How to sell a house where pets live

 

Almost everybody loves pets. Me too,  but just not when I am helping clients buy and sell houses. And the reason for this is simple:  Pets can distract in many different ways.

Your pets stink. As a loving pet owner, you may not realize this because you’ve grown accustomed to it. But don’t expect a potential buyer to feel the same way. Potential buyers don’t want to purchase stinky houses.

Allergies. Some buyers are allergic to pets (their saliva, fur and urin). You can’t blame the buyers for leaving your house before even having seen it.

Fear. Especially if people are coming with small kids, pets can become a problem. Pets are not always predictable. Some buyers are afraid of being bitten or terrified of catching fleas.

Barking and Meowing. Pets sometimes get noisy and this distracts the showing.

Nervousness. The buyers may feel uncomfortable when a pet rubs, sniffs, or jumps on them. Even if buyers like your pet they may miss out on the wonderful features of your house because they concentrate too much on your pet.

What to do before a showing

Owning pets could reduce the value of your house if potential buyers notice odors or other pet issues. If you want to get the highest final sale price, you'll have to stage your house and create the illusion that you are not a pet owner  or at least eliminate any signs that your animals were destructive. 

Dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, bunnies, hamsters, guinea pigs: they all shed or/and stink (litter boxes, cages, fish tanks). So what can you do before showing your house?

The best thing to do to ensure top price for your home is to relocate your pets while your home is on the market. Removing the family pet while selling a home is not usually the option most homeowners want to hear, but it is the best solution not only for potential buyers who want to tour a home which smells fresh and clean and is free from pet hair, but also for the pets who can be upset with strangers touring the property on a daily basis. Let a friend or family member take care of your pet or send it to a boarding kennel until the house is sold.  Putting your pets in the back yard, in the garage or in another room that you keep locked is insufficient, and it's not fair to them.

If you don’t want to take the professional advice and absolutely refuse to move your pets out of the house, then at least minimize their presence in your home.

Get rid of the evidence!

Deep cleaning. Before your house goes on the market, make sure that it gets a huge deep cleaning, behind all furniture, all closets, under all beds, etc.!

Remove litter boxes. Keep cat litter boxes and dog potty pads out of sight and impeccably clean. Nothing turns off buyers faster than opening the door of a house and being greeted by a full or stinky cat box.

Remove stains. Hire professionals to remove pet stains. Buyers will spot them and form unfavorable opinions about the rest of the house. If the stains can't be removed, then remove the floor covering and replace it.

Get rid of the stink. Not only are odors very obvious when buyers first enter your a home, they are usually very difficult to get rid of (cat urine is the worst). Home buyers know this and could immediately scratch your house off their list. Have all of the carpet and underlay in the home replaced or at the very least professionally cleaned.  You should also have your furniture steam cleaned at the same time.

Other useful tips:

• Remove pictures of your pet (e.g. photo of showing your cat asleep on the bed)
• Seal up pet doors
• Put away food and water bowls when not in use
• Vacuum  as often as possible
• Put away pet toys
• Remove cat trees
• Pack up all cages, carriers and other tell-tale signs

Curb appeal. The outside of your home is the first thing potential buyers will see, so it's the first place you should look for signs of pet damage.  Curb appeal is hugely important to buyers, so lets make sure that all outside areas of your home are pet free as well.  From your front yard, your back yard, your courtyard, etc.  Make sure your backyard shows no signs of pets. The most obvious issue to address is holes in the yard from a dog that's been digging. Make sure to fill any holes before you open your home to buyers.  Remove all toys and ‘poop’ that may be present.

Selling a home is not easy. With a pet it’s even harder. But if you keep all the above things in mind, it’s all worth it in the end… 

If a move is in your future, let’s sit down and talk about your plans. I will be working for you every step of the way to make sure that you get the highest possible price for your home in the shortest period of time. So, contact me today!

Randy Miller 

Broker  

Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage  

905-430-9444 or 905-668-1800

randy@randymiller.ca

http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com/

Canada's Housing Market: Canadian home resales climb 10.6%, outpace expectations

September appears to have been another strong month for Canadian home sales. An article in the Globe and Mail from last week reported that the number of existing homes that changed hands in Canada during September came in 10.6 per cent higher than a year earlier, topping expectations.

The average sale price rose 5.9 per cent to $408,795.

