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Tips to SELL Your House

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For some people, the thought of listing their home for sale is stressful. They worry about all the things they have to do — and all the things that might go wrong.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some tips for making your home sale go smoothly:


• Give yourself time to prepare. If you’re thinking of selling six months from now, start preparing your property now. Do any necessary staging, and get it looking its best. Avoid doing these tasks at the last minute.

• Set the right price. Pricing your property too high will likely result in few, if any, buyers coming to see it. You might end up having to lower your price later, causing your home to linger even longer on the market. That’s stress you don’t need!

• Have a flexible viewing schedule. If you make it too difficult for buyers to see your property, they might lose interest or simply choose to buy another home. Be as flexible as possible when a buyer wants to view your property.

• Plan get-away activities. When a buyer comes for a scheduled viewing, don’t be home. Instead, plan some fun activities for your family. Think: playground, shopping, cycling, the zoo, etc.

• Accept the ups and downs. Prospective buyers might say they love your home and plan to make an offer. Then you don’t hear from them again! It happens! Accept the inevitable ups and downs of selling your home.

• Get help with repairs. You’ll probably have things that need to be fixed around the home, like a dripping faucet that needs repair or a room that needs painting. If possible, hire a professional to do some of that work.

• Finally, work with a great real estate agent. That will make the biggest difference in ensuring your move goes smoothly and stress-free.

Looking for a real estate agent like that? Call me! 705-790-0975

Tips to Buy and Sell in a Buyers Market

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Are you ready to sell your house or ready to find the best buy? This Summer you can be sure to buy or sell your home in today’s market. Barrie is booming with houses that are for sale this Summer, meaning we are working with a buyers market people! But how do you market your house to sell faster when working with a buyers market? And how do you find the best deal on the market when trying to find the best buy?

What is a Buyers Market?

When your local neighbourhood is in a buyers market it means that there is more supply than there is demand. More houses are currently on the market in Barrie than there are people buying homes. There are plenty of homes that have been on the market for longer than they were last Summer.

Simply put, higher inventory = more selection for home buyers.

Being a Seller in a Buyers Market

There are a few things you can do as a homeowner when you’re ready to list your house. It’s important to know what market you are going into when listing your house. Being a seller in a buyers market is tough, but you need to find your competitive edge in order to find a buyer who’s willing to choose your house. When you’re in a buyer’s market, you no longer have the upper hand and should be willing to cater to your buyer’s needs. There are a few things you can do to get the authority you need to sell your home faster in a buyers market.

Being a Buyer in a Buyers Market

You have the advantage! This is the best time to buy a new home. As a buyer, you have the pick of the litter. Use your upper hand and get what you want out of your deal. Often if houses have been on the market for a while you can be sure that the seller will begin to lower their prices. Look for homes that have already been on the market for longer, you’re sure to get a sweet deal from them! 

As a seller in a buyers market, you must be patient with the process. Understand your competition and move forward with proper pricing in the buyers market. You may not have the advantage in this market, but you are sure to sell your home faster with a few of these tips!

What To Do Before Selling Your Home

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Are you planning on putting your house on the market? The real estate market is ever-changing, but there’s one thing that stays constant – the checklist of what you should do before you sell your home. Preparation is the key to successful house selling. I’m here to give you tips on a how to prep your house for a prosperous sale!

Stage Your Home

Every good real estate agent knows that the first impression is everything. Where do you want the attention to be focused when a buyer first walks into your house? The kitchen? The living room? The high ceilings? Staging your home is a marketing tool that can quicken your selling process. Be sure to declutter and depersonalize your home before you begin to stage your home. Yes, that means taking down the goofy photo booth pictures from the fridge. Continuity and cleanliness is the key to staging success. Consider hiring a professional home stager or an interior designer if you’re not the creative type and can’t get the Feng Shui just right. Hiring a professional is not a waste of money, but instead is an investment in the selling process of your home.

Get a leg up on the competition with these extra tips and tricks on how to stage your home in time for selling season. 

