Who Cleans for the New Owner?

Whose responsibility is it to ensure a SOLD home is found in a clean and clear manner for a new Buyer?
                                                                                                                      
As a Buyer of a new to you property, have you ever spent an extra day cleaning and scrubbing your home after all your belongings are moved out, leaving your SOLD home pristine for its new occupants, only to find you have two days of work and cost to clean your new purchase before you would ever consider moving in your belongings?

It happens – all too often.  REALTORS® try to protect their Buyer(s) by including a term in their Contract of Purchase and Sale “the seller agrees to have the home and carpets professionally cleaned prior to completion and will provide receipt of work done.  All personal belongings and garbage, inside and out are to be removed.”  

The seller may agree to the term at the time of the offer – and yet not get it done for completion. Perhaps they ran out of time, the moving truck was delayed, cancelled or they were not prepared for the amount of work to be done once their furniture was actually moved out of the way.  Perhaps they rented a steam cleaner from the grocery store and did it themselves at midnight the night before completion, leaving carpets soaking wet – delaying the Buyers ability to move in immediately when they take possession. 

It’s important to remember that everyone measures “satisfactory” levels of cleanliness differently.  It helps to have the work done by an independent professional who will have a consistent standard met.  If hiring out is not affordable, some Sellers may choose to do the work themselves. The Seller’s REALTOR® needs to provide them with the reasonable expectations of the industry – and not allow them to pass their own judgement on what is acceptable or not.

There is an expectation in our market area that the appliances will be cleaned, carpets vacuumed, floors washed, bathrooms and light fixtures cleaned (hopefully NOT stripped of all the light bulbs), windows clean, garbage gone (This is a big one). Most Buyers will still want to do a thorough vacuum ,wipe down of fixtures, switches, and cabinet interiors, to ensure they are not moving in with someone else’s germs, but they should not have to start from scratch.

Can REALTORS® do anything else other than inserting the ‘cleaning’ clause in the contract to ensure their buyers don’t walk into disaster?   YES!  REALTORS® need to educate their Sellers to the industry expectation.  Help the seller to realize how they will feel if they walk into a mess in their new purchase.  A listing REALTOR® should visit their sellers at the property regularly (not just phone them) throughout the two weeks prior to completion.  Most REALTORS® can recommend support services like Junk Removal companies, movers and cleaners. Some Sellers move out days or weeks prior to completion so a yard maintenance company may be necessary to keep the yard in proper condition prior to completion.  


The Buyer’s REALTOR® can certainly drive by the property periodically to see if there are signs of activity towards a move happening.  Check with the listing REALTOR® to express concern if garbage or items on the property don’t seem to be diminishing as completion day approaches.  Request a walk though the property with the Listing REALTOR®  a few days prior to completion.  A good REALTOR® knows their job is not done when the subjects come off.  The period of time between subject removal and completion is critical for both sides.

It’s sad how quickly all the hard work a Buyer’s Agent has done can be forgotten when their Buyer walks into a mess.  

Some of the circumstance we have had to deal with:  

• Senior seller, not moved, not packed, and no plan for where she would go.  Our buyers had the anxiety of not only having to find temporary accommodations but were left with the feeling of putting a sweet old lady out on the street.  What an awful way to start a life in your new home.
• Buyers bought a property where they fell in love with the yard. Sellers moved 6 weeks early in the heat of the summer.  What do you think the yard looked like with no care or water by the end of July?
• Garbage left piled in the garage – rodents decided it was a great place to settle in. 
• Seller moved and packed and gone but left unwanted furniture, broken appliances and other debris that mounted up to three “Got Junk” truck loads at $200 a load plus cleaning.
• The contract included all the new stainless steel appliances.  The buyers moved in to find second hand mismatched units.
• A winter close turned disaster as the seller moved out a month prior and turned off utilities (heat included) – Frozen pipes and water damage resulted.

REALTORS® can’t control what their sellers do but they can take an active part in walking them through the process...the expectations...get family members or outside services involved early if there appears to be issues of ability and relocation.

A Buyer’s REALTOR® can’t affect the seller’s actions but they can stay in communication with their colleague.  If there are any circumstances that they can anticipate ahead of time that will need special attention, the Buyer can be made aware and not blindsided on move-in day.  The Buyer’s REALTOR® can be ready with information on support services and try to negotiate costs with the Seller through the Seller’s REALTOR®.

