Selling the Expired Listing

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

The Official Krisztina Blogsite

I enjoy the challenge of selling an Expired Listing. It pushes me to up my game in every area. I have to overcome the bad reputation of a property that’s been on the market over 90 days. I have to increase my marketing, spreading the word that the property has changed and show it in a new light. I have to advertise these changes – new Agent, possibly a new price and possibly some home upgrades. (Actually, you can change ‘possibly’ to ‘probably’!!) Dealing with Sellers of an Expired Listing is an especially sensitive area. They have been through the wringer for a number of months. They are tired. They are frustrated. And they might even be a bit angry. This is the time for my Psychology degree to kick in! I have to reinstate confidence in the process. I have to re-energize the Seller. I have to be patient. I have to listen. And I have to gently get them on side with changes – in pricing, in renos, or both. If I do my job well on all these fronts, I will sell that Expired Listing.

In my experience, many listings expire because the Seller used an Agent unfamiliar with the Listing area. In this case, the Agent may not understand the localized pricing or the sphere of influence for the potential Buyers. Expired Listing Client, Terri Bruyns says that she chose me based on two things: 1) A lot of my signs were up in her area, and they were SOLD quickly, and 2) Internet Research. I was a match for her because of my knowledge of the neighbourhood and location, the fact that I understand the area Buyers and area Pricing and because I am strong in tailoring my Marketing efforts to each individual property. (In her case, it was important that I do the Open Houses myself, I used Coming Soon Signs while we did renovations to create excitement and I used the backyard fence facing the Park for extra signage to pull people in.)

When determining pricing of an Expired Listing, I have to show my research – recently sold homes in the area and other market comparables. Fair Market Value is not pricing from last year or last month. And it’s also not the price you originally paid plus upgrades. It is a current temperature of the market on the day you list. When I am suggesting upgrades, I always balance them against the price and I always direct them toward the elements that will help sell the property. Selling an Expired Listing in today’s market is even more difficult because most of these properties were originally listed in a HOT Spring Market, so it is extra-important that I crunch the numbers and show statistics for any price adjustments. To date, I have handled a number of Expired Listings and I have always sold them. I attribute that to 1) Listing the property at the right price, 2) Staging and Prepping the property for targeted Buyers, 3) Making sure my Marketing is top notch and 4) Being present at the Open Houses. Terri’s final advice: “A Good Agent is the key. They will guide you through all of the details and the pricing.” What can I say? I AGREE!!!!

Outdoor Décor for Fall

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

The Official Krisztina Blogsite

Outdoor decorating has grown by leaps and bounds since I’ve been in the Real Estate business. And I’m not just talking about backyard outdoor living spaces. Today, the front has become equally important. What was once a week at Christmas and a day on Hallowe’en has become a year round decorating endeavour. Now the trend has moved toward seasonally themed outdoor décor punctuated by holiday-specific decorating. And that trend has never been more evident than during this month of October. Scarecrows and haybales and pumpkins and gourds and harvest displays and mums of all different shades are currently abundant in most neighbourhoods. And some of those decorations are already being edged out by ghosts and witches and vampires and cobwebs (and it’s barely mid-October!). Still to come is the all out Hallowe’en push (which I wholeheartedly participate in!!). In the world of outdoor décor, Hallowe’en decorating has really grown the most. Set-ups have become more elaborate, neighbours are competing with neighbours and whole streets are attracting trick-or-treaters and tourists! (Gone are the days of a single glowing Jack-o-Lantern to signal your candy shell-out participation to the neighbourhood kids.) And on that note, I have big things planned for this year, so if you’re in the Oak Park ‘hood on the 31st, be sure to come by! Many of you may recall my CSI crime scene where a vampire succumbed to ‘death by sunlight’ having been chained to a tree!! (If not, the video is still up on my YouTube channel, so be sure to check it out!!)

