Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval An important ingredient in a successful home search is knowing how much you can afford. You don’t want to fall in love with a property only to find out it’s outside your price range.That’s why I recommend getting a Mortgage Pre-Approval. This is a document from your bank or other lender stating how much of a mortgage they are willing to give you. There are two advantages to getting this pre-approval: It gives you the peace-of-mind of knowing you can afford homes you view on the market, and won’t have problems arranging financing. You know exactly how much you can afford to spend on your new home.  There is nothing worse than finding a home you love only to discover it is beyond your budget. It’s a sign to sellers that you are a serious, prepared buyer – which... 01/26/2016

What do you want from an open house? Obviously, you want to attract a lot of potential buyers — and have at least a few of them become seriously interested in your property.So how do you make your open house as successful as possible?You probably already know the basics: make sure your house is clean, bright and uncluttered.However, there are some other open house success tips you may not know…Get minor repairs done. A dripping faucet, a squeaky fence door, or a scuff on the wall may seem minor to you, but these problems can stand out like a sore thumb to a potential buyer.Brighten things up. Make sure all areas of your home are well lit. Natural light has the most appealing effect. Open all the curtains.Put away personal items. Trophies, pictures, mementos — all remind potential home b... 01/25/2016

­   THE BUYER REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT WHO DOES IT BENEFIT ?­ The words “Client” and “Customer” seem pretty clear cut, but in real estate they mean completely different things to a Realtor®. In Ontario all real estate agents are governed by the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002, which became law in March, 2006.  This law stipulates that as soon as possible after the first point of contact with a Buyer, a determination must be established as to whether the Buyer will be represented by the Agent as a “customer” or a “client” and there is a distinct difference between the two.  That is why this determination must be made as quickly as possible as the Agent must be governed by the law as to how the Buyer is represented. Here is a short video synopsis of who The Buyer Representation ... 01/14/2016

As you tour a potential new home, you notice that the carpeting in the living room is stained. “Don’t worry about that,” says the homeowner, who senses your disapproval. “We’re going to get the carpeting professionally cleaned before we move.”Should you take their word for it?Regardless of how honest a seller may seem, never rely on a verbal promise.Will they move that abandoned car in the back yard? Will they fix the crack in the front steps? Is that expensive-looking ceiling fan included with the house?Don’t assume. Get it written into the offer.Your Real Estate Connection: Marina Gavrylyuk Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty www.MarinaG.ca Marina.Realtor RentListingService.com - Condos and Houses for rent CondoName.com - New and Resale Condos and Towns from Developers R... 01/11/2016

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF A REALTOR?  WE SELL HOUSES, RIGHT?   Actually, NO.. that is the end result of what we do.. What we really do is PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS Our clients have a problem... sometimes clients get re-located for job purposes sometimes there is a marital breakup and the house needs to be sold or the house is just too big after the children move out or they need a larger home because the family is expanding Perhaps the older person can no longer manager their home and is moving into a retirment home   Alternataively: the young adult is moving out of the parent's home, starting a new job and looking for a place to live. Perhaps the lease on their rental property is about to expire, and they want to purchsae something. The young family is growing and they need to buy... 11/19/2015

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY WHEN LOOKING FOR AN YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT? Buying or selling real estate is probably the most important financial transaction you will make in a lifetime.  Choosing an agent to represent you is probably the next most important thing to do.   What qualities do you consider most important when considering an agent to represent you? There are many qualities you should be looking for.... here are some to consider and you can define the order in which you consider them to be of most importance to you. Trustworthy and Ethical  - I believe the best way to find a good agent is to ask friends or relatives if they have used an agent in the past and ask for recommendations based on their performance.Knowledgable - you want an agent who is knowledgab... 10/29/2015

ARE YOU CONSIDERING RENTING A NEW FURNACE OR CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONER?   The cost of buying a new furnace or Central Air Conditioning can be a very large expense.   Although the new high efficiency units can save you money over time, the initial expense is not something everyone can afford.  Thus, renting Furnaces and Central Air Conitioning units has become popular in recent years. The one thing consumers should be cautious about before signing that rental agreement is to read the fine print.  Most agreements that I have seen are open ended agreements, which means there is no ending date.   This means you are stuck paying the monthly rental fee for the life of the furnace/AC, which can end up be substantially above the cost of the units. Another thing you should consider carefully is th... 10/19/2015

