Posts Tagged ‘jeff miller’

Well cared for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom end unit with it's own driveway

 Stittsville, Ontario

3 Beds 2.5 Baths 25' x 104' Sq. Ft.

Fantastic End Unit Tamarack Huntington model with it's own driveway AND southern exposure! Well cared for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home. Hardwood and tile in the open concept main floor. Kitchen with breakfast bar, large L-shaped living and dining rooms, large master suite with ensuite and walk-in closet. 2nd floor loft area is great f...

View Property Details

Filed under: Recent Sales by bgmteam
Comments Off on Ottawa Homes – SOLD!!

Custom Cardel home is loaded with builder upgrades!

 Richmond, Ontario

5 Beds 4 Baths 60' x 127 Sq. Ft.

Absolutely STUNNING custom Cardel Findlay model with 4 + 1 bdrms, 4 baths, main floor den & laundry on a premium pie-shaped lot just one home away from King's Grant Park. Homes like this don't come along often. Built in 2013 with every Cardel structural upgrade and more! Two storey living and family rooms, entertainment sized di...

View Property Details

Filed under: Recent Sales by bgmteam
Comments Off on Richmond Homes – SOLD!!

985 sq. ft. with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and a balcony

 Ottawa, Ontario

2 Beds 2 Baths

The Claridge built Kintyre model is 985 sq.ft. and features an open concept living space with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. This condo has been very well maintained and features hardwood and tile floors throughout the living spaces. Granite counter tops with a breakfast bar, plenty of cabinetry and stainless steel appliances in th...

View Property Details

Filed under: Recent Sales by bgmteam
Comments Off on Ottawa Homes – SOLD!!

Looking for that special family home - this is it!

 Ottawa, Ontario

4 Beds 2.5 Baths 47' x 108' Sq. Ft.

Beautiful sun flooded Cardel Chaudiere model! 2239 square feet of premium build featuring 4 full bedrooms, main floor den, main floor laundry, double car garage. Newer hardwood floors in the living and dining rooms as well as the den. The landscaped south facing back yard just pours light into this home. Entertainment sized dining r...

View Property Details

Filed under: Recent Sales by bgmteam
Comments Off on Ottawa Homes – SOLD!!

One bedroom condo in the desirable neighborhood of Sandy Hill

 Ottawa, Ontario

1 Beds 1 Baths

Incredibly clean, modern and bright corner unit. 1 bedroom, 1 bath Claridge Bowery model with in unit laundry. This unit exudes warmth from the moment you step through the door. Open concept layout is extremely functional allowing your living and dining areas to be whatever size you choose. U-Shaped kitchen has lovely warm birch ton...

View Property Details

Filed under: Recent Sales by bgmteam
Comments Off on Ottawa Homes – SOLD!!

Hey Everyone and welcome to our 3rd in a series we are producing around the career that we love… real estate.

This is going to be your source for some real estate straight talk – the real deal, real scenarios, myths and myth busting, the rules, the ethics, the process, the expectations – what you really need to know. So here we go!

List to Sell Ratios….Production numbers…Oh Gosh….it’s MATH!

We were recently invited to a home as part of the owner’s interview process for the job of selling their home. We were very impressed with how prepared these home owners were for the meeting.

Everyone wants to know how you are planning on marketing their home and most REALTORS® will have a comprehensive plan of attack.

It made us think about the most important questions that a home owner should be asking their potential REALTOR® but rarely do before making their choice.

There are two big questions that come to mind;

1. How many houses have you sold this year?

Not how many the team has sold…

Not how many the brokerage has sold…

Not how many the company has sold…

How many have YOU sold – by yourself!!

The real estate market changes fast and is made up of so many business models that if an agent is selling one house every two months, they may not be up to speed on the current market conditions.