On a seasonally adjusted basis sales are 1.4 per cent lower than they were in August, which is the first monthly decline since January, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), which represents realtors.

But sales are still higher than economists predicted. Just before the numbers were released Bank of Montreal economist Sal Guatieri said that he was expecting sales to be up 6 per cent year over year. And Beth Crosbie, the president of CREA, stated in a press release that she thinks part of the reason for the monthly decline in sales was a shortage of affordably priced single-family homes.

September’s reasonably strong showing also comes at a time when many economists have been waiting for sales to slow. But, fuelled by low mortgage rates, the housing market has continued to surprise to the upside and policy makers are keeping an eye on it. Currency strategists at JPMorgan Chase said in a research note on Tuesday that they expect Canadian growth to lag that of the U.S. largely because of slowing housing activity here, but then noted that the slowdown has been elusive. “Recent data has been surprisingly strong, and inconsistent with the Bank of Canada’s soft-landing thesis, but we expect it to soften from this autumn,” they wrote.

Read the full article here >>> http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/existing-home-sales-rise-106-outpace-expectations/article21105802/
Source: Tara Perkins, The Globe and Mail

Randy Miller 
Broker  
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage  
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com

25th annual Bowmanville Applefest

When: Saturday, 18 October 2014

Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Where: Downtown Bowmanville, 98 King Street West, Clarington

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Applefest street festival celebrates all things apple. Four blocks will be closed to showcase local apple growers offering a wide variety of apples, cider, homemade apple pies and crisps, candy and caramel apples, cider donuts, and more. Live entertainment as well as jumping castles, pony and carnival rides will also be offered.

Unique handmade, high quality crafts and food products can be found in several large marquee tents and booths lining the street. 

FREE admission and FREE parking.

For more information visit http://bowmanville.com/events/applefest!

Randy Miller 

Broker   

Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage  

905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400

randy@randymiller.ca

http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com/

Real Estate Sales support Breast Cancer Research

On October 5th, 127,000 Canadians from coast to coast joined together to honour, celebrate and remember those affected by breast cancer in the 23rd annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. The CIBC Run for the Cure raised $25 million across Canada and $10.7 million in Ontario alone! This tremendous achievement allows to continue to fund the most promising breast cancer research that is changing the landscape of what is known about how to prevent, detect, diagnose and treat breast cancer. For more information visit Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation!

Every sale makes a difference

I donate with every real estate sale. As a real estate agent with every sale of a house I support Sold on a Cure, an exclusive charitable fundraising partnership between the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and RE/MAX real estate agents and offices. Every Sold on a Cure real estate sale helps families living with breast cancer.

Together we are making a difference!


Randy Miller
Broker
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com/

New Real Estate Listing: Brooklin Commercial for Sale

Residential Infill Site Of 1.6 Acres In Brooklin. The Property Has R2-Bp Zoning Amend. 1406-82), With Frontage On Baldwin St., Aster Cres. And Carson Ave. The Seller Will Entertain Offers To Sever Portions To Allow Development On These Frontages. The Property Is Located Within Study Area Of The Current Brooklin Secondary Plan Review.

If you want to see this property or if you need more information, contact me today or visit my website! 

Randy Miller
Broker
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca

http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com/

How's the real estate market?

October, 2014. Greater Toronto Area Realtors® reported 8,051 transactions in September 2014. This result was up by 10.9 per cent compared to the same period last year. The average selling price during September for a resale home in the GTA was $573,676, an increase of 7.7 per cent compared to the average reported for September 2013. The average selling price year-to-date was $ 563,813 - up 8.5 per cent compared to the first nine months of 2013.

 

"Despite a persistent shortage of listings in some market segments, we have experienced strong growth in sales though the first nine months of 2014. This is evidence that GTA households remain upbeat about purchasing a home. The majority of home buyers purchase a home using a mortgage. The share of the average household's income dedicated to their mortgage payment remains affordable, which is why buyer interest has remained solid," said TREB President Mr. Etherington.

