tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67543189309474680822012-02-17T12:19:49.093-08:00Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-13575441551003966552012-02-17T12:16:00.000-08:002012-02-17T12:19:49.115-08:00

fi•du•ci•ar•y   /fəˈdo͞oSHēˌerē/  Adjective:   Involving trust, esp. with regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary. Noun:   A trustee. Synonyms:  trustee – confidant Real estate Licensees are often described as owning their clients’ a ‘fiduciary duty”.   Let’s be reminded what that means – for both the expectation of the client and the delivery of services for the REALTOR®

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-31208676958707267382012-01-31T14:22:00.000-08:002012-01-31T14:22:22.587-08:00

I did it!  Within two weeks of making a first call – I had my furnace serviced and H2O tank checked out, recommendations from Wightmans’ Mechanical –250-762-3122 (they were great by the way!), house inspection from  EnergyWise Solutions (a contact provided to me from Wightmans) Furnace, H1O tank and air conditioner installed, Finished off with a post inspection from Energy Wise Solutions  (

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-7006305986092602682012-01-13T14:36:00.000-08:002012-01-13T14:36:58.163-08:00

Coming through the adjustment to the market we have been experiencing these last months has brought some ingenuity and creative ideas to Sellers, Buyers and their REALTORS®. Moving is something you may want to do but what if you can’t get your money out of your house?   A Common question!  Common justification that REALTORS® will make is, “Even though you may not get what you want, Mr. and

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-4399680025484624382012-01-09T09:13:00.000-08:002012-01-09T09:13:38.439-08:00

It’s officially 2012 so let me start by wishing you a Happy New Year.  In early January, many of us are planning and setting goals for everything we want to do and achieve in the year to come. While many people think of spring as the prime time home buying season, the winter months often offer an even greater selection of inventory, and the opportunity to settle into the new home before warmer

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0Central City, Kelowna, BC, Canada49.882358231210304 -119.4661907131347849.8555447312103 -119.50931771313478 49.90917173121031 -119.42306371313478tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-10332023976860414752011-12-22T12:20:00.000-08:002011-12-22T12:20:31.251-08:00

Everyone is moving in so many directions this time of year.  Be careful what you are missing.   I watched a YouTube video the other day - one person picked up a wallet dropped by a shopper and followed them to return it.  That person helped a senior with her packages across the street.  The senior gave a young woman the change she needed for the parking meter…… You get the picture.  (See Below)

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-3623314781447730532011-12-07T16:04:00.000-08:002011-12-07T16:04:42.846-08:00

It’s Christmas... It’s Christmas, that wonderful season, when children are good for a very good reason.  They’ve almost got wings sprouting out of their backs, and that’s when their guardian angels relax.    Well the guardian angels could certainly take a break last Friday.  Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty had their Christmas party at the Beautiful venue of the Kelowna Golf and Country Club.  For

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-67258436404925799052011-11-16T14:53:00.000-08:002011-11-16T14:53:19.416-08:00

Yes it's spectacular   There are, however, some unique ........  features –  TRAINS: train travel is fast, really affordable, especially if you pre buy before you go over, and very efficient- they are always on time so don’t ever be late. Not all are created equal. The fast track ones even offer first class - pretty cool. Cloth seats, air,

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-83915735859612672532011-10-03T10:19:00.000-07:002011-10-03T10:19:42.741-07:00

These notes are a follow up from my BLOG about first time Buyers from a couple of weeks ago and the many, many questions consumers can have when looking for and buying real estate. While the internet is a useful tool for prospective home buyers, sometimes people forget about other aspects of the home searching process when looking for a home. As useful as the internet is, and as much

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-74809154954867071332011-09-22T14:50:00.000-07:002011-09-22T14:50:27.121-07:00

At our office meeting the other day one of the agents stood up and gave his appreciation to our in-house mortgage broker for helping his clients acquire financing.  The story was that the clients had gone to their bank for financing for the home they wanted to purchase and were refused.  This agent then recommended they talk to a mortgage broker.  The mortgage broker was able to help them and

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-5988158357920270322011-09-15T15:40:00.000-07:002011-09-15T15:40:27.950-07:00

Question:   We have a client who has a rental property and has offered our REALTOR® a referral fee if we send renters their way. Is this allowed? If a REALTOR® is not licensed to provide property management services and, as above, refer a tenant to a client – the referral fee (if received) must still be paid through the Brokerage as Property Management activity is included in the ‘trading

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-91023929548438127052011-09-08T12:24:00.000-07:002011-09-08T12:24:17.685-07:00

Do you remember when you bought your first home??  I do.   My REALTOR® was a girlfriend and long time, very experienced one.  She looked after everything.  My daughter bought her first home a while ago.  She was not near me or in a city I was familiar with so providing her with my assistance was difficult.  I thought I had hooked her up with a good REALTOR® – turns out…..not so much. After the

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-3693365965312094652011-08-23T10:54:00.000-07:002011-08-23T16:03:29.737-07:00

