Removing Stains From Rugs And Carpeting

 

Something has just spilled on your favourite rug or carpet. There's a stain forming. You're worried. Will you be able to remove it? Will the stain set and stay forever?

Luckily, there's a good chance you can completely lift just about any kind of stain – if you follow a few guidelines.

The first rule of stain removal is: act fast. The fresher the stain, the easier it is to lift. So when you notice a stain of any kind, start to work on it right away. Don't wait.

Begin by trying to dry blot the stain. Avoid the temptation of using a wet cloth or detergent, at least at this stage of the game. Blot the stain gently with a clean, dry cloth or absorbent paper towel. Be patient. It may take several minutes before you see any results.

If dry blotting doesn't completely lift the stain, mix up a combination of one glass of water with one teaspoon of lemon juice. Again, take a clean cloth or paper towel, wet it with the water/lemon mixture, and gently blot the area (test on an inconspicuous area first). Wait five minutes, then try dry blotting again.

You may have to repeat the above process a few times.

Using a vacuum cleaner directly over the affected area can also help lift more of the stain.

If, after all your efforts, some of the stain is still there, place a couple of sheets of paper towel over the stain, with a few books on top to maintain pressure. Leave those there for 24 hours. Check every hour or so. If you see stain on the paper towels, you know it's working.

If all else fails, consider calling in a professional cleaner. They know all the tricks and can often perform a miracle for you!

I will discuss many aspects of home improvements, buying, selling and moving in upcoming weeks but in the meantime, if you have any questions please email me at ckidd@trebnet.com or call 416-505-7513.

Hiring The Right Moving Company

 

How do you select the best moving company for your needs?

• Ask for recommendations from friends other professionals in the local real estate industry.
• Beware of fly-by-night operations. They may seem like a bargain, but you get what you pay for.
• Does the company provide you with a written estimate and contract? (Beware of movers that just give you a price over the phone.)
• Ask if they are covered by insurance, and what their policy is regarding lost or broken items. Make sure you receive a copy of their insurance certificate. 
Finally, always ask what circumstances would result in extra charges being applied. The number one complaint received about movers by the Better Business Bureau is unexpected extra charges. 


Questions about moving? Call today. I will discuss many aspects of home improvements, buying, and selling in upcoming weeks but in the meantime, if you have any questions please email me at ckidd@trebnet.com or call 416-505-7513.

First Time Buyers

 

Buying your first home is very exciting because it holds the promise of independence, pride in yourself for having sacrificed to save, and perhaps even starting your own family. It’s exhilarating.

At the same time though, there is some trepidation because it is a very big decision and you have a million questions. What about financing? What can I afford, comfortably? What are the closing costs? Do I want a fully renovated home or a fixer upper? How do I find a reputable agent?

Let me try to answer some of these questions. The first stop you should make is to the bank or mortgage broker. They will go over the costs associated with buying a home including closing costs (lawyer fees, land transfer tax(es), and the cost of running a home including property taxes, heat, hydro, water. 

The mortgage broker will calculate these costs and determine affordability based on your income. Then they will pre-approve you and give you a price range. Remember, pre-approval does not mean approval. Everything hinges on whether or not the house appraises. You can decide what you are willing to pay for a home but the final decision rests with the lender. If the house does not appraise you would have to come up with any shortfall between what the lender will lend you and the price you agreed to pay. So be careful.

The kind of home to buy as a first timer should focus more on needs than wants. For example, if you have a small down-payment, you will not have much extra cash to do major repairs. Therefore, you should be mindful of the not so aesthetically pleasing stuff like roof, wiring, plumbing, and windows.  These are the items that you have no choice but to repair if something goes wrong.

Next stop is your realtor. I have a terrific list of questions you should ask your realtor before hiring them. The answers the realtors give to these questions will help you tremendously in making this very important decision. After all, the process should be enjoyable - it is your very first home. Just email me and I will send this list of questions to you. 

You should interview a couple of agents before making the decision. One way to find a good agent is to ask your friends or relatives if they have had a good experience with an agent. If I am fortunate enough to be your agent, I would ask to meet with you and I would assure you that there is no obligation. We would not sign paperwork until our next meeting so, no pressure. If  you decide to go ahead, I will go over the process in detail, step by step, from helping you select the kind of property you would like, to discussing the various legal forms (Agreement of Purchase and Sale, Agency Relationship) and, of course, outlining negotiating strategy. 

I hope this helps and please let me know if you would like me to email you my in-depth booklet on the buying process.

If you would like some thoughts and ideas about listing your home, do give me a call.

Carmel Kidd

Phone: 416-505-7513 

How Important Is Pricing Your Home?

Market value is the highest price estimated in terms of money that a willing and well-informed Buyer would be warranted in paying, and a willing and equally well-informed Seller would be justified in accepting for a property, if placed on the market for a reasonable period of time, with both parties acting free of compulsion or duress, and with all rights or benefits inherent in or attributable to the property included in such value.

There are five major factors that influence your listing price: location, timing, competition, condition, and terms.  Location speaks for itself. Timing is very important because buyers are thinking about schools for their children and they generally prefer to synchronize the move with the beginning of the school year. In terms of timing, another issue is weather. People prefer not to battle a snow storm to view homes and conversely, they do not enjoy searching for a home in sweltering heat.
The third factor to consider is the competition: similar properties that are currently on the market. Buyers will view all similar homes in the neighbourhood and their decision will come down to which home offers them the most for the least amount of money. If your home is not priced with the market in the area, the other homes will sell first and you will have facilitated this circumstance by not competing.

