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Offers/Contracts

Sellers: Should You Have A Pre-Listing Home Inspection Done?

Feb 22nd, 2012
by Jason Bondy-Sawyer.
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Should You Have A Pre-Listing Home Inspection Done? Photo

Before listing a house for sale, I always advise my seller clients to have a pre-listing home inspection done. In my experience it’s best for everyone involved (the sellers, the buyers, and the realtors) to know the condition of the home before an offer is presented. Any reasonable buyer is going to make their offer conditional on having a home inspection anyway, so why not nip potential problems in the bud?

If we’re holding back offers on the property, then having a pre-listing home inspection is even more essential. I’ve seen plenty of buyers decide to “sit this one out” and not participate on offer night because there was no pre-listing home inspection available.

Sure, buyers have the option of getting their own pre-offer home inspection done. But not everyone is keen on spending $400-$500 and a few hours of their time on a property that they might not even end up getting (more on this in a future blog post).

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Viewing Properties At Night? Be Sure To Take A Second Look During The Day

Jan 25th, 2012
by Jason Bondy-Sawyer.
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Viewing Properties At Night? Be Sure To Take A Second Look During The Day Photo

When most people picture themselves shopping for a home they imagine doing so on the weekend, during the day. After all, this is when the majority of open houses happen and it’s generally the easiest time for people to coordinate a couple of free hours.

In a busy city like Toronto however, realtors and buyers are out there pounding the pavement at all hours.  A lot of my buyer clients find it easiest to meet for viewings during the week, after work.  I’ve shown properties as late as 10:30pm on a weeknight.

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Why Are So Many Realtors Difficult To Get A Hold Of?

Nov 28th, 2011
by Jason Bondy-Sawyer.
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Why Are So Many Realtors Difficult To Get A Hold Of? Photo Why Are So Many Realtors Difficult To Get A Hold Of? Photo

I don’t really do much “ranting” on this blog, but every now and then something comes up that compels me to throw in my 2 cents...

I’m sure that many of you have come across a property on Realtor.ca and submitted an email request for more information.  Or you’ve driven by a “for sale” sign and phoned the number to inquire about the list price, etc.  How long did it take for the listing agent to respond?  24hrs?  3 days?  Never?

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Condo Ownership: What To Expect

Oct 27th, 2011
by Jason Bondy-Sawyer.
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Condo Ownership: What To Expect

In the city of Toronto there are realtors who focus specifically on condos, and there are realtors who focus specifically on houses. There’s a third group as well – the realtors who focus on both condos and houses.  I’m one of those guys.  Condos and houses each offer their own unique set of challenges, opportunities, and rewards.  I can’t imagine giving up one for the other.

When it comes to buying/selling a condo versus buying/selling a house, there are a number of key differences to keep in mind.  Part of my job is to educate my clients as to what these differences are and to make sure they understand how condo living differs from freehold ownership.

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The Importance Of Having A Mortgage Pre-Approval

Oct 15th, 2011
by Jason Bondy-Sawyer.
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The Importance Of Having A Mortgage Pre-Approval Photo

When I meet with a new buyer client, one of the very first questions I ask is, “Have you been pre-approved for a mortgage?”  More often than not, they’ve haven’t.  Sure, they’ve done a bit of research on their own; plugged some numbers into an online mortgage calculator, crunched a few more numbers to see what they’re comfortable spending each month…  Don’t get me wrong – this preliminary leg work is great in that it gives you a ballpark idea of what you’re in the market for.  It’s not the same as having an actual pre-approval though.

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What Happens When A Seller Mistakenly Lists Their One-Bedroom Condo As A Bachelor?

Jun 1st, 2011
by Jason Bondy-Sawyer.
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What Happens When A Seller Mistakenly Lists Their One-Bedroom Condo As A Bachelor Photo

     I remember going back-to-school shoe shopping one year as a kid.  I had my heart set on a pair of red Adidas Sambas.  With cash in hand, I biked to the mall and made a bee line for K-Mart’s sneaker section.  But the Sambas were nowhere in sight.  I searched high and low before approaching the cashier.  After hunting around for awhile we finally tracked the shoes down – they’d been mistakenly placed in the women’s sandal section!

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Does My Deposit Cheque Need To Be Certified?

Mar 15th, 2011
by Jason Bondy-Sawyer.
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 Does My Deposit Cheque Need To Be Certified? Photo

     In my recent blog post on real estate deposits (read it here) I answered some of the key questions that my clients often have: “How much should the deposit be?”  “When is the deposit due?”  There’s another question that often gets asked and deserves a little attention here: “Does my deposit cheque need to be certified?”

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Elements Of An Offer Explained: The Deposit

Feb 11th, 2011
by Jason Bondy-Sawyer.
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Elements Of An Offer Explained: The Deposit Photo

     An offer-to-purchase real estate is made up of many elements, some of which are arguably more important than others.  In most cases, price sits at the top of the list.  Conditions are another biggie, followed by any significant clauses, the closing date, inclusions, exclusions…  And of course, one of the most important elements of an offer – the deposit.

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Should I Buy First Or Should I Sell First? (Part II)

Oct 17th, 2010
by Jason Bondy-Sawyer.
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Should I Buy First Or Should I Sell First? (Part II) Photo

     In my last blog post (read it here) I explored some of the unique factors involved when selling one property and buying another at the same time.  I touched briefly on market conditions, budgetary concerns, and the best way to avoid being pressured into making a purchase you’re not completely happy with.  There’s one more factor I’d like to take a look at – Timing.

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Will Mutliple-Offers Make A Comeback This Fall?

Sep 11th, 2010
by Jason Bondy-Sawyer.
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Will Mutliple-Offers Make A Comeback This Fall? Photo

     On Tuesday I helped a client of mine purchase a great 2 bedroom + den/2 bathroom condo in St Lawrence Market.  The suite had only been on the market for 5 days, yet we found ourselves competing with two other buyers.  The sellers purposely listed the property approx 5-6% under market value and held-off on reviewing offers until after the long weekend.  Needless to say, the property sold firm for over asking.

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