Create Curb Appeal

Remember when I said first impressions matter? Well, it all starts when the buyer pulls into the driveway. Curb appeal is the reason why we cut our lawns, trim our trees, and paint the front door a trendy colour. Make sure your lawn is intact, gutters are straight and cleaned out, and wash your windows from the winter snowmelt.

Curb appeal landscaping should be a high priority when selling your home. Entice buyers by adding hanging plants or find a large potter for flowers to boost the likelihood of selling your home quicker. Many homeowners believe that painting the front door or dressing it up creates a more welcoming feeling for guests – the same goes for buyers. A can of paint can run a homeowner around $25, but can add so much more value to the overall price of your home. Try painting your door, window trim and shutters to boost your curb appeal. Check out Pinterest for ideas and tips to give your front door the makeover you need to sell your house faster!

Paint Your Walls A Trendy Colour

Let’s debunk the myth that painting your house a neutral colour is more likely to have your house sell quicker. Neutral colours are in the past, it’s time to excite the potential buyer by adding trendy colours to your staging. Staying with the trends and modern interior design techniques is a sure fire way to sell your home faster. Check out local or national paint stores to see what’s trending.

Find The Best Real Estate Agent

The most important tool for selling your home is a successful real estate agent. With my neighbourhood knowledge, experience, and negotiation tactics I am confident that we can sell your house as fast as you can say Seller with Weller!

Keep Your House Warm This Winter With This Guide

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Stop Drafts

Drafts are your number one culprit when it comes to losing heat during the winter, but how do you fix it? Here are a couple of simple techniques that can help.  The first and most effective change you can make in your home would be to install new sweeps on all of your doors.  When it comes to sliding doors you can install closed-cell foam weather stripping inside the door. Another great way to keep drafts from infiltrating your home is to install weather stripping! It is the process of sealing all openings such as doors, windows, and trunks.

Insulate The Basement And Attic

Although it is essential to insulate all areas of your home, the basement and attic are the most important place to do so in order to retain heat.  25% of heat is lost in the attic and this can be easily reduced with 25 cm of insulation. Not only this but heat can be lost through old basement windows and also poor insulation, repair them before the winter weather comes. It will save you a surprising amount of money in the long run.

Reglaze your Windows

Don’t forget to reglaze your windows whenever you get a chance to this spring. You will only need to reglaze your exterior windows when the harden putty surrounding them has deteriorated. How can  you tell if this has happened? If you see small cracks or the window glass shakes, it may be time for a repair.

Warm Décor

Now there is more than one excuse to buy that fabulous rug you’ve had your eye on – it will also keep your home warm. Not only rugs but long curtains, add knits or throws to every couch and chair, opening windows when the sun can heat up the room can all be efficient ways to stay warm. Not only this but you can also stay warm at night by filling up an old fashioned hot water bottle and leaving it near your feet.

Change Your Furnace Filter

Having your furnace filter changed is essential to the overall maintenance and cost of your energy bill.  When your filter is clogged It will cause your furnace to work harder.  Think about it like this, your furnace will be working harder to keep you at your accustomed level of warmth through out the winter – make it easier.

Get Your Boiler Serviced

Once we all start spending less time outdoors it is essential that you get your boiler serviced. It may even be time to replace your current model with a more efficient one. Having it serviced will help ensure that it stays efficient through out the winter.

Unused Chimneys

Many older homes have beautiful decorative fire places that are unused. They can also be a culprit when it comes to keeping your home cozy in the winter months. There is a large amount of heat that can be lost in a vacant chimney. You can buy an inexpensive chimney balloon made from a special laminate that is placed in the chimney hole and keeps air from escaping. But just remember to remove it if you start any fires!

6 Tips For Buying Your First Home

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Are you ready to buy your first home? It can be a confusing experience and may feel overwhelming – especially if this is your first time buying. It helps to segment this process into steps so you don’t become too frustrated. Here are a couple of tips to help simplify the process!

Build Your Savings.

