Don Burnham

How to get complete honesty and integrity when you need help making one of the largest financial decisions of your life.

Realtors can be an incredible wealth of knowledge and support when buying a home. Who you hire is a big decision, and of utmost importance is finding someone who is honest and has integrity.

Here are some suggestions to help make sure the realtor(s) you meet with are not going to try and “sell you something” but instead guide and support your selection process to ensure you get the best possible home for you or your family.

First you have to understand what motivates realtors to stay up late or get up early, miss a party or leave a comfortable chair on a Sunday to find you opportunities and ensure you are informed on the value, zoning, condition and price of the home you are considering buying. The two main motivators I see are incentive and pride.

Commissions are the incentive to entice realtors to show and sell properties. Pride in doing a good job improves the Realtors reputation and secures future referrals from you as a satisfied client.

The incentive for a realtor to find you a good home, secure the property for you (get your offer accepted) protect your interest (suggest and include conditions in the offer) and minimize the stress (do the legwork and explain the process) is starting to vary more now than I have seen in my 26+ year career. Here is my suggestion on how to level the playing field and make sure you get the honesty and integrity you are looking for in a realtor.

Ask your realtor what a buyers contract is all about. In a nutshell he or she should be able to explain: the contract states in all instances where the realtor's commission on the property you have agreed to view is the amount you and he/she agree is fair the realtor would accept that amount as payment.

In the event the commission is above that amount you agreed to, the realtor can give the difference back to you. In the event the commission is below that amount and the seller is unwilling to make up the difference you can avoid the property or make up the difference. This way the realtor knows if you buy a property he/she will eventually get compensated; their advice shouldn’t be influenced by fear of losing you after what often turns out to be months of viewing homes together.

This way the agent should be willing to take the time to educate you on what to look for and what to avoid, what similar properties have been selling for, on and off site influences that might affect your enjoyment and resale of the property and chances are it won’t cost you anything because most motivated sellers are willing to pay your realtor a fair commission to get their house sold A.S.A.P.

Don Burnham  

Prepare your house for sale

Plans for six months and one year in advance

By Don Burnham, Realtor

Whether you are thinking of selling this spring or a couple years down the road, the sooner we start preparing your house for sale, the better. Please read on for some of the top things I recommend you do. 

Six months from putting your house on the market

If you are thinking of selling your house this spring, here are three things you should be doing right now:

1)      Have a professional paint colour consultation. Hire a trusted colour expert whom, for around $150 will meet with you in your home and decide on how to best paint your home for a top dollar sale. You can ask me for a referral or ask at your favourite paint store for a recommendation.

2)      Freshen or replace your front door, fence and driveway. Get started on your home’s curb appeal.

3)      Start looking for bedspreads, towels and bath curtains that will complement your home.

4)      De-clutter and remove or store items that are no longer needed. It will give the home a more roomy feel and allow potential buyers to envision themselves living there. It will also make moving easier in the long run. (I don’t know how to nicely tell people to get rid of personal photos, etc.). Stagers recommend removing one third of the decor in your house including personal photos and collections—this will help potential buyers envision your home as their home-to-be.

5)      As spring approaches, plant annuals for colour—baskets or pots on the front porch and in the flowerbeds.

6)      Make sure your home maintenance is up to date and get the carpets, porches and gutters cleaned. 

One year from putting your house on the market

If you may be selling your home next fall or winter, in addition to the things above, you should:

1)      Take photos of your house in the summer. Photos of your garden and yard at their best on a sunny day will make your home stand out from the others on MLS in the winter months.

Also, watch for special times to capture photos, such as sunrise and sunsets, evening photos of the fireplace, the exterior of your house when it’s lit up with lights (times when buyers won’t normally view your home).

2)      Take a look at your roof. If it looks dated, check the warranty because it may not be as old as it looks. Perhaps it just some moss growth, which can be taken care of easily (there are some good products, available at home improvement stores, that can be administered with a garden hose sprayer). However, if your roof is near the end of its life, make a few calls for quotes on a new roof. I find this is one cost buyers tend to consistently overestimate and is a good investment for resale.

Lastly, no matter how serious you are about selling, or when you plan to do it, contact me for a free meeting. I will come look at your home and give you more personalized, detailed advice about how to make sure we maximize the sale price of your home. You deserve top dollar for your house, and I can help you get it.

Sincerely,

Don