, and ensure the path to the stairs is free of ice. Put up a few exterior holiday lights and decorations to display seasonal tidings and pride in ownership. Do not overdo the lighting. Keep it tasteful and consistent with the rest of the neighbourhood. Turn on the lights for showings, even if its still daylight.  After all, it may be getting dark by the time your viewers leave.  A holiday welcome mat outside the front door is also an inviting touch.  
Keep the House Warm and Welcoming: December and January can be cold, so make sure the home is warm and cozy.  If your home has a fireplace, light a fire to bring the room to life and enhance the ambience.  Bake holiday cookies or treats to give the home an enticing aroma.
Decorate the Interior:  Its important not to overwhelm home shoppers with dramatic displays of holiday cheer, so be conservative with holiday decorations.  Decorate to accentuate the house, not to cover it.  Tasteful decorations will help connect buyers to the home, remind them of pleasant memories and help them imagine their own holiday celebrations there.
Agree on Showing Times & Procedures: On a more practical note, sellers who are entertaining over the holidays should talk to their Realtor® about ‘off limits’ times and discuss removing the lock box except during designated appointment times. The MLS information may need to be changed to let the buyers’ sales representatives know that there is a temporary showing procedure that requires them to call in advance for an appointment.  It is best if the house is not shown when entertaining family and friends.
Want more great tips on how to maximize your home’s selling potential into the New Year?  Contact your Realtor®, and get ready to start the New Year off right!

Tom Flatt, Coldwell Banker J. Kazi Realty, Brokerage: Men vs. Women: Who ‘wears the pants’ in the home b...

Tom Flatt, Coldwell Banker J. Kazi Realty, Brokerage: Men vs. Women: Who ‘wears the pants’ in the home b...: Men vs. Women: Who ‘wears the pants’ in the home buying process? It seems when it comes to home buying, there are some definite differences...

Men vs. Women: Who ‘wears the pants’ in the home buying process?

Men vs. Women: Who ‘wears the pants’ in the home buying process?

It seems when it comes to home buying, there are some definite differences between how men vs. women approach the process.  Coldwell Banker® has just released the findings of their latest consumer survey tracking the gender preferences of more than a thousand home buyers.  Here are some highlights of the survey findings:

  

Women may be inclined to make up their mind more quickly than men …

• When asked how long it took before they knew their home was “right” for them, almost 70 percent of women had made up their mind the day they walked into the house, vs. 62 percent of men.
• Significantly more men needed two or more visits: (32 percent vs. 23 percent of women).

Women would rather live closer to their extended family than to their job …

• 55 percent of women find it more important to be closer to their extended family (those that do not live in their household) than to their job, compared to only 37 percent of men.

A home’s security is a deal-breaker for both men and women …

·         64 percent of women said if they found the home of their dreams but had concerns about its security, they’d no longer be interested. More than half of men agreed (51 percent).

Couples say that no one “wears the pants in the relationship” in terms of major financial decisions …

·         When asked who wears the pants in the relationship (when it comes to major financial decisions, such as purchasing a home), almost 70 percent of respondents living with their significant other said it’s actually mutual.

Men and women tend to agree on how they would use a spare room …

When asked how they would use an extra 12 x 12 room if it could be anything they wanted, men and women agreed on the top three most popular, and very practical, responses:

·         Bedroom: 25 percent

·         Office/Study: 15 percent

·         Family Room / Den: 11 percent

Did any of these findings sound like you?  Whether you find yourself in the mainstream, or you’ve got your own distinct preferences, rest assured that your local Realtor® will listen to your needs and be there to help throughout the real estate process.

Tom Flatt, Coldwell Banker J. Kazi Realty, Brokerage: Don’t try to time the market. Know when your timi...

Tom Flatt, Coldwell Banker J. Kazi Realty, Brokerage: Don’t try to time the market. Know when your timi...: Don’t try to time the market. Know when your timing is right In today’s changing market, many Canadians are wondering whether it’s still...

Don’t try to time the market.  Know when your timing is right

In today’s changing market, many Canadians are wondering whether it’s still a good time to buy or sell a home.  The truth of the matter is, there’s no one right answer to that question.  The real question to ask is whether it’s the right time for you.  

Don’t make the mistake of trying to time the market.  If you’re buying a home, you need to determine the costs vs. the expected return, and then decide if that situation will likely improve if you wait.  With today’s historically low interest rates, the cost of carrying a home is now very affordable.  Your local Realtor® real estate professional can help you estimate what your expected mortgage, taxes, utilities and other carrying costs will be after your down payment.  First time buyers may even find that their carrying costs are comparable to rent.  And bear in mind that you can lock in your mortgage rate now to keep your costs low, even when interest rates inevitably start to move higher.

In most cases, a simple calculation will tell you that you have a lot to lose by waiting.  The higher carrying costs if mortgage rates go up and the lost equity you might have been building could be significant if you decide to wait.  First time buyers waiting to save for a larger down payment could find this especially true when you consider that you still have to pay rent while you’re saving for a home.

