Understanding the Costs of Selling a Home

If you’re planning on moving, you’re probably focused on how much your new home is going to cost. However, it’s also a good idea to understand the real costs associated with selling your current property.

In fact, there are some costs and expenses you may not have anticipated. Here are a few examples:

Home inspection. You might think you’ll only need a home inspection for a home on which you’ve made an offer. However, it might also make sense to have a home inspection completed on your current property in order to identify potential issues that might get in the way of a sale. Buyers feel more confident when considering a home that has had a recent professional inspection.

Cancellation costs. There may be extra expenses associated with cancelling internet services, newspaper subscriptions, home security systems, and even lawn care services.

Repairs. You should budget to get any maintenance issues, such as a broken door handle, dealt with before your home goes on the market.

Staging. Tasks like getting rid of clutter, arranging for the carpets to be professionally cleaned, having the hedges trimmed, and doing other things to make the property look attractive to buyers all fall under the umbrella of “staging”. You can do much of this work yourself, or hire a professional.

Moving. It’s a good idea to budget for the costs of moving. Even if you’re using a friend’s truck and planning to do most of the packing and hauling yourself, there may still be costs such as packaging materials, gas, and perhaps even pizza for your crew.

At the end of the day, these costs may turn out to be negligible when compared to the value of your property. As your real estate professional, I can help you understand all the costs and help make the selling process go smoothly.

Fake News But Sage Advice

I believe this is interesting enough to share. I heard about this article from a reliable online source and that it was apparently written by Bill Gates, the co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft. Knowing that Gates is a great philanthropist who has given and still gives away billions to combat poverty and has been a recent spokesman regarding this virus, I wanted to find out more, so I did some checking see if Mr. Gates really wrote this article, to my surprise it seems that he hadn’t written it at all. I was going to disregard the whole thing with no one to credit but as I re-read it, I realized there were some very profound insights and truths uncovered regarding this pandemic, I thought why not share it anyway. well I guess Bill Gates didn’t write it, but it seems to have gotten a lot of traction. 

A Letter NOT written by Bill Gates:

I’m a strong believer that there is a spiritual purpose behind everything that happens, whether that is what we perceive as being good or being bad. As I meditate upon this, I want to share with you what I feel the Corona/ Covid-19 virus is really doing to us:

1) It is reminding us that we are all equal, regardless of our culture, religion, occupation, financial situation or how famous we are. This disease treats us all equally, perhaps we should to. If you don’t believe me, just ask Tom Hanks.

2) It is reminding us that we are all connected and something that affects one person has an effect on another. It is reminding us that the false borders that we have put up have little value as this virus does not need a passport. It is reminding us, by oppressing us for a short time, of those in this world whose whole life is spent in oppression.

3) It is reminding us of how precious our health is and how we have moved to neglect it through eating nutrient poor manufactured food and drinking water that is contaminated with chemicals upon chemicals. If we don’t look after our health, we will, of course, get sick.

4) It is reminding us of the shortness of life and of what is most important for us to do, which is to help each other, especially those who are old or sick. Our purpose is not to buy toilet roll.

5) It is reminding us of how materialistic our society has become and how, when in times of difficulty, we remember that it’s the essentials that we need (food, water, medicine) as opposed to the luxuries that we sometimes unnecessarily give value to.

6) It is reminding us of how important our family and home life is and how much we have neglected this. It is forcing us back into our houses so we can rebuild them into our home and to strengthen our family unit.

7) It is reminding us that our true work is not our job. That is what we do, not what we were created to do. Our true work is to look after each other, to protect each other and to be of benefit to one another.

8) It is reminding us to keep our egos in check. It is reminding us that no matter how great we think we are or how great others think we are, a virus can bring our world to a standstill.

9) It is reminding us that the power of freewill is in our hands. We can choose to cooperate and help each other, to share, to give, to help and to support each other or we can choose to be selfish, to hoard, to look after only our self. Indeed, it is difficulties that bring out our true colors.

10) It is reminding us that we can be patient, or we can panic. We can either understand that this type of situation has happened many times before in history and will pass, or we can panic and see it as the end of the world and, consequently, cause ourselves more harm than good.

11) It is reminding us that this can either be an end or a new beginning. This can be a time of reflection and understanding, where we learn from our mistakes, or it can be the start of a cycle which will continue until we finally learn the lesson we are meant to.

12) It is reminding us that this Earth is sick. It is reminding us that we need to look at the rate of deforestation just as urgently as we look at the speed at which toilet rolls are disappearing off shelves. We are sick because our home is sick.

13) It is reminding us that after every difficulty, there is always ease. Life is cyclical, and this is just a phase in this great cycle. We do not need to panic; this too shall pass.

14) Whereas many see the Corona/ Covid-19 virus as a great disaster, I prefer to see it as a great corrector. 

It is sent to remind us of the important lessons that we seem to have forgotten, and it is up to us if we will learn them or not.

Real Estate In This New Reality

This new coronavirus has brought life to a near standstill, cancelling gatherings large and small, closing most businesses and keeping people at home. There’s no doubt, this experience is unparalleled in our lifetimes. Things are changing daily with government recommendations at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. People must surely be wondering, just when will things be returning to normal and what about the Real Estate market?

A FEW CURRENT FACTS

·       The Real Estate industry has been deemed an essential service by the Province, but pressure is on brokers and realtors to create protocols to protect buyers, sellers and agents.

·       Properties are still being sold and contracts are still being written, brokers are encouraging that trades should only be done if truly urgent and be done virtually with no in-person meetings. If physical meetings are absolutely necessary, then the individuals must follow social distancing guidelines with safe meeting protocols.

·       There is still a very low housing inventory in Muskoka and Simcoe.

·       The price of gas in Ontario and the world is at an all time low.

·       Mortgage rates are as low as they have been in years.

·       The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation is showing more flexibility in their dealings with their insured mortgages.

·       The Canadian economy has always demonstrated good resilience in the past.

·       In Canada and in the United States, the governments have introduced measures that not only address the pandemic but also stimulate the economy. 

·       Digital marketing today for listings and searching capabilities for buyers has never been easier than it is right now.

·       Remember your professional Realtors are able offer your stability and comfort knowing your real estate needs are still being met in a safe and responsible manner. 

Stay healthy and safe!

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