Perhaps it was quartz countertops or a clawfoot bathtub that made your heart race… whatever tickled your fancy is pushing you to go for it. Should you follow your intuition? You wouldn’t marry someone you just met simply because they’re good looking and the same goes for a house. It’s best to keep a cool head before committing yourself to a long-term relationship with a property. Here are some questions to ask yourself when you think you may have found the one.
Why use Confia’s services to buy your home?
Let’s start with why Confia real estate agency is the most suitable to guide you to the finish line of acquiring your must-have property. They’re with you from the very start. Confia advisors listen to you to fully understand your needs and expectations, answer any questions you may have about the purchase or sale of a property, then suggest profiles of broker partners.
You’ll find the right broker to lead your project from among profiles that have been carefully selected based on know-how and suitability for your project. By using our personalized pairing service, you can choose the broker recommended by Confia that suits you the best. Are you ready to embark on the quest to find your dream property?
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It’s recognized that a broker can help you get the house of your dreams by providing advice at each step during a transaction. Their objectivity is relied on to fairly assess a property. Their negotiation skills, experience and knowledge of the real estate market are also assets that can help get your project across the finish line.
Brokers make things easy for you by handling all the paperwork. And their deep well of contacts will prove useful to find the right professionals you’ll need to call on a various times in a transaction.
What are four criteria to consider after finding the property of your dreams?
It’s easy to fall for a property’s outward appearance. Meticulous trim, pretty colour palettes and an on-trend kitchen will surely make you look twice. However, you shouldn’t rest your decision on these sorts of superficial details alone. There are many things to look for and consider before buying. You want to ensure you get what you need inside as well as outside a property.
The house or condo you choose will become part of the fabric of your daily life so you want it to check off a lot of your boxes. Put together a list of must-haves and dealbreakers:
1. Location, location, location
You can change a lot of things about a house but not its location. Consider whether a property meets your current and future needs in terms of services, safety and lifestyle. Redoing an outdated bathroom is a whole lot easier than leaving a poorly situated home!
Find about an area’s development prospects. Are there urban development projects or zoning plans that could impact your property value over the long term? Buying a home remains an investment with growth potential.
The house itself and the surrounding area need to be considered – both play a decisive role in a property’s long-term value. By carefully choosing the location of your future abode, you’re ensuring you live in a place that meets your daily needs and where you feel truly at home.
Easy access to public transit, schools and various services can also greatly impact your quality of life and a property’s future value. Think about your family’s daily commuting needs and habits. Lastly, it’s important to take into account other essential services like businesses, health centres and recreational areas.
2. Asking price: too high, too low, just right?
Is the asking price consistent with other properties in the local market? Is it within your budget? Don't get carried away by tempting offers without weighing the pros and cons of the project as a whole.
You always have to factor in the additional costs associated with buying a property: welcome tax, insurance, moving costs and potential work to be done. You can ask your broker recommended by Confia to prepare a market value analysis of a property you’re interested in.
3. Number of rooms you can live with
Make sure a dwelling has enough space for you to do everything you want and ask yourself if there’s enough room to accommodate life plans, whether that’s expanding your family or even setting up a home office. Take the time to consider future layouts.
4. Mirror, mirror on the wall, should the roof be replaced next year?
New or not, it’s not uncommon to find small defects in a home. It’s your responsibility to determine the extent of renovations that need to be done, basically what you’re getting yourself into. Are you comfortable doing the work yourself? Will you hire various contractors?
RenoAssistance can help you prepare a budget. Get fair quotes.
Start a renovation projectImportance of shopping around
When you visit the first listing, you don’t have any benchmarks yet for comparison. Take the time to determine your search criteria and share them with your real estate broker. They can create alerts corresponding to what you’re in the market for. You can quickly browse online to see if a new listing is worth a visit. This practice will help you be proactive to avoid a rare find slipping through your fingers.
Consider visiting several property types. Some of the search criteria you initially deemed important may evolve over time.
Other offers on the table
If your dream property is the subject of multiple offers, don’t let your emotions get the better of you and feel pressured to act. You might have to improve your offer to purchase but within reason before seeing the deal through. Did someone beat you to the finish line? Take stock and keep looking because something else is always being listed!
Remember that brokers are backed by the power of the professional version of Centris®. They receive an alert when new listings come on the market. It’s worth noting they have access to industry information to help them decide how to proceed with your transaction.
Doing business with a broker recommended by Confia will help ensure you have a smooth and well-managed experience while landing your dream home.
Start a buying projectFAQ
How to tell if a property’s asking price is too high?
Your real estate broker will consider the prices of similar properties in the area as well as local real estate market trends to know if the price of a home you’re viewing is too high.
A real estate broker is able to perform comparative analyses based on recent sale prices in the same geographic region. They will help you understand the asking price and market value of the home you want. Book a chartered appraiser if you’re looking for an official assessment.
Looking to buy, sell or simply find out a home’s value? Download the EspaceProprio app on the App Store or Play Store, then enter information about the property. The market value assessment tool will post data in no time!
*The value generated by the market value assessment feature does not constitute an appraisal, an actual value or a guaranteed selling price, or the opinion of a real estate broker or licensed appraiser as to the price or fair market value of the subject property. Information is provided for reference purposes only and should never replace the advice of a professional regarding the assessment of a property’s market value.
How to snag your dream house?
Before talking about the asking price for a house you’ve set your mind on, let a real estate broker check prices in the area. Set the maximum amount you’re willing to pay and be ready to justify any offer below the asking price. Possible defects and added costs could be raised during this discussion.
Keep your conditions flexible and do it all with the help of a brokerage professional. A real estate broker recommended by Confia is well positioned to act in your best interest during the negotiation process.
Contact Confia real estate agency