Surina Hart, Quinte Real Estate Broker Royal LePage | MLS listings for Belleville, Brighton, Cramahe, Quinte West, Trenton & Prince Edward County

Thinking about Selling this Spring?

Tuesday, Mar. 01 2011  |  Posted by: Surina  |  0 comments

Are you considering selling your home this spring? As we head into the year's busiest real estate season, ensuring that your home is in its best condition will help attract maximum interest.
Here are some tried and true steps to follow:

Begin the purge.

Put your house on a diet. Give consideration to the appeal of a tidy and organized house and begin removing or donating both the things that clutter your home and the things you don't want to move with you. Choose a drawer, shelf or storage bin, and begin streamlining, room-by-room, a little bit at a time. Seasonal changes can create great opportunities for sorting unworn clothes. You'll be happy to have less on moving day and your closets will look bigger to potential buyers. A garage sale is a great way to purge before your home's first showing.

Fix what's broken or damaged.

Determine what house maintenance is in order. To pass a home inspection, certain repairs may be unavoidable. Taking care of these issues now will ease your burden later and improve your sales opportunities. Simple repairs are also well worth the effort. Painting those chipped shutters and replacing the broken banister rail will provide a return in creating the right impression for a timely sale.

Think like a buyer.

This can be the hardest step since we love our homes and generally assume others will too. Accept that potential buyers have different tastes and consider hiring a house staging professional or 'fluffer' who can objectively determine what needs to change. Consider basic staging techniques such as removing clutter; putting away personal items like photos and trophies; cleaning and sanitizing inside and out, from top to bottom; freshening and neutralizing your colour scheme; making your entrance way appealing; eliminating pet and food odours; enhancing the illusion of space, beautifying your backyard.

Contact Me, your REALTOR®.

I am your partner in selling what is likely your largest asset. I can assist you in getting your home prepared for sale and in helping you understand the current buying and selling real estate markets. As an experienced, attentive and committed Realtor, I know the market and can put the strength of an established, leading real estate brand to work for you. It's my goal to help you sell your home in the shortest amount of time possible and at the best possible price.

Alternatively, if you have a friend, relative or colleague, who is considering buying or selling, please tell them about me. Your referrals are genuinely appreciated. I will treat your friends and family with the care they deserve so you can be proud you referred me.

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My Charity

Saturday, Jan. 01 2011  |  Posted by: Surina  |  0 comments

For the longevity of my career, I have been a donor for our local Habitat for Humanity. Through activities provided by our Quinte Real Estate Board, Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty Brokerage and purchases and donations made at the Re-Store, I am assisting in building affordable housing and promoting home ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.
The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation is a national run program in which I have donated to for the past 7 years locally and provincially in order to support women and children. I donate to this cause in the following ways: Let's Put Abuse Out of Commission Program - From each commission cheque that I earn, I donate a portion to the Foundation. I elect 50% of my donation to support my local shelter and 50% to support long-term solutions to break the cycle of violence through local prevention and education programs directed to my province. National Garage Sale for Shelter - 2009 marked the first year that I had the opportunity to volunteer my time to raise money for our local shelter and have my clients participate in the event as well. Wish Tree Program - At the request of my daughter, in 2006, the Wish Tree was born in hope that every child at our local Shelter received a gift under the Christmas Tree. Last year the event granted over 80 children's Christmas "wishes" and allowed them and their siblings a merry Christmas. Shelter Foundation City/Office Representatives - This year I was chosen out of 30 representatives nationwide as a volunteer Liason/ambassador for my specific office in Belleville (Trenton, Stirling, Madoc & Marmora) for the Foundation.
As a member of the Ontario Real Estate Association I volunteer and help fundraise through my local Quinte Real Estate Board. I also contribute a portion of each commission cheque to the REALTORS® Care Foundation which makes a difference in the lives of people in my community, one brick at a time.
Every spring in the month of April, I purchase daffodils to help the Canadian Cancer Society raise money to support the fight against cancer. I deliver these bright yellow daffodil bunches to clients, past & present so they too, may feel the satisfaction of knowing because of them, I am able to give back to the community on all our behalf. Last year, sales raised $2.9 million for the Canadian Cancer Society in Ontario.

If you would like more information on these charities, or know of a cause or charity that you feel needs more support, please do not hesitate to CONTACT me. Together we can help those who may not be as fortunate as us, hence building a stronger more compassionate community. A community we are proud to call home.

