The Brantford Home Info Blog!: Brantford Home Seller Tips

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Your Brantford/Brant County Home’s Pre-Inspection Checklist!

The home inspection is one of the most anxiety-provoking aspects of a real estate transaction, particularly from the seller’s perspective. As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent, I do everything that I can to ease my clients’ worries about this particular step in the process by preparing them for the inspection itself.

There are a number of things that you need to remember to do in order to prepare your home for inspection. None of these items are steps to be taken lightly. A poor home inspection can result in a decrease in the amount buyers are willing to offer. You could also run into issues during negotiations if certain things aren’t taken care of prior to inspection, as buyers will have more leeway and cause for concern. That’s why I’ve come up with this quick pre-inspection checklist. If you take care of these important steps before the inspector arrives, then there will be less of a chance for problems after they leave.

•    Make sure all utilities are turned on and functional. If you’re already living in the Brantford/Brant County property you’re trying to sell, then this shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re selling it after you’ve moved out, then make sure you take care of this early-on.
•    If there is natural gas or propane service, then all pilot lights should be lit.
•    All wood-burning stoves and fireplaces should be cleaned. Please don’t use any of these appliances 24 hours before inspection. Appliance manuals and WETT Certificates should be handy, if they are available to you.
•    Make sure your attic is readily accessible. All stored items should be removed so the inspector can move about the space.
•    All crawl entrance spaces should be readily accessible.
•    Furnace and water heaters should be accessible and operational.
•    Sinks should be clear of all dishes.
•    Showers and bathrooms should be clear of all personal items.
•    Built-in appliances are operational and user manuals are readily available.
•    Do not lock or block electrical panels. The inspector will remove the cover and examine the system, so the more clearly accessible those are, the better.
•    Have a site plan identifying where your well and septic field are located, if you have a well or septic tank. Find out when the tank was last pumped and how old the various components are, too.
•    All areas of the home should be accessible and vacant. Don’t have any locked doors or closed off areas throughout the property. The inspector needs to be able to access every square inch of your home.
•    If you have pets, make sure they are either secured in cages or removed from the property.
•    Building permits and receipts for repairs and improvements on the home should be readily available.
•    Schedule at least three hours for your home inspection.

If you take the steps listed above to prepare your home for inspection, then there’s a much better likelihood that you’ll pass. A smooth inspection can make your Brantford/Brant County Real Estate transaction proceed in a timely fashion. As your local real estate professional, my main concern is guiding you through a stress-free transaction. The best defense is a good offense, so before you face that dreaded home inspection, take the steps to make your home as perfect as possible.

If you have any questions about what you need to do to prepare your home for sale in the Brantford/Brant County real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m happy to help!

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Thursday, October 18, 2012

Use a Small Space to Your Advantage in Brantford/Brant County Real Estate

Ten years ago, having a small home was considered a disadvantage in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market. Mega-mansions were more of an appeal for home buyers in the area. Rather than efficiency, the focus was more on having a spacious, impressive property with luxurious amenities and an abundance of room for material goods. It was more about having an aesthetic appeal than a home that would age well. This has started to change.

One of my primary responsibilities as a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent is to monitor trends in the local market, and that includes what today’s buyers want. Over the past couple of years, more buyers have been interested in finding smaller, more compact and energy efficient homes than they are in remaining in a mega-mansion. In fact, many are actually looking to downsize! If you own a small condo or home in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, then you’re actually at an advantage.

There are a number of reasons why today’s home buyer prefers to live in a smaller space. These are just a few of them:

They’re less expensive. There is a slow economic recovery happening internationally, but many are still struggling to afford a luxury property. A lot of smaller sized homes are priced in a lower range, making them more affordable to a variety of people.

You can save money on your energy bills. The smaller your living space, the less money you’ll have to spend on water, heat, and electric. Many home buyers who are interested in going green actually look for a smaller space in order to reduce their carbon footprint. With environmental awareness being an important issue, this is a major reason that many choose to downsize.

You cut back on maintenance costs. The financial responsibilities surrounding home ownership go far beyond monthly mortgage payments. You also have to consider homeowners insurance, property taxes and maintenance costs. In order to eventually sell the home you buy in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, you’re going to have to do a great job of maintaining it. In order to make sure that your home stays in the right condition, you’re going to have to spend money, and the smaller your property, the less maintenance will be involved.

As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent, it’s important that I know how to appropriately market and sell the homes I list. In the past, selling a smaller space proved to be a more difficult task than it is today. Now, I can market smaller properties as a way to save money and reduce impact on the environment, and for many buyers this is a huge benefit.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to help in any way I can. I hope to hear from you soon!

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8 Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: (519) 752-3400

Over 529 Real Estate Closings!

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Your Brantford Home Maintenance Checklist for September!

