Blog # 25 - July 21, 2009 ~ CMHC fees when selling privately. Make sure that you are aware that some lenders will still charge the CMHC fees even if the buyer has more than 20% as a down payment. This could increase the expenses for the Buyers. Feel free to call me to discuss CMHC fees or buying a house privately or you can always e-mail me at JeanRicher@JeanRicher.com.
Blog # 24 - July 20, 2009 - Get a new mailbox ~ One of the first things people see when they get to your house is your mailbox (in most cases). If your mailbox is old and rusted then change it. It's a small cost but it goes a long way. Make sure to remove any cob webs in the ceiling of your porch. Feel free to call me regarding where to buy a nice new & shiny mailbox or you can always e-mail me at JeanRicher@JeanRicher.com.
Blog # 23 - July 16, 2009 - Household expenses ~ Before you renew your house insurance make a few phone calls to get new quotes. I recently made a phone call and saved $500 on my house insurance. It was a good phone call to make. Feel free to call me regarding my new insurance agent, I can give you his name or you can always e-mail me at JeanRicher@JeanRicher.com.
Blog # 22 - July 15, 2009 - Realtor training ~ One of the major reasons I am at my current company is because of the training. Of course it's not the only reason. Training is very important as we know that things change so rapidly. As agents we must keep on top of things and attend regular training to always be on top of our game. Make sure your agent attends training regularly. Out with the old, in with the new. Feel free to call me regarding the training we do, the company I work for or you can always e-mail me at JeanRicher@JeanRicher.com.
Blog # 21 - July 14, 2009 - Mortgage with Improvements - So you've been looking for your dream home but can't find it because most of the homes you see need too much work. There is a solution, it's called Mortgage with Improvements. Some banks will lend you money for the mortgage plus the extra for the renovations/improvements. Feel free to call me regarding mortgage options or you can always e-mail me at JeanRicher@JeanRicher.com.
Blog # 20 - July 13, 2009 - A beautiful morning in the Nation's Capital. Driving around in a nice shiny vehicle, thanks Kjell for washing my vehicle inside and out! I will be introducing a new series of videos for C.H. Clement Construction on his new build for semi detached homes in Rockland. From the hole in the ground to the finished product, you will see it all. Stay tuned for news shortly. If you want to discuss new construction, feel free to call me or you can always e-mail me at jeanricher@jeanricher.com
Blog # 19 - July 9, 2009 - Would you take a salary cut? As Real Estate agents our commission is our income. We have a business to run and we need to make a profit or else we won't be in business very long. If your employer asked you to go in to work, do the same work as you normally do day to day, would you be willing to take a lower salary? Most people will say no. If you want to discuss selling your home or what my commission is, feel free to call me or you can always e-mail me at jeanricher@jeanricher.com
Blog # 18 - July 8, 2009 - The Ottawa market is hot. June 2009 was another record breaking month. The housing market is still very active, the inventory is low, interest rates are still low and the prices are going up. There is no better time to buy or sell your home. If you want to discuss the housing market, stats, price increases or buying a home, feel free to call me or you can always e-mail me at jeanricher@jeanricher.com
Blog # 17 - July 7, 2009 - Should we get an inspection? It's always a good idea to get an inspection done because you want peace of mind that the house will be a good home for you and your family. It's worth the small fee paid to ensure that all systems are functioning properly. It's a small price to pay to sleep well at night knowing that your family will be safe and sound. If you want to discuss inspections feel free to call me or you can always e-mail me at jeanricher@jeanricher.com
Blog # 16 - July 6, 2009 - Closing day, make sure you are out of the house. When you are selling a home, the buyers get their keys, you get money in your bank account, this means that you no longer own the house. The new owners are usually there between 4:00 & 6:00PM with all their furniture, moving truck, friends & family to move in. No fun if your stuff is still there. Get all your things organized to make it an enjoyable experience for the new home owners and for you as well.
Blog # 15 - July 3, 2009 - Getting your house ready to sell. I just did an inspection and we came up with a few issues with the inspector. Loose, exposed wires around the panel, furnace needing a cleaning, eavestrough needs to be extended and many small other things that sometimes can make a buyer feel uncertain or uneasy. Take some time to walk around your house as if you were buying it. A pre-sale inspection might also be a good idea.
Blog # 14 - July 2, 2009 - Negotiating offers. Smart sellers will be open to look at offers and be flexible. We are all trying to come to common grounds and if both parties can show some flexibility, we all win. We usually negotiate price & possession dates. The rest is usually small stuff.
Blog # 13 - June 29, 2009 - Stop calling me on my cell phone!! If you are a telemarketer and you are looking for business, please do not call me on my cell phone. The reason my cell phone is made available is for clients to reach me to discuss Real Estate. If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, you can call me. If you are a telemarketer, don't call me I'll call you.
Blog # 12 - June 14, 2009 - You're hiring an agent because your house did not sell privately. Make sure you interview a few agents and feel comfortable with the agent you are hiring. There are many questions to ask but one important question is to find out what kind of web presence the agent has. Not all agents are alike.
Selling Privately - Blog # 11 - June 8, 2009 - Who is representing your interests? Remember that if you are selling your house on your own, you have no represenataion and no one to protect your interests. You can co-operate with agents but the Buyer agent will be representing the buyers and NOT you.
Kijiji Scam - Blog # 10 - June 4, 2009 - Be careful with rental scams on Kijiji - someone is offering to rent you a three bedroom house for a very low price, he gets you to fill out an application, send security deposit and sais he will send you the keys. If it is to good to be true it usually is.
Pre-Approvals - Good idea - Blog # 9 - June 2, 2009 - Another good reason to get yourself pre-approved before looking at homes is being able to lock in your rates in case the rates go up. You can protect your interest rate in case of rate increases.
Thinking of Buying a Home - Blog # 8 - May 29, 2009 - One of the most important things for you to do is get pre-approved BEFORE you start looking at homes. Call your bank or mortgage broker and find out how much you can afford. It makes everybody's life easier to get through the process.
Getting your house ready to sell - Blog # 7 - May 27, 2009 - Just a few tips on getting your house ready to sell. It's a Spring market so you have to make sure your house shows well, you only get one chance at a first impression.
How Realtors Help - Blog # 6 - May 26, 2009 - Discussing the funny commercials that are showing up on television. A little over the top, but trying to get the point accross and show the value of hiring a realtor for your real estate transactions.
It's RED day at Keller Williams - Blog # 5 - May 14, 2009 - All across North America (Canada & US) agents from all Keller Williams offices were giving back to the community. It's a great way to help people who need our help.
Thinking of selling, wondering about commission? Blog # 4 - May 14, 2009
It's Spring time in the nation's Capital. If you are thinking of selling and want to hire an agent, don't just hire an agent based on commission. The commission charged is only a small part of every transaction. Make an informed decision.
Spring 2009 - Your Ottawa Video Blog # 3 - April 23, 2009
Jean Richer has made a career change, the Spring market is active and the interest rates are low... a great time to buy or sell. Thanks for stopping by my new and improved web site. As most of you have already seen, I have recently made a bit of a career change. View this video below and call me today!
Spring 2009 - Your Ottawa Video Blog # 2 - March 12, 2009
Do you live in Chapel Hill? It's a great time to sell your home. The market is moving and buyers are ready to mae a move.