Do It Yourself
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Apr15

Do It Yourself

by admin on April 15, 2013 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Comic

So? You wanna be a REALTOR®? You think you can do it to save money$?
Be careful of your thumb!

 I am sure many people have done just that and some have made it through the experience unscaved thinking they have saved money in doing so.   Possible?  Sure, why not.   But just because you saved, or think you saved, does not mean you maximized your potential on your home.   REALTORS® do have value; otherwise the majority of homes sold across the country would not be brokered through our offices and us.

Just by having the tools you think it takes to sell your home on your own…do you really know how to use them?   And use them to maximize your investment?  Many online marketing companies would have you believe you can…and charge you for it, a non-refundable fee!  You think Buddy’s thumb hurts, how is your pocket book feeling by spending money and getting little IF any representation.

Few things we REALTORS® do with only the speculations of getting paid…is market your home free on high traffic and profile websites; negotiate on your behalf and not just for the sake of the deal; qualify the Buyer; hold deposit monies ‘in trust’; follow timelines (very important); and most importantly, do what is best for you…to name just a few.  Not mentioned are the hours that accumulate, the road trips, the phone calls, follow-ups and much more, which is our cost of doing business.

WE ARE REALTORS®!
WE REPRESENT BOTH THE BUYER AND/OR THE SELLER
(You won’t find this in any FSBO Disclaimers)

 ~ Are you really saving money?   Just like the gas money you spend everyday to get to work…it is your “cost of doing business” just like the commission we are earning to protect you and your investment.   Ever wonder how much the investment brokers are making when your mutual funds or stock pay your dividends?   You are just looking for the results of how much you earned.   My job is make you happy walking away from the lawyer.

~ WHO are you allowing to come into your home…?   Ever consider this one, where you are making arrangements for perfect strangers to enter your home in the midst of your family’s day-to-day living.   I won’t go into all the scary scenarios that could occur, but they are out there, so be careful.   I will tell you this…I am a father and I do have a daughter.  IF her husband ever put her and my grandbabies at risk…he will be hearing from me.

~ How much time off work?  Can you afford take several periods off work, possibly each day to drive home only to be stood up by the would-be-buyers are delayed?  “I will specify only the times we can show our home.”   This is the typical response I have heard, but in the heat of the market, which is fast approaching, and in a military area, Buyers will be asking to get in at their convenience rather than at yours.   And if you cannot accommodate, the house down the road with one of our industry’s lockboxes are on will get the deal.   More cost of doing business…but you think you saved money.

~ Full Service vs. Discount?   This is my favourite topic.   I have been with four brokerages in my 10-year tenure…different cities but always with the same brand – a fully committed iconic one that flies high in the air, that is a full commissioned brokerage with representation to you!  In our market place, the “Top SEVEN” discount brokerages make up only 7% of the market share combined.  But yet…you are saving money, OR ARE YOU? – (based on 2012 sales. Source MLS® & NSAR®)

Disclaimer:

These are thoughts of Tech Todd looking back on his (my) Adventures in real estate and how people have tried the do-it-yourself FSBO and eventually “Bugged” him (me) to look after their home.   Looking forward to hearing from you.

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Apr17

Moving Expenses

by techtodd on April 17, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Posted In: Halifax

Moving Expenses, (form T1-M-12E) may help offset commission you pay!  

After going into competition with a discount brokerage just recently, and researching both the market and the reason for my friend’s move; a colleague of mine just happen to mention that moving expenses over 40 km for work or education can be tax deductible.  I deducted them myself several years ago when moving to Halifax for work…  

With a little digging, and it wasn’t too hard or long, I found the following form from the Canada Revenue Agency website (http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t1-m/t1-m-12e.pdf)  Here is a quick screen shot from this link.

Moving Expenses Clarification

Now, depending on your reason for moving, the commission paid to a real estate professional, like myself is indeed, or can be deducted.   It is in writing!

What does this mean for you the Seller?  

Simply put – Why would you ever want to or knowing compromise your level of representation in lieu of saving money!   Would you do that when your BMW or Civic needs repair?   Think about your children in your passenger seat.   How about your children’s savings, or their future investment?  Want less than full representation on having your money grow for them….  I didn’t think so.   Or more importantly, your health.   Your level of stress can play an important factor on your health.   Take the stress away and “Bug me Please!”

In conclusion; the difference between the levels of service you could get…not saying you always do…could be well worth justifying by going with one of the Tired, Trusted and True brokerages like RE/MAX…

Apr14

OPEN HOUSE April 28th – 43 Rosemary Dr, Sackville

by techtodd on April 14, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Posted In: Todd Smith

Hello everyone.   I would like to invite you all to my open house today,
Sunday, April 28th located at 43 Rosemary Dr in Middle Sackville. 
   Here’s a link so you know what my listing is and how it will fit you,
and you can find me by clicking on the balloon.Curbside Marketing - 40002 - 43 RosemaryPlease also try our Curbside Marketing
Simply text 40002 to 28888

Please forgive my feeble attempt at editing a photo…I might be called Tech Todd…
but that is for your benefit when it comes to the structure and quality of your home…
not my computer skills.

Feb03

PANCAKES McGEE: Buyer Wanna-Be

by techtodd on February 3, 2013 at 11:29 pm
Posted In: Todd Smith

PANCAKES McGEE

Not everyone sets out to buy a home everyday of life, but sometimes it just happens, or at least the notion hits you.   Trick is to be prepared when the time comes and to have ready those relationships established prior to being hit the that silly, overwhelming desire of being a home owner.   There’s a little more to the process than deciding whether or not to have ‘corn or maple’ syrup with your breakfast; otherwise there’d be way more homes sold privately versus the 85% (+/-) of REALTOR ® assisted ones.

