Ty Lacroix

12 Steps To Sell Your Home Quickly

2010-03-21T16:18:00Z

Regardless of the present housing market, to maximize your home's selling price there are steps you can take to ensure that your home sells fast, reduce the stress and maintain control.

1 Keep the reason you are selling to yourself and your REALTOR.

Do not reveal your motivation for selling to anyone else because they may use it against you at the negotiating table. When asked, just say that your housing needs have changed.

2 Different goals will dictate different strategies.

What is more important to you: the money you walk away with or the length of time your property is on the market or both?

3 Do your homework before setting a price.

The average buyer will look at 15-20 homes at the same time they are looking at yours. That buyer will now have a basis of comparison, and if your home does not compare favorably with others in the price range, you will not be taken serious by prospects or agents. The result can be that your home will sit on the market for a long time, knowing this; new buyers on the market will think there is something wrong with your home.

4 More Homework.

(A good Realtor should do this for you) Find out what homes in your neighbourhood have sold for in the last 6-12 months, and research what current homes are listed for. That is how a prospective buyers and their Realtor will assess the worth of your home.

5 Maximize your home's sales potential.

You may not be able to change your home's location or floor plan, but you can do a lot to improve its appearance. The look and feel of your home generates a greater emotional response than any other factor. Before showings, pick up, straighten up, unclutter, scrub, scour and dust. Present your home to get a "WOW" response from prospective buyers. Allow the buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. The decision to buy a home is based on emotion, not logic.

6 Deciding upon a REALTOR

You and your REALTOR are partners in marketing your home. Choose carefully and wisely. (Ask for my FREE report on how to select a REALTOR.)

7 Make it easy for prospects to get information on your home.

Prospects calling for information on your home value their time as much as you do. They also do not want to be hassled or frustrated because they cannot get a hold of the listing agent or some of the information in the listing is incorrect. Over 82% of homes sold have been previewed over the Internet!Make sure your Realtor has a proven feedback system to allow you to know the comments and opinions of prospective buyers.

8 Do not move before you sell.

Studies have shown that it is more difficult to sell a home that is vacant because it looks forlorn, forgotten and simply not appealing. As well, prospects may think because it is empty, you are motivated to sell fast and for a lower dollar.

9 Deadlines create a serious disadvantage.

Don't try to sell by a certain date. This adds unnecessary pressure and is a serious disadvantage in negotiations.

10 Keep emotions in check.Do not be offended by a low offer or certain demands from the buyer. A good Realtor can turn these negatives into a positive situation. You will have an advantage over others who get caught up emotionally.

11 Be a smart seller- disclose everything.

Be proactive, by disclosing any problems or defects you are giving the buyer confidence that you are not hiding anything. This also will prevent liability or legal issues to follow.

12 Make sure the contract is complete.

Ensure that all terms, conditions and responsibilities are spelled out in the offer and that you fully understand them. A good REALTOR will take the time to educate you on the conditions and terms and will insert clauses if required to further protect you.

When I decide to take on a client and their home, I take the time before we start to market the home to discuss and review the pros and cons of different strategies and walk you through the steps of the selling process so that you are comfortable and more knowledgeable. That way, I can exceed YOUR expectations.

John Labatt Centre in London Named #1 in Canada

2010-03-20T21:42:00Z

The John Labatt Centre in London Ontario has been named best venue with a capacity of more than 8,000 seats in Canada at a Toronto music & media industry gala.

A finalist other years, the John Labatt Centre (JLC) bested the Bell Centre in Montreal,GM Place in Vancouver,MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Edmonton's Northlands Rexall Place, Calgary's Penngrowth Saddledome, Ottawa's Scotiabank Place and Toronto's Molson Amphitheatre in 2010. Since the JLC was built in 2002, the downtown core has been revitalized with a growth of quality restaurants, new highrise apartments, retail and the London Convent Market across the street at Talbot & King has seen a huge increase of traffic.

Home to the agressive and achieving London Knights Hockey Club, entertainers have appeared such as Bon Jovi, Sting, El Divo, Cher, Elton John, Rod Stewart and David Bowie, the list goes on. Stars on ice, theatre productions, truck jamborees and on it goes.

The JLC is just one of many other entertainment venues in London and proof positive that London not only has some of the most reasonable real estate prices in Canada, but entertainment and parks galore!

Is Lead Pipe Removal In Homes Risky?

2010-03-20T18:25:00Z

There has been conflicting reports that a costly program meant to protect Londoners & Canadians from lead in tap water may instead be placing thousands at risk.

