Buying or Selling Military Real Estate

Buying Real Estate Tips

Number One Buying Tip is to hire a professional Real Estate agent.  Some of the most important attributes you should be looking for in a Realtor are;  personal service, individual representation, local knowledge and expertise.  Although not illegal for a Realtor to represent both the Buyer and the Seller, it probably is better to have your own agent, one who is legally obligated to represent your interests.

The biggest Real Estate ethical issue reported is dishonesty. Sellers no longer fill out an information sheet for the Barrie ON listings as the Real Estate Board no longer requires it.  Rumor has it that it was because of too many law suits.  So you need a scrupulously honest and experienced Realtor to guide you through all the Listing Hype and discover the real property you are buying.  Hiring an experience Home Inspector can help you with any visible deficiencies but cannot protect you from someone willing to hide or cover up problems.

Beware of any Realtor offering anything FREE.  There is nothing in life for FREE.  Pay your Realtor a fair commission for the job he is performing for you.  If you want someone to be dedicated to ensuring you are getting the best available price for your chosen property, then you have to reward him appropriately.  If you save a few thousand on commission, you may possibly pay an extra 10,000.00 for your dream home.

Even if you don’t have school children, if you are planning on re-selling down the road, consider buying in one of the better rated school districts, when it comes time to sell, that’s what buyers with children are looking for.  Check on zoning and planning if you are buying beside vacant land,  you never know what is permitted to be built there unless you check.   Also you might want to check the local zoning an permitted uses are,  you could end up living in a home full of college students.  Week end Keg Parties come to mind.

Military Personnel have the dis-advantage of flying into a new town and having a week at most to find and finalize a home purchase.  Having most of the preparation done before leaving your current location can make this a lot easier.  Contacting your local IRP-DND.COM Realtor as soon as you know your being posted is very important, both for selling you home and for buying your new on.

Do your home work, assemble your team of professionals prior to shopping for a home.  You will need a Realtor, Lawyer, Insurance Agent, Home Inspector, Mortgage Broker and if buying in the country a well and septic tank inspector.

Selling Real Estate Tips

Will New Relocation Rules Affect your Selling Price?

Prepare your home prior to listing.  Do all the little repairs and touch ups on the interior and the exterior.  If you have an “ugly room” that belongs to one of your teenagers, paint it before any showings are scheduled.  That subconscious turn off could translate into potential buyers buying the home down the street that is finished “to the nines”.

Hire a Professional stager to pick through your families clutter and turn your house into a organized masterpiece that anyone would love to own.  Getting rid of all those personal items allows potential buyers to imagine their belongings in your home.

Don’t over price your home.  When homes sit on the market for long periods of time, people think there is some underlying problem with it.  Many Realtor’s have found if you under price your home, you stand a good chance of generating so much interest that you could have a “bidding war” and actually get more than what you thought your home was worth.

Many Military Personnel will end up buying a home from a Military Seller.  This happens a lot due to the sheer number of people moving every year in the Military and Military Personnel know the importance of maintaining their home in top notch condition.  When you are moving and selling your home every 4 or 5 years, ensuring you are buying at fair market value is very important.

Hiring a Professional Realtor is the most important decision you will make when you decide to sell your home.  A qualified listing agent will do a comparative listing of similar properties, both that have recently sold, and that are currently on the market.  This is where the “Rubber Meets The Road”, as far as experience goes.  One Rule of Thumb when pricing your home is to list at what the last comparable home sold for .  Setting the price slightly lower is even better.  Price too high and you will scare of potential buyers.

With the reduction of Real Estate Commission military and RCMP personnel will face a difficult decision.   Gamble that their Realtor will still provide a “Full Service” listing, when working for smaller commission, or top up the Listing Commission out of their own pocket.   Read More

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