Now back to that décor – if you’re even contemplating selling your home in the next few months, it is absolutely crucial to take some photos right now, and again in a few weeks since the fall weather changes the look of a home almost on a day by day basis. “Curb Appeal” may sound like a Real Estate Agent’s buzz word but the truth is that people form strong interests in and attachments to homes based on their look from the outside. And if you’re selling in the drudgery of November or in the midst of a cold winter, these photos (and hopefully the ones you took in spring and summer!!!) may go a long way toward sealing the deal.

HST 101

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

The Official Krisztina Blogsite

There has been so much panic about HST and the Real Estate Market these days, so once and for all, I’d like to set the record straight. Previously on a resale home, you paid 5% GST on the 4 major elements in resale: 1. Real Estate Agent Fee 2. Lawyer Fee 3. Home Inspector Fee 4. Land Transfer Tax. Now, with the advent of HST, you will pay 13% on those 4 resale elements. This is an increase on those costs of 8%. You WILL NOT pay HST on the price of your resale home. In translation, the HST means that on a resale home in the $300 – $400,000 range you will pay an extra $2 – $3,000. In the current post-July 1st/HST market, prices have already declined by more than that $2 – $3,000. So, essentially the big picture for buyers has not changed, and could in fact be considered more favourable. The only time HST will be applied to the full purchase price of a home is on New Construction Homes over $400,000.

As for the current market, I also reiterate (to sellers), Don’t Panic and Don’t Compare 2010’s recent market to 2009. 2009 was an anomaly and should essentially be taken out the big picture comparison equation. We had extremely low interest rates meant to offset a possible recession, and many people took advantage. It drove prices up and created an very hot market. As for now, be assured that the market will continue to pick up steadily from the dead zone that was July. I attribute that dead zone to the looming HST (and thus the strong May-June), the typical summer slowdown and the absolutely fabulous weather which sent more people than usual to summer vacations and staycations with Real Estate far from anyone’s mind!! As for me, my business is booming and I am busier than ever. Post HST, I’ve already completed more than 10 deals. Sellers are selling. Buyers are buying. So if you’re thinking about that dream home, go ahead and take the first step – call me!!

Sellers: DON’T SABOTAGE YOUR SALE!!

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

The Official Krisztina Blogsite

Yes folks, it’s true. It’s now a Buyer’s Market. With one important caveat – prices for now are remaining higher than years past. However, now it’s more crucial than ever for Sellers to step it up in order to close that deal in a short period of time. To borrow some sports analogies, it’s time for Buyers to put their best foot forward and take it up a notch. You must bring your A-Game and keep your eye on the prize. Don’t do it halfway – it’s important to swing for the fences and focus on the end game: selling your house at a good price in a short period of time. Bottom line: You can still get your price as long as you don’t sabotage your own sale!! Here are my 5 Principles for the Seller:

LISTEN TO YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT ABOUT PRICING, TIMING & STAGING. You’ve done the work and selected your Real Estate Agent. You’ve looked at websites, interviewed candidates, asked around, checked references, looked at the Agents’ histories and finally chosen your Agent. Now it’s our turn to put our experience and expertise to work for you. I often say we’re a team with the same goal – to sell your house. And I am on your side, but in the beginning you have to look at your Real Estate Agent more like a Coach. We’re the ones with our fingers on the pulse of the market and the neighbourhood. We choose price points carefully with the goal of selling your house at fair market value. We’re aware of the intricacies of timing in your area down to the week – what other similar homes are currently on the market? What is the current state of Oakville real estate or real estate in your area? And so much more. If we ask you to rush upgrades, it’s to take advantage of a current sales trend. And if we ask you to hold off listing for a few weeks, same thing. And finally staging. We know what sells and we know what turns Buyers off. We carefully gage the cost differentials of any upgrades we ask you to undertake against pricing and time on market.

