Many years ago, before I became a real estate professional  I was a single mother raising two children. I was working as a "secretary, better known today as an Administrative Assistant. I was on a bi-weekly salary and depended on those cheques to maintain myself and my children. One of my friends who was a successful Insurance Agent encouraged me to get into sales because he thought I had the right personality and would be successful.  Needless to say I was very hesitant to leave my job and bi-weekly pay cheque in favour of being paid solely on commission sales.Then someone said to me... "Gloria, don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.. after all ....what's the worst thing that can happen?   If you don't succeed you can always go back and get another administrative job, but if... 09/04/2017

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND  – THOSE LITTLE EXTRAS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCEGoing above and beyond for my clients … all in a day’s work.  In October, 2016 I sold a property with a closing date of January 13th, 2017.  This property is in St. Catharines, Ontario about 10 miles from Niagara Falls.  I live in Mississauga about 10 miles from Toronto about a one hour drive. I took the listing because it is someone I knew.  Also, I lived in that city for 45 years, so know it well.I was informed 4-5 days before closing the lender had to do an Appraisal. Why the appraisal hadn’t been done earlier is beyond my comprehension. The earliest we could coordinate our schedules (as I had to be there to let the Appraiser in) was Tuesday morning, January 10th. So down to Niagara I drove..APPRAISER’S REPORTI was... 08/26/2017

It's that time of year again... time to start thinking about preparing your home for winter if you haven't already done so.  You will require maintenance as temperatures begin to drop to keep it in shape throughout the winter months.  Preparing your home for the cold weather is a pro-active step you can take now to take care of those small maintenance items which are so important, and that could save you time and money later.Here is a guideline with some great tips and advice on preparing hour home for the winter months.. things you can and should be doing NOW before the cold weather sets it.Here are a few things you might want to consider before the winter sets in...1.  Roof, Eaves and Downspouts Clean out the eaves of all debris and hose it down to remove all little bits   Check the f... 08/25/2017

MY INTERVIEW WITH “THAT INTERVIEW GUY,” MICHAEL KRISAMy Interview From 2011 – In November, 2011 (I was 67 years old then)  I was approached by an innovative and well known realtor and video blog expert to talk with him about how real estate has evolved over the years.  Being in front of a camera made me somewhat nervous as I had never done this before. After a few minutes I became comfortable and told my story.I knew how important the internet had become as a large percentage of consumers were now looking there to find homes and information about real estate. Therefore, a presence on the internet was critical to my future success.  Social media was also on the rise, and I had to get in the game or get left behind.  This can all be very intimidating, but you have to step out of your comf... 08/13/2017

SELLING YOUR HOME IS THE MOST LARGEST FINANCIAL DECISION YOU WILL MAKEMAKE IT A BUSINESS DECISION NOT AN EMOTIONAL ONESelling a home should be like any other business transaction, but all too often sellers make emotional or impulsive decisions that cost them money and time.  Choosing the right Realtor to market a property and negotiate the sale is the most important step in the process. “My friend (or family member) sells real estate.”Friendship alone isn’t enough to establish a professional’s credentials.  Use tough standards when selecting an agent, just as you would when hiring an attorney, a doctor, or an accountant to handle your taxes.  A true friend will understand and appreciate that this is a business decision and will offer their credentials and expect to compete for the listi... 08/07/2017

REAL ESTATE UPDATE JULY, 2017MARKET UPDATE JULY 2017 - The market has seen a change in the number of sales compared to July, 2016. Number of sales have decreased dramatically by 37.03% from 1,064 down to 670.However, the prices still continue to rise, from $615,081 in July, 2016 to $625,000 an increase of 13.71%.Average days on market have decreased significantly also, from an average of 15 days in July, 2016 up to 21 days in July, 2017. This is a reduction of 13.64%.In addition to the decrease in volume sales, the average selling to list price ratio has dropped by 4.90%.Active listings have increased  by 60.02%, from 1,138 in July, 2016 to 1,821 in July, 2017. I am an agent with more than 30+ years of experience.  With my proven track record I am confident we can work together to accom... 08/07/2017