I won’t quote all the studies that have been done but I will tell you, there are plenty.  They all say the same thing – the consumer shopping for real estate wants: photos – several detail – a lot of detail video tours –not photos turned into a slide show – actual video So if video is Number # 3 on the consumers wish list – why are only on third of REALTORS® using them? 1 out of 5

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-53372236301750737892011-08-11T13:24:00.000-07:002011-08-11T13:24:49.782-07:00

I’m often asked by our REALTORS® “how much should my Buyer offer, or my Seller accept, as a deposit on a Contract of Purchase and Sale?” Like many topics in real estate, there are numerous points to consider. As the REALTOR®- Who are you currently working for – the Buyer or the Seller? As the Buyer:  what amount of funds are immediately available to you? Are you wanting to show this

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-82170329407273512472011-08-05T15:55:00.000-07:002011-08-05T15:55:58.129-07:00

Hope this finds you all having a good week.  I thought I would share some ‘gossip’ for you on some exquisite homes that are SOLD or marketed by Coldwell Banker REALTORS®.  It seems there are some substantial clients that are comfortable putting their faith in a Coldwell Banker® representative. See this video by Christophe Choo with the Christophe Choo Group with Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills.

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-16249884976121051632011-07-28T16:50:00.000-07:002011-07-28T17:07:38.207-07:00

Often a question comes up either from one of our REALTORS® or a seller who is faced with selling a property for a loved one that has passed away.    "Can I list a property prior to probate being complete? " The quick answer is "YES".  REALTORS® are armed with their Professional Standard Manual (Pg 106 to be specific or online: "Buying from an Estate") that explains some of the details when buying

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-84734528765084635212011-07-21T15:52:00.000-07:002011-07-21T15:52:32.759-07:00

Fixture vs Chattel “But my Mom bought us that espresso maker - it cost us a fortune to pipe the water line to it. What do you mean I can’t take it??!!” “That mirror was my great grandmother’s – there is no way I’m leaving it for the Buyers – they should have asked for it if it was important.  It’s a family heirloom and we are taking it!” Through my real estate career as a producing

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-71782062512366688102011-07-14T15:24:00.000-07:002011-07-15T15:25:43.256-07:00

My drive to work was very uplifting today…….  I live in Lakeview Heights West Kelowna.  As I traveled down Mission Hill, Ridge and Vineyard View to our Westbank office, I passed ‘FOR SALE” signs.  Something that has jumped out at me over the last few weeks is the only sale signs that have SOLD on top of them, have been Coldwell Banker®! That tells me a couple of things – even though our agents

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-62186984623073394012011-07-07T17:00:00.000-07:002011-07-07T17:00:29.186-07:00

From time to time REALTORS® are faced with a Buyer that instructs them to place  AND/OR Nominee behind their name on the purchase contract – explaining that they may want to put the property in a company name or might want to add Aunt Mary on to the title. This situation can arise either before or after the execution of a contract of purchase and sale.  Using the terms “and/or nominee’ leaves

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-68580612242691507992011-06-30T12:42:00.000-07:002011-06-30T12:42:57.659-07:00

While in subject removal stage of an offer you have discovered the legal address was entered into Matrix (the MLS® system) incorrectly, therefore it has transferred over to your written contract of purchase & sale incorrectly                                       – What to do???? This is a clerical error and should not affect the validity of the offer - don't let it ruffle the feathers of either

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-2019684046088481702011-06-23T10:48:00.000-07:002011-06-23T10:49:34.471-07:00

Question?   I have a Seller staying in the property two weeks after completion by the Buyers.  – That is, two weeks after the seller has received the funds and the Buyer is registered on title.  They have all agreed but what issues might we have to deal with?  You need to decide who is going to pay property taxes for those two weeks, strata fees if it’s a condo, utilities and any other prorated

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-56781992671265522472011-06-16T16:54:00.000-07:002011-06-16T16:54:17.526-07:00

When is a Fee Agreement great to use??                   - from a Realtor's prespective:Use a Fee Agreement when the seller is not represented by a REALTOR®. That is - when you have a Buyer interested in a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) property.                  - from the Seller's prespective:Sellers that attempt to sell on their own believe they do not need the services of a professional Real Estate

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-18314034308630609442011-06-08T18:52:00.000-07:002011-06-08T18:52:28.471-07:00

When negotiating through an offer to purchase a home, can a Husband and Wife sign for each other for the ease of convenience if one is not available?  Only if they have a written authorization dated and witnessed or a power of attorney.  I would imagine divorce lawyers' business would increase substantially if that practice in contract law was not in place. When the going gets "Tough"... just

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6754318930947468082.post-82769866023941999432011-06-08T17:02:00.000-07:002011-06-08T17:02:08.142-07:00

Welcome to "Across the "TOUGH" Desk".  I hope to offer some insight to the world of real estate -the pros and cons that exist in every situation.  Some days - you would be very surprised what crosses my desk.   At time clients wonder what we actually do to earn our living.......... and REALTORS® wonder why they are not a WalMart Greeter.  At the end of the day - long ones - bringing homes and

Susan Toughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07886518493056888199noreply@blogger.com0