Now Pancakes McGee did not know the first thing or what to do next when it came to buying a home, or even if he qualified.   It was all just a dream to one day to make his pancakes with his mother’s recipe in his very own kitchen.  Now there are a lot of people who do know the details involved in the purchase of a home, and by no means am I trying to insult your intelligence, but to the masses out there who want the experience, dedication and above all else, representation, keep reading…I can help.

Chosen business Card w PurpleBUYERS:

I’ll cut right to the chase… You have to be QUALIFIED before heading out to buy a home.  That’s assuming, like most of us, you do not have that much cash to just buy, or put it on you credit card.   IF you do…here’s my card!

Reason to be qualified are threefold, at least:

1)   Your hopes and aspirations are realistic and not a fantasy based on some online software telling you what you can buy.  They can be useful when making the decision to buy, but a “true professional” (and you will hear me refer to “true professional” many times more), but huge differences in what can be bought can arise once your credit score is checked, the duration of your employment, and that of your partner to name a few.

2)   Your time, and yes my time is one of our most valuable assets we have.   It is never a waste of time to meet someone new.   That is a useful situation where we get to ‘interview’ one another to make sure we are the right fit before our adventure begins.  From these initial few meetings your comfort level will be established, my experience and expertise will help us both before we set out.  So instead of spending time looking at houses out of your reach, let’s get together and go over the basics.

3)   Your money is not that easy to come by, or at least it is for me, so by being approved for a mortgage ahead of time and before our adventure together begins you will know how far your money will go and by taking an educated approach to the home buying process, your money should grow as well in home equity.  From when you first meet one of my industry colleagues – my bankers (HALIFAX TRADE DIRECTORY) they will assist you in what you can afford and IF by chance the timing isn’t right for you right now, listen to their advice on how to structure your income and expenses and stay in touch with them.   This will be a great relationship to build and they are here to help.

4)   My advise, if I may…have a contingency fund set aside if possible to insure you can maintain a home, a family life (far too important) and furniture, lol.  Believe it or not, there are a lot of homes out there making the minimal payment to have the home they live in, but without much else.  What would happen in the case of a broken window, leaking roof or worse?  Just because you are able to get that $350,000 home (big smile), consider a smaller payment, live and be prepared as this may not be your final home.
So…as Pancakes McGee and I stroll off in the morning’s sun, after a delicious pancake breakfast (maple syrup for me and jam btw), he is on his way to being a home owner after we sit down and discuss some options and then he has to make a decision on which professional he will work with to secure his mortgage.   Stay tuned for his adventure.

In closing, I would like to see all my clients considering talking to a ‘mortgage specialist’ rather than a branch employee.   Why?   They work hours similar to me,  meaning they are flexible and can often meet with you at your convenience and a location not always at a bank.   Without speaking for anyone, they can often give better rates, products and advice versus what an employee can offer…you see, they are self-employed as well.

Good luck and look forward to talking to you.

SELLERS:   Well…you are just going to have to wait for my next strip to follow…   But if you want information ahead of time…give me an email address and I will respond.

Jan22

The Buyer Pool

by techtodd on January 22, 2013 at 11:33 pm
Posted In: Todd Smith

In a recent article released by RE/MAX I took notice to a very interesting exert, titled Buying Pool.  Not surprising, women are becoming more and more part of the home buying process.  In fact, I have known this for my entire career, whether or not women was on her own or not.  In fact I think it was also present in my parent’s day…   Check out the exert and the complete article below

“Canadian homebuyers more experienced, financially prudent moving forward, says RE/MAX”

The Buyer Pool
Of those purchasing in the next 24 months, 18 per cent are single, 43 per cent are couples, and families account for 33 per cent. Almost half of single purchasers (45 per cent) are female—confirming suspicions that women now represent a considerable force in the market. According to Statistics Canada, the number of women with postsecondary school diplomas/degrees has increased steadily. In 2011, 72 per cent of women aged 25 to 44 had completed post-secondary education, as opposed to 65 per cent of men. Income and employment rates among women have also been on the rise.
“Today’s female homebuyers are more established, independent and financially secure than ever before,” says Sandhu. “This has likely contributed to the greater number of single women—many successful, young professionals—entering Canada’s housing market. The trend had been noticed by our realtors across the country for some time, but it’s encouraging to finally see the progress in numbers. Statistics Canada indicates that homeownership rates for both women and men living alone climbed several percentage points during the 2001 to 2006 census period—a trend we suspect has likely risen again over the subsequent years.”
While the 18-34 cohort represents 37 per cent of buyers, the 35-54 grouping is by far the largest at 40 per cent. The 55-plus category trails, representing just 23 per cent of homebuyers. The greatest percentage of younger buyers can be found in Alberta, where they represent 40 per cent of the purchasing pool. Job opportunities abound and salaries are generous as a result of a robust economy, and housing is still relatively affordable in the province. The oldest buyers are found in Quebec, where they represent 29 per cent of all purchasers—many of whom may be taking advantage of serious equity gains realized over the past decade.

To see complete RE/MAX article, Click Here

Nov08

Tech Todd’s “NEEDS & WANTS” – Nov 7th, 2012

by techtodd on November 8, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Posted In: Todd Smith

Doing what I can to help my clients out…and possibly you and/or your friends at he same time.
Please notice the last item on my board.