In my opinion – a REALTOR® who responds to difficult possession issues with “Let the lawyers fight it out” is not doing their job.  A Buyer’s avenue of remedy when a Seller does not fulfill their obligations under the contract is small claims court – find the seller – serve them and try to collect.  As professional REALTORS®, anything you can do to avoid that path should be taken and often, paying attention, communication between REALTORS® and preparation of both Seller and Buyer is all that is needed.

There are always the Good stories too:

• Our seller’s REALTOR® and the Buyer’s REALTOR® – packing boxes and cleaning until midnight the day prior to possession to help the senior with the last of the overwhelming task she had been faced with.
• Day of possession the Buyer’s REALTOR® up on the counter, wiping out cupboards to be ready for her clients dishes – right after she ordered pizza to feed the friends that had come to help with the move in.
• Seller’s REALTOR® sent their son over to give the yard that one last cut and tidy. 
• Seller away prior to completion so they left funds for their REALTOR® to hire a cleaner.  REALTOR® stored the last of the personal belongs for her seller until she returned months later. 

Do you have some good (or bad) stories to share?  
What’s your opinion on who should be held accountable?

When the going gets "Tough"...just call me.

Susan Tough

Common Closing Costs for First Time Buyers

You’ll likely be responsible for a variety of fees and expenses that you and the seller will have to pay at the time of closing. Your REALTOR® and/or Lawyer conducting the closing will tell you the required amount for:

• Down payment on the purchase price
• Appraisal (some banks will include this if you deal with them)
• Credit report (should be included from your lender)
• Private mortgage insurance premium – depending on the amount of your down payment
• Homeowner’s insurance
• Property tax even if being paid as part of the mortgage, you may have to reimburse the seller for a portion they have already paid – determined on your date of closing. Lenders keep funds for taxes accounts as they are paid with the mortgage, then pay taxes for you.
• Title registration costs are included in your lawyers conveyance fees
• Legal fees 
• Survey Certificate if the seller does not have one to pass on
• Title Insurance is an alternative to a Survey Certificate 
• Proration's for your share of costs, such as property taxes
• Property Transfer Tax (as a first time buyer you may be exempt – confirm if you qualify
• Utility Deposits (if you are new to the Utility company your deposit may be substantially more than just a transfer fee)
• Home inspection  - cost varies depending on size and age of home

I haven’t gone into the detail of all of these items – Your REALTOR®  or Lawyer will confirm these costs and determine if you qualify for exemptions or discounts.  It’s important you have a discussion on all these items so you are properly prepared.

Reviewing home maintenance expectations is also a great conversation to have.  Never having owned a home before you may not be expecting the  ongoing costs for changing your filters, lights, yard maintenance, or garbage removal.  If you are purchasing a new home – you might need to buy window covers, yard maintenance equipment like hoses, lawn mower, rakes.  Small appliances are not usually included in your purchase – you might need a microwave, coffee pot, fire extinguisher, garage door remote.

Not to overwhelm – just wanting you to put complete thought into your process so you can enjoy the end result and not be caught short of funds or have unrealistic expectations. 
At the end of it all – nothing gives you a greater sense of community, accomplishment and pride then settling into you first home.

First Time Home Buyers Week...Coldwell Banker

There seems to be a week for everything these days, but very few of them prove to be valuable for more than just a week. So Coldwell Banker® With 30% of home buyers in 2013 being first time home buyers, they are dedicating an entire week of content on the Coldwell Banker Blue Matter blog, Twitter and Facebook pages to sharing tips, explaining terminology, and guiding first time home buyers through the real estate process.  We will also post this info to our Facebook page as it filters through to us.

The Coldwell Banker network of agents and brokers across the globe share insights as well as real life experiences from first time buyers who are currently going through the home buying process for the first time. In my Blog of September 8, 2011  “Out of the Mouths of Babes” I review some of these topics from the perspective of my daughter – who just bought her first house.  Even though inventory and markets change, the basics haven’t changed much at all –Here’s just a quick sample of some of the content I’ll be unveiling as it comes through:

• 8 Tips for Finding Your First Home
• Confessions of a First Time Home Buyer – Taking the Leap
• Common Closing Costs for Buyers
• Real Estate 101: What does it mean to be pre-approved?
• Real Estate 101: The Importance of Interest Rates
• 9 Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

As an aside to the First Time Home Buyer Week – there have been reports generated from surveys that show a very interesting trend in young couples entering the real estate market.