If you already own a home and want to sell it to buy another, then you’ve got both ends of the transaction to consider.  Don’t lose sight of the fact that it’s the difference between the prices of the two properties that’s your primary concern.  You need to focus on whether you can afford the additional expense of the new property over that of your present home.  Again, here’s where your Realtor® comes in -- estimating the proceeds of the sale of your existing home, providing helpful advice on how to keep your carrying costs low for your next home, and helping you lock in a great mortgage rate before you buy. 

So, if you think the time may be right for you and your family to make a move, just consider the high cost of waiting and talk to your local professional for their expert advice.  Instead of trying to time the market, make an informed decision that’s right for you and your family.   

Tom Flatt, Coldwell Banker J. Kazi Realty, Brokerage: Going Green is a growing trend in real estate.

Tom Flatt, Coldwell Banker J. Kazi Realty, Brokerage: Going Green is a growing trend in real estate.: ‘Going green’ is a growing trend in real estate Until recently, the term “greenhouse” meant a building made of glass, where plants are cult...

Going Green is a growing trend in real estate.

‘Going green’ is a growing trend in real estate
Until recently, the term “greenhouse” meant a building made of glass, where plants are cultivated.   But for today’s prospective homebuyer, the terms “green” and “house” can conjure up very different meanings—that of a home that uses sustainable building materials and energy efficient design.  And now, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the growing green housing movement is significantly changing how property is marketed and managed.
In a global friendly (Source: BCREA, January 2009).
As you might expect with a newly-emerging field, right now there is little consistency or standardization amongst the various degrees of ‘greenness” within a market.  There is already a growing demand for some type of consistency which will make it easier for property developers and building owners to monitor and compare the energy performance of their buildings.  But when it comes to individual homeowners—that is not so easy.
Consumers looking to purchase eco-friendly homes have limited options to obtain detailed information on the green aspects of a home, often relying on the information provided by the current homeowner which may or may not be accurate.  So, while going green is good for consumers and for our planet, this is another area where homebuyers can benefit from the advice of real estate industry professionals.  Whether it’s a professional home inspector or your local Realtor®, they can point out aspects of a home that will help save you money on your energy costs.  And if you plan on selling, talk to your Realtor® about how to showcase the ‘green’ features in your home to appeal to today’s eco-conscious consumer.
shift towards ‘eco-friendly’ housing, people are now recognizing that a green building is efficient, and this efficiency has real economic, as well as social and environmental value. No longer is ‘green’ housing just a trendy buzzword.  It is quickly becoming a measurable standard throughout the world.  For building construction, organizations in the UK, the US and Australia have agreed to cooperate and develop common metrics for measuring CO₂ emissions. These leading green building ratings are now available internationally for measuring the environmental sustainability of new and existing homes and buildings. 
Here in Canada, the movement towards going green is growing exponentially, especially in British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces, says CREA.  Recent findings show that about one out of three BC residents has already taken steps to make their homes more environmentally

Tom Flatt, Coldwell Banker J. Kazi Realty, Brokerage: See the value in today's real estate market!

Tom Flatt, Coldwell Banker J. Kazi Realty, Brokerage: See the value in today's real estate market!: See the value in today’s real estate market There is great value in today’s real estate market for several good reasons. There’s good inv...

See the value in today's real estate market!

See the value in today’s real estate market

There is great value in today’s real estate market for several good reasons.  There’s good inventory to choose from, interest rates are at historically low levels, and lower prices in some markets have led to the best home affordability seen in Canada in many years.  But despite all this, some consumers are still just sitting on the fence, waiting to time the market.  This can prove to be a costly mistake.  Consumer need to be aware that their best opportunity may just be right here and now.    

A good way to evaluate opportunity is to stop thinking short-term numbers and start thinking long-term value.  In most of the markets across Canada, this is one of the best times ever to buy a home. Yet today, some members of the media are barraging the public with headlines about how much sales activity or house values have fallen since the previous period.  They rarely mention the fact that they are comparing today’s results against unprecedented record-breaking highs.  They focus on provocative headlines about short terms results that can instill fear in the home buying public. These same articles say very little about the long-term benefits of owning your own home, including freedom and pride of ownership, or building equity as you pay for shelter, rather than putting your investment in a landlord’s pocket.  They do not tell the story of how the vast majority of homeowners in Canada have enjoyed appreciation – sometimes record appreciation -- in the value of their home overall.  And in many cases, they’ve built equity even if they have only owned their home for just a few short years.  This is a message that consumers need to hear. 

Perhaps the simplest way to assess the value of buying your own home is by asking those people who have already done it.  Talk to family and friends who bought a home whether they still think it was a good decision.  Chances are they’ll confirm what savvy real estate investors already know – buying a home is a great investment.  What’s more, this is a great time to buy, so why not take advantage of the opportunity?

Your local Realtor® has been armed with an impressive array of tools and resources to help you do just that.  After a one-on-one conversation, we hope you’ll agree that no other real estate brand prepares you so well to take advantage of the opportunities in today’s market.  Why not call us soon and let’s talk real estate!