by seoteam | Sep 9, 2019 | Buy a Home, Home and Garden, Real Estate Tips, Selling a Home |
How does your home match up in value against others in your neighbourhood? How do you increase the value of your home? That is not for inexperienced home sellers to know.
Selling your home takes a lot of work. In today’s market where homes sell for a dime a dozen, it’s important to make yours stand out so you get top dollars for your investment.
It is important to choose a committed, experienced realtor who knows how to evaluate your home, weigh its worth against other similar properties in the city and neighbourhood, and help you design an integrated, multi-tiered approach. You need a trustworthy local expert who can plan a pre-listing inspection, home staging, impressive presentation to serious buyers and price it appropriately to earn its true worth. You need a realtor who has a proven track record of home selling success.
If you are interested in selling real estate in Hamilton or surrounding areas, you can rely on Norm Merz to take care of it all smoothly, from start to finish. Norm provides all the support services you need from inspectors for home evaluation to interior designers and photographers for home staging, electricians to mend wiring, plumbers, mortgage brokers, legal experts, the works! The aim is to exceed your expectations by adding value to every real estate transaction, provide information, full-service support and solid advice so you can take an informed decision.
Please fill out the Free Home Evaluation form for your home appraisal. Norm will do the rest to bring you maximum value in minimum time.
by seoteam | Aug 9, 2019 | Buy a Home, Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips, Selling a Home |
Want to buy a home but wondering if it’s worth hiring a real estate agent to help you? Buying a home is a big deal and requires a lot of research to comprehend the complex real estate market. It may seem like the norm to go through the process of buying a home through a real estate agent. But many first time home buyers or even experienced ones, don’t understand why they need a professional real estate agent to help them.
There are many reasons why. Let us take you through the risks of purchasing a home without the help of a real estate agent so you are more aware during your search:
Lose out on a bargain
When you don’t have a professional helping you with the buying process, the home seller may not take you seriously. Negotiation can get you an amazing bargain on a home, however, it can be difficult as a buyer needs to be taken seriously. An experienced professional can do the negotiation for you in a professional way and make you appear like a serious buyer. A real estate agent knows how to get the asking price reduced to fit your budget; however you may not be proficient or comfortable in doing so.
Unaware of market knowledge
The average person doesn’t understand real estate language or how the market works. This is essential when searching for a home so you make the right decision. Although it’s possible to try and learn about real estate online, can you really afford to make a huge life choice based on internet information?
A real estate agent has the proper insights into the market changes, legal issues, various neighbourhoods, and home listings to help you make an informed choice.
Not asking all the questions
Having an expert go through the legal paperwork and answer questions on your behalf can be a lifesaver. An agent knows all the questions you need answers to, from enquiring about seller disclosures to closing costs and maintenance fees. An expert will have the answers ready to questions you may have not even thought of. This will relieve you of the stress of trying to handle every single aspect of home buying yourself, and you enjoy complete peace of mind.
Improper house inspection
Real estate professionals are required to vet a potential property fully for any risks to your health, water damage, and other dangers. They are trained to look for issues that an outsider might miss. Having an expert clear a property for move-in is more reliable for doing it yourself. You never know what you may miss during the house inspection.
Norm Merx is a top real estate agent who can help you find your dream home in a short time! With over 20 years of experience, Norm has the right tools and knowledge to find your property within your budget in no time. Simply fill out your contact information and your search criteria based on price, property type and the neighbourhoods you prefer to get started. If you have any more questions, feel free to call or send an email!
by paula2 | Jul 31, 2019 | Real Estate Tips |
Investing in real estate is one of the smartest ways to build ongoing wealth. Even if you don’t live in the property yourself, you can rent it out to generate a passive income. However, it takes significant savings to be able to afford a home. Home buying expenses don’t end there. There are ongoing maintenance costs to look into, renovations in the long run and extra expenditure to pay off the mortgage when there are long gaps between tenants. Here are a few useful tips to invest in real estate without stress.
Plan Budget
The first thing you need is to take stock of your finances. Make a note of all the expenses real estate investment will involve. This way you will be prepared to budget your finances. Consider the down payment, utilities, maintenance costs and taxes. Property taxes differ from city to city. Make sure you are aware of the taxes in yours. Even if you are planning to rent, surplus money needs to be set aside for repairs and mortgage in the event of gaps between tenants. Pay off any debts and improve your credit score to qualify for better loans. A large down payment helps you bring down your monthly mortgage payments and insurance.
Research
Before you invest, make sure you know the neighbourhood and geography of the area well. Is it prone to floods? Is construction planned in the coming months? Is there a mall, supermarket or convenience store in the neighbourhood? How good is the school in the vicinity? Is the area safe? Considering comparables helps weigh the pros and cons so there are no surprises or inconveniences later. It also helps you pay the right amount for the property. You don’t want to overpay or settle for an unsafe neighbourhood simply because it is cheaper. The value of your home will go down, then if you plan to resell later.
