Finding a realtor that meets your needs can be quite a task. In fact, about a month and a half ago, we tackled the issue briefly when we offered 3 Helpful Hints for Dealing with Realtors. But many people still wonder - How can I really get to know potential agents and see if I want to trust them with my home? 

For that purpose, we've put together a 5-Question Quiz that you should ask any potential realtor before signing any papers. 

1) Tell Me A Bit About Yourself

This may sound like the opening gambit of a job interview, but then, well, that's exactly what this is, isn't it? Asking an open-ended question allows the realtor express to you what he or she thinks is his or her greatest assets. See if you agree.

2) What Is Your Specialty?

You don't want to hire a condo expert to sell your turn-of-the-century home, or vice versa. Ask this question to see what types of homes they are most familiar with. And by the way, don't accept "I sell everything" as an answer... everyone has a specialty (or should.)

The same goes for regions within a city. Ideally, you want a realtor who is familiar with the very area where your home is located.

3) Do You Belong to Any Organizations?

There are many organizations and certifications that realtors can belong to and or hold in Canada and the US. The answer to this question will give you an idea how well-connected your potential realtor is, as well as how committed they are to the profession.

4) Do You Work Full Time as a Realtor?

Speaking of commitment to the profession, you would be surprised to know how many realtors do their gig as a part-time affair. If you want full-time attention (hint: You do), this is a good question to ask point blank.

 

5) What Are Your Numbers?

As we mentioned before on this blog, a realtor with good sales numbers is a realtor you probably want on your team. Asking potential agents flat out how many homes they have sold in the past year will give you an idea of their talent (and or commitment, see above.) Also, watch out for shifty eyes and other telltale signs of lying on this one to be sure you're getting the straight goods.

There are obviously many other things you may want to ask any potential realtor, but there 5 questions will provide a solid base to decide whether someone is a good fit to sell your home or not. So go ahead, administer the quiz and see who passes with flying colours!  

 

SELL THAT HOUSE

In this installment of Sell That House, we're going to look at one of the importance but often-overlooked aspects of the home-selling process, the staging. For those who haven't heard of the practice, home staging is the art of making a home look... well... buyable, for lack of a better term to those you are showing it for. 

Some people will hire a professional stager to come in and take care of their home before having an open house, and many real estate agents recommend going this route. It especially makes sense to do this if you've already moved out and the house is empty; a stager can and does usually provide his or her own furniture to make the rooms look luxurious and comfortable. 

But if you don't have the budget to hire a pro, or just feel like tackling the challenge yourself, we're here to help. Here are our top 5 ways to start staging your home like a trained professional. Follow these guidelines, and you'll have your home off your hands in no time!

The Hit List:

1) Just Because It's Called a Fixture...

One of the biggest mistakes made by DIY home stagers is to skimp out on replacing outdated fixtures before showing the home. In the grand scheme of things, spending a few dollars to replace your door hardware, faucets and 70s-era light fixtures will be  well worth it.  Skipping this step altogether will leave prospective buyers thinking you and your place are dowdy and out of touch with current trends. 

2) Clean Means Cared For

When prospective buyers enter your home, you better believe that they are going to notice every dust bunny on the floor and scuff mark on the wall... and worse, they'll extrapolate from every imperfection and assume your home is in much worse condition than it is if it isn't spic-and-span.

Bottom line: When your home is on the market, it must be spotless at all times and ready for a showing. If you have to pay a cleaner for that period to keep it that way, do so - it will be worth it when your home sells that much faster!   

3) Less is More

A common mistake made by homeowners, when they are trying to make their home look good, is to clutter every room with oversized furniture, knickknacks and decorative pieces. When you're trying to sell, try to remember the popular adage: K.I.S.S, Keep It Simple Stupid!

The more things you stack into every room, the smaller and less homey the room, and the house as a whole, will look.

4) Fur Better or Worse

You might think that your little Muffy or Fido is God's gift to humanity, and that all prospective homebuyers will share your love of pets. They won't. 

If you have pets, make sure to vacuum up fur ardently and erase all evidence of pets living in the home before showing it, so as not to defer potential buyers who aren't fond of animals, have allergies, etc.

5) Taste is Personal

By far the most common and largest error made by homeowners when trying to ready their home to be shown is to allow themselves to be blinded by personal taste.

When it comes to staging your home, neutral is the word of the day. You may think that your 4-green motif in the dining room is the cat's meow. Others might not be so enthused. 

You might think that the faux Picasso prints on the hallway wall bring the space to life. Browsers with a realist penchant will be turned off. (Now if you've a genuine Picasso print, then you can probably leave that hanging...)

As much as it pains you, the less personal you make the space before showing it, the better. This allows each new visitor to better imagine how they could and would make each room their own. 

After all, the sooner you sell this house, the sooner you can buy a new home and start decorating the rooms in that one any way you like!

When you're on the hunt for your dream home, sometimes those old rose-coloured glasses can cloud your vision and make it difficult to see straight. But we should never forget that a home is a huge investment, and whether you're buying a new home or a resold one, there are certain things you need to consider before you fall in love with a property. 

Here are the best 7 tidbits of advice we could come up with for finding a dream home that doesn't disappoint. As always, let us know what you think of them and if you'd add any others in the comments!