London City Hall each spends more than $750,000 each year to replace lead service lines with copper pipes to bring water to the property lines of older homes. However, many homeowners fore-go that $1,500 cost of removing the lead pipes on their property, instead leaving new copper pipes connected to lead pipes.

This is common throughout Canada, but in the U.S., it has come to a halt!

Research has shown that when sections of lead pipes are replaced, the lead that remains can corrode much faster than a stand alone lead pipe, the rust flaking into tap water.

The US Centers for Disease Control made public to the head of the agency's lead poisoning prevention that where lead pipes were partially replaced, children have higher blood-lead levels than children in homes with full lead pipes.

What amazes me is that it is reported that Canadian officials refuse to screen children for lead exposure while in the U.S.,children are routinely screened for blood-lead levels with the risk being most acute in children & fetuses.

Marc Edwards who presented his findings to the US Congress and engineers of the American Water Works Association states: "I don't think you'd find anybody in the United States who would defend partial as economically sound or providing a health benefit."

As a side note, I read a newspaper article today that thousands of hockey sticks are being replaced because of lead levels! Wow, when I was a kid, a new stick at the end of the season!

Cute 3 Bedroom Bungalow For Sale In London Ontario $135,000

2010-03-18T15:14:00Z

Cute 3 Bedroom Bungalow

• 1 bath, 3 bdrm single story - MLS® $135,000 - What A Bargain!

Bellwood Park, London - Cute 3 bedroom bungalow makes a great starter home. Lots of upgrades and in great shape.

New flooring, kitchen countertop, new front and rear door.124` fenced lot with a great raised deck, close to all amenities and bus routes.
In between Fanshawe & UWO and close to downtown.

100 amp electrical, copper & ABS plumbing, full basement with entry to rear yard. Well maintained and in very good shape and a great bargain.

Property information

Lucan Ontario, 15 Minutes North of London

2010-03-17T22:53:00Z

Lucan is a small village 15 minutes north of London with new homes being built both to the east and west of Lucan.

Lucan is a very active community with sports parks and an arena, along with restaurants and retail stores. Below is the history of the area.

Despite being more than 500 km (300 miles) to the North, in 1829, the area became a refuge for a group of free slaves from Cincinnati, Ohio who were under threat of being enslaved again, as a result of the Black Codes in Ohio. This group of roughly 200 disenfranchised Blacks were granted refuge and land by the Canada Company and duly set up a colony named Wilberforce. This was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, slave refuge colony in Upper Canada and existed before emancipation. The flight of Blacks northward into Canada beginning around this time was part of the Underground Railroad.

Most of the Blacks came from city life and did not adapt well to the harsh farming environment. Large lots of land were cleared (logged) and efforts were made to sustain the colony, but much of it dwindled through the 1840s and many of the original colonists moved on to larger, growing urban centres such as Detroit, Cleveland or Toronto to obtain wage-based employment. A small number remained on to work the land through subsequent generations.

The area was then further logged and settled by whites, many from Ireland, some of whom purchased farmsteads from the departing Blacks or new lots sold to them cheaply by the Canada Company. Nowadays less than 40 descendants of the ancestorial Blacks remain.^[4]

After this time, about 1850, the majority of the township's landholders were Irish Catholics, a large number originating from then-meagre farming lands in County Tipperary, Ireland.

For more information on Lucan go to http://www.lucanbiddulph.on.ca/ and of course, for real estate information, you know who to call!

Komoka Ontario Real Estate

2010-03-16T19:36:00Z

Komoka is less than 15 minutes west of London with easy access to Highways 402 and 401. Komoka is between Mt.Brydges and Kilworth and from London, head west on Oxford Street.

Komoka is a crossing point for many railway lines and was formerly a railway hot spot featuring various hotels and development. Today, the Komoka Railway museum keeps the local railway history alive and features unique artifacts such as a 1913 Shay Steam Engine and a 1972 Grand Trunk & Western caboose. Go to http://www.komokarailmuseum.ca/ for more information,

There is an elementary school, Parkview Public School, and Providence Reformed Collegiate, a private Christian high school in the village. The village also supports a number of youth sports teams, including baseball and soccer.

Komoka is currently experiencing a population growth due to a new subdivision developments. Consequently, the elementary school's enrolment has rapidly increased resulting in substantial renovations.For a list of available homes for sale in Komoka and surrounding area, just drop me a quick email.