This is one of the pages on my website designed specifically for buyers.BUYING REAL ESTATEFind Your Dream Home – Right Here!Finding and buying the ideal property can be a dream come true. There is something special about walking up to the front door on moving day, sliding in your key and entering the foyer of your beautiful new home.However, getting to that point can be a nightmare unless you have the right real estate agent working with you throughout the buying process. As your real estate agent, I ensure that I will do two important things for you: Help you buy a home that meets your requirements; Make the process simple and easy. How do I work with clients?To begin, I take the time to learn what you really want in a home. I look at your needs and desires, and help you determine the ... 08/01/2017

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR REALTOR?Selling a home is one of the most important financial decisions you will make, and working with the right realtor to market your home, is another important decision you will make to achieve the best possible benefit.Selling a home can be a stressful experience, and although you probably have been through the process before, every sale is different and the variables can change. Your first task, is choosing the right realtor, one who  makes the experience of selling your home as pleasant and seam-free as possible, and with as little inconvenience to you.CHOOSE A REALTOR WHO: works full time in the real estate business keeps infomed and knowledgable with the latest market trends is accessible through a pager and cell phone works from an office that is o... 07/29/2017

HOW TO GET TOP DOLLAR FOR YOUR HOMEFirst ImpressionsDID YOU KNOW? It only takes 6 seconds for a perspective Buyer to form an impression of your home after walking through the threshold of your front door?When you have your home on the market, a positive first impression is what will make your home memorable and stand out from the rest… starting from the outside with great curb appealA vast majority of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a home, based on their first impressions of the outside… does it have “curb appeal?” ..the view they see when they drive by or arrive for a showing. You can ensure people want to come inside your home by spending some time working on its exterior appearance, making it inviting for buyers to want to see more.Presentation Is Everything!Here ar... 07/27/2017

WHY A MORTGAGE PRE-APPROVAL IS IMPORTANTAn important ingredient in a successful home search is knowing how much you can afford. You don’t want to fall in love with a property only to find out it’s outside your price range.That’s why I recommend getting a Mortgage Pre-Approval. This is a document from your bank or other lender stating how much of a mortgage they are willing to give you. There are several advantages to getting this pre-approval:THE BENEFITS OF A MORTGAGE PRE-APPROVAL It gives you the peace-of-mind of knowing you can afford homes you view on the market, and won’t have problems arranging financing. You know exactly how much you can afford to spend on your new home.  There is nothing worse than finding a home you love only to discover it is beyond your budget. It’s a sign to... 07/25/2017

 APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVEHow often do you take things for granted?  Little things you do every day without a second thought.... Its not until an event takes place that we stop and take notice when something happens to make us dependent on others for the most menial tasks that we took for granted..When i returned home from hospital several years ago after back surgery, (I had a two herniated disks, a double decompression of L4 & L5)) I returned home with a greater appreciation of my independence, or lack thereof. Back injuries affect your every movement and I was humbled at how important our backs truly are and what a significant role they play in our daily life.[caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignleft" width="226"] Streetsville Real Estate[/caption]LEARNING TO FEND FOR MYSELFWhile... 07/22/2017

What I Need From You ….  To Give You The Best Service And  A  few guidelines/procedures to keep in mind when your home is listed for sale and to help you meet your goals.Setting Up  ShowingsHelping you Meet Your Goal- My office will call you to request an appointment when an agent has a prospective Buyer that would like to see your home. If you are not available, a message is left on your answering machine if you have one, or depending upon arrangements made, we will grant the request and provide access to your home with a lockbox.Make Your Home  AccessibleHaving your home accessible to prospective Buyers as much as possible, is critical in the sale of your home.  Agents try to give as much notice as possible for requests to show your home, but there are times when last minute requests... 07/21/2017

 Choosing the right right when selling your home is an important element to the process. Selling a home is one of the most important financial decisions you will make, and working with the right realtor to market your home, is another important decision you will make to achieve the best possible benefit.Ask a family member, friend or neighbour if they have used the services of a real estate agent recently and ask about the quality of service the agent provided.  Referrals are a good way to find a great agent.If you don’t have that option available, here are some things to consider when selecting an agent to represent you. CHOOSE A REALTOR WHO: works in, and is familiar with your city and neighbourhood has a presence on the internet has a vibrant and dynamic website to market your home w... 07/19/2017

