Selling Your House: The Showing Checklist

SELLING YOUR HOUSE: THE SHOWING CHECK-LIST

We talked about getting your house ready for the real estate market. It involves a lot of boxes, cleaner, and “editing” of things. Also, probably a bit of sweat.

Trouble is, the sweat ain’t over yet, honey.

Unless you’re one of the lucky ones who sells his or her house in the first or second visit, you’re probably going to have multiple showings to contend with. They can be scheduled at nearly any time of day, and can sometimes be thrown up on you in the last minute.

And it’s good advice that if your agent calls with an appointment for a showing, you should take it. It’s a gamble to say no. What if that was the couple that was going to buy our house? Without any conditions? And with CASH!?!

Don’t let the Cash Couple drive past your house. Instead, have a copy of this handy-dandy “Show-Ready Home” checklist nearby, and start busting your butt. You have a house to clean.

I had a friend tell me that there is always the possibility that someone will be viewing a house in your area, and they might see your sign and want to add you to the tour. You could have a family of 6 touring your house with only 10 minutes of warning.

So I developed a “Panic!” checklist for that. It involves the cunning use of laundry baskets. Oh, I love laundry baskets.

 

And the 10-minute list is already getting some use in our house.

The one-hour list is much more comprehensive, but I find it really helpful when prepping the house. It ensures that when I leave, I won’t have that “Did I turn the stove off?” conversation in my head.

Yes, the toilet seats are closed.

Yes, I put out the garbage.

Yes, I have the laundry basket full of odds-and-ends-and-probably-some-laundry in the back of my car.

The house is ready to be fabulous. Work it, house. Show ’em what you got!

Print it out. Print out a couple. Or better yet, print one out and put it in a sheet protector. Use a dry-erase marker to check off your list and then wipe it off for the next showing.

Hopefully, with a house this clean, tidy, and devoid of bedtime booze, you won’t need to use the checklist for much longer!

If you need help in Selling your home at the maximum price in a shortest time, Feel free to call Rakhee – 647 400 6568 or Mahesh 416 464 6568. To know the value of your home

 

5 Types of Roofing Shingles

Finding the best kind of shingles for your home as well as your budget is a great start to installing a new roof.

It’s important to consider the pros and cons of several different types of roof shingles and the relative cost of each roofing material, as well as consult with a local roofing contractor to determine which shingles work best for your house and in your part of the country. Here’s a look at some commonly used roofing materials:

. Asphalt shingles

Generally the most frequently used, asphalt shingles are relatively inexpensive. Plus, if you purchase coated asphalt shingles, they may meet the Energy Star standards for a cool roof and earn you a rebate. Three-tab asphalt shingles are thinner and slightly less expensive than laminated or architectural asphalt shingles. And though they tend to be less expensive, asphalt shingles have a relatively short life span of 20 to 30 years.

 

Wood shingles last a long time but do require some maintenance. (Photo courtesy of Angie’s List member David K., Great Falls, Virginia)

2. Wood shingles

More expensive than asphalt, wood shingles are known to be more aesthetically appealing because of their natural appearance. If you choose a hardwood, such as cedar or redwood, the shingles should last at least 30 years and sometimes as long as 50 years.

 

This roof features stone-coated metal tiles. (Photo courtesy of Angie’s List member Surujnarine S., Jacksonville, Florida)

3. Metal roofs

Appropriate for homes with especially flat or steep rooflines, metal roofing can either be solid metal or constructed metal shingles. Low-end galvanized metal roofs are relatively inexpensive, but can last up to 50 years. Metal roofs are becoming a popular option in many areas of the country. Once seen largely in the Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions, metal roofs are making an inroad into the Midwest and southern United States.

Vermont slate roofing gives this home a European look. (Photo courtesy of Angie’s List member Theresa D., Altadena, California)

4. Slate shingles

This material is especially popular in the Northeastern portion of the United States, because the slate from which the shingles are made is quarried there. These shingles are extremely durable, with a life span of up to 50 years. It’s not uncommon to find old farmhouses that are leak-free and still have their original slate-shingled roofs. If your budget doesn’t allow for real slate shingles, you can always consider a synthetic slate product, which has a similar appearance, but a slightly shorter life span.

RELATED: Slate Roof Maintenance Tips

TILE_Roof_MID 1968945_25847.jpg

A house must be able to withstand the extra weight of tile roof shingles. (Photo courtesy of Angie’s List member Wally B., St. Petersburg, Florida)

5. Tile shingles

These shingles have a unique appearance characteristic of the Southwest states and colonial Spanish architecture. Tile shingles are some of the most expensive to purchase and install, but also are one of the longest-lasting and durable materials on the market, lasting up to 80 years. However, The National Roofing Contractors Association cautions that some homes might not be able to structurally support the weight of tile shingles.

The cost of replacing your roof will depend not only on the roofing material, but also on the roofer you hire. Look up reviews on Angie’s List and recommendations for service providers in your area. Call several of the reputable roofing companies and request a quote for the roofing materials you are considering.

Do you know what you have?

The average home owner will not touch the equity in their house. They
were brought up to believe that you pay your mortgage off as fast as
you can. But what then?
These home owners have hundreds of thousands of dollars of equity
tied up in their house.
Equity that’s just sitting there.
Equity that could be working for them.
Equity that could be making money for them.
Equity that could be the difference between:
still having to work in order to make the monthly expense
payments
or
RETIRING NOW.

We can help you retire now. Call 416 464 6568 to discuss

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GTA real estate sales February 2016

GTA real estate sales hit record high in February

TORONTO — Real estate sales in the Greater Toronto Area hit a record high last month, even after accounting for the extra day because of the leap year.

The Toronto Real Estate Board says there were 7,621 sales in February, up from 6,294 — a rise of 21.1 per cent.

About two-thirds of the sales were outside the city of Toronto itself, where there were 2,809 sales, an increase from 2,352 in the same month last year.

Average prices were also up, hitting $719,843 in Toronto itself and $665,100 in the rest of the GTA.

Toronto and other parts of the real estate market in southern Ontario were among the hottest in Canada last year, trailing only Vancouver and parts of B.C.’s Lower Mainland region.

Vancouver’s realtors announced Wednesday that sales in that city also set a record in February, with 4,172 homes sold — up 36 per cent from the same month last year