"If the current pace of sales growth remains in place, we could be flirting with a new record for residential sales reported by TREB Members this year. On the pricing front, the multitude of willing buyers in the marketplace coupled with the short supply of listings will continue to translate into very strong annual rates of price growth in the fourth quarter," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Durham Housing Market 

Within Durham Region, 970 residential home sales reported in September 2014, a 14.8 % increase compared to the 845 sales recorded during September 2013. The average sale price during the month of September was $401,713, up 13.6% compared to the average price reported in September 2013. The number of new listings that entered the market in September 2014 was 1,471 compared to 1,209 in August 2014. Property values continue to rise, people are still willing to buy and borrowing rates are low which keeps home ownership affordable.  Everything combined makes Durham Region a great place to work and live. There is definitely growing number of buyers coming from Toronto, who appreciate all of the amenities and value that Whitby, Ajax and Pickering provides for families.

 

If you are looking for a house in Durham Region or are already a homeowner and wish to move to a new house in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Brooklin, Oshawa, Courtice or Bowmanville, please contact me for more information.

Having sold real estate in Whitby and the Durham Region for over 20 years, I can help you with both - the buying and selling process. 

Randy Miller
Broker
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com/

Canada’s real estate market staying hot. No fall for Durham Housing Market.

There are early indications that September appears to have been another strong month for Canadian home sales.

That is based on data that some local real estate boards have released in recent days about how their housing markets fared last month. The number of existing homes that changed hands in Toronto was up 10.9 per cent from a year earlier, in Calgary it was up almost 12 per cent, and in Vancouver 17.7 per cent. And that’s in comparison to a reasonably strong month: sales in September, 2013, were slightly above the 10-year average for that month.

A comprehensive picture won’t be available until the Canadian Real Estate Board, which represents realtors, compiles all of the local statistics and releases national September data on Oct. 15. Many cities have not released their numbers publicly yet, and the ones that have tend to be in some of the country’s stronger housing markets. Quebec and the Atlantic region, where more markets are struggling, are not represented below.

But the strength of Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver’s housing markets tends to pull up the national averages, and so the numbers here suggest that the national figures will point to a market that still has momentum.

CALGARY HOUSING MARKET

-Sales were up almost 12 per cent in September from a year ago. The local real estate board says the unexpected strength came from a surge in condo and townhouse sales.

-Condo sales so far this year are 21 per cent higher than during the same period last year, while the number of sales of detached homes has risen by just 7 per cent. Affordability is driving the shift. Two years ago, 44 per cent of the detached houses that sold from January through to the end of September went for less than $400,000, according to the real estate board. So far this year only one quarter of the houses have sold for less than that.

-The average price of a detached house in the city was $567,653 in September, up 10.81 per cent from a year earlier. The average price of a condo was $326,264, up 9.21 per cent. For townhouses it was $352,813, up 4.21 per cent.

-The average length of time it takes to sell a home continues to tick downwards. Year-to-date the average number of days a home is on the market before it sells (for all types of homes) is 34, down from 42 in the same period last year.

TORONTO HOUSING MARKET

-Sales were up 10.9 per cent from a year earlier. So far this year sales in the city are 6.9 per cent higher than during the same period last year.

-The average selling price was $573,676, up 7.7 per cent from a year earlier. The average selling price year-to-date is $563,813, up 8.5 per cent from last year.

-“If the current pace of sales growth remains in place, we could be flirting with a new record for residential sales reported by (Toronto Real Estate Board) members this year,” TREB’s director of market analysis, Jason Mercer, stated in a press release.

-The average selling price of detached homes in the downtown area covered by the 416 area code was $951,792, up 11.5 per cent from a year earlier. For condos in the same area it was $395,505, up 9.2 per cent.

DURHAM REGION

No Fall for Durham Housing Market

Durham Region Association of REALTORS® (DRAR) reported 970 sales in September 2014, which represents a 14.8 per cent increase compared to 845 sales in September 2013. On a year-to-date basis, sales were up 5 per cent annually through the first three quarters of the year.

President Jane Hurst states that the increase in sales activity stems from increasing buyer interest. "We also saw a 21.7 per cent increase in the number of resale homes entering the market since last month". The number of new listings that entered the market in September 2014 was 1,471 compared to 1,209 in August 2014.

There was also a large increase in the average selling price in Durham. The average price of resale homes in Durham Region in the month of September reached was $401,713. This represents a 13.6 per cent increase over the same period last year.



Property values continue to rise, people are still willing to buy and borrowing rates are low which keeps home ownership affordable. Everything combined makes Durham Region a great place to work and live.

