Buying a Home
UPPER-LEVEL FIRE ESCAPE PLANNING
No one wants to think about the possibility of a house fire but it’s important to be prepared.
A house fire isn’t something anyone wants to think about but it’s important for you and your family to have a fire escape plan.
One very affordable and easy-to-use item that’s often overlooked are fire escape ladders.
This compact yet fully functional ladder will protect you and your family by providing a safe and reliable means of escape from the upper levels of your home.
You’ll first need to measure the width and depth of your windowsills and then purchase a separate fire ladder for each upstairs bedroom.
Once you’ve made the purchase, make sure every family member knows where they’re stored and how to use them. Hopefully, it’s something you’ll never need but it’s always good to be prepared.
#GIVINGTUESDAY IN GREY BRUCE
#GivingTuesday is the perfect time to give back with small acts of kindness.
#GivingTuesday is a global social movement that takes place each year on the Tuesday that follows the frenzied shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday which means this year, it’ll fall on Tuesday, November 29th.
This worldwide event was created in 2012 in partnership with the United Nations Foundation to encourage people to give back to their community through charitable donations and volunteer activities.
It’s been such a huge success that last year in Canada, a record-breaking 43.6 million dollars was raised in the 24 hours that GivingTuesday took place!
Local charities need our support more than ever so consider making a donation to your favourite local charity or perhaps volunteering your time at the local food bank.
Even the smallest acts of kindness can make a huge difference so if you know someone who’s struggling, consider reaching out and brightening up their day by running a few errands or dropping off some nice food items for them to enjoy.
#GivingTuesday is the perfect way to give back with small acts of kindness, especially now that we’re heading into the holiday season. Learn more about how you can help those in need when Tuesday, November 29th rolls around!
NEGOTIATING YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS
Strong negotiating skills will help you get what you want in business, life and relationships.
You often don’t realize you’re using them but whether you’re renting a car, asking for a raise or trying to get your kids to clean up their room, strong negotiating skills are an essential part of life.
Thankfully, negotiating is a skill that can be easily learned and eventually perfected!
Your success is partly based on how well you’re prepared so it’s important to do your homework so that you’re able to counter any objections with logical facts and verifiable figures.
Also, never make assumptions but instead ask questions and listen to the other party’s perspective so that you can get to the root of their objections while gathering valuable information that may come in handy later.
No matter how good of a negotiator you are, there are certain scenarios where having a third-party negotiator on your side to act as a buffer is absolutely essential.
The home buying process definitely qualifies as it’s an extremely complex transaction that’s full of fragile emotions. After all, buying or selling a home will likely be one of the most significant financial decisions of your life.
In order to successfully negotiate the sale of a home, you not only need to understand local market conditions but you also need to be aware of certain psychological factors that may suddenly create uncertainty so that they can be identified and properly addressed before things fall apart.
If you negotiate with someone directly in such an emotionally charged situation that involves the sale of their beloved home, there’s a good chance that negative feelings will get in the way. It’s hard to recover once that happens and oftentimes, the home of your dreams will be lost due to ego, pride or principle.
Price is usually the primary offender but it could also be a variety of other factors such as the closing date or which fixtures come with the home. Even a seemingly innocent comment about their decor can be easily taken the wrong way which can quickly lead to disaster.
Even if you consider yourself the world’s greatest negotiator, emotions can often tear things apart which is why it’s important to have a real estate agent on your side to represent you as a third-party negotiator in order to keep emotions in check and the process on track.
Negotiations are only one important skill set that real estate agents specialize in so if you’re thinking about relocating, please get in touch so that we can strategically plan your next move!
GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE UPDATE – October 2022
Please don’t hesitate to reach out for detailed stats that are specific to your neighbourhood, or even if you’re just curious about what the house down the street sold for – it’d be great to hear from you!
ONLY HEART CAN BUILD A HOME
You know what they say – home is where the heart is!
If you’re looking for a new place in the Grey Bruce area for you and your family to call home, reach out so that we can discuss your next move 🙂
WHEN PUSHY COMES TO SHOVY
Clear communication is an important element in any relationship.
Nobody wants to deal with a pushy real estate agent who constantly hounds you for feedback.
At the same time, you don’t want an agent who’s never in touch and fails to serve your needs in a timely fashion.
In the early stages, many home buyers shy away from asking too many questions as they don’t want to waste the agent’s time since they’re just getting started.
The truth is, your agent wants to hear from you every now and then so that they can continue to grow with you as your house-hunting journey evolves.
Everyone’s needs are different though. Some clients require daily property updates while others who are just getting started prefer a more relaxed approach.
Your circumstances may change as time goes by so it’s important to adjust your search criteria as well as how often you receive notifications so that you’re not overwhelmed with unsuitable listings.
Effective communication is essential when it comes to forming and maintaining any relationship and a client/agent relationship is no different.
As long as you and your agent regularly communicate with one another during your house-hunting journey, you’ll feel neither pressured nor abandoned.
If you’re looking to relocate, whether it be now or a few years down the road, please don’t hesitate to reach out so that we can discuss your next move!
NEIGHBOURHOOD NAME GAME
Remembering someone’s name is the best compliment you can give!
People love it when you remember their name as it makes them feel as though they made a memorable impression on you.
Halloween’s a great opportunity to try and learn the names of people in your neighbourhood as everyone’s out trick-or-treating with their kids.
One of the best ways to remember someone’s name is to say it out loud right away while working it into a conversation, i.e. “Hey Jim, I think I’ve seen you out walking your dog”.
Another trick is to visualize an image that relates to the sound of their name. For instance, if you meet someone called Abby, picture a bee.
Finally, you can always try to associate their name with a famous celebrity. There are many different tricks but at the end of the day, it’s important to focus on their name instead of what you’re going to say next.
It feels great when someone you hardly know remembers your name so this Halloween, make it a point to get out there and name some names!
GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE UPDATE Sept 2022
Please don’t hesitate to reach out for detailed stats that are specific to your neighbourhood, or even if you’re just curious about what the house down the street sold for – it’d be great to hear from you!