Currently in Canada you need a down payment of at least 5% or more to purchase a home. However, if the down payment is larger than that it could help lower your mortgage payments. A recommended down payment is said to be 20% of the cost of the home, so you must keep this in mind when saving. Don’t forget that you may also spend on overall maintenance and closing costs on the home. This includes repairs, home inspections fees, home insurance and other miscellaneous costs.

Get Down To The Nitty Gritty.

So you want a pool, a nice open kitchen, 2 full bathrooms, a fireplace and a bar? You first must ask yourself – are these features on my need list? Or do they belong on my want list? Create a list of features that are must haves and separate them from the things you are able to part with. This will help you when you are seeing multiple different homes and it might keep you from seeing an excessive amount because you are searching for the perfect one.

Determine The Home You Can Afford.

Are you aware of how much purchasing power you have? Having a preapproval is essential for first time home buyers so that they can really grasp how much they can afford. Creating a budget is essential when buying your first home – you want something that will not become a financial burden to your daily living. Want to know more about what costs you might have? Here is a detailed article explaining everything you need to know.

Know Your Options.

Not all homeowner’s financial profile is the same and there are multiple different loan options for you to choose from. Whether it be a 30 year fixed mortgage or a shorter-term, adjustable-rate mortgage, there is not one universal guide to every potential home owner. So it is essential that you research all of the options available to you or ask a professional about what the best route is to take.

Find Someone You Can Trust.

Above all receiving the help of a trusted real estate agent should be your number one asset during this transition! If you have any questions – Michelle can help you, after all this is one of the biggest transactions you’ll make. It really helps to have someone that will lead you in the best direction and give you great advice.

Stop Looking.

Once you find your home and have gained possession of it, stop looking. This is essential because you can really go off the deep end looking for something better than what you have. Instead, focus that energy on making your current space your own! Enjoy it and settle in.

Retro Interior Design Trends For 2018

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Are you looking to give your home design an uplift with the arrival of colder weather? Maybe your current interior design screams summer and spring? If you don’t know where to turn, don’t worry! We are going to talk about the newest trends for 2018’s interior design, let’s get started.

White is out and pastels are in. Whether it be muted blush tones or pale blues, the past trends of all white have been swapped for a little bit more colour. Zillow’s 2017 Paint Colors Analysis study discovered that homes with blue bathrooms commonly sold for $5,400 more than expected. Therefore maybe these pastels will not only be the trend but will also be the most cost effective option if you plan to sell! Not only this, but bright yellows and greens are becoming prevalent. It seems as though pairing pastels with bright or gem like primary colours is the newest trend for 2017 and 2018.

Lighter and brighter paint colors may be trending but dark furniture is in. Pairing these bright colours with dark browns or black will create a powerful colour scheme leaving your guests feeling like are on vacation in the tropics.  Not only this but having a darker accent pieces like dark green glassware or a dark blue rug can really tie everything together.

Adding texture to this bright palette of colours is essential to creating a balanced room. Textures like wicker baskets or wood furniture can bring everything back to a warmer feel. Not only this but unique light fixtures reminiscent of Morroco and Mexico have become very popular and add a bohemian feel. Adding large leafy plants adds to the relaxed feel of these new tropical trends.

As for your bathroom and kitchen, granite is out and quartz is in! It’s durable, has many different finish options and it’s fresh. Brass is back along with it’s cousin Rose Gold, too afraid to commit to these styles? Don’t worry, gold and silver will still reign supreme. Geometric back splashes are making a big comeback in 2018 along with bright kitchen appliances (GREEN will be huge! Just you watch). You will never believe it but velvet is also making a comeback, whether it be a velvet couch or stool adding this texture is surprisingly very attractive.

Its seems as though design trends are leaning towards a more retro feel for 2018. Shapes such as squares and triangles are popular with a bohemian feel intertwined. Pastel colours are a changed compared to 2017’s dark greens, blacks and whites. And textures such as velvet and wicker are making a comeback in a huge way. Minimalism was popular for so long that it was only time before bright colours made a hit. The new trend is maximalism while still incorporating muted colours because you wouldn’t want to scare everyone right off the bat!

