BUYING

The home buying process is more than just looking at a few houses and putting in an offer. A good realtor assists their customers in clarifying their wants and needs as well as identifying other aspects of the perfect home that they may not be considering. By carefully listening to your likes and dislikes as we identify properties to view, I am able to assist you to more closely focus on the criteria that would make the perfect home for you. This includes not only the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in a house, but the other important characteristics such as lot size, special features such as a workshop, character of the home, type of neighbourhood, considerations for children, proximity to work, schools, and leisure activities. There are a lot of different aspects that make up your lifestyle and finding the perfect home is much more than finding a suitable house.

When buying or selling, my many years of experience will produce positive results for you.

SELLING

Marketing your home combines the strengths of traditional home marketing services with the high exposure and added benefits of internet marketing.

The best way to achieve the quickest sale and highest price for your home is to create a demand for your home. I do this in a number of ways. Firstly is to assess the market value of your home. Pricing your home at a reasonable and accurate value when it first goes on the market can often yield a higher final selling price than listing it higher to start with. As a property sits on the market for an extended period of time with multiple price decreases, it becomes stale and less interesting to potential buyers.

The second way to help achieve a quick sale and higher price is to effectively market your home using a proven combination of marketing techniques. This includes listing on the MLS system, local flyer distribution in your area, open houses for the public, open houses for realtors (realtor tours) and internet marketing.

Let me show you how I can make a difference in your home sale.

Helpful tips when selling your home:

A seller should never underestimate the importance of making a good first impression on a potential buyer. Here are a few simple tips that can help increase your home's appeal and value:

Exterior:

• Keep the front walkway swept
• Remove newspapers, bikes and toys from the front walk or yard
• Park extra cars away from the property.
• Trim back the shrubs
• Apply a fresh coat of exterior paint if necessary
• Clean windows and window coverings
• Keep plumbing and all appliances in working order
• Maintain sealants (sink, tub, window, shower, etc.) in good condition
• Make sure roof and gutters are in good condition
• Mow the lawn and plant flowers

• Keep the kitchen and bathrooms spotless
• Vacuum carpets and keep floor surfaces clean
• Accent living and dining rooms with freshly cut flowers
• Put dishes and laundry away
• Make beds
• Open drapes and turn on lights
• Keep closets neat
• Put toys away
• Switch off the television.
• Keep pets out of the way and pet areas clean and odor-free.
• Make safe jewelry, cash, prescription medication and other valuables.
• Avoid clutter to enhance the spaciousness of your home

Generally, potential buyers usually feel more comfortable when owners are not present. If an interested party is unaccompanied by an agent and request to see your property, please refer them to your real estate professional for an appointment. If you are leaving town, even for a weekend, remember to leave the number where you can be reached so that offers can be made promptly.

Please contact me by phone or email: dave@davemckinnon.com