So you’d be smart to ask, “Why should I sell with you?”
The best way for me to answer that is in a Personal Consultation meeting. I will meet you at your home, explain how I work with clients, and give you an initial idea of what to expect in terms of selling price and timing. This meeting will give us an opportunity to get to know each other; for me to explain my skills and experience; and for you to ask questions and see if there is a good fit. There is absolutely no obligation to proceed.
In the meantime, here are a few highlights of what to expect from me as your real estate agent:
You want your house to sell quickly and for the highest price possible. You also want the process to be trouble-free. That’s what I do for clients every day!
To find out more about why you should sell with me, please call or email me to schedule a Personal Consultation.
Email: marlene@marleneboyle.com
Phone: 905 926 5554
You obviously want to sell your house for the highest possible price. You may even have a number in mind. But, how do you determine if that number is reasonable? You may be concerned that:
Don’t worry. I’m an expert at creating a pricing strategy that will pique the interest of qualified buyers – and set the stage to get you the highest sale price possible. I’m also a specialist in the local market. I know what properties like yours sell for, and can get yours sold at the high end of that range.
I begin by getting to know your property and all its desirable features. Then I make some calculations to determine its Current Market Value. That value is based, in large part, on what similar houses in the area have sold for recently.
Of course, buyers won’t pay for the sentimental value you place on your house. But special features such as hardwood floors, a newly renovated kitchen or bathroom, or a beautiful backyard patio can have an impact on how quickly a property sells and for what price. I’ll help you understand all the factors that go into setting the list price, and ensuring it is just right for the marketplace and your goals.
When you list your house, it must attract the attention of qualified buyers eager to get into a property like yours. Otherwise, your house may take longer to sell and you may not get the price you expected.
As an expert in the local market, I can get the word out about your listing to all the right people. I know how to attract serious buyers – so a good offer comes in quickly.
To achieve that success, I’ll implement the appropriate marketing plan. After all, there’s more to selling a house than hammering a For Sale sign on the front lawn. I’ll work closely with you to create a marketing plan which may include some or all of the following:
In addition, I meet with buyers regularly. In fact, the moment your house is listed I get in touch with everyone I know who is looking for a property like yours, and encourage them to schedule a viewing. I also tap into my network of other real estate agents so their clients know about your property as well.
My job is to get the right buyers to see your house, fall in love with it, and make a good offer.
Private viewings and open houses provide opportunities for buyers to view your property and get a sense of what it is like to live there. Ideally, you will want them to be impressed by what they see – and motivated to make an offer.
As your real estate agent, I ensure we maximize the potential of every viewing and open house. To accomplish that, I advise you on how best to prepare your property, I market it to qualified buyers, and then, at viewings, draw their attention to the great qualities of your house.
Don’t worry about all the details. I take care of all aspects of scheduling viewings, as well as planning and hosting open houses. When it comes to scheduling, I coordinate with you to select days and times that are as convenient as possible.
Make sure your house is neat and clean. Remove personal items such as family pictures. This makes it easier for buyers to imagine themselves living in the house. If possible, remove your pets. You can take them for a walk, or to a local pet sitting service or kennel.
Find a place to go, such as a park or shopping mall. Buyers are more comfortable if they can view the property without you there.
Ensure the walkway leading up to your house is clear. Make sure you're maximizing that curb appeal! De-clutter the front and back yard so that the buyers can walk around the yard as they please. The driveway and walkway leading up to the house should be clear.
I realize viewings and open houses can be a little inconvenient. As your real estate agent, I will do my best to minimize the disruptions. I will focus on bringing in serious buyers, rather than those who are merely curious. This speeds up the process and increases the likelihood of a buyer seeing your property, becoming interested, and making an offer.
To sell your house quickly, and for the highest price possible, it is crucial that viewings and opening houses are done right.
When selling your house, there are few things more exciting than receiving an offer. That means someone is interested in your property and has prepared a formal offer to buy it.
What is an offer, exactly? It’s simply a legal document that shows the price the buyer is proposing to pay, which may or may not be the same as your listing price. An offer will include other details, such as the requested closing date, and may also include one or more conditions, such as “conditional on the property passing a home inspection.”
Ideally, when you receive an offer, you will want to sell your house to that buyer for the highest price possible. In addition, you’ll want to make sure there are no potential problems that might prevent the deal from closing – such as the buyer being unable to arrange financing.
I realize this may sound complicated. Don’t worry. As your real estate agent, I’ll take care of all the details.
For example, I will: Review the offer with you and explain everything clearly. Give you my professional assessment as to the quality of the offer. If there are things that concern me, I’ll point them out to you.? Advise you on whether to accept the offer, reject the offer, or make a counter-offer. Prepare a counter-offer, if necessary, that gets you a better deal, without risking the sale slipping through your fingers. Skillfully negotiate with the buyer on your behalf, so you sell your house for the highest price possible. Prepare all the necessary documents, and work closely with the buyer and his or her agent, to make sure the transaction goes through smoothly.