Are you looking to stage your home to sell? Check out this recent blog post giving you advice and tips on how to set your home up for success!

Your Guide to Barrie’s Best Festivals in 2017

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Barrie is known for a culture full of talented artists, engaging live music, great local food and captivating theater. Located on the beautiful shores of Kempenfelt Bay, Barrie has evolved into an epicenter for all the best events and festivals within Simcoe County. Whether you love trying new things or want to shop local, these festivals are a must see for everyone.

Illuminate Barrie Festival

This festival will include live music, a vendor market, a heritage village, and Canada 150th themed fireworks! Originally taking place in June, this event was rescheduled to compensate for the construction at Centennial Park. This festival focuses on Canadian food and shopping locally within our community. Want to see a Lumberjack competition? Come out to the Barrie Waterfront September 2nd to 3rd and check out the Illuminate Barrie Festival.

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15th Annual Barrie Dragon Boat Festival

Based on the century old tradition, the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival is an essential part of Barrie’s heritage. This event promotes unity and community spirit with a vendor village, beer garden and live music.  Taking place on August 26th at Barrie Heritage Park, this festival has raised over $1.75 million for a variety of local charities including the Barrie Public Library. It will also feature multiple different teams competing for their chance at numerous different awards such as best dressed, spirit award and fundraiser of the year.  Come out to Heritage park on August 26th and check out this festival!

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Kempenfest

Kempenfest is one of Barrie’s largest annual festivals with over 250 booths selling local arts and crafts. Located on Barrie’s beautiful waterfront from August 5th to 7th, you can check out talented artists, live music and only the best local food. You can expect great live music from bands such as the Trews, Rue Bella and Dirty Little Swing Thing. Established 47 years ago, Kempenfest is one of Barrie’s oldest festivals.

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Barrie Film Festival

This 10 day event showcases award-winning independent feature films from all over the world. This festival mainly emphasizes on Canadian content as well as short films. Not only this, but the festival will also include galas, a director’s brunch and educational workshops. Taking place on October 13 to 22nd at  the Uptown Theater located at 55 Dunlop Street West, this is a must see event for film buffs!

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Rhythmfest

Are you a music lover? You can’t miss out on Rhythmfest. With everything from break dancing to beat boxing, this festival has so many fun things to do and see. Whether you want to do yoga or go to a salsa dancing workshop, Rhythmfest will have it. It takes place August 18th & August 19th at Heritage Park as the City celebrates the 8th year of this festival. Check out the link below to see the full schedule.

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Winterfest

Beat those winter blues by coming out to Winterfest! Although this festival is in the far future, it is still worth mentioning. Experience Maple Taffy, ice skating, ice sculptures and the infamous Polar Plunge! You can park at the Bayfield Mall and receive a free warm ride to Winterfest – talk about convenience.  Whether you are brave enough to take that plunge or you just want to bring the kids out for something to do, the Barrie Winterfest is a great way to have fun with the cold!

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The Housing Bubble and How it Will Affect Barrie Real Estate

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It has been no secret that the Canadian Housing market has been on an upward rise since the fall but does the age old saying “what goes up must come down” apply?  This saying will hold true for us but don’t worry! Understanding how this trend will affect our future decisions will help us navigate the market more efficiently. Let’s get into the nitty gritty of how the burst of the Housing Bubble will affect the Barrie Real Estate Community.

The housing bubble – an ominous name for multiple different factors that halt the rise of our current housing market. This bubble will theoretically pop; reaching its maximum potential and embark on a potential slow decline. What is the cause of this bubble bursting? Some would argue that a lack of either a supply or demand therefore creating an unsuccessful imbalance. Others would argue that an eventual maximum price is reached and most buyers will hold out. Not only this, but with the Ontario government promising to announce affordability measures soon within Toronto, we will soon see the affects trickle down onto neighboring cities and towns.

Barrie has one of the hottest real estate markets in Ontario. According to new information provided by Barrie & District Association of Realtors, the cost of a detached residential property rose 36 per cent, when compared to April 2016. There has currently been more inventory available in Barrie which has created competition for sellers and therefore more opportunity for buyers.

