04 Apr Detail is Important in Everything We Do in Real Estate
Detail is Important in Everything We Do in Real Estate
We often forget how little things mean a lot and certainly in real estate we must organize ourselves when buying and selling a home. Making a list to follow saves time!
Review financing
- Get Preapproved for a mortgage before you start looking at homes, so you know the maximum house price you can afford. Confirm with your mortgage broker how many days the pre-approval is good for, many are 90 days.
- Consider different loan options when shopping for a mortgage. There are many types of loans, and it’s important to make sure you understand the pros and cons of each before selecting one. Also consider what size of deposit in an offer you can provide and what amount of downpayment you can provide. Your mortgage broker can review options with you. If you are a first time purchaser you may take advantage of some rebates. Learn more at take advantage of government grants for homes.
- Budget for your new home purchase and remember to include costs at the time of purchase and costs at time of closing. There are also different costs to plan for when buying new construction.
Choosing a Real Estate Agent
Register with an real estate agent/realtor®. An experienced real estate agent will explain and guide you through the process and steps. They will also set up a home search so that you will receive all new property listings that match your home search criteria. When choosing a real estate agent, you want someone who knows the real estate market in the community where you’re buying and/or selling.
Look for:
- A real estate agent with experience in both ‘hot’ and ‘cool’ real estate markets.
- The number of properties sold in the city and neighbourhood of your current/future home.
- Extensive knowledge about the industry, a broker’s license and other related education show their commitment to learning and specializing in their industry.
- Your agent should have good negotiation skills to help find the right home when buying and get the best price for your home when selling.
- Someone that is able to provide an honest home evaluation and details of what is going on in your neighborhood.
- Check out reviews and recommendations of any real estate professional. Look online for reviews and get a good sampling from multiple sites. Read good and bad reviews and take them with a grain of salt. Ask around to see how the agent is viewed in your community. You could also check with any local professional organizations or the licensing board to see if there are problems you might want to be aware of.
Did You Connect with the Agent? – You will be working with the real estate professional on day-to-day basis, so you want someone you can communicate with.
- Does your agent understand your goals and real estate needs?
- Do you trust the real estate agent?
- Does your agent work full-time or part-time?
- Does your agent speak in clear terms or use a lot of industry jargon that confuses you?
Create a Wishlist
Compose a list of the things that are important to you and your lifestyle. Some examples are:
- Where are you moving and what is your timeframe? – Do you need to sell your home before buying? Do you need to be closer to work, amenities, etc.
- How many bedrooms, bathrooms do you need
- What type/style of home –
- What lot size do you need?
- Location: (i.e Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Orleans, Center town, Westboro, etc)
- What features must be in the home? (e.g. swimming pool, double garage, close to schools)
- What features would you NOT want in a home?
- What Neighbourhood? – Your choice of neighbourhood plays a huge role in your overall enjoyment of your home. For example, you might want to live in a bustling urban setting with nearby access to public transit, theatre, and shopping. Maybe you want to be close to schools and family recreational amenities. Or, you might want just the opposite! The point is to clearly define your ideal neighbourhood.
Preparing house for market
If you were to put your home up for sale tomorrow, how would you determine the market value and what it would likely sell for? and how do you get the most dollars? As experienced Ottawa Realtors® we would be happy to prepare a home evaluation for you and make a plan to help you get ready for market, whether for next month or next year. Helping you prioritize the items that will have the biggest impact on potential buyers and dollars obtained is our specialty. We also have contacts of professionals, i.e. painters, handyman, flooring, to assist you. Visit our blog Market Value of Your Home & Preparing Your Home for Market for some key items you can do to prepare your home for market.
As experienced real estate agents in the greater Ottawa area we would be happy to answer any of your questions. We have the expertise to help you find a home in the neighbourhood of your dreams and/or sell your current home in a reasonable time, for the highest value!