Shopping malls, we all agree, are a great place for people watching. It’s fun to see couples and families, little glimpses of their lives. I’ve always enjoyed hanging around malls and I can often be found here. For me, I also like interacting with retail salespeople – some of the best salespeople in the world work at the mall. In the back of my mind I’m always critiquing the salesperson with whom I’m dealing.

Although, I love malls because I learn a lot about people and buyer-seller interaction, the very best way to witness buyer-seller interaction is at a trade show. It will happen one hundred times an hour, right before your eyes.

I was at a trade show on the weekend – the Wedding Dreams show. I was there hosting Tanglewood Condominium’s booth. I like trade shows. I learn a lot.

Tradeshows are a microcosm of buyer seller interaction.

What’s happening is that the salespeople are trying to gather information, for follow up, for mailing lists, for current or future sales…and the visitors are trying to gather information about services offered and prices, comparing one option against another…

We all do this. We are all playing by the same rules.

Think about it.

How do you choose a realtor?

In the real estate business, a prudent home seller will interview three realtors, finding out as much as she can about prices and services with the first one, using that information, improving her position with the second and confirming what’s she’s learned with the third one. (Which reminds me, if you’re thinking about selling your home, call me third please.)

And think about this.

Who saves the commission when you sell your home yourself?

The same is true with private home sellers; the game changes, but the rules remain the same. The potential homebuyer knows the home seller is saving the commission. He often uses fact as justification when putting in a “lowball” offer, insulting the home seller in the process. This game is a little rougher as both side are new and don’t really understand the rules.

Most of us don’t really know what’s happening to us. We are playing by rules that we’ve never thought about.

If you’re thinking about selling or buying property in the future, give me a call and I might be able to help you understand how the game could play out.

Filed under: 365 things to do in Kitchener Waterloo, advice, Around Kitchener Waterloo, Buying Real Estate, real estate trends, Selling Real Estate by Keith Marshall
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Last week the Canadian Real Estate Association endorsed an agreement allowing realtors to unbundle our services. The agreement allows us to offer posting services (on MLS) as well as the smorgasbord of our other services “buffet style”.

Although no such rules existed at the Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Board (or at the Cambridge Board) disallowing unbundled services, most brokerages did not make it a regular offering. Buying or selling a home or condo is often a challenging and complex process dealing with what is likely a family’s most valuable asset. Profession guidance is encouraged but no longer required when selling your home with the help of a professional realtor.

In essence, what we had before was a two-tier system, with a large gap between them. The choices available to home sellers were:

1) Buy a package from a private home selling franchise. Get signs and some advice. Do it yourself.

2) Hire a full service realtor. Communicate through the process. Pay a commission when your house sells.

With the changes, the gap becomes a sliding scale.

If you’re thinking about selling your home and would like to talk about this, please give me a call.

Filed under: Buying Real Estate, canada, condo, Industry, msl, real estate trends, Selling Real Estate by Keith Marshall
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Last week, a friend of mine got a hold of me (on facebook) with a request. She was moving (from Waterloo to Kitchener) and wondered if there were any local movers I’d recommend. I provided her a list of three that were recommended to me. It’s important to trust reliable and honest movers with your possessions. It’s hard to know who to trust.

The moving business is an easy one to get into; all you really need is a truck and telephone and two guys – you’re in business. Ask if they are insured. Get details. Ask for references…

I’m reminded of a scam that happened earlier this year. The Toronto police laid 160 charges against a criminal enterprise disguised as a moving company. They seized 12 moving trucks and estimated that this “business” was generating $1million a year.

The company, (operating under several names) would coerce their victims into paying a lot more than they originally contracted by renegotiating the contract on site as their possessions were being loaded onto the truck. The victims were told their possessions would be dumped, or left unmoved or put into storage until the bill was paid. If they didn’t pay up, many times that’s exactly what happened.

Many times and in many ways we can become victims of scams. I’ve already talked about panhandling ladies with good stories, fraudulent charities, dubious handymen, suspicious alarm system sellers, fake furnace inspectors…

Filed under: advice, Around Kitchener Waterloo, editorial, general news, home, home owners, scam by Keith Marshall
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My Flyer

Maybe you’re thinking of moving. Maybe you just want to know.

I’ve started keeping track of three neighborhoods in Kitchener Waterloo as my own gauge of what’s happening in local real estate.  All three areas are relatively new, one was just getting started ten years ago; the other two weren’t even started yet. They are Huron Park, Idlewood/Lackner Woods and Claire Hills/Columbia Forest. On a regular basis I will provide updates as follows:

Huron Park

There were 19 homes sold in Huron Park*

The average sold price was $324,421

The average number of days on the market was 52

The highest sold price was $450,000. The lowest $283,000.

Claire Hils

There were 34 homes sold in Columbia Forest/Claire Hills*

The average sold price was $320,824

The average number of days on the market was 30

The highest sold price was $485,000. The lowest $234,500

Idlewood

There were 52 homes sold in Idlewood/Lackner Woods*

The average sold price was $337,178

The average number of days on the market was 62

The highest sold price was $865,000. The lowest $210,000

*The above figures represent all homes sold through MLS during June, July, and August 2010.

I aim to take the stress and mystery out of the home selling and home buying process by giving you the information you need to plan your family’s future. I’m here to help. I have the information you need. I like to share. Please contact me today if you’re just thinking about moving and want to know what your home is worth.

If you don’t live in one of these three areas and want me to keep track of your street or your neighborhood, I could do that. Please give me a call with your name and address.

Filed under: Around Kitchener Waterloo, neighborhood update, real estate trends, sold by Keith Marshall
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Last week on 365 things to do in Kitchener Waterloo, we took a brief historical tour of the Registry Theatre followed by a play about isolation. Just for laughs, we saw Derek Edwards at Centre in the Square, we gazed to the heavens in Waterloo Park, went to Chicopee for some last minute Oktoberfest family fun, with food, speaking of which we had a Chicken Caesar at our favorite pita place. We partied with politicians, went to Stratford for some Dangerous Liaisons, and watched the opening of the Grand River Film Festival. Yes, it was a night to remember, a whole week actually.

Around the offices of 365 things to do in Kitchener Waterloo, we blew by another milestone – 400 members! Wow, we’re going to have to get a bigger place pretty soon. We’re currently at 415. Already. How did this happen? We’ll be at 500 before you can say Jack Robinson.

So go on, tell your friends. Be bold. Make suggestions. Ask advice. Give feedback. You must have a favorite place to go or thing to do that you can share. We will all be richer for the experience.

There was another milestone, too; we sped past our 100^th day! Yes, it was 100 days ago that we began this voyage of discovery, cracked open this Waterloo Region cornucopia of ideas and places. If you haven’t been around since day one, here at ground zero, I made a little video to what we’ve seen and done in our first 100 days.

Filed under: 365 things to do in Kitchener Waterloo, Around Kitchener Waterloo, just for fun, video by Keith Marshall
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