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The Benefits of Using a Real Estate Agent When Buying or Selling a Home
Buying or selling a home can be an exciting but overwhelming experience, and it’s natural to feel unsure of where to start. While the internet is a great resource, it’s easy to get lost in all the information available. That’s where a real estate agent can help! They are experts in the local market and can provide valuable guidance and support throughout the entire process. Here are some of the many benefits of using a real estate agent when buying or selling a home.
Market Knowledge
Immersed in the business day in and day out, real estate agents have a wealth of knowledge about the local housing market. They can provide you with valuable insight on recent sales, current listings, and market trends, helping you make informed decisions. This information can be crucial in setting the right price when selling or negotiating a fair deal when buying a home.
Pricing Expertise
Determining the right price for a property is a delicate balance. Overpricing can scare off potential buyers, while underpricing can result in a financial loss. Real estate agents use their market knowledge and a comparative market analysis to help you set a competitive and realistic price, maximizing your chances of a successful sale.
Access to Exclusive Listings
Real estate agents often have access to properties that aren’t listed on public websites. This inside track can give you a competitive advantage in finding your dream home or selling to the right buyer. It’s not just about what’s available; it’s also about what’s coming soon or selling off-market!
Professional Networking
Experienced real estate agents have built extensive networks of trusted industry professionals, including mortgage brokers, home inspectors, contractors, home staging professionals, and more. These connections can save you time and money during the buying or selling process, proven experts on-hand to make the deal go as smoothly as possible.
Negotiation Skills
Real estate transactions involve complex negotiations, including writing winning offers. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, having a skilled negotiator on your side can make a substantial difference in the outcome. Agents can act as impartial intermediaries, helping you navigate these negotiations successfully, with experience to back it up.
Marketing Expertise
When it comes to selling your home, an agent can provide invaluable assistance in marketing your property effectively. They have access to various marketing tools and platforms, including professional photography, virtual tours, and online listings, helping your home stand out in a competitive market. They know what works and what doesn’t for getting your home not just in front of buyers, but the right buyers!
Time & Stress Savings
One of the best things about working with a real estate agent is the time and stress they can save you. Real estate transactions are time-consuming and can be stressful. They take care of all the paperwork, phone calls, and appointments, freeing up your time to focus on other things. This support can be particularly helpful if you have a busy schedule.
Legal Protection
Real estate transactions involve numerous legal documents, disclosures, and contracts. Real estate agents are well-versed in the legal aspects of the process and can help protect you from potential pitfalls and legal issues.
Market Insight & Future Trends
Real estate agents can offer insights into the local market and predict future trends. This can be particularly valuable in choosing the right home to buy or deciding whether it is the right time to sell. Whether it’s the potential for growth in a specific neighborhood or changes in property values, their knowledge can help you make informed decisions for long-term investments.
In the end, working with a real estate agent can make a significant difference in the outcome of your home buying or selling experience. They provide personalized guidance tailored to your specific needs and goals, helping you find a property that truly meets your requirements. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process or just want some extra support and guidance, consider working with a real estate agent. They can help make the experience smoother, stress-free, and even enjoyable!
Top Secret Homemade Clean Hacks
As we get older, we all have in common how much more time we spend in our days and weeks cleaning. Seriously, how does everything get so dirty so fast?! Or perhaps, maybe, you find yourself mesmerized by #CleanTok? Regardless of whether you are sprucing up the place to get ready to sell or just enjoy a clean space, there’s no shortage of products to help get the job done.
However, it’s way more fun spending your time and hard-earned money decorating our homes instead of constantly cleaning them. So, what if I told you there was a way to keep your home sparkling with materials you already have at home?
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel appliances are trendy in homes right now. It’s pretty when it’s clean, not so pretty when it’s not. The good news is that using Windex or any other glass cleaner will shine it back up in seconds. Ran out of Windex? No problem. Spray some vinegar, wipe with a damp cloth of hot water, buff dry and voila!
Clogged, smelly sinks
While you’re shining up your appliances, you might as well keep that vinegar handy. Kill odours by pouring some vinegar down the sink.
Ugly Coffee Rings
As much as you insist on coasters, you can still be left with a dreaded ring on your poor coffee table. Instead of hiding them with books, Magic Erasers are great for getting rid of marks on a majority of surfaces if you have one handy. Or, try hot water and mild dish soap. It might take a little bit of elbow grease to scrub it off, being aware that scrubbing can wear down paint over time.