Just because they have been in real estate for 20 years doesn’t mean that they have the greatest experience. Conversely, if they work on a team of 17 people and can say the team sold 100 homes last year, that breaks down to almost 6 homes each – the national average. Not bad at all, but market knowledge and experience only gets better if you are selling 15 – 20 homes or more per year. That seems to be an industry understanding for having your fingers on the pulse of the market.

2. What percentage were Listings, and what percentage were buyers?

This is a follow up to #1 in the sense that the skill set can vary between someone  who deals with Buyers 80-90% of the time, and someone that deals with Sellers. Finding a good fit would be a REALTOR® that deals with both – they have solid experience selling homes, and also have current knowledge about what Buyers expect and are willing to pay / negotiate for/ need.

3. What is your List to Sell Ratio?

This is simply a test of our negotiating skills.  When we list a property how close to the asking price are we getting?? Let’s set out an example…

You are going to meet with REALTOR® A and REALTOR® B

REALTOR® A tells you their List to Sell Ratio is 96%, well…that sounds good. I mean from our school days, we all equate 90+% as a A or A+ right?

REALTOR® B says their list to sell ratio is 99.8%.

Already we want the person that is telling us they have an A++ in selling right?

And keep in mind, a lot of this is going to depend on the type of real estate market we are in. For the sake of argument, let’s say it’s a Seller’s market – where there are lots of Buyers and not enough homes on the market.

On a $400,000 home, 96% is $384,000.

99.8% on that same home is $399,200

That is $15,200 difference!!! That is HUGE!

That’s the difference between selling your home and moving on, and selling your home and getting a 2 WEEK CARRIBEAN CRUISE!

There are several different business models and agents charge different amounts. Do yourself a favour and get a great negotiator rather than the cheapest commission. You’ll R.E.S.T easy in the end!

For more information you can;

Listen to our podcast – https://bgmteam.podbean.com

Watch us on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/myottawateam

Filed under: Blog by bgmteam
No Comments »

Fantastic condo located in the heart of Blackburn Hamlet!

 Ottawa, Ontario

2 Beds 1 Baths

Can't beat the location of this home in the heart of Blackburn Hamlet! You immediately walk into an enlarged foyer with pot lighting and plenty of space. The kitchen has been refreshed with new cabinet doors, fresh paint and laminate floors. The living room has hardwood floors, wood burning fireplace, and a patio door with a spectac...

View Property Details

Filed under: Recent Sales by bgmteam
Comments Off on Ottawa Homes -SOLD!!

Hey Everyone and welcome to our 2nd in a series we are producing around the career that we love… real estate.

This is going to be your source for some real estate straight talk – the real deal, real scenarios, myths and myth busting, the rules, the ethics, the process, the expectations – what you really need to know. So here we go!

WHY DO REAL ESTATE AGENTS ASK IF YOU ARE PRE-APPROVED?

 Have you ever walked into an open house, or called a realtor about a listing, and within minutes, they’re asking you if you are “pre-approved” for a mortgage?

If you haven’t, then you have never met a REALTOR®. Or at least enough of them…

Just wait. It’ll happen.

And you’re going to feel like it’s pretty pushy for them to ask that.

You think….you’re joking….right?

You would think its none of their business if you’re pre-approved or not!  You just want them to show you the house and you’ll get the pre-approval if you like it.

But it’s no joking matter.

You will find it depends on the REALTOR®. We all have different personalities. We all come across in different ways. We all handle how we meet, greet, and chat with consumers in different ways. There’s no one way to “be”, as a REALTOR®.

But every single REALTOR® should be asking you if you’re pre-approved. Many do not because they feel like it is a bit pushy and forward. Because he or she worries about offending you. But they should ask…

…because it’s entirely relevant for them to know.

…because it’s entirely important for you to be pre-approved.

It might come across as a pushy, or invasive question. Maybe that is because of how a REALTOR® asks the question. Or when the REALTOR® asks the question. Or, simply because you don’t know that it’s a question that should be asked.

But it is not a joking matter.