HOME SALES DECLINEBut It's Not All Bad News ..The Canadian Real Estate Association reported home sales in June saw their largest monthly decline since 2010. This decline is attributed in part in the Greater Toronto Real Estate market.Compared to May, transactions in June declined by 6.7% on a national basis. The Greater Toronto Area registered a decline of 15.1%. This is the third month of consecutive monthly decline in home sales.Last April, changes were made to the Ontario Housing Policy. Experts say this prompted many Buyers to take a step back to reflect how these changes will affect the market,.  This is according to Gregory Klump, Chief Economist for CREA.The lack of urgency for some buyers has changed their motivation.  This could also have been as a result of the recent increase... 07/19/2017

ODOURS CAN DETER BUYERSHaving a fresh clean scent in your home is very inviting, or the pleasant odour of cookies or bread baking in the oven!!   Strong plug-ins, or harsh cooking odours are one way to discourage buyers from taking a careful look at your home and usually will not take the time to look at the home seriously, especially if someone is allergic to a specific odour.I recall, several years ago looking for a very high end home for one of my clients.  I arranged several viewings, and we are talking homes priced close to $1,000,000. This was a large, executive and stately home, about 5,000 square feet. It was situated on a very large lot, backing onto a ravine.. and had great curb appeal. Three car garage !!PUNGENT COOKING ODOURSHowever, upon entering the front door, we were imm... 07/16/2017

CLIENT OR CUSTOMERThe words Client and Customer seem pretty clear cut, but in real estate they mean completely different things to a Realtor®. These two words and how they relate to the Realtor® as individuals make an important difference in the type and level of service you receive.  Please take a few minutes to read,  and after reading you will fully understand what the major difference is, you will know then which one you want to be.When listing your home for sale with a Realtor® you are required to enter into a written contract.  This is due to the time and expenses incurred by the Sales Representative and Broker, who will not be paid for services rendered until the closing of the home.  The real benefit, however is for the home owner.  After a contract is entered into the sales rep... 07/14/2017

ATTRACTING QUALIFIED BUYERS HOW DO YOU ATTRACT QUALIFIED BUYERS? It is important to attract the attention of the right buyers eager to get into a property like yours. This will result in a price you would expect.  Otherwise, your house may take longer to sell and you may not get the price you expected. GETTING THE WORD OUT As an expert in the local market, I can get the word out about your listing to all the right people.  I will attract serious buyers – so a good offer comes in quickly. IMPLEMENTING THE RIGHT MARKETING PLAN To achieve that success, I will implement the appropriate marketing plan. There is more to selling a house than hammering a For Sale sign on the front lawn.  I’ll work closely with you to create a marketing plan which may include some or all of the following: Taking... 07/14/2017

MOVING?A GUIDE TO HELP ORGANIZE YOUR MOVEMoving day can become a very hectic and stressful time.  Here is a guideline that could help make moving day a lot less stressfulCounting Down to Moving Day By Douglas Gray Whether you're selling your home or buying a new home, you need to budget for moving costs. Make sure you get three to five written estimates from moving companies, as well as complete information packages. Consider the middle estimate-selecting a low-ball price is not necessarily the best decision.  Since professional movers can be expensive, attempt to negotiate a lower price if you are moving at the slow time of the month or consolidating the shipment with other peoples' goods.Find out how long the mover has been in business, obtain references, and check for complaints that... 06/29/2017

Make Your Home AccessibleHaving your home accessible to prospective Buyers as much as possible, is critical in the sale of your home.  Agents try to give as much notice as possible for requests to show your home, but there are times when last minute requests do occur.  Granting requests as much as possible is desirable ... the request you turn away may be the purchaser you've been waiting for.Dress For Success - Give it the "WOW" FactorLooking good is important when you want to make a great impression, whether for a job interview or a social function. The same is true of a home that is on the market. When the "For Sale" sign goes up in front of your home, it should be "dressed" for the occasion.Since the first impression will be of the front of the house a well-groomed exterior is cruci... 06/28/2017

** NEW LISTING ** 46 Curtis Drive, BramptonSpacious 3 Bed Bungalow In Sought After Neighbourhood Minutes To Downtown, Transportation & Sheridan College. Bright Open Concept Floor Plan Needs Your Personal Touches To Make It Shine. Some Hardwood Floor In Kitchen & Bedroom Needs Finishing. 1,399 Sq. Ft Re: Mpac.. Separate Entrance To Huge Partially finished Basement For Potential In-Law Or Rental Suite.                  05/03/2017