Small Investment
You may not get every single thing you want in the very first property. Be prepared to compromise. List your priorities to help you focus. Location is always the most important consideration. A good location will always make things convenient, cost-effective and enjoyable, as well as give you good returns when you plan to sell or rent. Would you rather pay more for a smaller home minutes away from your work or a larger suburban home that’s farther away? A small first home helps you pay off your mortgage faster. Starting small also helps you get familiar with the business of real estate investment. Once you treat it like a business, you will
learn to develop solid actionable plans with the intent of raking in bigger returns when property value appreciates.
Business Plan
Real estate investing works best if you prepare for it with a proper business plan. Never settle for the first property that tugs your heart. There is more to it. Plan it well with a clear mind and good understanding. It is important to have milestones to make your investment work best for you, and generate profits in the long run. The simplest way to gain a good understanding of real estate trends, plan your budget, mortgage, learn about your neighbourhood or identify your priorities and learn about ROI is by consulting a friendly, informative real estate professional.
Norm Merz is a Sales Representative with Canada’s #1 brokerage ReMax.
Check out the website to find listings that match what you are looking for. Feel free to call for any guidance.
by paula2 | Aug 1, 2018 | Real Estate Tips, Selling a Home |
One of the most important – and trickiest – considerations when selling your home is listing it for the right price! An overpriced home is the number one reason it won’t sell. When it’s priced too high it can sit on the market for far too long and turn into a stale listing. Here are some ways to best find out how much your house is worth.
Nice price
Pricing is all about supply and demand and turning to someone with experience in the market will really make a difference. Real estate agents are professionals with in-depth knowledge and can guide you to set the price just right. Also getting a licensed appraisal done by an expert appraiser is a great way to get professional advice to make this important decision.
Neighbourhood sales
The best place to start determining what your home is worth is to check the sale prices of homes in your neighbourhood, known as ‘comparables’. Look at every home that’s been listed in your area in the last three months. Keep in mind you want to compare apples to apples, so find homes listed with similar age and square footage. You’ll have to adjust prices for lot size variances, configuration and upgrades. Also, compare the original list price to final sale price to see any price reductions.
Market watch
Another key factor is knowing where the market’s at. In a seller’s market, you might add 10 per cent more to the last comparable sale, because when there are little inventory and lots of buyers, you can ask for more. In a neutral market, you may want to set your price at the last comparable sale.
And remember to leave a bit of a cushion for negotiation. Buyers love to haggle, so don’t start out with the absolute lowest price your willing to go.
by paula2 | Apr 6, 2018 | Buy a Home, Moving Tips, Real Estate Tips |
There is so much to remember and take in when searching for a home to purchase and going through multiple viewings. Do you know what you need to look for? Here is a checklist to help you remember all of the important things you’ll want to find out during house hunting:
Basic facts you’ll want to know about the home:
Year built
Asking price
Property taxes
Other condo fees etc.
Home type
Home finish (brick, wood, siding etc.)
Square footage
Lot size
Parking
# of bedrooms
# of bathrooms
Type of heating system
Type of water system
While you view the home, you’ll want to keep a record if each of these home features are in good condition or need work or replacing. Check the age and condition of:
Foundation
Roof
Driveway
Windows
Doors
Garage
Fencing
Floors
Walls and ceilings
Basement
Electric system
Finally, here are a few things to check if the community offers:
Public transportation
Schools
Shopping
Parks
Hospitals
Pet friendliness
You can also create a separate list of what your wants and needs are in your perfect home. This will help remind you and your realtor of your priorities. Keep both of these lists handy as you view homes to help you through the process to find the one that’s right for you.
by paula2 | Mar 8, 2018 | Real Estate Tips |
Life on the water in the spring is vibrant. Flowers are blooming and seasonal business starts to blossom. Finding, outfitting and booking space is a big step for any business. Haldimand is fortunate to have such great investment spaces for new and existing businesses. Local and international business is a part of every day life in Haldimand. Investing today could secure your business access to all four major forms of transportation.
If you’re a business owner looking for riverside or lake front property, Haldimand County is a great place to look. Haldimand is home to four different industrial parks, so finding space for your business is often easily achievable. Looking for manufacturing or clients around Lake Erie can be quite simple for Haldimand entrepreneurs!
Bordered alongside Norfolk County, Haldimand County’s Lake Erie Industrial Park in Nanticoke was developed and is currently owned by U.S. Steel Canada. A 4,500 acre space with heavy industrial lots are available from one to 2000 acres.
Caledonia is home to two industrial areas – Haldimand and Bothwright Industrial Park. Bothwright is minutes from the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and the 400 and 403 highways. Have your products moving on land, sea and air when you make a move to Bothwright. Rail access is available at the privately-owned Haldimand Industrial Park. This just-over 50 acre lot is also only 30 minutes outside the US border, so you could have your products south of the border before the Caledonia sunset!
Finally, Frank A. Marshall Business Park is a nearly 12 acre investment-ready site in Dunnville. This diverse business area offers distinct cost savings and is worth a look if you’re in the market. Modern build with high visibility gateways give Frank A. Marshall a cleaner look then older or heavy industrial areas.