And you should expect the question, be prepared to say that you are pre-approved, and…you should actually WANT the REALTOR® to ask you that question.

It’s not like a first date where if your date asks you – “How much do you make” in the first five minutes, you’d feel like that was pushy and weird…..

Creator:Jacom Stephens
Credit:Getty Images/Vetta

and likely that would be the end of the date.

Rightfully so.

Which is why it seems so invasive when a REALTOR® you’ve just met asks you if you’re pre-approved. It feels like they’re asking you some pretty private, intimate stuff that’s none of their business.

But asking for a pre-approval isn’t like going on a first date. It isn’t a marriage proposal. And it isn’t probing on the part of the REALTOR®.

It is a necessary question, and an important piece of information us to know. And for you!

So Why do we ask you if you’re pre-approved?

We aren’t asking you if you’re pre-approved because we’re looking to size up how much you can spend. (At least not most REALTORS®…)

We want and need to know that you are serious, and qualified to buy a house.

And we certainly have their reasons for wanting to know…

As Real estate salespeople we need to make sure we are working with someone who can actually buy a house. We are one of the only service industries that doesn’t get paid unless and until the person we’re working with buys a house. So, this is a matter of being careful about who we spend our time with. It might sound selfish…but you can’t fault us for that. We’re in business. Nobody cuts us a paycheck every second week. And showing people houses is not a public service or charity work. Even working with someone who is pre-approved doesn’t guarantee that we are going to make any money. But at least it’s an indication that the person we are working with can do something.

We also need to know how much you’re pre-approved for in order to advise you as well as possible. Picture us showing you houses for weeks, and months. You finally find “the one”! You get all excited about the house, and you want to make an offer, only to find out then that there’s no way you could afford the house. This leads to heartbreak and aggravation…for both of us. It doesn’t do either of us any good to go through all of that only to find out you can’t afford the houses you were looking at…or even buy one at all.

Caring professional REALTORS® also don’t want you spending your top dollar and putting you in a mortgage poor position. No one likes bologna or hot dog budgets that much.

And, to a degree, this is a safety precaution. You might not believe this, but we are in a pretty risky position. If we just say OK to every person who calls and asks to go see a house, with absolutely no proof or verification of who the person is, that puts us at risk. Sure, a pre-approval won’t necessarily stop an evil person from doing something, but this is a pretty basic precautionary request.

So Even if you have just started looking for a home and haven’t gotten pre-approved (yet)…at least expect the question. Don’t be offended when you’re asked if you are.

In fact, pay closer attention to the REALTORS® who do ask if you’re pre-approved! The ones who ask make it easy for you to find a great REALTOR® to work with.

Because if they’re asking that question, it’s a good sign that they are thorough and thoughtful about how they do their business. That’s the type of REALTOR® you want to have on your side when you’re buying a house — one who’s careful from the get-go. One who pays attention to the details. One who isn’t going to waste your time any more than their own. Or allow your heart to be broken when you fall in love with a house you can’t do anything about.

And if you want to get some really good attention and service from the best REALTORS® you come across, don’t even let them have to ask if you are pre-approved…

Get pre-approved before you even start looking. And let the REALTOR® know you’re pre-approved before they even ask. You’ll set yourself apart from almost every buyer the realtor has ever met.

Don’t know where to start to get pre-approved – some very quick points;

1. If you have a favourite bank, make a call and ask for their MOBILE mortgage specialist.
2. Call a mortgage broker – the advantage here is they only do one credit check and then shop around for you! You can get a couple of names just from REALTORS® websites – good ones have a dedicated page of referrals for professionals they know and trust.
3. Don’t go to more than 2 banks and one broker – it will start to affect your credit score!

Just another piece of advice so you can REST easy and know we’ve got you covered. As always – we are happy to answer any and all questions you may have on this, or any other topic – we are only an email or phone call away!

