Have you wondered what the average price is in your area? Here are the numbers for last week (May 20, 2010) from the Toronto Real Estate Board:
Asif Khan, Realtor Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Google me: Asif Khan ReMax Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/remaxallstar Become a Fan of "Asif Khan's RE/MAX Dream Team" www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax |
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Selecting the right representation is the key to successful Real Estate transactions. Here is a list of 10 questions you MUST ask to determine whether you are receiving the best value in terms of Real Estate Representation. 1. Do you have a list of references from past clients and other Real Estate Representatives? By reviewing the testimonials from past clients you will get a feel for how the salesperson handles transactions from the initial meeting to negotiations to post-sale service. Post Sale service is the most important factor, as the completion of negotiations is just the start of the work. You also want to see testimonials from other Realtors, how does the representative work with peers? What type of reputation does this person have, and will his/her peers show property and negotiate in good faith with him/her? How does the Realtor handle stressful situations, for instance when deals are falling apart before the closing date, what is the Realtors' reputation for stepping in and saving the deal? 2. You have a team, so what is YOUR role in getting my home sold? Teams are a great way for you to receive great service, and deal with a live person throughout the process. How active is the Team Leader? Will the Team Leader be accessible to you at all times, or will you be handed over to the "assistants"? Is the Team Leader a brand, or is the Team Leader hands on?3. Are you a full-time Real Estate Professional? What designations do you hold and how often do you attend continuing education courses to stay on top of market conditions? Professionalism, Education, and Experience are keys to successful Real Estate Transactions. This is not to say that someone new to the business would not be a great asset, they would bring alot of energy and excitement. However, depending on the nature of your transaction, you may feel more comfortable with an agent that has a proven track record of success. The market changes continuously, and knowledge is power. The Real Estate License is just the starting point to a great Real Estate Career. There are many courses and updates that Realtors need to attend to stay on top of the market, laws, and general strategies. The more up to date your Realtor is with current market information, the better you will fare during the negotiations.4. How many homes did you sell last year? Don't confuse length of service with experience. Just because someone has been in the business for years, doesn't mean they have been successful. Find out how many transactions they have completed over the last year or two. Suppose an agent has been around for 20 years, and sells 4 homes per year, a new agent could sell 40 houses per year and be in the business for three years. The new agent has more experience than the 20 year veteran based on the number of homes sold. 5. What is your marketing plan? The market swings back and forth like a pendulum. The market is always great, sometimes for sellers, and sometimes for buyers. If you are selling a house in a buyers market, then you need a solid marketing plan to make your home stand out. Selling in a Sellers' market? How can you maximize your return on your property? A sign in the lawn and an MLS listing is just the start, not a stand-alone marketing strategy. Is your Realtor tech-savvy? Ask for some samples of the technology they are implementing to market your home and provide you with value added benefits to provide greater exposure. Will your home be featured through social media sites, will you have videos streamed through the web to showcase your property and make it stand out? The old school marketing methods are still good for exposure, but you need to be on the cutting edge to put yourself over the top. 6. What are your home sales stats? Ask for their current statistics compared to industry averages. How long will it take and how does this timeline compare to the Real Estate Board's numbers? What is the average sale price to list price ratio for the agent vs. the board? How many Sales Representatives are in this person's office? A larger office will have more resources for the agent to pull from. They should know this information off the top of their head, or at least have the statistics readily available if they are in the business full-time.7. How often do you communicate with your clients? In today's day and age, and with the technology available, there is no excuse for them not to stay in constant contact. With email, sms, telephones, and social media, you should always be aware of the status of your home. Some agents have secure areas on their website to communicate exclusively with their clients, an option that is available to you 24/7. Does this Realtor have the tools to provide you with answers when you need them?8. What type of network do you have? Does the Realtor's network include other services you will rely on to get the job completed successfully? Do they have lenders, lawyers, inspectors, contractors, decorators, cleaning services, etc.? The stronger the network, the better off you will be. A strong network will provide you with peace of mind and make for a less stressful transaction. 