CLEANLINESS RULES. Your ‘clean’ is not ‘Selling a Home’ clean. That’s why there are companies who clean homes when they are going on the market. So do yourself a favour and give your cleaning person a few extra hours of work or hire a cleaning crew to make your house Open House ready. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING turns a Buyer off more quickly than a dirty or unkempt home. I know it’s hard to maintain and I know it’s a pain in the rear to always be neatening and straightening things, but it is absolutely crucial. Today Buyers have lots of selection and they will walk away from a dirty or messy home.

DON’T CANCEL/REFUSE ANY SHOWINGS. I understand that you might be tired or your child is not feeling well or you just got home from the cottage, but in this market you’re going to have to figure out a way to toughen up because if a Buyer runs into any barrier trying to see your house, they’ll look elsewhere.

LISTEN TO BUYER FEEDBACK. Sellers are always anxious to hear the feedback from a Buyer’s Agent after a Showing, but they don’t always like what they hear. The feedback is simply an honest assessment of the positives and negatives of your house and is NOT PERSONAL. By using this feedback, you have the ability to make some changes for the next buyer – perhaps an issue of tidiness or a room that was too personal or a wall colour. Remember, this is no longer your home. It is a house for sale!!

BE AVAILABLE. Selling your home should be the top priority for you and your family. Best case scenario, the disruption only lasts a few weeks. But it is crucial to be available to your Real Estate Agent during that time – for questions, for feedback, for pricing changes, for appointment bookings etc. I will always return your calls within the hour (and often sooner), so it is important that you do the same for me.

Two cases in point – I recently had 2 homes on the market – similar time frames, both priced at market value. One homeowner followed all my asks and sold over asking in 3 days. The other (situated in a similarly desirable area) took over 30 days to sell and didn’t get its asking price. Why? Because they didn’t follow the 5 Principles!! If you follow these 5 Principles, you and your Real Estate Agent can work together and hopefully keep your selling cycle as short as possible so that we disrupt your life for as few weeks as possible. Remember, keep your eye on the prize – your home will sell in this market, but it’s up to you to help make it sell faster for the best price!!

And remember, if you want to sell your home with a pool, it’s not too late if you act now. Check out my 1 Minute Home Tip video on Pool Resale linked below. And if you’re planning to stay, check out my video on Building Your Garden!!

Taking the Pool Plunge

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

The Official Krisztina Blogsite

Holy heat wave – how do you stay cool when the Humidex is topping 40 degrees?!? Let’s see…There’s holing up inside with the AC. Riding really fast in your convertible with the top down. Cold showers. Cold drinks. Shady backyards. Or better yet…fresh lake swims in cottage country or local dips in a pool. In Budapest, Lake Balaton is a Southern Hungary luxury for the few. In town, Hungarians flock to local pools and spas to cool down. Among one of the most beautiful is the wave pool at Budapest’s St. Gellert Hotel. The artificial waves are pumped from an underground spring and accompanied by a live gypsy band!!! With more than 120 natural thermal springs, Budapest has long been known for its baths, the largest (and most famous) being the St. Gellert, an Art Nouveau Hotel built in 1918. (The St. Gellert – now simply known as The Gellert – was named for a bishop who was martyred in Buda a thousand years ago.) The natural hot springs that flow from Gellert Hill are thought to cure a variety of joint and muscle disorders. (Therapy seeking voyagers have trekked here to take the waters since the time of the Roman empire.) The hotel was built on the site of an old Turkish bathhouse, and although it was gutted by bombs in 1945, it was rebuilt after the war. Typical of spas in Hungary, the complex also has 2 separate baths for men and women indoors, each with 3 plunge pools of various temperatures, a sauna and a steam bath. When I last visited, I also indulged in the massages!! Locally here in Canada, public pools are mostly for the kids. But as people continue to invest in their outdoor ‘rooms’, many are looking to add a water element – a full size pool, a smaller decorative pool or perhaps even just a lap pool for exercise. My latest video for Krisztina’s 1 Minute Home Tips is #5 Pool Do’s & Don’ts. (Yes I know the grammar is slightly incorrect on the Do’s – but I just think it’s easier to read – so no comments please!!) I’ve packed lots of info into one little minute, so I hope you enjoy it. (You can also look forward to “Resale of Homes with Pools” which highlights Buyer Turnoffs and Seller Musts – it will air on YouTube in a few weeks.) In the meantime I hope you’ve checked out all 5 of my 1 Minute Home Tips on my YouTube Channel. (C’mon, it’s only 5 minutes of your time!!) I’m continuing on the summer theme through Labour Day. Okay, must go now. It’s far too nice out to stay indoors, even with the heat!! (Anybody have a pool?!?!?)