One of the most famous spots in Komoka is the Little Beaver Restaurant, always crowded and a meeting place or stop off point for thoses heading to or from London.

In partnership with Delaware and Mount Brydges, the three communities rotate responsibilities of hosting Canada Day celebrations. The partnership is called "Del-Ko-Bridge". The celebrations feature a free pancake breakfast, morning parade, events and competitions throughout the day, a baseball game at night with fireworks following the game.

Delaware Ontario, Less Than 15 Minutes West Of London

2010-03-16T18:29:00Z

Delaware straddles the Thames River, and is accessed by the old highway (Highway 2) linking London and Chatham and (Highway 402) linking Sarnia along with Port Huron and Toronto. Delaware is nestled in the Thames River Valley. Most of the area surrounding Delaware is made up of forests and floodplain areas. Corn, soybeans and tobacco are farmed extensively in the area around Delaware, as well as inside the town limits in some areas.

Delaware has undergone modest growth in housing over the last 30 years, with the developed area nearly doubling in that time. Many of the buildings in the heart of Delaware are reputed to be over one hundred years old. These include the building that is now Delaware Variety as well as the antique shop across the street. There are two new subdivisions with lots of activity.

Belvoir Manor is a private home that was at one point a seminary and a private school for boys and at one point was destroyed by fire. The surrounding Belvoir Farms in which it is located is a prominent croquet venue for Croquet Canada.

Delaware boasts a number of tourist destinations despite its small size. Delaware Speedway is a half-mile paved race track that is one of the oldest in Canada. The track hosts stock car racing every Friday night during the summer, as well as several Saturday and Sunday race features.

The Longwoods Road Conservation Area features Skah-Nah-Doht, a recreated Iroquoian village complete with longhouses and tours, as well as a museum featuring exhibits of Iroquoian culture and archaeological artifacts. The park hosts a yearly native festival as well as a re-enactment of the Battle of Longwoods.

The community of Delaware was first founded in 1796. Delaware was the objective of an American raid into Upper Canada in 1814 during the War of 1812, which resulted in the Battle of Longwoods, on March 4, 1814, just about 24 km outside of Delaware.

Delaware has two elementary schools, Delaware Central Public School (The Mustangs) (Thames Valley District School Board), and Our Lady of Lourdes (The Saints) (London District Catholic School Board). They are located about one kilometre apart from one another. Delaware Central has about 175 students, while Our Lady of Lourdes has around 400.

Another great 12 month activity centre is Circle R Ranch http://www.circlerranch.ca/ and as like London and area , for golfers you have the Oaks, Twin Streams & Oxbow and other courses nearby.

With Delaware being less than 15 minutes to London it is an attractive area to raise a family and some great neighbourhoods to choose from.

For a complete list of available homes in Delaware, drop me a quick email or call 519-435-1600.

Where did the name Ilderton come from?

2010-03-15T21:19:00Z

Below is an email I wrote to the village of Ilderton:

Hello, I wrote a blog about real estate in Ilderton and I had an enquiry about where the name Ilderton came from.

I have googled it but to no avail.Please help.

Thanks

Ilderton Ontario Real Estate

2010-03-15T18:35:00Z

Ilderton is located along Middlesex County Road 16 (Ilderton Road) to the west of Highway 4 (Richmond Street), at the junction of Middlesex County Road 20 (Hyde Park Road).

With Ilderton's proximity to London, many low-density subdivisions have been developed. This has led to an increase in the community's population in recent years.

There is a great selection of new and re sale homes available in Ilderton and with taxes being lower than London, Ilderton offers many small town and close knit community amenities.

A rural community of just a few hundred people in the 80s, now home to over 2000 due to the demand for affordable living space close to the city yet far enough away to still maintain it's village feel. Continued, managed growth makes Ilderton a hot-spot for new home owners and the town has become a very desirable place to live. Most houses and homes are just a few steps away from rolling countryside providing enjoyable walks and cycle rides.

Ilderton is the hometown of ice dancer Scott Moir,who captured gold with partner Tessa Virtue at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Ilderton is home to a district fire station, a seniors apartment complex, two pub/restaurants, two variety stores, a county library, hardware store, florist and two pizza businesses, and three parks. As the community is surrounded mainly by agricultural land, industry in the area is mostly farming. Go to http://www.ilderton.ca/ for local events and things to do.

Arva Ontario Real Estate?