DID YOU  BUDGET FOR EXTRA COSTS?WHAT ADDITIONAL COSTS ARE INVOLVED WHEN PURCHASING A HOME?Buying a home can be a very emotional event… and it can be very stressful …  and in the excitement of the process, it’s all too easy to forget the additional costs involved in any transaction of buying a home.  Keep in the mind that buying a home is one of the largest financial investments you will probably make and planning and budgeting for it is essential.  Talk with your agent and find out about them, and budget for them in the home buying process.Here are just a few of the costs involved you need to know about, so you can budget for them.House InspectionThis is an absolute must have, for both re-sale and newer homes.  Ask your agent to insert that condition in your offer. Home inspections usua... 10/17/2015

FREE Power Of Sale Real Estate Seminar!!!  You Will Gain Insider Secrets To Purchasing Power Of Sale Properties $$$$ Thousands Of Dollars Below Market Value!!! Register Today @ :www.bankforeclosurehouseprices.com Admission: FREE with promo code: ARPOS Seminar Available Date and Location: Saturday October 24, 2015 @ 10:00am Location: Markham, ON Power Of Sale Guide Workbook: * Get A Copy Of Our Workbook "Power Of Sale and Distress Sale - Home Buyer's Guide For Newbie's." Register Today @ :www.bankforeclosurehouseprices.com Our FREE Power Of Sale Real Estate Seminar Will Teach You How To: * Purchase a house or condo with *zero down payment. * Move from renting, to first time homeowner to Real Estate Investor in as little as 3-5 years. * Learn how to save up to *$10,000 on your next move.... 10/07/2015

 We are all guilty of it at one time or another in our lives.... taking things, or someone, for granted, even the smallest of actions... until one day we see someone who truly has a disability, or is terminally sick, or who has lost a child, or some other devastating event.  It is then when we suddenly realize, and are reminded of how very lucky we are.It is truly humbling when you realize how many things we take for granted ....small insignificant things we do on a regular basis each day until something happens to make us dependant on others for the most menial of tasks.I remember the day I returned home from hospital after undergoing back surgery, a double disc herniation, with a greater appreciation of, and respect for, my independence, or lack thereof.Back injuries and back pain aff... 09/28/2015

When looking for your next home, what criteria is most important to you?  Neighbourhood?  Size of home? Amenities nearby? Close to transportation?  Shopping?  Schools?When I am contacted by perspective Buyers, or showing properties, one of the first questions they ask is which school would my children be attending?  In fact, some Buyers, ask I only search in one particular area for a particular school because of its high academic rating.Here is a great resource to use so you can rate the school in the neighbourhood you are thinking of living in.  There is a lot of useful information on how the school measures up in terms of English, Reading, Writing, Math, etc. and also shows the trends as to whether the rating in each particular subject is on the rise, or decline.Although the system is... 09/26/2015

PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR WINTER....  I posted this a few years ago, but felt it might be worth posting again. There are some great tips and advice on preparing hour home for the winter months.. things you can and should be doing NOW before the cold weather sets it.  Being pro-active now and taking care of these small maintenance items could save you time and money later.Its that time of year again... time to start thinking about preparing your home for winter if you haven't already done so.  Your home will require maintenance as temperatures begin to drop to keep it in shape through the winter months.Here are a few things you might want to consider before the winter sets in... 1.  Roof, Eaves and Downspouts Clean out the eaves of all debris and hose it down to remove all little bits   Chec... 09/08/2015

  The Fall market as we all know can be a very busy time in the world of real estate. That’s when there are usually an abundance of homes for buyers to choose from, making the choice difficult at times.   The Fall market in my area typically begins about mid September, after Labour day and when the children are back at school.   But how often do we hear Seller's say they want to wait until mid or late September?   There are some arguments to be made for not waiting:   1.   It means that there is more competition for the Seller, 2.   Pricing  the home accurately is more important than ever. 3.  Having several other listings in your neighbourhood which are competing with yours, may create a situation where it could take longer than usual to sell your home. 4.  This is also when curb appea... 08/28/2015