When headlines address the home buying market, it’s typically done from a dollars-and-cents perspective. But, buying a home is so much more than a business transaction as we are seeing a shift in the real estate culture that is being led by millennial couples who are purchasing a home before marriage. Buying a home is one of the most emotionally impact-ful experiences a person can have, especially if it’s a mutual experience shared with one’s husband or wife (to be).

Coldwell Banker Real Estate partnered with market research firm Harris Interactive to learn more about the emotions married adults exhibit during the home buying process. As it turns out, the survey findings revealed that 1 in 4 young couples are buying a home together before tying the knot. The results also discovered that nearly all (92 percent) of married individuals who purchased their first home with their current spouse after being married view it as a positive milestone in their relationship and life together. From a psychological vantage point, these statistics make complete sense.

Purchasing a home is a very exciting and special time in a couple’s life.  Time.com and USA Today, have been seen to say buying a home together has become “the new engagement ring” for some young couples. The home buying process forces couples to deal with their competing feelings of money and how to spend it, and that is why successfully purchasing a home with someone else is deemed a significant accomplishment in any relationship. It means the couple has been able to overcome their differences in an effort to create a better future together.

We Believe

The grass is not always greener on the other side – it’s just a different shade of green – with different characteristics, strengths and weaknesses. When you are looking for representation –it’s the details that will take you down the path.

A trusted real estate agent provides experienced counsel, guidance and unparalleled local expertise. Although they don’t have a law degree – their detailed knowledge of contracts can provide you with protection as you move forward in a real estate transaction. 

For first-time home buyers, the first step can be one of the most intimidating.  For the seasoned buyer or seller – you may think you know it all. Things change – all the time – a REALTOR® is required to take Continued Education Courses and is provided with counsel from their industry, lawyers and most importantly, their Broker.

The professionals at Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty have provided the following tips to identifying the right real estate professional: 

Ask around: 

 Friends and family can be the first source of helpful information.  Referrals are the leading source of finding an agent.  If you’re new to the area or don’t have references, you should feel free to contact the manager of the local Coldwell Banker® office - that’s me.  Once you explain your situation and needs, I will be able to suggest a few names of Agents that would meet the qualities you feel you could relate to.

Questions for potential candidates:
As you meet potential agents, you should feel empowered to determine if the agent’s personality and skills are a good match.  Some of the key questions that might help you make a decision include:

• What is your experience in Kelowna or West Kelowna?
• What is the average price point of homes that you help people buy and sell?
• Could I speak with some of your past or current clients for a reference?
• Tell me about the brokerage firm you work with.  How long has it been around?
• What tools do you employ to help get the job done?

Examine their on-line presence:  

Many real estate professionals are especially savvy when it comes to marketing themselves (or their listings) on-line.  They list their areas of speciality.   If the person is highly-visible and socially active on-line, it is also a good indicator that he or she is connected to the right tools and technology that come in handy for home buyers or sellers. Don’t be afraid to inquire about their experience using video when it comes to real estate.  Cutting edge agents can point you toward video tours, community videos and more to give you a real life sense of the areas you are considering.  Those same tools that might help the Buyer buy – will help the Seller sell – as they will attract the rights buyers to your property.  

Ultimate Service® is a program available to all Coldwell Banker Agents. It provides the consumer a true measurement of service to be provided to them, an opportunity to let us know how we did and the ability to terminate our relationship if the REALTOR® doesn't follow through with the service commitments promised.  For 17 years we have had a 98% Customer Satisfaction approval rating.  Our past clients are telling you, you've made the right decision if you choose a Coldwell Banker Agent.

Go with your gut:
After consulting with friends and family, reading some testimonials, doing research and looking on-line, your instincts are often right on.  You will have a good “gut” feeling as to whether a person will be a good fit for the house-hunting /selling process.  It’s a home – not a house – “We Believe” in family life, community living, neighbours and neighbourhoods, “We Believe your home is your castle”   Finding the right one becomes easy when you find the right REALTOR®.

Coldwell Banker 

When the going gets "Tough"...just call me.

