GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE UPDATE December 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!
Home Sales
SELLER MISTAKES THAT COST THOUSANDS
You only get one shot at creating that all-important initial buzz so it’s important to get things right the first time.
When selling your home, it’s important to get it right the first time as mistakes mean your home will sit on the market longer and eventually sell for less.
You really only get one shot at creating that all-important initial buzz that occurs when a new home hits the market, so make a great first impression by avoiding the following seller mistakes:
The Price Is Wrong
Sellers are often tempted to price their home way above market value but this tactic usually backfires. The longer a home sits on the market, the more of a stigma it’ll develop, forcing you to repeatedly drop the price.
Restricted Access
Buyers may skip your home if it’s not easily accessible. The goal is to get as many qualified buyers through your home as possible so using a lockbox is key, pardon the pun 🙂
Hanging Around
Homeowners should always leave before showings so that buyers can look around without any distractions. If a buyer feels comfortable, they’ll be able to relax and make themselves literally feel at home.
Stage Fright
Staging starts with an ultra-clean, de-cluttered and de-personalized home. Buyers should be able to envision themselves living in your home which is why photographs, trophies and kids’ artwork have to go.
Rough Repairs
It’s important to tackle any necessary repairs before your home hits the market as buyers will be turned off if your home appears to have been neglected and they’ll wonder what other hidden issues may arise.
Going It Alone
A real estate agent’s job is not only to market your home to the masses but also to act as a 3rd party negotiator to keep emotions in check and help you get the highest price in the shortest amount of time.
Selling your home can be an overwhelming experience and your home is most likely your biggest asset, so when you decide to sell, it’s important to get everything right the first time.
Setting your emotions aside and viewing the sale of your home as a business transaction are critical elements to ensuring your home sells quickly, easily and for the most amount of money possible!
BAKED BRIE & ROASTED GARLIC
Simple yet tasty appetizers are the way to go during the busy holiday season.
It’s not always easy to impress holiday guests but the delicate, mellow taste of roasted garlic paired with creamy baked Brie is sure to be a huge hit. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 wheel of Brie cheese
- 2 whole garlic bulbs
- 2 tsp olive oil
- red pepper jelly
- crackers
Start off by slicing the tops off the garlic bulbs and drizzle them with olive oil.
Next, wrap the bulbs in foil, place them on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 45 minutes.
While the garlic bulbs are baking, slice the thin rind off the top of the Brie and place the rest of the cheese in the oven for the last 15 minutes.
When it’s done, transfer the Brie and garlic bulbs to a platter and serve with crackers and red pepper jelly. Enjoy!
HELP SUPPORT GREY BRUCE BUSINESSES
Local businesses need our help this holiday season. Here are a few ways we can help support them!
Competition from big box stores and online retailers continues to grow each year so it’s important to support our local, hard-working businesses as they’re the backbone of our community.
The holiday season is usually the busiest time of the year for our small businesses as they rely heavily on the Christmas rush.
If you’re having trouble figuring out what type of gift to get for that special someone, you may need to think outside of the box, the gift box that is!
For instance, a cooking class or a pottery workshop that’s hosted by a local business are a few unique ideas that are sure to please!
A gift certificate to a “best-kept secret” type of restaurant or perhaps a spa treatment is another great way to help support our hardworking local businesses.
If you’re a last-minute shopper, there’s still plenty of time to buy from the wide variety of small businesses in Grey Bruce as orders can often be prepared and picked up right away.
In addition to shopping at local businesses, it’s important to subscribe to their newsletter, tag and follow them on social media, like and share their posts and spread the word to family and friends.
Our small businesses are integral to the character of our community. Buying local improves our community’s economy and helps connect us with our neighbours so this year, make it a point to support our amazing local businesses.
GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE UPDATE – November 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!
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 🙂