Monday 13 July 2015

Should You Sell First and Buy Later? Or Vice-Versa?

Should You Sell First and Buy Later? Or Vice-Versa?

When you’re thinking of selling your home and buying another, you face the inevitable question: Should I list my property first or buy my new home first?

Let’s take a look at both options.

If you attempt to buy a property before listing your home, you run into a couple of challenges.

First, sellers may not take you seriously as a potential buyer. After all, you haven’t put your own home up for sale. As far as they’re concerned, you might merely be testing the market.

Second, your property might not sell as quickly as you thought it would. If there is an early closing date on the home you purchased, you might end up owning, and paying a mortgage on both properties, at least until your home sells.

If, on the other hand, you list your property before buying a new home, sellers will know you’re serious. That puts you in a competitive position in the event of multiple offers.

Also, if your home sells quickly, you’ll have the peace-of-mind of knowing exactly how much of a new home you can afford. You’ll be able to shop with confidence.

Of course, like the first option, there is a chance that the closing dates won’t match and you’ll end up owning two properties for a period of time. However, solutions such as bridge financing are available to help.

So, there is no perfect answer. A lot depends on the state of the local market.

Looking for a good REALTOR® who can help you decide which is the best move for you? Call today.

“Closing Day” Terminology You Need To Know

Closing Day” Terminology You Need To Know

Closing day is an exciting time. After all, you’re moving into your new home! However, it can be stressful as well. The last thing you need is to be confronted with something you don’t understand. So here is a quick list of common “closing day” terms.

• Disbursements. This is the allocation of funds to the appropriate parties, such as the seller. Your lawyer will take care of this for you.

• Possession. This is the moment on closing day when you are legally able to take possession of your new home. It’s usually when your REALTOR® or lawyer hands you the keys.

• Title. This is a legal document that identifies the property and its owner.

• Closing costs. These are expenses, excluding the selling cost of the property, that are due on closing day, such as legal fees, reimbursement for pre-paid utilities, utility deposits, insurance, and taxes.

• Closing adjustments. These are expenses pre-paid by the seller that need to be reimbursed on closing.

There may be other terms you come across on closing day as well. Don’t worry, a good REALTOR® can help make the day go smoothly for you and your family.

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Call Team Metherall today.

Home Upgrades That Hold Their Value!

Home Upgrades That Hold Their Value!

Do you have a renovation project in mind – and wonder how much value it will add to your home? Remodeling Magazine recently did a study of renovation projects, comparing costs to added value. Here are some of the results:

Replacing a main entry door has a return on investment of over 95%. After all, the entrance to a home is one of the first things a prospective buyer notices.

Adding a new deck also adds a lot of value. Depending on the materials used, you can expect to get back three-quarters of the money invested.

Another high-payback project is the garage door. This once again demonstrates the importance of a home’s “curb appeal.”

If you’re tackling a big project, such as a basement renovation, you’ll be glad to know that, according to the study, a project like this adds a lot of value.

Finally, minor improvements to bathrooms and kitchens – such as adding new countertops or cupboards, can also be good investments that mostly pay back when you sell your home.

Of course, these figures are averages and can vary widely depending on location, type of property, and other factors.

Need help determining how a particular home improvement might impact the selling price? Call Team Metherall today.

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Taking the "scary" out of real estate

Taking the "scary" out of real estate
Even homeowners who have moved a few times can be intimidated by the real estate market in general, and the buying and selling process in particular.

First of all, making a decision to sell your home can be difficult. There are so many questions, such as:
•Is "now" a good time to list?
•How long will it take to sell – and what if it doesn't?

Then there's the buying and selling process:
•How do you find homes that meet your criteria and are within your price range?
Yes, there's a lot to think about. That's why finding a good REALTOR® who is an expert on the local market is so important.

A good REALTOR® will help you understand the market, the current market value of your home, and what you can expect should you decide to list.

A good REALTOR® will also walk you step-by-step through the home selling and buying process, and work hard to make sure everything goes smoothly.

So if you're considering buying or selling a home, take the time to find a good REALTOR®. It makes all the difference.

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Call today.

Wally, Cyndy & Cole Metherall
TeamMetherall.com
Cell: 905-830-8611

RE/MAX All-Stars Realty Inc., Brokerage
430 The Queensway South Keswick, Ontario L4P 2E1

Creating quiet in a (sometimes) noisy home!

Creating quiet in a (sometimes) noisy home!

Does your spouse like to practice the drums in the evening? Does your teenager like to play video games, with the volume turned up high? Are there other sources of noise you'd like to minimize?

There are many ways to soundproof areas of your home to reduce noise.

Here are some ideas:
•Furniture placement
. Surprisingly, where you place furniture can dramatically reduce incoming noise. For example, a bookshelf covering a third of a wall can muffle sound from an adjoining room by 25%.

•Noise harmonization techniques
. Soft music, air fans, and other sources of rhythmic noises can actually reduce the unpleasantness
of incoming sounds.

•Area rugs
. Adding an area rug, even on top of existing carpeting, can significantly reduce noise coming from the floor below.

•Acoustic tiles and panels
. These are special ceiling tiles and wall coverings that are designed to diffuse and reduce sound infiltration. There are some products on the market that are remarkably easy to install.

Monday 2 March 2015

Find The Perfect Home

Find The Perfect Home!

It's there, it's just a question of finding it.Your dream home is out there but it may take a little work to find it. We'll help.

Your next home could very well be your dream home. It might be the home you've wanted in your heart all along and, for one reason or another, you just haven't found it yet. But it could come on the market soon. Maybe today, or perhaps tomorrow, next week or next month. We could very well be the broker to help you find it.

Here's how we'll help ...
(1) You tell us what you're looking for. Click here to fill out the form detailing the key characteristics of the home you really want.

(2) We'll add your home requirements to our "email alerts" and the minute a home appears meeting your criteria, we'll send an "alert" to your email address telling you about the property. It's a great way to ensure that your dream home doesn't come on the market and get purchased by someone else without your ever knowing it!