Susan Tough

Sellers, take note:

GROWING FAMILY IS NO. 1 LIFESTYLE MOTIVATOR FOR HOME BUYERS

Coldwell Banker® survey finds Sellers are more willing to make changes to increase buyer appeal; Buyers prefer updated kitchens & open floor plans to trendy media rooms  
A recent survey of 700 Coldwell Banker Real Estate professionals across North America revealed home buyers are motivated by lifestyle needs, with growing families ranking as top motivator on both sides of the Canadian/U.S. border.  Meanwhile, sellers are becoming increasingly aware of the value of presenting a home with buyers appeal, and are becoming more willing to go the extra mile as they compete for buyers’ attention.

Sellers More Willing to De-clutter, De-personalize and Make Repairs


Of those Coldwell Banker professionals surveyed:

• 94 percent say their sellers are getting rid of clutter and making cosmetic updates, such as fresh paint and minor repairs.  This percentage was the same for both Canadian and U.S. respondents
• 60 percent of Canadian respondents agree that clients are willing to “de-personalize” the home.  This percentage was much higher in the challenging U.S. market, where 76 percent agree.
• 59 percent of North American respondents say sellers are even bringing in new home decorations or furniture to help make the home more appealing.  

When marketing your home, it’s important to help buyers imagine themselves living in the property. De-cluttering and de-personalizing is crucial to this process.  Sellers should recognize that while demand for homes remains strong in Canada, their home is still competing with other listings.  If a home is presented with a minimum of clutter and distracting personal items, it will appeal to buyers and improve the chance of a sale. 



Buyer Preferences are ‘Back to the Basics’


Sellers, take note: when it comes to selecting a home, buyers are going back to the basics.  They value new or updated kitchens, bathrooms and open floor plans as the most important features for a new home. 

• 33 percent of agents surveyed across North America say that a new or updated kitchen is the most important feature to home buyers. 
• 14 percent say the most important feature to home buyers is an open floor plan, while 12 percent say it is a new or updated bathroom. 
• Only 1 percent of the real estate professionals surveyed say they believe that entertainment rooms or finished basements are the most important feature.

Home Buyers Moving for Babies and Careers


The survey also drilled down into which life events are motivating the most people to buy homes.  According to the Coldwell Banker Real Estate professionals surveyed, growing families is currently the biggest lifestyle driver for home buyers in both Canada and the United States.  


70 percent of real estate professionals surveyed say a new baby or growing family is the “most common”, or a “very common” lifestyle reason that North American buyers search for a new home.  Other key motivators include: 

• Marriage - 59 percent.
• Divorce - 48 percent.
• Retirement - 37 percent. 

While the majority of survey responses regarding buyer motivators were similar between Canada and United States, and although job reasons was the No. 2 reason overall across North America, there was one marked difference.  Fifty-five percent of Canadian respondents cited job reasons vs. 69 percent of respondents in the United States, where the economy and job market have endured recent downturns.  


For most of us, while a home is probably our largest investment, the fact remains that people move for lifestyle reasons.  Regardless of market conditions, buying a home remains an investment in our lifestyles where the emotional and psychological benefits can hold equal value to the pure economic investment.

Canada vs. U.S. Pricing Variances


The survey also indicated a clear difference between the two countries when it came to sellers’ pricing strategies.  Unlike the stable Canadian real estate market, much of the U.S. market has been challenging for the past few years.  The Coldwell Banker survey indicates that U.S. sellers are ready to ‘get real’ about real estate.  In the United States, 51 percent of those agents surveyed said sellers were more willing to price their home competitively than at the same time last year, while in Canada only 31 percent of surveyed agents said their sellers were willing to do so.    


Canada continues to enjoy a stable, balanced market, with near historic low interest rates, and a good inventory of homes for sale.  This supports demand for housing, and sellers are continuing to price their homes according to our market conditions. 




Your Coldwell Banker professional REALTOR® can help you determine what ‘tweaks’ you can do fairly easily to your home that will attract more Buyers to the table.  Your REALTOR® is equipped with comparable properties and shopping statistics that can make a huge difference in how they expose your home to the market place to have the greatest effect.

When the going gets "Tough"...just call me.

Susan Tough

How great is this!?!

What a wonderful evening was shared by REALTORS® and Staff at the beautiful Quail’s Gate Winery on Boucherie last night.  Some people don’t appreciate or follow the award standings of their  REALTORS®.  Others do very much.


From our point of view – as independent contractors – REALTORS® are effectively in charge of their own business model and career success.  I believe that acknowledging them for the dedication to their profession is a very good thing.  Just like any profession or service providers you come across in your daily activities – there are some that meet your needs better than others.  At Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty – we are blessed with the ones that rise above the industry standard of care and production.  


