How to Interview a Real Estate Agent

Things You Should Know Before You Sign an Agreement

Buying or selling real estate in Kamloops its best to get a great Realtor.

Smart consumers will interview several potential real estate agents before they settle on which one they want to work with, and good agents are selective about their clients, too. Just as you're sizing up a good fit, the real estate agent will likely be interviewing you as well. Be wary of agents who don't ask you questions and probe for your motivation. 

The interview stage of the relationship is important for everyone involved. You can interview the agent over the phone, or get together at their office for the first meeting. Even a top-producing agent will be prepared to meet you at your home to help you make your…

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Eight Real Estate Myths Debunked

If you are in the market to sell or buy a property, you may have some incorrect misconceptions.

We decided to debunk some real estate myths that may be impacting your search. Consider these as guidelines for buying and selling.

Myth One: Listing your home for more than what you expect to receive will net you the price you want.

This is often considered room to negotiate. But it’s a mistake you don’t want to make. Listing too high may actually net you a lower price. Why? Because buyers and agents often won’t even look at homes priced above market value. You always have the option to reduce the price after a few weeks, but that’s not a situation you want to be caught in. A price reduction can signal to buyers that there are problems. Even in a low…

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How to choose a Kamloops income property

There are quite a number of variables to consider when purchasing a residential income property.

You’ll likely want to eventually engage with a real estate agent, but prior to doing so it is important to conduct as much research as possible. Remember to approach the purchase with an unbiased attitude and evaluate your options based on factual information.
 
Here’s a look at some of the top variables to consider when evaluating potential properties.
 
1. Economic outlook. Locations that are seeing employment growth will typically have more people moving to the area – this should also increase the potential renter pool. Conversely, locations that don’t offer as much employment opportunity or have/will see large employers leaving town, will often…

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How to Interview, Negotiate and Work with Listing Agents

If you’re selling a home in Kamloops, you’ll want the best possible representation.

Buying a home is a big step, but then again, so is selling a property. The most important thing when listing a home is finding the right real estate agent to get you the most money possible and ensure a smooth, stress-free process.

Before You Start to sell your Kamloops Home

First off all sellers should take a look at the Working with a REALTOR® brochure, available on the BC Real Estate Association website (bcrea.bc.ca). This is a great introduction to what a certified REALTOR® does, what their legal and fiduciary duties are, and how you can best work with one.

Interviewing Kamloops Real Estate Agents

To ensure your agent is the right fit for you, sellers…

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The language of selling houses

Your home may very well be beautiful, but if you describe it as such to potential buyers, you're hardly being original.

According to data compiled online, "hardwood floors" is the most common word or short phrase used in Canadian real estate listings, followed by "beautiful" and "stainless steel appliances."

Point2Homes scanned its approximately 40,000 Canadian home listings to discover which words are used most often to attract buyers to properties, creating a snapshot of the features they felt are most important - whether they appeal to our aesthetic or aspirational senses, or to more mundane concerns such as appliances and location.

The company also released provincial and regional breakdowns to the National Post, highlighting different…

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Curb appeal - Making an entrance

A simple welcome mat and a mailbox bearing your name just won't cut it.

Making your home's entryway both hospitable and a clear statement of who lives inside means starting at the walkway or even the curb, proceeding to the porch, carrying through the front door and continuing all the way into the foyer.

This movement from public toward private space prepares visitors, albeit subconsciously, for who and what to expect inside. So, how do you manage those expectations?

WALKWAY AND PLANTINGS

When planning your front yard, start with the walkway, says Mary-Anne Schmitz of Gardening by Design (gardeningbydesign.ca). Making it wide enough to allow two people to walk side by side (meaning 4½ to six feet) makes visitors feel welcome.

"If you…

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Successfully Selling Your Vacant Home

A shortage of available homes for sale has certainly made it easier to sell a vacant home. 

However, the same pitfalls that relate to selling empty houses more quickly, and at best price remain. For sellers who have experienced a job change or other event which requires they move and leave a vacant and unfurnished home behind to sell, there are often issues requiring special consideration. That's because many folks buy on emotion and have a hard time warming up to an empty house.  A lived-in home can be much more appealing.

Empty homes often present an echo when you walk through them, and because doors and windows aren’t opened to allow air to circulate, odors can accumulate.

So, you are selling a vacant home, what can you do to create an edge…

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In a seller’s market what is the best strategy for selling a home?

It is a seller’s market. But not every house will sell. What is the best strategy for home sellers selling their home in a seller’s market?

“The best time to buy a house was last year. The next best time is right now.”

For buyers

House prices tend to go up. You can wait for them to go down. You can wait, or you can act. Waiting, in my opinion, will only lead to more waiting. You’re probably not ready to buy if you’re waiting for prices to go down.

If you are looking to buy this year, if you want to be successful with buying a home, now more than ever you have to be prepared to act quickly. You have to be fully engaged in the home buying process. With your agent, you have to see houses and revisit them (online) a week or ten days later and find…

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How Do I Negotiate With Buyers Over Problems in a Home Inspection?

If you're selling your home, there are ways to minimize re-negotiations because of issues arising from a home inspection

Q: How do I renegotiate with my home's buyers over problems arising from their home inspection?

A: When you are selling your home or condo, often times there are issues with the property that you might not be aware of. At this stage the buyer will often want to renegotiate the agreed price based on the results of the inspection. So how should you, the seller, respond? This is when you get the value out of your Realtor, they will be working for you in this process so make sure you choose a good realtor.

With a home there are often issues that be very costly to repair. One approach to take, as the seller, is to address the issues…

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Pace of House Price Inflation in Toronto and Vancouver to Return to Earth in 2016

Canada’s Housing Market Posts Strong Growth in Fourth Quarter Led By Gains in Country’s Largest Markets 

TORONTO, January 13, 2016  – Canada’s residential real estate market showed strong growth in the fourth quarter of 2015, led by hot Vancouver and Toronto markets according to the Royal LePage House Price Survey and Market Survey Forecast released today. Looking forward to 2016, Royal LePage expects continued price increases in most markets, but not at the pace that has been the recent norm. Instead, the national real estate market is expected to slow later this year, principally due to the effects of a dampened economy in Western Canada and eroding affordability in Toronto and Vancouver.

According to the Royal LePage National House Price…

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