There are few things I enjoy more than telling a client, “Your house is sold.” That means I have found them a qualified buyer, got them the price they wanted, and negotiated a great deal.
That doesn’t mean my work is finished. Far from it.
As your real estate agent, I’ll work closely with you to ensure the deal is finalized and that your move goes smoothly.
I’ll take care of the details. For example, if there are any conditions on the offer to buy your property, such as “passing a home inspection”, I’ll coordinate with you and the seller’s agent to ensure that the condition is satisfied and the deal closes.
I’ll also be there for you, as your real estate expert, up to the day you move – and beyond. I provide you with the names of recommended lawyers, contractors, movers, etc. from my network of reputable professionals and companies. I’ll also clearly explain what to expect leading up to closing day and give you advice as to how to prepare.
My goal is simple: To make your house sale and move a positive experience.
A mortgage loan is a great tool for helping you buy and own your own property. Normally, one mortgage is enough to cover the cost of a home in Bowmanville and help you and your family gradually pay back that cost rather than having to fork over a large lump sum.
Bowmanville, Ontario has a population of around 40,000 people as of 2020. With beautiful parks and museums, the city has a peaceful, small-town atmosphere, while its proximity to the urban amenities of Toronto and Oshawa make it attractive for young homebuyers and those looking to start a family.
If you’re considering buying real estate in Bowmanville, Ontario, you’ll also want to look into the types of mortgages and home loans available to you. If you’re having trouble being approved for a prime mortgage from a bank, a private mortgage could be your ticket to owning property in Bowmanville.
A private mortgage is any mortgage lent by a private lender -- usually, this is an individual with their own investment capital who chooses to invest in real estate loans. This means that if you take out a prime mortgage, all the money for your mortgage is coming from a single source, rather than a pool of many investors or financial entities.
Private mortgages tend to be relatively short-term loans. Where a prime mortgage may be paid back over a period of 30 years, or sometimes even longer, the term for a private mortgage is usually fewer than 5 years. Private mortgages tend to carry higher interest rates, and the borrower often has to pay additional fees such as legal fees, appraisal fees, and broker fees. These additional fees and costs help mitigate the risk to the lender.
Bank mortgages -- sometimes called “traditional” or “prime” mortgages -- are regulated by the federal government in Canada. For borrowers, these regulations often come in the form of strict rules for your financial history and income situation. For example, to get approved for a prime mortgage, you need to have a credit rating of at least 600. You also need to be able to prove that your income and employment are stable.
During the mortgage approval process, you’ll be expected to provide paperwork and documentation including but not limited to T4s, tax returns, records of employment, records of previous debts or loans, investment certificates, and anything else that can help prove that you will be able to afford a mortgage.
Private lenders, on the other hand, aren’t as concerned with your financial history and credit rating. Instead, a private lender will focus more on the value of the property you want to mortgage. This does mean that you’ll need to be prepared to put more money toward a down payment than you might with a traditional mortgage. If you’re purchasing a private home, private lenders usually want at least 25 percent existing equity in the property. If you’re purchasing a commercial property, for example if you plan on starting a business, then the lender will want more equity -- usually around 35 percent.
A mortgage loan is a powerful tool for helping you purchase and buy the home of your dreams -- but it’s also a large financial commitment. When you apply for a mortgage, it’s important to think ahead and ensure that you have the financial capabilities to keep making regular payments, even through changing employment or economic fluctuations.
Of course, it’s impossible to see the future -- despite your best-laid plans, you might run into financial difficulty that you’re not prepared for. Perhaps a market downturn leads to a layoff, a large investment depreciates in value, or a natural disaster necessitates costly home or vehicle repairs. What if you suddenly find yourself unable to make your mortgage payments, despite your best intentions? How can you stop power of sale to keep your property and your mortgage?
If you are unable to meet your agreed-upon mortgage payments for several consecutive months, your lender has the right to invoke power of sale. Power of sale is similar to foreclosure -- it’s a clause in your mortgage agreement that allows your lender to take possession of the mortgaged property and resell it, in order to recoup the cost of their investment.
For a lender to invoke power of sale, you, the borrower, must have defaulted on at least one payment, though generally a lender won’t invoke the clause until you’ve missed several consecutive payments. At the time that the lender decides to invoke the clause, they must wait at least 15 days after the default to send you a Notice of Sale Under Mortgage. After the Notice of Sale is delivered, you have 35 days -- or up to 40 days if you own the property with a spouse -- to pay back what you owe and bring your payments up to date. If, after this waiting period, you are still unable to pay, the lender can then apply to take possession of the property.
Once they have possession, they can evict you and any other occupants of the property before reselling it.