1) Always Do Your Research

Whether you do it online, in newspapers or in person by visiting homes or model homes (with a realtor or without), it always pays to do your homework. This may seem like obvious advice, but all too often home buyers get so caught up in the excitement of purchasing a new home that they may skimp on some of the hard work. Don't be one of those.

2) You Can Pick Your Nose...

Always look for the cheapest house in the best neighborhood, because homes can be improved, but neighbours can't! When you buy for the area first, you are more likely to get the utmost bang for your buck in the long haul. This doesn't mean you should buy a house you hate in a burrough you love, but it's something to keep in mind nonetheless. 

4) Location, Location, Location

Like neighbours, a house's address is pretty fixed, too. You can change pretty much everything about your home after you buy it, in fact... except where it is located. Buying a home you love in an area that is inconvenient, dangerous or less than ideal is a short-sighted plan. Find a region you love first, then look for a home within it.

5) Compromise is Key

The sooner you come to terms with the fact that the perfect home does not exist, the easier this will be for everyone. Unless you're commissioning a custom home to be built on land of your choosing, there will always be a few things you don't like about every property you visit. Give and take a little, and aim to find the home that satisfies most of your needs and wants, not all.

6) Don't Fall In Love, If You Can Help It

No, I'm not talking about Cupid's Arrow, and Yes, this is easier said than done, but it is always best to stay as emotionally detached as possible when looking for and bidding on a home. This is, after all, a business, and there is no room in the deal room for emotion. 

If you do lose what you thought was your dream home when a deal falls through, don't fret, another one that's even better for you will come along soon!

7) Beware The Handy-man's Special

It might be refreshing to walk into a home that has been gutted and redone from top to bottom, but always remember to look closely at renovations to make sure they don't exhibit any signs of unprofessionalism. 

As we mentioned in our post about home inspections, professional inspectors are always wary of such renos, saying that they nearly always have code errors and other problems that could cause headaches down the road. Look out for crooked walls, oddly wired appliances and anything else that just doesn't seem right. Better to turn your back now on a house that looks great, but really isn't, than to look the other way and have issues down the road.

So, the time has come for you to sell your current house and look for a new home-sweet-home. Whether you will be looking to find a brand new home, or a previously owned gem, you will doubtless require the services of a real estate agent, both to get rid of your current digs and to land the new one. 

The fact of the matter is, cliche or not, buying or selling a home is the single largest business transaction most people will ever make in their lives. So it only makes sense that you should want to seek out expert guidance to navigate the waters and avoid making any regrettable errors.

But how can you make sure to find a reliable agent, and when you do, what can you do to get the most out of your real estate transaction? In this article, we will look at the top 3 tips for doing business with realtors. 

Number 1: Find a Realtor You Can Trust

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it is definitely important and worth looking at. Choosing the right agent can be the difference between hellish nightmare and easy breezy experience, and in the face of selling and buying such large assets, the process of finding someone you can trust can be daunting. 

The single best way to find a realtor that you know you can trust is the same way you discover new restaurants and decide which movies to see: get recommendations from people you trust. 

Chances are someone in your group of friends and/or family has used an agent to sell their home and can vouch for their professionalism. 

But don't worry, if you're new to an area and don't know anyone who can recommend a real estate agent, or if you severely mistrust the judgment of your inner circle, there are other ways you can find a reputable one. (By the way, if your reasoning fell under the latter classification, you may have greater problems than finding a realtor...)

In the US, sites such as HomeGain and RealEstateAgent.com can be great directory resources for finding registered real estate agents in your town or city. In Canada MostReferred.ca is an excellent neutral recommendation engine for realtors, and offers up only those agents who have been selected by their peers as upright and trustworthy.  

Number 2: Choose A Successful Realtor

This one obviously relates partly to the previous point, but is an important one nonetheless. When choosing your realtor, remember the old adage: money talks.

It might seem a very materialistic tact to take, but certainly choosing to work with a realtor who has strong sales numbers when selling your own home is a very logical thing to do. After all, if they can sell ice to an Inuit, imagine the wonders they can do with your home! 

You can usually find information about Top Ranked realtors for your area by contacting your local Real Estate Board. For example, in Ottawa the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) can provide you with that information. Just do a quick search engine search for "YOUR REGION Real Estate Board" and you'll be well on your way to finding your area's shining stars. 

Number 3: Practice Your Poker Face

Once you've found a realtor, it's important that you always remember this: Real estate agents, as nice as they might be, are still salespeople at the end of the day. And that isn't said with any hint of denigration - I myself have done sales jobs for years - but rather it is said with an overtone of realism. Everyone has incentives, and when you're a realtor, your incentive is to sell the home as quickly as possible. (Remember our discussion last month about the realtor incentives dilemma?)

So, first thing's first: it is integral that you never reveal your desperation to sell when you're putting your home on the market. Desperation gives a realtor the vibe that you will take a lower price than you deserve, just to get ride of your home. 

And secondly, speaking of price, don't ever give yours away when you're buying either. If you give your realtor a maximum price when looking for a home, you had better believe that your chances of haggling it down have gone out the window. 

Basically, just remember that relators will naturally use whatever wiggle room they are given in order to close a deal. Not because they are bad people, but just because they are... well... people. So keep your cards close to your chest as much as possible.

So, all your home owners out there, have you picked up any other helpful hints for working with realtors along the way? Or how about the real estate agents among you - we'd love to hear your perspective on this topic as well. Let us know in the comments!