(Source: The Globe and Mail, Tara Perkins)


If you are looking for a house in Durham Region or are already a homeowner and wish to move to a new house in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Brooklin, Oshawa, Courtice or Bowmanville, please contact me or visit my website for more information.

I can answer all of your questions, help you find the right neighbourhood and the perfect house at a great price. Having sold real estate full time in Whitby and the surrounding areas for over 20 years, you can assured of exceptional local market knowledge and skilled representation. Nothing beats experience.

Randy Miller 
Broker
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com

Mortgage mistakes to avoid when trying to secure your home financing

You are excited to buy your first home!  But where to start? Your mortgage financing is one of the most critical aspects of your first purchase. And you want to get it right. But with so many choices, brands and products  on the market, it can be a tough ride to homeownership. I have listed some mortgage mistakes you should avoid when trying to secure financing for your home.  Avoiding them will also save you time and money.

Mistake #1: Not shopping around.

Try to choose the best product for you and your situation. If you don’t take the time to compare different loan products you’re doing yourself a major disservice. Make sure you find the right bank to work with and snag the best deal. Mortgages are complex and you don’t want to just take whatever product or term the bank is pushing.

There are many different types of loans out there. There are fixed- and variable-rate products, hybrid and no-frills mortgages, lines of credit, term options, amortization choices, and more. All have their pros and cons, and should be carefully considered before applying for a mortgage.  Keep in mind, that there is no product that fits everybody. So if a certain product works for your neighbour, it does not necessarily mean that it works for you too.

The key is to get expert advice. Always explain your current situation and future goals in detail so that you get a product that best meets both your current and longer-term needs.

When renewal time rolls around you may feel an allegiance with the current financial institution that holds your loan. But they may not be able to offer you the best choices. Always shop the market for your best available option. That’s how you get the best mortgage rate and end up with terms customized to your unique situation.

Mistake #2: Not Reading Your Mortgage Documents

These are important documents to review and read as they contain all of the terms and conditions of the mortgage including your obligations, costs and privileges. Never sign documents without reading them. Make sure you understand everything. If you’re unsure about something, always ask for clarification. You need to understand and agree with that commitment, when signing the documents.

Mistake #3: Having a bad credit score

Make sure that your credit balances are in your favour when it comes to your mortgage application. Lenders are looking for an appropriate debt-to-income ratio. In other words, you need to have more income than you have debt. Avoid running up a balance on your credit cards and pay down existing debts as much as possible.
Regularly review your credit report to ensure there are no surprises long before you begin the mortgage process. A low credit score will lead to a much higher mortgage rate, and even disqualification if it drives your monthly mortgage payment high enough.

Don’t open new credit cards, take out new loans or use more of any existing credit lines before and during the application process. This can hurt your credit score, increase your debt load and could finally lead to disqualification.

Mistake #4: Not thinking about the future

Do get your credit report and score months before you apply for a mortgage so you can fix anything that might affect your loan approval!

Don’t make any purchases on your credit cards that you can’t pay off and if you carry a balance on your credit cards, start paying them down. You shouldn’t even make large purchases with cash, because lenders want to see that you have enough savings to keep paying your mortgage in an emergency. You can buy your new leather couch and big-screen TV once the loan is funded and closed.

Avoid job hopping. Lenders are looking for income stability and consistency. They want to see you in consistent employment. You must prove that you will continue to make the money you are currently making to obtain the mortgage. Lenders will verify it just before closing.


If you are planning to buy a house in Whitby, Brooklin or other areas within Durham Region, contact me. I can help you with the buying process and refer you to a mortgage specialist that can explain the products and help you choose the right mortgage product.

                                                         
Randy Miller
Broker  
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com

CIBC Run for the Cure 2014 in Oshawa

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC - Run for the Cure in Durham Region, ON

Start Date: Sunday, 05 October 2014
End Date: Sunday, 05 October 2014
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Lakeview Park, Simcoe Street South and Lakeview Park Drive, Oshawa ON, L1H 8S7

Each year, tens of thousands of Canadians participate in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure and help to raise funds for important breast cancer research, education, and advocacy initiatives.

Registration: 8:00am

Opening Ceremonies: 9:00am

Warm Up: 9:50am

5km Start: 10:00am

1km Start: 10:00am

Awards & Closing Ceremonies: 11:15am

For more information, visit www.runforthecure.com! 