What that translates to you – the public – is that you can rest easy when you have the benefit of a Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty REALTOR® working with you on your purchase or sale.  The Ultimate Service

® 

program embraced by our licensees is exactly that – a measurement of the top quality service they provide during a very important time of your lives – moving.  What makes this measurement even more valuable is that the results and award winners are acknowledged because of direct feedback the BRAND gets from you – the clients.  You tell us constantly – that your Coldwell Banker  REALTOR®  was amazing, trustworthy, professional, kind, knowledgeable...... the list goes on.  

Thank you from all of us for your kind remarks and feed back – and Thank you for your continued loyalty and trust.

2011 Ultimate Service® Winners are:

Gary August, Malcolm Bellinger, Allyn Bentz, Ellen Churchill, Leigh Bjornson, Renate Boucher, Marlene Braun, Jennifer Bregolisse, Jaime Briggs, Paige Guernsey, Cecile Guibault, Jane Hoffman, Tracy Lang, Gary Loverin, John Mandoli, Murray Neuman, Roma Niessen, Darcy Nyrose, Blake Roberts, Barret Watson, Ian Watson, Jennifer Williamson

                  

Jane Hoffman Group – #1 Coldwell Banker® team in Canada and #1 team in British Columbia and in the top 10 teams in Canada for total units.

After more than two decades of landmark achievements, Jane Hoffman has firmly established herself as the Okanagan’s most respected and prolific lakefront real estate specialist. Jane has leveraged this experience in leading and inspiring the real estate sales and marketing professionals of Coldwell Banker Jane Hoffman Group.

Cecile Guilbault earned the #1 sales associate award for British Columbia. 

Since 1995, Cecile's been pursuing her own dreams of living in the Okanagan and all the great opportunities it has to offer. When it comes to buying or selling property in this unique area her pride, love and appreciation for living here is reflected in her caring and personalized service.

Commercial Property Manager Shirley Mehus - earned the commercial awards -  Bronze Circle of Distinction & Top Commercial Professional in British Columbia

International Production Designations are important for the REALTORS® as it shows them how their efforts measure up to the International 85,000 Coldwell Banker® sales associates.

Canadian Associate Individual - top 30% in Canada:

Charlene Bertrand   Brian Gatzke             Bill Raine

Al Boyle                      Gary Loverin              Walt Reglin

Mark Boppre              Richard Paterson

Cathy Cherka            Marnie Perrier

International Sterling Society Individual - top 20% of all sales associates in North America

Allyn Bentz             Karen Guy                 John Mandoli

Ellen Churchill       Steven Hampton      Hugh Mervyn

Paige Guernsey     Bonnie Hunter

International Diamond Society Individual - top 15% of all sales associates in North America

Renee Boucher

Murray Neuman

Roma Niessen

International President's Circle Individual - top 8% of all sales associates in North America

Jaime Briggs has been recognized as our #2 producing individual sales associate in the Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty franchise.

International President's Elite Individual - top 3% of all sales associates in North America

Cecile Guilbault 

has been recognized as our #1 producing individual sales associate in the Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty franchise.

International Sterling Society Team - top 30% of all teams in North America

August & Bregolisse - Gary August and Jennifer Bregolisse

Roberts & Braun - Marlene Braun and Blake Roberts

International Diamond Society Team - top 21% of all teams in North America

Dusik, Bjornson & Lang - Greg Dusik, Leigh Bjornson, Tracy Lang and Katherine Dusik

Watson Brothers - Ian Watson and Barret Watson

International President's Circle Team - top 13% of all teams in North America

Nyrose & Associates - Darcy Nyrose, Jennifer Williamson, Dave Sutherland, Dave Sargent, and Jason Koverchuk

In the top ten teams for Canada for total units.

International President's Premier Team - top 2% of all teams in   North America

Jane Hoffman Group - Jane Hoffman, Kristy Huber, Carole Ceron, Lora Proskiw, Dean Simonelli, and Sherrin Stewart

Chairman’s Circle - Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty

John Geha, Coldwell Banker Canada Operations ULC President stated today: “I am very pleased and Proud to have a company of the quality of Coldwell banker Horizon Realty in our network.  For the 10th year they have qualified for the very prestigious award of being recognized as a Chairman’s Circle company within the Coldwell Banker® Brand of Affiliates – which puts them in the Top 1% of Brokerages – Globally! 