Airborne Grease
There are plenty of wonderful kitchen degreasers on the market to get the job done. However, if you want to create your solution, combine a few drops of dish soap with some hot water and spray onto the area. Allow it a few minutes to sit and break down the grease before wiping it away.
Caked on Microwave Gunk
Eliminate the scrubbing and leave your microwave smelling fresh by putting 5-10 drops of lemon juice (lime juice or vinegar will also work just fine) in a bowl of water. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, letting the bowl sit for an additional 3 minutes to steam before opening. Then remove and wipe all the gunk right off. If you’re sensitive to scents, heat just the bowl of water, following all the same steps!
It’s amazing what a little vinegar or dish soap can do! Did any of these tips surprise you? Looking for more advice on selling your home? Haven’t found your Saskatoon dream home yet? We can help!
Your Top Tips For Downsizing
Summer is quickly approaching, which for most folks means that it is time to undergo the great purge–getting rid of unnecessary clutter in exchange for feeling refreshed and ready for some much-needed relaxing. That is perfectly understandable, considering the unbeatable summers that Saskatoon offers. However, chances are that if you’ve ended up here, you’re likely preparing for the big move and don’t want to be carrying around the extra stuff you’ll end up throwing away later. Or, maybe you’re retiring and looking to cut back on expenses. Perhaps there’s just too much extra space as the empty nest syndrome starts to kick in? Either way, downsizing to a smaller home is looking better and better.
The Perks
As counterintuitive as it sounds, switching out for a smaller space can be incredibly freeing. Larger homes can take a lot of upkeep, and you can find that you feel you’re constantly cleaning, exhausted from fixing maintenance issues or spending a small fortune for others to do it for you. Moving into a smaller home or condo can be more suitable to your needs while also decreasing your property taxes, home insurance, maintenance expenses and house utilities, freeing up your cash flow for breathing room.
Additionally, your property has likely appreciated over time, making for a satisfactory return on your investment. Especially with the current need for housing inventory, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to allow some growing family to make the most beautiful memories in the home as you did.
Downsize vs Declutter
Depending on where you are moving, a simple declutter may be in order. However, if there’s a drastic change in square footage, there will need to be a different approach. The difference between decluttering and downsizing is the purpose of appearance and functionality. Instead of storing it away, you remove it from your home entirely.
Tips
Anyone that has ever moved before knows all about the stress of it. Therefore, it’s best to start downsizing as soon as it is decided. We know it’s not simple, so here are some top tips for a successful transition!
- Measure the new space and evaluate what is really important to you
- Find a place for everything
- Divvy up sentimental items
- Sometimes it is easier to offload your belongings knowing that it is going home to someone that will appreciate them
- Be a generous giver
- Be a generous giver
- Start small and focus on one room at a time
- Ask yourself:
- Do I want it?
- Do I use it?
- Do I need it?
- Do I like looking at it?
- Ask yourself:
- Minimize the duplicates
- Have a yard sale
- Go digital as much as possible
- Bills, paperwork, music, movies, etc
Thinking about selling and haven’t found your dream home for this next exciting new chapter? We can help!
Selling a Home With All 5 Senses
When selling your house, most people think about how it looks; you want your home to look as beautiful as the memories you made there. However, appealing to buyers’ other four senses can help make them feel fully present in your home. Our five senses play an important role in processing the world around us and triggering our emotional responses. You can create a positive emotional reaction in potential buyers by appealing to all five senses and helping them imagine living in your home.
Selling a House with Sight
This is the obvious one. Make sure to create a neutral clutter-free environment that buyers can imagine as their own. Neutral colours with an accent can help create a stylish and clean setting that is perfect for letting the imagination run wild. Try to tidy up as much as possible and keep the space appealing to your guests. If you have features in your home that make it feel more cozy, such as a fireplace, don’t be afraid to turn it on to make people feel comfortable.
Selling a House with Sound
Find some relaxing or comforting music to play in the background during the house tour. Keep the music to a minimum, so it doesn’t overpower the conversation. For genres of music, you could match it to the season, such as Christmas music during the holidays, or pick sounds suitable for any season, such as lo-fi or jazz.
If you have natural sound features, create a space where guests can enjoy them. For example, water fountains or other elements can add a relaxing atmosphere to your house. Wind chimes are another great way to welcome guests into the space and make them feel in touch with your home.