Well, summer has officially come to an end. The days are starting to get shorter, school has begun and it’s time for that ever-irritating chore: fall cleaning.

As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate agent, I encourage homeowners to do some serious maintenance during the fall and spring seasons because it’s imperative to keeping their property in tip-top shape. Even if you plan on living in your home for several years to come, you won’t live in it forever. When the time comes to list your home in the Brantford/Brant County real estate market, your home will need to have been well taken care-of and maintained in order for you to sell it quickly.

Here are some of the important maintenance tasks that you need to take care of before the month is over, most of which involve getting ready for the harsh winter weather:

Add weatherstripping to doors and windows. The job of weatherstrips is to close any gaps in your home and keep the cold air and moisture where it belongs: outside. The best way to spot if this needs to be repaired is to look around the doors and windows of your home. If the side stripping appears to be worn-down or gone, you’ll need to replace it.

Check storm windows. Repair and clean storm windows that are cracked or dirty.

Get winter-fighting plywood ready for battle. Set aside some strips of plywood. When the weatherman starts predicting harsh winter storms, set the wood against the basement vents of the side of your home that bears the biggest brunt of inclement weather. This will help prevent frozen pipes in your home.

Inspect your insulation. Fall is the ideal time to check on how well-insulated your home is. You might need more, particularly if your home is a bit older.

Check your gutters. Do a quick once-over and ensure that all gutters are clear. Once the autumn leaves start falling and the rain starts to pour, they’ll be doing double duty, so you want them to be as clean as possible.

Avoid the need to call the exterminator. Now that the weather is cooling off, household pests such as mice are searching for a place to hide out all winter. Make sure your house isn’t that place. Check that all exterior vents are screened and fix gaps in doors and windows.

These are just a few of the things that you should do this month to ensure that your home is in tip-top shape for cold weather. The more diligent you are about caring for your home, the better condition it will be in when you decide to take the plunge and list it in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market. This way, home buyers will be more drawn to your home and you’ll stand out from other properties on the market that haven’t received as much TLC.

If you have any questions regarding your Brantford/Brant County Real Estate needs, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask! I’m happy to help you. I hope to hear from you soon!

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage

Over 525 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8 Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Website at:
www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Reduce the Carbon Footprint in Your Brantford Home’s Kitchen!

There’s more that comes to mind than just “food” when you think of the kitchen as a room. For many Brantford/Brant County homes, the kitchen is the heart and soul of their property. It’s the place where families come together to enjoy a meal and discuss their day. It symbolizes togetherness with your loved ones. It’s also, unfortunately, the room that tends to use up the most energy in your home.

As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate agent, I’ve noticed that many buyers on the market are looking for more energy-efficient properties. It’s an important step in raising the value of your home, however there’s no question that it’s a bit costly. The kitchen is the most expensive room to renovate and remodel, however if you take a few small steps to make your cooking space more “green”, then you can raise the value of your home AND save some money on your energy bills at the same time.

Instead of using an oven, which uses way more energy than it needs to cook food, try using a toaster oven or your cook-top instead. You should also practice more passive cooking techniques. Figure out how long it takes your oven to preheat to certain temperatures and factor that into your cooking time. Turn the oven off a few minutes before your meal finishes cooking. The built-up heat will complete the cooking process without continuing to use unnecessary energy. It’s little fixes like these that will save you money on your energy bill and allow you to use it for more practical, value-raising renovations.

As much as most green food lovers hate microwaves, it really does use much less energy than a stove, and it doesn’t heat up your kitchen, which would cause many to turn up their air conditioning. For defrosting, thaw in the fridge overnight. The less energy you use, the more money you’ll have for important home upgrades.

Another tip? Get rid of the excess waste you incur at the supermarket. Unless you have a huge family to feed, avoid buying in bulk, reuse plastic bags and buy fresh, unwrapped produce. If you can, compost your organic waste. These are environmentally-friendly tips and tricks that will help rid your home of unwanted clutter while reducing your carbon footprint on Mother Earth.

Did you know that most kitchen cleaners have toxic, harmful chemicals in them? Making your own household cleaning products out of baking soda, lemon juice and other kitchen staples rids your home of chemicals that are detrimental to your health. This will make your Brantford/Brant County home’s overall atmosphere far cleaner and healthier.

A green home is a money-saving, healthier, cleaner option, and it will help you reel buyers in as you start your Brantford/Brant County home sale. The more money you save on your energy bills, the more you’ll have for necessary upgrades that will raise the value of your home. As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate expert, I wanted to share these quick tips with you to help you get on the green bandwagon.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask! I hope to hear from you soon.

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8 Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantofordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Improve Your Brantford/Brant County Home This Month!