For more information you can;

Listen to our podcast – https://bgmteam.podbean.com

Watch us on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/myottawateam

Filed under: Blog by bgmteam
No Comments »

Hey Everyone and welcome to our  series we are producing around the career that we love… real estate.

This is going to be your source for some real estate straight talk – the real deal, real scenarios, myths and myth busting, the rules, the ethics, the process, the expectations – what you really need to know. So here we go!

What type of REALTOR® are you?

This is a really important question to ask any real estate professional. The industry supports all kinds of business models and we support that, but it can be important for you to ask the question.

Today, we are going to have some straight talk about the differences you might experience when working with a full vs. a part time REALTOR®.

A full-time REALTOR® – well, that’s pretty self-explanatory – this is their only job. It is the primary way they earn their income.

A part-time REALTOR® can be many things – someone dipping a toe into the real estate world to see if they like it, someone who would like to supplement their income, someone that just wants to be able to service a small number of people a year.

Before you choose someone to help with your next real estate transaction, consider these pros and cons of working with either a part-time OR a full-time real estate salesperson.

Pro: A good REALTOR® is a good REALTOR®. As in any other profession, there are good, just “OK”, and bad REALTORS® regardless of the number of hours per week they work. What matters is the individual’s knowledge of the market, industry savvy and willingness to advocate for his or her client.

Different REALTORS® have different goals. A part-time REALTOR® can work with fewer clients and at the same time and still give those fewer clients a high level of service. A full time REALTOR® can want to get to a certain financial goal and then enjoy long term vacations.

Some full-time and part time REALTORS® work in teams, where there are people to help you at any given time, no matter what.

It is really important for you to sit with several REALTORS® and ask this question to see if they way they do business is going to be the right fit for you!

Con: Missed opportunities, limited availability and missed nuances in negotiations. There are many days when timing is of the essence, and if your REALTOR® isn’t free to get you into that listing in a hot market, it may pass you by. And limited time working in the real estate market can mean limited experience, which can lead to unintended consequences and experiences.

So what is the Straight talk here? – Mostly, the pros and cons can apply to both full AND part time REALTORS®. You don’t know if you are going to get this,

Credit – Ferris Bueler’s Day Off

or this…

It’s important to meet with more than one to get a feel for how they work, when they work and how hard they will work for you. And don’t be afraid to google them and see if they have reviews, or social media where you can get a sense of who they are.

Find the one that fits with YOU so you can REST easy.

Filed under: Blog by bgmteam
No Comments »

Hey Everyone and welcome to our very first in a series we are producing around the career that we love… real estate.

This is going to be your source for some real straight talk – the real deal, real scenarios, myths and myth busting, the rules, the ethics, the process, the expectations – what should you really expect when you jump into the proverbial real estate waters?

It can feel like you are thrown into the deep end – no water wings – no floaty, no flutter boards, no paddle… just you – up the river and moving fast.

Jeff, Christine and I have been in this business 15, 22 and 19 years respectively – and we’ve decided its high time to get all of you in the loop.

We are always amazed when we hear people have had bad experiences, or come to us with the classic stereotype that we’re pushy used car salesmen, (noooo offense to all you folks that sell cars) and only in it for the money….

So, we thought we would take all our experiences, all our knowledge and start to break it down for you – to give you a baseline – What’s good, what’s bad, and what’s downright ugly.

That way – when you are jumping into this real estate pool – you ARE the lifeguard and the only shock you will get is if the water is freezing!!

Stay tuned – we will be releasing small bite sized pieces in formats of your choice – blog, podcast or video – for you every few weeks and you will be able to find them through any of the links below – our website, our Facebook page, our YouTube channel and our Google business page. To get them right away – head to our YouTube channel and subscribe –  and don’t forget to hit the bell to get notified right away when we post something!

Until then REST easy – we are going to have you covered!

Real Estate Straight Talk

Filed under: Blog by bgmteam
No Comments »