RENOVATING? Budget for more time and Money, it most cases it always takes more time and unplanned situations arise that add to the budget...For those of you who have lived through the renovation process of a kitchen, in particular, you know how frustrating it can be… not to mention the inconvenience of not having a sink or stove.  Resorting to having to wash dishes in the laundry tub (thank goodness it is on the main level) and relying on either a hot plate, toaster oven or microwave to cook with, for 5 people!!The company I contracted with instructed his sub contractor (in my presence) to leave the sink in as long as possible, and also the stove as I have 3 young children here and it would be helpful to me, to have some convenience for as long as possible especially over the weekend wh... 08/19/2015

FREE Markham Power Of Sale Real Estate Seminar!Seminar Location: Markham, Ontario Date: Saturday September 19, 2015Time: @ 10:00 amTo Register Today, Visit: www.BankForeclosureHousePrices.com Our FREE Bank Foreclosure/Power Of Sale Real Estate Seminar Will Teach You How To:Purchase a house or condo with *zero down payment.How to move from renting to first time home owner to Real Estate Investor in as little as 3-5 years.Learn how to save up to *$10,000 on your next move.The top 5 mistakes that could hurt any bank foreclosure / power of sale or distress sale home buyer.How to purchase condos and homes for 10 – 30% below market value.How to reduce fear and increase confidence thru successful strategies!How to take advantage of special incentives available to first time home buyers.How to ... 08/16/2015

I'm sure this has happened to many of you... and I can't understand realtors who actually describe their listings in such a very misleading manor. Quite often I take clients to see with what appears to be a gorgeous home based on the description on the listing and the photograph of the exterior.  The homes are usually in great neighbourhoods.... with lovely manicured lawns... and the description of the interiors sound fantastic. They state things such as "move-in condition", " shows 10+++"  "dutch clean."  On one such occasion a particular house was advertised as "move-in" condition ans was vacant, which suited my clients as they were looking for a fast closing.... there were, however, no interior photos (which should have been my first clue, and have learned since) ... but I gave the a... 08/11/2015

 So, you're away for a few days... and you didn't engage the services of a colleague to take your calls while away  (which in my opinion is a big mistake).  I always want to provide great service to my clients whether I am away, or in town.  I always arrange with another agent to take my calls, when I am away and we sign a Vacation Agreement outlining what refereral fees will be paid.... so there is no misunderstanding on any scenario that could arise. Then one of your clients calls, texts or emails you (obviously they don't know you're away becaaue you didn't tell them) saying they saw a property they  have to see today as it looks perfect for them ... and asks that you please book an appointment to see it.  What do YOU tell them?   Do you tell them you are away and tell them to call t... 08/10/2015

You Have a Pre-Qualified Buyer, the Seller Refuses the Appointment Request If you had a serious Buyer, with financing pre-approval in place, anxious to get out there and buy a home.... and you were trying to book appointments and run into a roadblock with one of the listing appointments, what would you do?The Sellers refuse the appointment for some reason and there is no mention of any particular showing times preferred on the listing, just that it wasn't convenient for them.  Really?  You are trying to sell your home and its not convenient to let someone come to see it and possibly buy it?Do you cross that property off the list, move on and forget about it?  Not Me !!!I hate taking no for an answer, especially when I have a Buyer all ready to submit an offer on something, and looking f... 08/03/2015

 10 Very Important Reasons Why ...You Should Hire an Experienced ProfessionalFor THE MOST Important Financial Transaction You Will Make Buying or selling a home is probably THE most important financial transaction you will make during your lifetime, and having a rained, experienced realtor who has the expertise is the logical and smart choice. After all, who would you consult if you had a heart condition… a cardiologist of course, because you want best there is … an experienced professional with the knowledge and expertise in this field. What if your child had a serious illness, you would of course seek out the best pediatrician so your child would have the best possible care. Its no different when buying or selling a home.. leave if in the capable hands of an experienced, trained pofes... 08/02/2015

You can't sit back and expect the agent to sell your home for top dollar if you are not providing him/her with the canvass they need to market your home effectively, then complain when it does not sell! Selling your home is one of the most important financial decisions you will make... and it involves more than hiring a competent agent, putting a sign on your front lawn and listing it on the MLS system.   Taking an active role when your home is on the market will reap you many rewards... your active participation will pay off in dividends...Here are just a few ways you can participate in getting your home sold faster, and for top dollar!Here's a short vide I made last November with just a few ideas on how you as a Seller can assist your agent, and ultimately yourself in the sale of your... 08/01/2015