Higher Interest Rates Affect Your Affordability

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

The Official Krisztina Blogsite

On May 25th, 2 major banks went on the record saying that Canadians will find it more expensive to own a home this year and in 2011 as higher interest rates are expected to chip away at affordability even as the rise in home prices begins to subside. RBC Economics Research points out that the rising interest rates will increase mortgages and other loan payments. As housing demand cools and supplies increase, the pace of price increases will slow, but won’t fall fast enough to offset the rising interest rates. As we are all aware, the Bank of Canada will raise its key lending rate for banks sometime this summer from the current record lows. Although the rates are predicted to rise very slowly through the rest of 2010 and 2011, affordability will continue to deteriorate even as prices level off.

My suggestion: pay close attention to your housing budget and if you are currently shopping for a home, make sure you complete a thorough cost analysis. Can you continue to afford this home if interest rates rise half a per cent? One per cent? You must factor such increases into your buying power. A recent report found that Canadians today spend 15.6% of their average gross personal income on mortgage payments (about the same as 10 years ago). When you add in electricity bills and property taxes, that figure rises to about 22%.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION RIGHT NOW: If you got your mortgage approval before April 19, you MUST re-apply because the by-laws have changed. You may have been approved for a variable rate mortgage. Now, everybody must be approved at a 5 Year Fixed Rate, NOT the best rate you can find. This is reflective of Canada’s conservative approach to mortgages in order to avoid the U.S. situation of people carrying mortgages for more than the value of their home and I think it is a good gauge to ensure affordability down the line. But beware, when you get approved – this may drop your price point significantly. Some buyers previously approved for about $700,000 are now forced down to approximately $600,000. For some, it may be the difference between moving and not moving. I have had a client who was previously eligible for a $730,000 mortgage with $100,000 down, but now was only approved for $600,000 with the same $100,000 down. These are huge swings!!

And then there are other factors to consider…longer term job security, rising financial demands of older children (camps, sports leagues, vehicle, post-secondary education etc.), rising financial demands of aging parents, replacement timetable for your cars and so on.

And just a reminder, once you’ve been approved for a ‘shopping’ figure at the 5 Year Fixed, I can offer you more affordable payments (for those who qualify) through my relationship with AstrumStar (who has created a coalition with our Re/Max office). Please check my website (KrisztinaNeglia.com) for more information on how you can apply.

Competition?…Bring It On!!

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

The Official Krisztina Blogsite

A lot of newspaper headlines have recently been devoted to the battle between The Competition Bureau and the CREA (Canadian Real Estate Association) regarding unfair competition and the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). The CREA says consumers have plenty of choice when it comes to buying and selling real estate and I tend to agree. There are already Agents who offer a variety of packages for a variety of fees including Flat Fee Real Estate – that is, paying a fee of approximately $109 for listing on MLS only. Other packages are also offered by certain Agents depending on need, and of course there are a number of cut-rate Brokerages. Should the MLS system be opened up, my concern would be two-fold. First, I pay fees to the Burlington Board, the Oakville Board and the Toronto Board. For my dues, they manage the MLS system in that territory. So I question how a revamped MLS open to the public would be covered financially and as well, the various privacy issues currently attached even to our access.