Permalink  |  Posted in: My Charity, For Buyers, For Sellers

Home Selling

Monday, Jan. 04 2010  |  Posted by: Surina  |  0 comments

Interior Preparation

What should you do to the interior of your home, before you list it for sale?

Every room should look as spacious, bright, and warm as possible.

• Wash walls, ceilings, and trim. Consider painting with light, neutral colours. Repair cracks.
• Tighten loose knobs, towel racks, switch plates, and outlet covers.
• Fix tight doors and windows, squeaky floorboards, and loose stair banisters.
• Clean and repair caulking around tubs and sinks. Fix leaky faucets; remove water stains.
• Clean and organize the basement and attic. (This is a good opportunity to throw out all the bits and pieces you don't want to move.)
• Organize closets. Get rid of the clutter. Limit the number of items stored overhead or on the floor.
• Clean out kitchen cabinets, and remove clutter from counter tops.
• Clean drapes, blinds, and curtains. Shampoo carpets, and wax floors.
• Now is a good time to spray for bugs.
• Arrange furniture to make rooms appear as spacious as possible.
• Remove any items you're taking with you, such as chandeliers and mirrors.

Curb Appeal

How important is the exterior look of your home?

 First impressions really do count. If the impact of your curb appeal is strong, people will want to see what is inside.

• Cut the lawn.
• Cut and trim the shrubs.
• Remove dead tree limbs and other yard debris.
• Brighten up the garden with fresh shrubs and flowers.
• Get rid of the clutter. Put away toys and gardening equipment.
• Touch up peeling paint on doors, siding, and trim.
• Repair and paint the fence.
• Fix damaged roof shingles and flashing.
• Clean windows, replace broken panes, and fix torn screens.
• Clean gutters and downspouts.
• Wash the driveway and sidewalk. Patch cracks or holes.
• Clean up the garage and shed.
• Have the gas grill ready for use.
• Make sure outside lights and doorbells work.

Renovations

What renovations will give you the greatest return when selling your home/property?

The top three renovations that get you the most money* are:

1. Bathrooms (75 to 100% return)
2. Kitchens (75 to 100% return)
3. Interior and exterior painting (50 to 100% return)

*Appraisal Institute of Canada's 2004 Home Renovation Survey

  Other renovations and their average rate of return (the value they add compared to what they cost) include:

• Replacing roof shingles (50 to 80%)
• Replacing the furnace and heating system (50 to 80%)
• Renovating the basement (50 to 75%)
• Adding a recreation room (50 to 75%)
• Installing a fire place (50 to 75%)
• Up-grading floors (50 to 75%)
• Building a garage (50 to 75%)
• Replacing windows and doors (50 to 75%)
• Building a deck (50 to 75%)
• Installing central air conditioning (25 to 75%)

Listing Agreement

What is involved with the signing of a listing agreement?

The listing agreement is a contract between you and your REALTOR's® brokerage company. It will:

• Provide a framework for subsequent forms and negotiations
• Clearly spell out the rights and obligations of all parties, the length of the agreement, and the compensation
• Set the listing price, and accurately describe the property (including lot size, building size, style and materials, floor areas, heating/cooling systems, room sizes, and descriptions)
• Detail what is, and what is not, included in the sale (As a general rule, fixtures are included; chattels, things which are movable, are not. If necessary, list what stays and what goes under inclusions or exclusions.)
• Provide information about annual property taxes, and note any easements, rights of way, liens, or charges against the property

The agreement binds both parties to its terms and conditions. You and the listing REALTOR® sign the listing agreement and each of you receives a copy.

Your Royal LePage REALTOR® may also ask for:

• Plan of survey or location certificate – A survey of your property showing the lot size, location of buildings, and any encroachments from neighbouring properties. Some jurisdictions need this to complete the sale of your home. Your lawyer may recommend a survey, especially if significant changes have been made to your property.
• Property tax receipts – Most listing agreements include information about current annual property tax assessments.
• Mortgage verification – Details about your mortgage provided by a mortgage lender upon your authorization.
• Deed or title search – A legal description of your property, and proof that you own it.
• Other documentation – Annual heating bills, water and sewage costs, electricity bills, and recent expenditures on home improvements. Many provinces also require a signed property condition disclosure statement.

Marketing Your Home

How will your home or property be marketed for sale?

Your Royal LePage REALTOR® will develop a detailed marketing plan that will give your property the maximum exposure and attention it deserves.