This quality is not just reflected in the ownership – it starts with the Sales Representatives, the Management and the staff. A combination of people, professionalism and service are some of the many factors that make a Chairman’s Circle company ...and on top of that – they have qualified for the 15 year as an Ultimate Service® Company – an accolade we are all most proud of as that comes direct from the consumer.  I was very pleased to present these awards and share in the evening with them last night.”

When the going gets "Tough"...just call me.

Susan Tough

“Are you sure You know what you are doing?”

The issues that cross my desk are sometimes ordinary, comical and even bizarre.  They will stem from uncontrollable circumstances with clients, with property issues and just plain life.  They can also stem from dishonest parties to the contract (again uncontrollable on the part of the REALTOR®).

The ones that truly trouble me are the ones that come from ill prepared or uneducated  REALTORS®  working in an area of the business that is beyond their expertise.  The people that suffer are the clients from their loss or circumstance –----- it could have very easily been avoided.







I’ve asked permission of one of our REALTORS® to share his post from facebook the other day.  I did receive a call from the REALTOR® that is the “hero”  in this, confirming her position and authority to act for her client the way she intended. Confirmation, Preparation, Education, Diligence, and also keeping the clients best interests at heart.  I am very proud to say the Marlene Braun works with Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty.



I am very sorry for the clients that were not properly represented and lost out on something they likely really wanted only because their REALTOR® didn’t know what she was doing.  When that happens – the whole industry suffers.

Enjoy the read.

Quoted from Blake Robert’s FB post:

This is why you hire a real estate professional with experience who knows the ins and outs of the business:
This morning at 8:45AM, Marlene Braun gets a call from a client who wants to put an offer in on a property in the Shuswap that is in foreclosure. There is an offer already in from another REALTOR®  that is set to be presented at 10:00AM.
For those who don’t know how foreclosures work, the first offer in, the once accepted by the bank is publicly disclosed so others can appear in court to write their own offer as well.
While Marlene scrambles to wrap up an appointment she is already dealing with, I get three offers written... One sufficient to outbid the offer already in from the first REALTOR®, plus two more so we are ready to go head to head against others who may arrive in court or if the first offer written is increased when they learn someone else has arrived in court.
9:55AM Marlene arrives in court along with her buyer so they are ready for all circumstances.
The  REALTOR® with the initially accepted offer is in court, surprised that someone else has arrived to compete with the first offer.
The initial buyer has not accompanied that REALTOR®, nor is there another offer prepared in the event another REALTOR® and client (Marlene) arrives in court.
This story wraps up by 10:20AM with Marlene’s offer accepted, her client suitably impressed that she worked as hard and efficiently as she did on VERY short notice...the REALTOR® and client with the first accepted offer out in the cold.

When the going gets "Tough"...just call me.

Susan Tough

COLDWELL BANKER® REAL ESTATE SURVEY

COLDWELL BANKER® REAL ESTATE SURVEY REVEALS GROWING FAMILY    NO. 1 LIFESTYLE MOTIVATOR FOR NORTH AMERICAN HOME BUYERS 

 A recent survey of 700 Coldwell Banker® Real Estate professionals across North America revealed home buyers are motivated by lifestyle needs, with growing families ranking as top motivator on both sides of the Canadian/U.S. border.  Meanwhile, sellers are becoming increasingly aware of the value of presenting a home with buyers appeal, and are becoming more willing to go the extra mile as they compete for buyers’ attention.   

Sellers are More Willing to De-clutter, De-personalize
and Make Repairs To Increase Buyer Appeal

Of those Coldwell Banker professionals surveyed:

• 94 percent say their sellers are getting rid of clutter and making cosmetic updates, such as fresh paint and minor repairs.  This percentage was the same for both Canadian and U.S. respondents
• 60 percent of Canadian respondents agree that clients are willing to “de-personalize” the home.  This percentage was much higher in the challenging U.S. market, where 76 percent agree.
• 59 percent of North American respondents say sellers are even bringing in new home decorations or furniture to help make the home more appealing.  

“When marketing your home, it’s important to help buyers imagine themselves living in the property. De-cluttering and de-personalizing is crucial to this process,” says Susanita de Diego,  Coldwell Banker Canadian Consumer Specialist. “Sellers need to recognize that while demand for Canadian homes remains strong; their home is competing with other listings to get results.  I always advise sellers that if their home is presented with a minimum of clutter and distracting personal items, it will appeal to buyers and improve their chances of a successful sale.”  