2010-03-15T17:58:00Z

Arva is located at the intersection of Highway 4 (Richmond Street) and Medway Road (7th Concession ). The community is the home of Medway High School, Centennial Central Public Dual Track School and the Arva Flour Mill.

With Arva being minutes from Masonville,

having Sunningdale Road running between Arva and Fanshawe Road , access is not a problem with all the new construction to the east and west of Arva and Birr to the north. For prices and listings near Arva just drop me an email or a quick call.

Arva is located on a pond (known as "the mill pond") on Medway Creek. In the 19th century Arva was a critical rest stop on the Underground Railroad, and home to several homes constructed as part of the Railroad.

Open House in London in Riverbend West on Saturday

2010-03-15T16:48:00Z

London, Ontario - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 2295 Kains Road #60 on March 20 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. There are 3 models open 7 days per week from 1-4 PM. Luxury one floor bungalow condos with double garage.

Property information

Curious What The House Prices Are In Your London Neighbourhood?

2010-03-12T20:16:00Z

If you're curious about what your London property may be worth, here's an easy way to find out what homes like yours are selling for in today's market.

Plus: Get a Free Report with up-to-the-minute statistics based on all the houses for sale and sold in your London neighbourhood over the last six months in all price ranges.

To get your Free Report on Houses or Condos in London just give me a call at 519-435-1600 or a quick email at ty@enveloperealestate.com

How Do Homes Sell?

2010-03-12T19:18:00Z

How do homes sell? It is a combination of creating sale-ability of a home. Here are some statistics of how homes sell:

1% of houses are sold from Open Houses. This is only applicable if a thorough mailing to prospective buyers and proper advertising has been done. Otherwise very few serious buyers go to Open Houses.

4% of houses are sold through advertising in the newspaper or other real estate publications, including mail-outs.

6% of homes are found by the buyer himself or the seller finding the buyer himself, A for Sale by Owner (FSBO) in most of these cases, one party or the other hires a sales representative to handle the paperwork.

89% of homes are sold through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) when listed with a real estate company - providing proper terms and/or a reasonable price is offered. Yet, some homes listed will expire. This is why knowledge and expertise is required to get your home SOLD!

89% of homes that are sold through the Multiple Listing Service are sold by sales representatives who prospect & market for buyers daily! Remember, real estate sales representatives sell real estate!

How many sales representatives actively look for buyers daily? I don't have any statistics on this, but according to the National Association of Realtors, 7% of the sales representatives are doing 93% of the total real estate business nationwide! As an example, if you had 100 homes for sale, 7 sales representatives would sell 93 homes and 93 sales representatives would divide the sale of only 7 homes among themselves.

In today's real estate market, IT IS THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN GETTING YOUR HOME SOLD!

The size of a real estate company or its name has very little to do with the sale of your home or any other property. Yes, there are some companies, which sell hundreds of homes, but they also have hundreds of sales representatives. The average of sold homes per sales representative is usually very low.

At Envelope Real Estate Brokerage Inc., we have one of the highest averages of homes sold.

Discounting commissions or making deals with sales representatives that you, too, can sell the house will not change the facts how homes are really sold. Something important to keep in mind: If the only way the sales representative can get the listing is by discounting commission, you can be sure they will also discount the price of your home when negotiating an offer on your home! It will only take that much longer for you to realize that you have to do something else in order to sell your home. Let's get together and review all your options.

Beating the HST? Be Careful!

2010-03-11T20:06:00Z

If you have missed the chance to take advantage of the Home Renovation Tax Credit and wish to to renovate and avoid the new HST, do not jump in with both feet when looking to renovate!

With July 1 rapidly approaching, quality contractors are usually booked months in advance which means finding a quality service provider may be a challenge.

Do the usual due diligence by contacting your local better business bureau, chamber of commerce etc. and ask for references.

In London Ontario go to http://london.bbb.org/ for The Better Business Bureau and for the London Chamber of Commerce go to http://www.londonchamber.com/.

I as well I know about quality trades people and home renovators that may be suitable for your project.

London Ontario Road Construction. A Heads Up!

2010-03-11T18:43:00Z

The London Free Press is calling road related work in London alone 'The mother of all construction seasons' with a record 150 million being allocated.Orange pylons, not daffodils and tulips will signal the spring season.

Do not despair! If you go to www.london.ca/construction an interactive website awaits you and you will know where construction in London is on any given day.

Another way to avoid traffic when looking to purchase real estate in London is to have me drive you around. I can curse in 14 languages, have a multitude of finger signals and have a GPS and know before hand where the construction is. lol