Selling a House with Smell
While some people recommend using strongly scented products for cleaning, some research says that buyers prefer neutral or lightly scented spaces when touring your home. Therefore, it’s probably a good idea to skip on the scented candles or air fresheners, as buyers may feel you are trying to hide something.
Instead, use light or unscented cleaning products and find ways to add more natural scents to your house. For example, baking before guests arrive can add that homey smell to your space. Another trick, if you’re short on time, is to put some vanilla or lemon on the stove. This can give the same welcoming atmosphere while not being too overpowering.
Selling a House with Taste
While I wouldn’t recommend that you provide anything too labour-intensive, it may be nice to have some snacks or water for your guests. Consider buying in bulk and having a dedicated bowl of small candies for each walk-through to make it easy. Or, if you did that baking we mentioned earlier, consider putting some out for guests! This simple gesture will leave a lasting impression on your potential buyers.
Selling a House with Touch
Make sure to display a variety of fabrics and textures around your house. This also adds to the visual appeal of your space. You should also vacuum the carpets and well and wash your floors. Not only is this a great practice for general cleaning and home maintenance, it also keeps unwanted graininess away and adds extra bounce and comfort underfoot. Put out the fluffiest blankets on your bed and add some throw pillows to add depth and variety.
By engaging all five of a buyers’ senses, you can ensure that your house sticks out in their Saskatoon home search and maximizes its appeal for every tour. If you’re looking for additional help or support, you can contact us, and we would be happy to help you sell your home!
Presenting Offers 101
You’ve found your dream property, congratulations! Now what? The next step in your journey to becoming a homeowner is your agent will put together a presentation of an offer, proposing a deal to the listing agent and their client. Together, you and your agent will decide the terms and conditions of what you wish to offer and determine a fair price for the property. The proposal also most notably includes the Agreement of Purchase and Sale—the official offer to the Seller. It’s a considerable amount of paperwork that needs signing, but once you have those keys in hand and settle into your sweet new digs, it will all be worth it!
Irrevocable Period
This is the period when your offer is valid, as well as the time the Seller is allocated to consider your proposal. After the deadline, if the Seller has not accepted or made a counteroffer, the offer is voided, and you are no longer committed to it.
Offer Registration
Once signed, the Buyer’s agent will ‘register’ the offer with the Listing Brokerage to notify that they have a signed offer from a Buyer. Registering offers help make it easier to track offers, especially if there is more than one on a single property.
Single Buyer Offer
Most commonly, a single buyer is offering to purchase the property at one time. Typically, the single Buyer offer process will take place within the span of a single afternoon or evening with the Seller, listing agent and buying agent in attendance of the negotiations. Many offers are also presented with the Buyer close to hand in a nearby coffee shop or restaurant, if not also in person, for the quickest and most efficient negotiation process. However, with the current life and times, more and more offers are being presented electronically. Regardless of who is in attendance, both the listing and buying agent’s goal is to get their clients the best possible price, gauging each other’s flexibility in terms and conditions.
Once assessing the Buyer’s offer, the Seller and their client can do one of three things: accepting the offer as is, rejecting it, or signing the offer back with initials and signatures to changes in price, closing date or any other particular terms. If the Buyer is not willing to negotiate up to those changes, negotiations will cease, and the Buyer will have to go look elsewhere.
Multiple Buyer Offers
Alternatively to single Buyer, multiple Buyers can present their offers simultaneously, creating a bidding war. Multiple offers on a single property predominantly happen when the property is priced at market value or relatively underpriced. Underpricing can be done deliberately or by accident but is rarely recommended as it can be quite risky for the Seller. However, a listing can receive multiple offers by luck or skilled marketing.
In this case, the listing agent will communicate with each Buyer’s agent, gathering the pros and cons of each offer to discuss privately with their client. Once again, one of three things can happen: accept one of the offers outright, reject all offers if they fall below expectations or decide to work with one Buyer if they can change a few things.
With either presentation style, critical discussions should include closing dates, as well as the size and soonest availability of deposit in the form of a bank draft for maximized confidence in the offer. Additionally, it is often also more secure of a decision to accept a firm offer over a conditional, even if the conditional offer is higher. After all, chances could be that the Buyer is caught up in the moment and gets Buyer’s remorse a few days later.
Of course, your best course of action is having a knowledgeable local REALTOR® by your side. No matter if you are looking to buy or sell, contact us today for a trusted guiding hand in the process, drawing on all our combined years of experience.