Buyers Get ‘Back to Basics’ ….

Preferring Updated Kitchens And Open Floor Plans Over Trendy Media Rooms  

Sellers, take note: when it comes to selecting a home, buyers are going back to the basics.  They value new or updated kitchens, bathrooms and open floor plans as the most important features for a new home. 

• 33 percent of agents surveyed across North America say that   a new or updated kitchen is the most important feature to homebuyers. 
• 14 percent say the most important feature to homebuyers is an open floor plan, while 12 percent say it is a new or updated bathroom. 
• Only 1 percent of the real estate professionals surveyed say they believe that entertainment rooms or finished basements are the most important feature.

Home Buyers Moving for Babies and Careers

The survey also drilled down into which life events are motivating the most people to buy homes.  According to the Coldwell Banker Real Estate professionals surveyed, growing families is currently the biggest lifestyle driver for home buyers in both Canada and the United States.  
70 percent of real estate professionals surveyed say a new baby or growing family is the “most common”, or a “very common” lifestyle reason that North American buyers search for a new home.  Other key motivators include: 

• Marriage - 59 percent.
• Divorce - 48 percent.
• Retirement - 37 percent. 

While the majority of survey responses regarding buyer motivators were similar between Canada and United States, and although job reasons was the No. 2 reason overall across North America, there was one marked difference.  Fifty-five percent of Canadian respondents cited job reasons vs. 69 percent of respondents in the United States, where the economy and job market have endured recent downturns.  


“For most of us, while a home is probably our largest investment, the fact remains that people move for lifestyle reasons,” says John Geha, president, Coldwell Banker Canada Operations ULC. “Regardless of market conditions, buying a home remains an investment in our lifestyles where the emotional and psychological benefits can hold equal value to the pure economic investment.”

Canada vs. U.S. Pricing Variances

The survey also indicated a clear difference between the two countries when it came to sellers’ pricing strategies.  Unlike the stable Canadian real estate market, much of the U.S. market has been challenging for the past few years.  The Coldwell Banker survey indicates that U.S. sellers are ready to ‘get real’ about real estate.  In the United States, 51 percent of those agents surveyed said sellers were more willing to price their home competitively than at the same time last year, while in Canada only 31 percent of surveyed agents said their sellers were willing to do so.    


“Canada continues to enjoy a stable, balanced market,” says Geha, “with near historic low interest rates, and a good inventory of homes for sale.  This supports demand for housing, and sellers here are continuing to price their homes according to our healthy market conditions.” 

When the going gets "Tough"...just call me.

Susan Tough

Survey Methodology: Coldwell Banker Real Estate conducted an online survey among Coldwell Banker real estate professionals across North America about housings trends in 2012. The survey was fielded between January 24 and February 7, 2012. 

The base (sample size) for calculating results varies slightly from question-to-question.  The approximate sample size answering each question was 615.  Maximum error range based on this sample size - at a 95% level of confidence - is +/- 4 points.   Note that standard error calculation applies to random probability samples and is included herein to serve as a guide-only.
*Some answer percentages in the above may not total 100 percent, if only the most popular responses are listed.  In other cases, respondents had the option to check all that apply, which may mean that percentages total more than 100 percent.

The Value of a Home

I cannot say enough about the new ad campaign released by Coldwell Banker® LLC on Monday March 5th. The ads remind us of the “value of a home” as being not just an investment for your money, but a place where memories are made and remembered.  Take a look for yourself:

By the way, do you recognize the voice in the ads?  Yes that’s right, it’s Tom Selleck.  Tom’s Dad worked for Coldwell Banker for 38 years, retiring as Executive Vice President.  The sentiment the campaign presents encouraged Mr. Selleck to participate in the ads, as you can see in his message to all the Coldwell Banker agents at our recent Generation Blue Experience in New Orleans:

These ads are not just for potential home buyers, but also speak to the agent as a reminder of the importance of relationships in our professional careers.  With the plethora of new technology out there pushing information, making our lives more efficient, it’s important to remember nothing can replace face to face contact with clients and colleagues to build the lasting relationships our business rewards us with.

Changes to the real estate industry will continue to morph and roll through our shifting times.  The constant has always been,

“Trusted Agents, with the Right Tools, helping you Make Better Decisions.”

When the going gets "Tough"...just call me.

Susan Tough