9. How will you ensure that my property will receive greater attention from other Realtors? The key is to make sure your home is accessible to as many Realtors as possible. What strategies will your Realtor have in their arsenal to entice their colleagues to show your property over the competitors? Will they chargeback all or a portion of their marketing costs to other Realtors or charge Administrative fees and scare them off? Do they recommend an incentive to make your property stand out? 10. What is the benefit of choosing a full-service Realtor instead of selling it myself or through an alternative service? Although some Realtors will focus on saving you 1% or so, your focus is on maximizing your bottom line. How will your Realtor guarantee you the proper marketing and service? Will your property receive the proper attention and funding it requires to bring you a higher than average return? Ask for copies of previously used marketing materials and sample on-line collateral. You get what you pay for and your Realtor needs to deliver. Make sure you receive satisfactory answers to these 1o key questions. The answers will make a difference in how fast and for how much your home will sell. As always, this is not intended to solicit properties that are currently under contract with other brokerages. Choose wisely! Asif Khan, Realtor Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Google me: Asif Khan ReMax |
Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan
Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan
On May 14 2010, I had the priviledge of attending the annual Children Of Hope Gala Dinner. Over the past three years I've attended this event, I am more and more impressed with the generosity and kindness of the organization. Children of Hope was put together to respond to the overwhelming needs of orphan children, orphans that were left to fend for themselves after the tsunami, earthquakes, communal riots and wars. In 2005, Children Of Hope became a federally registered Canadian charity and is a great example of the Canadian spirit of helping the less fortunate. Children Of Hope's mission is to raise funds to meet the basic educational needs of orphans and to educate Canadians about the needs of orphan children around the world. Education gives hope! Funds raised go towards books, uniforms, tuition, transportation and teacher salaries in Asia, Africa and the Americas. Their commitment to bringing lasting solutions give the kids hope for a brighter future and will help transform their lives. As little as $25/month gives these kids the necessary tools to rebuild their lives. That is less than $1/day, which is even less than the cost of one small coffee each day! THAT really puts life into perspective does it not? In a nation of abundance, we sometimes forget that something so little can change someone's life. The Honourable Bob Rae stated "In our quest to make a living, to build our future, we forget about the need for compassion, the need for care and the need for charity". This year's theme was "Believe....Make Change Happen". How appropriate! We have the power and the resources to "Make Change Happen". Clara Hughes, arguably one of Canada's greatest success stories in the history of Canadian sport, said it best when she said "Success is not about winning medals, I've won medals of every colour and winning medals is never enough. Success is about a voice, and the better you are and the more you win, the louder is the voice you have. How you use that voice defines what success is. How you use that voice to help others, defines who you are and what you have done and what your capacity is." Before choosing Real Estate as my career and passion, I was the hired gun in industries going through change. I was brought in to manage change and develop training and programs to move companies forward. I've always said "Change is inevitable, and the world needs change to prosper". Sitting at the gala, it hit me. I realized that for some, change is not inevitable. Change is what has forced the hardships on these orphans, but how is change from the state they are in inevitable for them? It is not. Don't get me wrone, they do need change to prosper, and yes they need to believe that change will happen. WE need to help them make change happen. "Nobody's Children" are "Everybody's Children"! We need to provide them with hope. We need to shift the direction of the human conditions around the world. With so much suffering in the world, there is a huge opportunity for us to help. We all have a chance to shift the suffering to joy! It is time for us to step up and Make Change Happen. We take much for granted in this great nation we live in. Headlines about interest hikes amounting to one-quarter percent send shockwaves through the entire country. Is there a housing bubble or not? Is the price of gas going up 0.9 cents or dropping half a cent? Funny how when we look at the suffering in the rest of the world, our problems seem so lame. Let's make a commitment to make a difference, and let's do it now! I have committed to helping one orphan child with each home sold from now on. It is a small contribution, however by helping make a difference in their lives, we WILL make a difference in the world. I invite my colleagues, other businesses and fellow Canadians to step up and help one child. To us it is just less than the price of a coffee a day, but to these children it is the cost of living. Together we can make a difference. It wasn't too long ago that we hosted the winter olympics here and showed the world who Canada is, about our care and our generosity. The theme song for the Olympics was "I Believe". To steal a line from the song, "I believe in the power of you and I". Children Of Hope, you are an inspiration. Thank you for who you are, what you do, and for making a difference - one child at a time! Children of Hope is located at 62 Main Street North, Markham, ON. You can reach them on the web at www.childrenofhope.ca. Make Change Happen. "Everybody's Children" are counting on us. Asif Khan, Realtor Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Google me: Asif Khan ReMax Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/remaxallstar Become a Fan of "Asif Khan's RE/MAX Dream Team" www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax |
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Hello:
Join me and check out South Unionville's hottest new listing on Sunday MayPosted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan
Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 10,898 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in April, representing a 34 per cent increase compared to April 2009. There were also 20,683 new listings in April –a 59 per cent annual increase. Both the sales and new listings results amounted to new records for the month of April under the current Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) boundaries. For detailed information from April 2010, call me and we can set up a client meeting to review activity in your neighbourhood. Asif Khan, Realtor Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Google me: Asif Khan ReMax Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/remaxallstar Become a Fan of "Asif Khan's RE/MAX Dream Team" www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax |
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Great News! The CAA has offered my clients and friends a special group deal. Check out the attached informationa and contact Judy Heffernan to sign up. There are three different programs available (Basic, Plus, Plus RV). With Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day around the corner, this will make a great gift. What better gift could you give, than Peace Of Mind! This offer is not available on the CAA Website, in-store, or at Mall Kiosks. You can also add associate members and save some extra money there. Also, if you are renewing, you save as well. This is a can't miss offer, if there ever was one. Check it out, and enjoy. Asif Asif Khan, Realtor Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Google me: Asif Khan ReMax Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/remaxallstar Become a Fan of "Asif Khan's RE/MAX Dream Team" www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax |
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The implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax is just under two months away. Questions remain about what is subject to HST and what isn't. This quick reference tool will give you a better picture of when you will be paying more and when you won't. Please print and share. Regards, Asif Asif Khan, Realtor Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Google me: Asif Khan ReMax Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/remaxallstar Become a Fan of "Asif Khan's RE/MAX Dream Team" www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax |
Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan
Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan
| Asif Khan, Realtor Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Google me: Asif Khan ReMax Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/remaxallstar Become a Fan of "Asif Khan's RE/MAX Dream Team" www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax |
Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan
South Unionville TV is now "on the air"! I am so excited about this new resource for the South Unionville Community. This will be a great way to broadcast any upcoming events, local
business information, my new listings, and bring the community together. I have approached local businesses that will offer specials to community residents and will be getting them on air soon. If you are a business with an offer, and aren't camera shy, contact me and I'll get someone from my team out to see you asap! We also have approached some politicians to provide updates on local issues, and with the school being the hub of the community, we will from time to time have important announcements such as kindergarten registration dates and such to keep the community aware of what's happening at school.
With current events highlighting how great a place South Unionville is, and with our Search Engine Friendly set up, South Unionville will now be on everyone's map, thereby increasing the value of the community, create a greater awareness for local businesses and services, and enhance the profile of our community leaders. As a bonus to my listing clients, your homes will
now be exposed to a much wider audience, thereby generating much more interest. Tune in often and you will find that South Unionville TV is the place to be to meet local businesses and community leaders, hear about upcoming community events and for local Real Estate Information such as market statistics, new developments, and more. You can check out this cool new site in two ways. South Unionville TV is YouTube based, go to www.YouTube.com/southunionvilletv , AND please join our Community Page on Facebook "South Unionville TV" - you won't just "like" it, you're going to LOVE it!
I look forward to your feedback, and urge you to visit every week. Again, if you own a business or want to promote your work place with a short video, let me know. During the course of the year, we will be expanding our offering to more of the communities. This is a great way to promote your business, and very cost effective since it is Free! What we do ask is that you have something special to offer your neighbours to entice them to visit you.
Thanks everyone, and enjoy South Unionville TV!
Asif Khan, Realtor
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As we wrap up week one of York Region heading into Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Return To Normal Procedures, we're starting to see the effect...