If there’s one piece of advice that I would give to those who are looking to sell their home in the Brantford/Brant County real estate market, it’s this: improve your home BEFORE listing it. The last thing that you want is for a buyer to give you a list of demands during the negotiation process. There are certain things that you can do throughout the year to keep your Brantford/Brant County home in tip-top shape. If you make an effort to do a few minor home improvement projects each month, then when it comes time to sell, you will see higher offers and a lower amount of contingencies.

Since August has just begun, I thought that I’d outline a few simple tasks that are ideal for this time of year:

Remove any and all pest magnets. There’s nothing like a pest problem to turn a buyer off from making an offer on your home. Summer means heat, and heat means that our favorite unwanted visitors are out to play. Keep the outside entryway clear of debris. Stacks of tools, lawn toys, lumber and yard waste are prime attractions for summertime pests. You can also avoid pests by storing firewood in a dry place that’s at least two feet from the house and 18 inches off the ground. This will eliminate a known hiding place for spiders and other insects. Other solutions include sealing garbage cans tightly, washing and rinsing items you intend to recycle thoroughly and keeping your gutters clear.

Give your lawn a little TLC. Very few people have the money or maintenance tools to achieve a pristine, golf course-style lawn, but you can still keep yours pretty and polished by mowing frequently. If you mow your lawn on the highest frequency that your machine can go, then you will discourage weeds and stimulate a thicker growth, which is appealing to passerby on the street. Using this tactic during lawn maintenance will also cause the roots to retain more water, meaning less watering work for you. If you’re going to fertilize, I’d wait until the end of the month. Doing so during hot weather can actually stimulate weed growth.

Give your water heater a little inspection. Once a year, you should pay attention to your water heater and ensure that everything is running smoothly. Neglecting to care for this particular appliance could cause your flooring to rot and will most likely hike up your energy bills. In order to get the most out of your water heating expenses, insulate yours with a thick blanket. This will keep all the heat in and will stop it from leaking in to the surrounding atmosphere. Next, check all lines and connections to the heat to make sure that they’re running smoothly. You should also keep an eye out for any leaks, as even the smallest amount of moisture can rot your flooring. Make sure to check the valve as well. Any time it gets stuck in an on or off position, it can result in an explosion.

These are just a few of the many things that you can do to keep your Brantford/Brant County home in peak condition. If you have any questions about how to prep your home for sale in the Brantford/Brant County real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask. I’d love to help. I hope to hear from you soon!

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage

Connect with Me

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Ask Your Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent These Questions For A Successful Transaction!

If my years of experience on the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market have taught me anything, it’s that if you’re going to have a successful home sale, purchase or investment, then you need to work with the right agent. Selecting a real estate agent is far from easy, which I discussed in my blog post a few weeks ago. An important part of finding the right professional to work with is knowing which questions to ask during the interview process. If you go about gathering the right information from each agent in the beginning, you’re more likely to find the one who you’ll work with best during the transaction.

As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent, I think that it’s important to inform my community about which questions to ask a prospective real estate professional that you’re going to work with. Here are five of the most important inquiries to make during the interview process:

1.    How do you determine the asking prices for your listings? The right real estate agent will take more than just comparatives into account. They will take the time to walk through your home and give an honest, thorough analysis of your property’s value based upon its individual features. They will use that, paired with comparable statistics, to come up with an asking price that’s the most fitting for your property.
2.    How many transactions did you close last year? Keep in mind that the market has been a bit slow over the past few years, but you still want to hear about a closing or two. It will show that the professional has been active and busy during the slump. An active resume during rough times shows that not only are they good at their job but that they work hard to stay successful during a rough patch, both of which are qualities you’ll want in an agent.
3.    How much of your business is based on working with buyers/sellers/investors? You want to make sure that you’re working with an agent who specializes in clients with the same needs that you have. If you’re an investor, you’ll want to work with an agent who works primarily with that demographic. This way, you’ll be more at ease knowing that the person who is handling your transaction is familiar with your needs and situation.
4.    What sort of properties do you sell? If you’re an investor looking for a distressed property, then you’ll want to work with an agent who specializes in selling those kinds of homes. If you live in a luxury property, you’ll of course want to work with someone familiar with those kinds of listings. It makes sense because you’ll want someone intimately familiar with your particular property who will know what is required to sell it quickly.
5.    How familiar are you with the local market? So many real estate agents in the Brantford/Brant County area know about national and regional market statistics but know nothing about their own backyard specifically. You definitely want someone who is familiar with the local climate because they’ll know what you need to do to see results in a particular area.

These are the questions you will want to ask to get the information that you need to know about your Brantford/Brant County real estate agent before hiring them. They’re all imperative to determining whether or not someone is the right fit for your housing needs. If you have any questions about selling, buying or investing in a Brantford/Brant County home, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to give you some advice on getting started with your transaction. I hope to hear from you soon!

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage

Over 525 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8  Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantofordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me