James (Jim) Lowes
Sales Representative
Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services
President's Gold Award Winner
Top 10% of Region 2005

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Choose one or more types of property from the MLS and let me know which homes or properties I can help you with.

 

BUYING INFORMATION

Buying a home is more than looking at houses. It's finding the right home, at the right price, in the right location. Hopefully, with a minimum amount of time and inconvenience. The best way to achieve these objectives is to work with a professional realtor who understands your needs and wants, your time frame and the financial boundaries to work within.

Selecting a Sales Associate

It is important that the salesperson understands your needs. A good salesperson will define your needs before they start to show you homes. Questions you should ask a salesperson when making your selection:

• Will you be representing my interests?
Do you have access to M.L.S. information?
• Would you provide market evidence to support the price?
• Will you look after the details to closing and possession?
• Can you be contacted at any time?

A Sales Associate's Function

• Provide information on the property.
• Provide information on the area.
• Negotiate a price and terms, agreeable to buyer and seller.
• Assist in arranging a source of financing.

Working With a Sales Associate

Let the salesperson do the searching. The best buys are not in the newspaper ads. In fact, most opportunities are on "hot sheets" available every morning to salespeople with access to M.L.S. information. Once you connect with a salesperson they can do a more complete search for you. A salesperson will commit time to you if you will commit loyalty to them. If you play the field, you cannot expect undivided attention.

Buyer's Contribution

• Provide details of your property needs.
• Describe what would be a suitable location.
• Provide financial information.
• Communicate your likes and dislikes on each property.
• Commit to the salesperson.
• Respect and perform the terms of the purchase agreement.

Working together as a team, with a professional salesperson you respect, should achieve those objectives you seek - the right home for you.

Market value is based on what others have been prepared to pay for a similar property, under the same market conditions after reasonable marketing exposure. Market value is a fair price for both buyer and seller. It is what is called an "arms length" deal, and that means that there were no influences other than the market influencing the deal. You may of course pay more than established market value if your desire for the property warrants it. Conversely, you should not expect to pay less than established market value unless the property is being sold under duress.

Once you've made up your mind to buy a home, the first question that comes to mind is, "How much can I afford?" The financial aspects of buying a home do not need to be confusing. Your Royal LePage salesperson can arrange to have you pre-qualified for a loan before you start shopping. Most lending institutions will only allow approximately 30% of a person's income to support a mortgage. They will usually not allow more than approximately 40% of income to support a mortgage together with other debts. The amount of money you qualify for, plus the amount of cash you can put down, will equal the amount you can afford to spend on a home.

SELLING INFORMATION

You've Decided to Sell Your Home!

Selling a home can be a confusing and complicated process. Selecting a salesperson and deciding on a price will be two key decisions. The cost of selling a home is also an important consideration. You should also consider the marketing of your home. To get the best possible price a home has to be exposed to as many buyers as is possible. Marketing is more than simply putting the home on the Multiple Listing Service. It's identifying who the buyer might be and what features and accompanying benefits will attract that buyer. How will the buyer be reached, and what will be the likely circumstances?

To achieve these objectives you need a plan. At Royal LePage we give attention to these details. We are equipped with training, skills and tools that allow us to provide excellence in service. What's more, we commit our marketing plan to paper. Our listing action file:

• Provides constant feedback.
• Keeps you up-dated on market trends.
• Keeps you informed on the actions we take.

Selling a home should leave nothing to chance!

Selling a home takes more than an ad in the paper, and a "for sale" sign on the lot. Firstly, it takes experience and training to correctly price a home to sell. It requires a carefully prepared market analysis showing not only homes that have sold, but also competing homes that are still on the market and homes that were on the market and never sold.

Secondly, you need to anticipate and solve the many problems than can arise during the selling process. Very frequently buyers have to sell their own home in order to buy yours. It is sometimes difficult to keep control in these circumstances. Usually it doesn't cost a buyer anything upfront to work with a Sales Associate. Someone may be looking to buy a home at a lower price because they know you are saving the brokerage fee.