That aside, I absolutely do not feel threatened by this current Competition Tribunal, no matter the outcome. It’s the difference between shopping at a No Frills and shopping at a Loblaws Superstore. It depends on your needs (and your skill-set) as a seller. Obviously, a Real Estate Agent brings their own skill-set to the table. There’s professional staging, Open Houses, Virtual Tours, Agent to Agent connections, marketing, ability to bring Buyers to the table, experience at the negotiating stage..and so on. We can shape up a shabby property and we often miss family occasions to make sure the sale goes through. We bring our knowledge of market trends, mortgage rates, property values and neighbourhood plusses to the table. Bottom line – there will always be a majority of homesellers and homebuyers willing to pay for that level of service. (And I’m willing to answer my Blackberry at all hours!!) Of course, on the flip side, a privately listed property on MLS may give little incentive for Real Estate Agents to bring their buyers in, and therefore the private seller may never even see Fair Market Value for their property.

And beware, even in this HOT HOT Market, we are still seeing price reductions and homes expiring on the market. Buyers are demanding. The tougher the market, the more people will depend on our professional services. So, as I said, I believe there are many options currently available to homesellers, but the best option is to go with a professional. And I’ll keep working my butt off to deserve the privilege of working for you.

Great Skate!!

The Official Krisztina Blogsite

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

Thanks to all who came out on Saturday March 20th for my Free Community Skate held between 12 Noon and 1 pm at The River Oaks Community Centre. Check out my March Oak Park Report video (on my YouTube Channel: NorthOakvilleAgent) to see some of the fun. I had a great time handing out Easter chocolate treats and Cadbury clucking bunnies. (Both were very popular!!) I hope you all caught the photos of the event that ran in The Oakville Beaver! By the way, The Oak Park Report (with Krisztina Neglia!!) has now officially been launched as a monthly video series discussing Oak Park Real Estate and community events. I will link the video on all my websites. You may have also noticed that I launched another video series (which will be aired monthly), called “The State of Real Estate in Oakville” (again…with Krisztina Neglia!). This series will recap the previous month’s real estate housing sales statistics and compare numbers to the previous year. So if you’re interested in how Oakville real estate is doing by the numbers, this is the video you’ll want to check out. Watch for the April episodes of both series early next month.

Back to the Great Skate Event, I had such a good time, and the turnout was so great, that I’m planning another Free Skate in December. I’m even hoping Santa might drop by to take photos with your little ones…so stay tuned!! Now, make sure to mark Saturday May 1st on your calendars. This is the date of the annual Moms ‘n’ Tots Garage Sale Fundraiser. I have supported Moms ‘n’ Tots for many years and have watched them grow from a very local Oak Park organization to an Oakville citywide organization. I will once again be hiring my horse & wagon to give parents and their kids a ride around the Oak Park neighbourhood. So come down, snap up a bargain, buy some baked goods and…best of all…take a wagon ride.

As for the Real Estate Market – I may be sounding like a broken record, but…I HAVE BUYERS!! So if you’re thinking of selling or maybe moving up, ACT NOW. We can still close the deal before the July 1st HST kicks in. And watch for a big announcement coming soon regarding a special deal I will be offering my preferred clients on their mortgage rate. (I’ll be explaining it in the next video installments and on my BLOG…and I’m very excited!!) To all my readers (and viewers!), have a very Happy Easter holiday. (To mark the occasion, I’ve done my part – instead of an Easter Bonnet, I’ve purchased some Easter/Spring peep-toe pumps – watch for the red flower on my feet!)