Randy Miller 

Broker   

Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage 

905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400

randy@randymiller.ca

whitbybrooklinhomes.com

Farm Report: Canadian Farmland Prices Reach Record Highs in 2014

The price of farmland in most Canadian markets has either held steady or increased this year, following a period of strong year-over-year growth. Mirroring the trend in residential and recreational property values, lower crop prices, floods and challenging winter weather conditions have failed to significantly impact the Canadian agricultural real estate market. There is significant variation in price and productive capacity of farmland across Canada. Macroeconomic factors impacted prices to a degree; however, practical considerations such as the proximity to a processing facility or prospective buyer’s existing operations drove individual transactions.

While prices across Ontario have started to level off, the value of farmland in some pockets rose significantly. North of the Greater Toronto Area, agricultural land slated for development reached $54,000 per acre. In Chatham-Kent, excellent soil quality boosted the price of farmland up to $25,000 per acre—representing a surge of as much as 40 per cent over the previous year.

Read the full Re/Max Farm Report 2014 > HERE! 

 
To learn more about local market conditions, or insight into prices for farmland, condos or houses in Whitby, Brooklin, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, or other areas within Durham Region, please contact me today.

Randy Miller

Broker  

Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage

905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400

randy@randymiller.ca

http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com/

Comedian Gerry Dee performs in Oshawa

Comedian Gerry Dee "The Real mr. d" 2014 Comedy Tour

When: Friday, October 3, 2014 7:30 pm & 10:00 pm

Where: Regent Theatre Oshawa, ON

Gerry Dee is a stand-up comedian and the star and creator of CBC's hit sitcom Mr. D, and author of ‘Teaching: It's Harder Than It Looks’. He is a former Canadian Comedy Award winner for Best Comic in Canada and was on NBC's Last Comic Standing. He also performed at the world famous Montreal Just for Laughs International Comedy Festival.

Watch Gerry Dee perform Live "The Real mr.d" 2014 Comedy Tour" where he will touch upon marriage, fatherhood and his years as a teacher. 

Age Recommendation: 14 years and older

For Tickets, visit Gerry Dee's Website or the Regent Theatre Website.
 

Randy Miller

Broker  

Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage

905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400

randy@randymiller.ca

http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com/

Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste Drop-off Event in Whitby

The Town of Whitby and the Region of Durham are co-hosting a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Drop-off event. 

When: Saturday October 4, 2014, from 8:00 a.m. to noon.

Where: The Town of Whitby's Operations Centre, 333 McKinney Drive

Examples of acceptable electronics (e-waste) include, but are not limited to, the following materials:

• Cellular phones
• PDAs & pagers
• Audio & video players
• Cameras & radios
• VCRs/DVD players
• Telephones
• Stereos & receivers
• Desktop computers
• Computer peripherals
• Monitors
• Printing devices
• Camcorders
• Televisions
• Portable computers

Click here for more information: E-Waste




Residential products currently being accepted include, but are not limited to:

• Aerosol Containers regardless of product content
• Antifreeze and its related container
• Batteries - single-use and rechargeable
• Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL)
• Fertilizers and their containers
• Fire Extinguishers
• Flammable material such as camping fuel, kerosene, gasoline, cigarette lighters, driveway sealer, etc.
• Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes 
• Mercury switches
• Oil Containers of 30 litres or less for a wide range of oil products
• Oil Filters and air filters for items such as household furnace fuel filter, storage tank diesel fuel filters, transmission or internal combustion engines, etc.
• Paints, Coatings, Paint Thinners, Varnish, Stains, Shellac etc.
• Fungicides, Herbicides, Insecticides and their containers
• Pharmaceuticals prescription and non-prescription
• Photography Chemicals
• Pool and Spa Chemicals
• Propane Tanks and other Pressurized Containers
• Reactive material such as metal powders that may explode with contact to air and or water
• Solvents (such as paint thinner, turpentine, paint stripper or nail polish remover)
• Syringes and needles used in the administration of health care (human and veterinary)
• Thermostats or any switches containing mercury
• Used Oil Filters

Click here for more information: HHW (Household Hazardous Waste)

Pick up a FREE gallon of recycled paint when you drop off HHW. One per vehicle. Limited quantity of 200 available. Bring a non-perishable food item to support the local food banks.

 
Randy Miller
Broker  
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
http://whitbybrooklinhomes.com/