How Buying a Home (Especially a First Home) is like Buying a Coffee!

Seriously, this is so similar I nearly spilled my morning coffee just thinking about it. 

It goes like this: 

Once Upon a Time…

You and your friend were having coffee and she was telling you all about the great coffee she had – the big cup, two kinds of flavours, extra hot with fluffy whip on top. It even had sprinkles! Deflated, you look down at your own coffee – a real cup of coffee. Black, hot, not in a fancy cup, and wait! – totally not as big as your friends either. But, you remind yourself – it’s just the way you like it… isn’t it?! You look down at your coffee again, it’s looking rather boring now. 

She said her’s was so good. Maybe I should look at something bigger and better too? Should I?

You decide to take a look at the menu. Oh wow! Why didn’t you look at this before? So many choices, so many sizes,  so many toppings, so EXPENSIVE! (now sugar plums are dancing in your head!) 

Hmmm. You look at your wallet: 3 bucks. 

Well… you do have apple pay, and debit, and credit… 

But you also have those bills to pay and those other payments…

You look again at the menu – it looks so good though! 

But, then you think – well, I really don’t need THAT much coffee. And I don’t even like dairy in my coffee. And sprinkles? Really?! No, that’s not for me. You take a sip of your coffee and sigh. I really do like this coffee. 

You take another sip and laugh. What was I thinking? I don’t need a fancy drink just because someone else has one. 

I love my black coffee just the way it is. Although maybe next time, I could use one a bit larger. After all, I am really only looking for a coffee I LOVE – I could just use a bit MORE of it.

Sound familiar? House shopping – before you make a plan? Before you make a budget? Before you even know what’s working and what’s not working in your current home? 

Take the time to plan your move, plan your search. Take time to work your plan.

The best thing is you DON’T have to do it by yourself. That’s what a good REALTOR© is for… helping you find the home according to your needs and budget. And that is exactly what I will help you do!

Let's RECAP

1. Have a Budget - Know Your Numbers

2. Have a Plan {Write things Down} 

3. Get a good REALTOR©  

If you are thinking of buying or selling call me and let’s talk….

Donna Hunter

Helping you move, Confidently!

P.S.  Enjoy Your Coffee… Just the way YOU like it!! 

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Looking for more ideas on making smart decisions when selling or buying a home? Call Donna Hunter at The Barrie Home Hunter Team today.  

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. 

Finding the List Price “Tipping Points”

Setting the right list price for a home is a mystery for many sellers. How do you begin to determine what buyers are likely to pay for your property? After all, no two homes are exactly alike.

Yet, setting the right price is crucial. You need to avoid the two price “tipping points” that, if crossed, can cause you a lot of problems.

The first tipping point is a price that’s low enough for buyers to begin thinking something is wrong. They wonder, “Why is your price so low? What are you not telling us about your property?”

But that’s not even the worst problem with this tipping point. If you do get offers at that low price, you’ll have a bigger issue – leaving thousands of dollars on the table.

The other tipping point is setting your price so high it discourages buyers from giving your listing a second look. When your price is that high, you’ll get few enquiries and even fewer people coming to see your property.

Of course, you can lower your price later, if necessary. But experience shows that reduced prices make potential buyers skeptical. Most sellers who price high in the hopes of getting a windfall actually end up selling for much less than they would have if they had priced their properties correctly in the first place.

So what’s the right price to list your property? The answer is somewhere in-between those two tipping points.

Call today for help determining the right price for your property.

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Looking for more ideas on making smart decisions when selling or buying a home? Call Donna at The Barrie Home Hunter Team today.  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. 

Should You Move or Renovate? Three Things to Consider

Determining if you should buy a new home or fix up your current one isn’t easy. In fact, the decision can be steeped in so much drama they make reality TV shows about it!

So if you’re considering whether to move or improve, here are three things to consider.

1. Will a renovation truly fix what you don’t like about your property?

If you’re tired of a small kitchen, for example, it might not be possible, given the layout, to make it any bigger. On the other hand, if you’re craving a spacious rec room with a cosy fireplace then a renovation could make that happen.

Of course, there are some things you may want that aren’t specific to your house, such as an easier commute or nearby park. Those are features you may only be able to get by moving.

2. How much will a renovation cost? How does that compare to the cost of moving to a new home?

It’s important to get accurate estimates of each so you can make a smart decision. This is where a good REALTOR® can help.

Keep in mind that renovations have a habit of costing more than you originally anticipate. As mentioned earlier, the final result should be a home you want to stay in for quite some time.

3. Beware of compromising versus settling.

Whichever decision you make — renovate or sell — you can expect to have to make at least some compromises. That’s normal.

For example, consider adding an extension to your house. That’s a major renovation. Is it the ideal way to get the extra room you want? Do the benefits of renovating outweigh the benefits of finding a new larger home designed to include the space you need?

Yes, it’s a tough decision. If you’re in the midst of making it, call today, to get the facts you need to make the best choice for you.

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Looking for more ideas on making smart decisions when selling or buying a home? Call Donna at The Barrie Home Hunter Team today.  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. 

Helping you move, Confidently!