 When you list with a Royal LePage REALTOR® you will:

• always know what actions are being taken to sell your home
• receive regular progress updates
• be kept informed of changing market conditions
• be kept up-to-date on sales of other homes in the area

Receiving an Offer

How does your Royal LePage REALTOR® help you manage your offers?

A buyer interested in purchasing your property will make an offer and, as an act of good faith, put down a deposit.

The buyer's REALTOR® communicates the offer, sometimes known as an Offer to Purchase (a legal document specifying the offers terms and conditions) to you or your representative. The offer states how much the buyer is willing to pay and details the conditions.

The offer can be firm or conditional.

Firm Offer to Purchase: Usually preferable to the seller, because it means that the buyer will purchase the home without any conditions. If the offer is accepted, the house is sold.

Conditional Offer to Purchase: Means the buyer has placed one or more conditions on the purchase, such as subject to home inspection, subject to financing, or subject to the sale of buyer's existing home. The home is not sold until all the conditions have been met. The seller can accept the offer, reject the offer, or make a counter offer.

Acceptance: The seller agrees to all the terms and conditions exactly as set forth in the Offer to Purchase.

Rejection: The seller does not agree with any of the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase.

Counter offer: The seller agrees with some of the terms and conditions of the offer, but not all of them. The seller then makes a counter offer. The counter offer may change the price, the closing date, or add or delete conditions. When the buyer receives the counter offer, he or she can accept the new terms and conditions or reject them.

A signed offer is a binding contract. Make sure you understand and agree to all of the terms before you sign. You may want to have a lawyer review the offer first.

Closing the Sale

What is involved with closing the sale?

On or before closing day, lawyers for the seller and the buyer will set up a trust account for the money coming from the sale. This money will be used to pay off any mortgages you owe on the property, after which you receive the balance.

  Your lawyer should also ensure that you receive compensation for pre-paid expenses, such as property taxes, electrical or gas bills, or, if applicable, heating oil left in your tank.

You will give the property deed or transfer documents, mortgage details, and keys to your lawyer. Your lawyer will register the mortgage discharge and transfer the deed at closing.

You will also pay the listing brokerage company their compensation (your lawyer can arrange the payment from the proceeds of the sale).

Moving Calendar

What's the best way to prepare for a move? 

Four weeks before moving

• Decide what you want to take, what you want to throw out, and what you want to donate to charity or sell.
• Start using up frozen food and staples. Don't buy any more than is necessary before moving.
• Start planning your trip. Make airline reservations. Book hotels and rental cars.
• Arrange for important school, medical, financial, and legal records to be transferred.

Three weeks before moving

• Arrange to have your pets transported or boarded. Start preparing your plants for the move.
• Get back any items you have lent (and give back any items you have borrowed). Pick up any items that are being repaired.
• Dispose of flammable items such as paint, aerosol cans, and cleaning fluids.
• Send change of address information to the post office and other businesses.

Two weeks before moving

• Schedule a date for a service firm to disconnect and prepare the appliances you are moving.
• Start packing non-essential items.
• Arrange for a babysitter for moving day.
• Start planning to disconnect utilities.
• Draw up a floor plan for your new home and start planning your furniture arrangement. (It makes moving in twice as easy.)

One week before moving

• Finish packing suitcases and basic essentials. Make sure valuable documents, currency, and jewellery are in a safe and easily accessible place.
• Drain garden hoses, lawn mowers, and other machinery.
• Defrost and dry the fridge and freezer. Don't forget to empty the defrost water pan.
• Take down items such as curtain rods, shelves, light fixtures, and mirrors that you are taking with you.
• Dismantle large power tools, such as lathes and grinders.
• Make sure all of your important papers, keys, medications, and plane tickets are available for the trip.
• If you are travelling a long distance by car, you may want to have the car serviced.

Packing day

• Leave a clear workspace for the packers.
• Identify fragile and valuable items, items you are taking with you, and items being left for the new owners.

Moving-out day

• Plan to stay home until the moving van has left.
• Tour the house with the van operator during inventory. Sign the bill of lading. Confirm your new address and delivery date. Check destination contact phone numbers.
• Do a final check for overlooked items. Make certain windows and doors are locked, lights are turned off, utilities are discontinued or turned off, and the keys are transferred.

Moving-in day

• Try to get to your new home the day before the moving van arrives. Make sure the utilities are connected. Take another look to see if where you want your furniture to go is correct.
• When the mover arrives, check items unloaded against the inventory. Make arrangements for installation of appliances. Confirm unpacking requirements.

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