Also with that, there has been a recent slight cooling of the Barrie Real Estate market, which may be a great opportunity for buyers to take advantage of. Due to the recent ripple of the 15% Foreign Buyers Tax, there will be some buyers sitting on the sidelines waiting to see how it plays out.

With Georgian College and Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) as prominent places to work and attend within Barrie, these employees and students need places to live. Landlords need houses to rent out to these people. Therefore you will see many housing developments popping up all over the city – housing developers are taking advantage of this market. Even Simcoe County has been evolving into a hot place to buy and sell, perfectly situated between the city and cottage country.

This might seem overwhelming to some but don’t fear! There will always be different avenues that you can take to survive the burst of the housing bubble and navigate Barrie’s housing Market. Whether you want to find houses to buy in Barrie or are looking to sell you need to have a trusted, compassionate Real Estate agent to guide you. It is possible for buyers to succeed in their home ownership journey, they just need to be informed. Whether you need help negotiating, understanding the process or have questions, Seller with Weller’s expert experience and no pressure attitude can help you find your dream home. Buying or selling a home can be a complicated and stressful process but Michelle will walk you through the entire process with ease. Contact her today to explore your options and ask any questions you may have!

5 Tips for Listing in a Spring Market

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Spring has hit and warm weather in Barrie, Ontario is just around the corner.

SpringMarket

Houses have been selling at record speeds and the market is showing no mercy anytime soon. When listing your home you’ll want to make sure your preparation is on par with what REALLY needs to be done vs. what can be handled by your buyer to minimize your costs.

Here are some tips when it comes to listing your home in the Spring.

  1. Stage the exterior like it’s summer. Even if the weather is a bit cool, dressing up the front porch and putting out your outdoor dining furniture can go a long way. Also, opening up the pool early works well to really demonstrate a summer BBQ experience.
  2. Rain, rain go away. That’s right, in the Spring we see lots of water and if there are water issues with your home it’s time to deal with them. A leaky roof or a wet basement will show themselves, especially during this time of year.
  3. Renovate for ROI. In this market, everything sells. There is still value in searching for top dollar through updates. Kitchens and bathrooms notoriously show return on investment.
  4. Don’t renovate. Again, in this market everything sells. There are a ton of investors looking for their next project. I wouldn’t recommend spending the money doing upgrades if the whole house needs to be refinished.
  5. Talk to a realtor. With houses selling over asking, bidding wars, and lack of supply with huge demand, the Barrie market has changed.

The spring market is shaping up to be another rough roller coaster. Be prepared!

Making an Offer in a Competitive Market

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Imagine finding a home you love, making an offer, and then finding out there are other competing offers on the table. Ouch. If you’re looking for a property in a competitive market, it is likely that there will be multiple offers. Even just one can create the risk that you’ll lose the home. So how do you make sure your offer is enticing enough to win over the seller?
MultipleOffers
Here are some ideas:
• Don’t make a low-ball offer. If you do, it might be dismissed and you probably won’t get another chance to bid — especially if the other competing offers are near the listing price.
• Have a pre-arranged mortgage and include that with your offer. This reassures the seller there won’t be any money issues. (Most lenders will provide you with a pre-arranged mortgage certificate for this purpose.)
• Go in with a price high enough that the seller will be interested, but not so high as to be leaving money on the table. This is tricky and requires a savvy knowledge of the current market.
• Have a REALTOR® present the offer on your behalf. A REALTOR® will know how to do so professionally, and in a manner that gives you the best chance of getting the home.
In a competitive situation, working with a REALTOR® who is an expert on the local market — and a skilled negotiator — is crucial. Looking for a REALTOR® like that? Call today.

 

Barrie Real Estate Service

Barrie and Simcoe County are an excellent location to look for your next home or investment property. The region is continually growing as it is a prime destination for those wanting to escape the big city lifestyle of Toronto but still need to commute back and forth. Best of all, Barrie is a vibrant waterfront community and an hour drive puts you into the heart of Muskoka cottage country!

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