The condition of the home is crucial in the buyer’s decision making process. Remember that the market is being fuelled by interest rates, in my opinion. Because interest rates are so low, many more people can get into the market. However, renovation money is not so accessible, especially for the first time buyer who is using all their money to be able to qualify for the mortgage. Therefore, if the home is in good condition, the buyer’s decision becomes a whole lot easier. And don’t forget the appraiser. The bank will send in their appraiser prior to approving the mortgage. If it does not appraise for the price the buyer agreed to pay, the buyer will have to come up with the shortfall or not go through with the transaction.

Finally, the terms of the transaction are significant. For example, if the buyer offers you your high price but makes it conditional on selling his present home, you may lose momentum if he fails to sell his home. You would be prudent to appeal to the majority of buyers by offering your home at a price that is congruent with the market in your area for similar homes.

If you would like some thoughts and ideas about listing your home, do give me a call.

Carmel Kidd

Phone: 416-505-7513

Commissions

 

In any discussion regarding the sale of a house the matter of real estate commissions arise. The “commission” could be considered a professional fee such as would be paid to a lawyer, an accountant or other professional advisor, albeit with one important distinction: real estate fees are only paid on a contingency basis which means the successful and satisfactory conclusion of the sales transaction. To put it simply: no sale, no charge.

How are fees distributed?

In many cases there are four parties involved in the sale of a house. There is the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent and each agent must be affiliated with a brokerage, in my case, Sutton Group.  Each party must be paid.

When are fees paid?

All fees are held in trust until the successful closing of the transaction. The buyer has taken possession, owns the property, and is free to move in. Only then are fees released to the entitled parties. This is usually long after the agents’ service has been rendered. Typically, a house might list a few weeks after the  initial meeting between seller and agent, and the house might sell after, say, 30 days on the market and close sixty days after that. To illustrate, the initial meeting could take place in January, the house lists in February, sells in March and closes in May. Only then would the agent be compensated.

What if the house doesn’t sell or a sale falls through?

In that event, and it happens but rarely, no fees are paid and the agent is out-of-pocket for time and money invested in marketing the house. Sales can fail if conditions are not met, such as financing falling through or other events beyond anyone’s control. The seller or buyer may be entitled to retain a deposit or pursue other compensation but the agent will not be entitled to a fee.

Are commissions negotiable?

Yes, fees could be reduced all the way to zero if the seller wants to do it all themselves: research the marketplace, market the property, show the property themselves, negotiate the offer, but the savings could be illusionary. A savvy buyer would expect to pay less and a buyer’s agent would probably not show the property without compensation and so on.  There is also the security aspect of the transaction, not just in terms of having total strangers coming through the home but the seller not knowing the prospective buyer’s ability to close the transaction.

I will discuss the various aspects of selling and buying a home in upcoming weeks but in the meantime, if you have any questions please email me at ckidd@trebnet.com or call 416-505-7513.

Listing Your Home

 

Coming to the decision to sell your home is fraught with questions about, for example, where to start, how do I get the house in shape, what are the costs involved, and where will I live. The decision is very difficult . And, when you have made the decision, a host of other questions arise about the right people to hire, perhaps a contractor to present the house in its best possible light, a realtor and a lawyer, to name a few. The good news is that people do it every day so you have to believe that there are systems in place and all will be well.

When you reach the point of listing your home your goals will be to achieve top dollar with the most favourable terms in a reasonable time frame and to accomplish a smooth transition. The job of the realtor is to ascertain a fair market value, attract qualified buyers, and highlight the merits of your home to coincide with the buyer’s wants and needs.

I have been selling homes for the past twenty five years or more and it seems to me that there are two major factors that will cause a property to sell: exposure to the marketplace and the asking price of the home. In this internet age, it is vital to draw on all the resources the internet can provide to expose the home to potential buyers.  In pricing the home it is important to satisfy three important people: you (the seller), the buyer, and the often forgotten appraiser. If the appraiser does not approve, the buyer does not get the mortgage.

I will discuss the various aspects of selling and buying a home in upcoming weeks but in the meantime, if you have any questions please email me at ckidd@trebnet.com or call 416-505-7513.

Two questions asked of every realtor

Two questions asked of every Realtor:
1. What will happen to house prices?
2. What is my home worth?

1. House prices will fluctuate.
J.P. (John Pierpont) Morgan (1837 –1913) was an American financier, banker and art collector who dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation during his time. Whenever he was asked what would happen in the Stock Market, Morgan would respond “It will fluctuate.”
And so will the Toronto home market: It will fluctuate.
However, there are no indicators of any dramatic swings in single-home prices as we have seen in the past. There has been a recent steady rise in Toronto prices and the market remains strong for quality single-family homes in desirable neighbourhoods. There have been concerns expressed about the condominium market that may be reaching saturation with some developers postponing projects.

2. Your house is worth what someone will pay you for it.
Real estate is the freest of free markets: there are no price regulations, no Suggested Selling Prices.
Your home is worth exactly what a buyer will pay.
A realtor can provide an educated estimate by analyzing recent sales of similar houses to yours and in comparable neighbourhoods and by evaluating the individual qualities and features of your property.
In the end, it will depend on one buyer’s desire to own your home. We have seen recent bidding wars with multiple offers far above the asking price; we have also seen over-priced offerings that have languished on the market with no serious offers before a significant price reduction or withdrawal.
The usual upswing in Spring activity was late this year, perhaps due to unseasonably bad weather but activity picked up in May.  Overall, market seems stable, a good supply of properties is on offer, serious buyers are shopping  and a single-family home offered at a realistic price will attract reasonable offers.

If you would like some thoughts and ideas about listing your home, do give me a call.

Carmel Kidd

Phone: 416-505-7513