Community

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

The Official Krisztina Blogsite

The dictionary defines “community” as: a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. As a Real Estate Agent working in the North Oakville area, I love our community. As a resident in the Oak Park area, I am particularly appreciative of our community-oriented neighbourhoods. Oakville is a popular residential destination because it is small, it is safe, it offers great accessibility to Toronto, the airports (Pearson, Hamilton & Buffalo and the highways and it has great schools, great shopping and great restaurants. (Mayor Rob Burton recently described Oakville as “Canada’s community of choice to raise a family or enjoy retirement.”) But what I really love about Oakville are the neighbourhoods. There’s the old (SE Oakville, Old Oakville, SW Oakville, Central Oakville, Glen Abbey, Bronte Creek, Bronte), the new (Joshua Creek, West Oak Trails, Westmount) and the in-between (Oak Park, River Oaks). Some have their own restaurants and shopping districts, but all offer good schools, parkettes for the kids and trail access for biking, hiking and blading. Older areas are getting refurbished with lots of new renovations. The population is turning over, and younger families are moving in. In the SW and Bronte, bungalows are being turned into million dollar homes. The Older areas are more established with lots of trees. The Newer areas have more young families and modern layouts. No matter what you’re looking for, Oakville has it!

Oakville is a city with a thriving arts community, lots of events and festivals and many unique small business districts. Ethnic diversity is growing. But mostly Oakville is community. My own sense of community is to get involved and to give back. (The Publisher of The Oakville Beaver called the citizens of Oakville “amazingly charitable with both their time and money…and committed to improving the lives of their neighbours.”) I strongly support Moms & Tots (which has grown from an Oak Park-serving to an Oakville-serving organization). But more on them in a future Blog. For the right here, right now, I want to remind everyone in my community that I am sponsoring a FREE PUBLIC SKATE this SATURDAY MARCH 20 from 12 NOON – 1 PM at THE RIVER OAKS ARENA, PAD B. Rumour has it the Easter Bunny may have visited and left treats for the kids. But you’ll have to come to know for sure!! So take a break from this amazing Spring Break weather, come down to the rink and strap on the skates with your kids. I’ll be the one handing out the treats! (Or eating them, depending on how many kids show up!!)

Dedication. Drive. Determination.

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

The Official Krisztina Blogsite

Our nation is basking in Olympic gold on home turf thanks to athletes such as Mogul Skier Alexandre Bilodeau, Ski Cross Ashleigh McIvor and most recently Ice Dancers Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue. I applaud all the Olympic athletes for their achievements. As many of you know, I missed my chance to compete at the 1984 L.A. Olympics in Kayaking when Hungary joined Russia and other Eastern-bloc countries in boycotting the games. It’s an unrealized milestone that I’ll always feel some regret about. However, I’ll never regret how my competitive sport background continues to shape and influence my life. Sport (for me, gymnastics and then kayaking) taught me the 3 D’s – Dedication, Drive and Determination. There were some other D’s…Discipline, Decisiveness, Devotion and Doggedness. And of course, 2 special D’s – Dazzle and Dream!! I believe all the things that I learned and that made me a successful athlete at an international level have made me successful as an independent Real Estate Agent. As I look at my “D-List”, I can absolutely say I apply them all to my current career, as well as any new undertaking. Selling Real Estate involves operating your own small business, setting your own goals, structuring your own workday, creating and serving your client base and most importantly, continuing to educate yourself and keeping your learning curve fresh and sharp. I love achievement. I always have. That’s why it’s important to keep looking at the Real Estate business with fresh eyes and to continue to be innovative when it comes to my business. I believe my marketing materials, my multiple websites and my YouTube videos reflect this thinking outside the box.

It is interesting to look at the evolution of sport. Materials like graphite and carbon and Kevlar are now commonplace in equipment. Skis have gotten shorter, tennis racquets and golf clubs larger, swimsuits are sleeker, running shoes have air pockets and skates are molded to bare feet. Who knew 20 years ago that the Olympics would host events like Moguls or Snowboard Cross? And who knew 20 years ago that I could send a virtual tour of a newly listed property to your phone?!! Cutting edge in sport means embracing technology as a component of your training. Cutting edge in Real Estate means the same thing. It is another tool that we must embrace to make our business successful and relevant in 2010. But regardless of the tools that have become available to us, it’s essential to have the ability and desire to apply those 3 D’s – Dedication, Drive and Determination (and the rest of the “D-List”!!) to your business and often, to your every day life!! I, for one, thrive in a fast-paced energetic environment and know my clients recognize my continued use of my “D-List”!!