Tag Archive for sasha dear

Outrageous Real Estate Stories

Sasha Dear / June 25, 2011 / No comments

We are collecting your stories, strange but true experiences in Real Estate. You could be an Agent or anyone who has had any experience with buying or selling a home. There are lots of strange or funny experiences out there…so put yours in writing (email) and send to info@sashadear.ca

All stories will be reviewed for inclusion into a non-profit book that will be sold to raise funds for Cancer Victims in the Muskoka areas. Thank you.

Category: Muskoka, Off Topic / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Open Houses. Do they work?

Sasha Dear / June 25, 2011 / No comments

If you are asking if an open house will help sell your home, then my answer is “unlikely”.

Before the Internet boom (before the majority of people turned to the Internet to find their next home), people relied on printed MLS books, newspaper listings, Real Estate magazines, and driving around their desired neighbourhoods to find open houses. Back in those days (before 1995), open houses were an effective way to help sell a home. The people who entered the open house were actually ‘likely buyers’ who were in the market to actively search for a home to purchase.

What we see nowadays though, is a trail of nosey neighbours and week-end tire-kickers who want to get decorating ideas or just want to compare your home with theirs so that they can imagine up a value for their own.

So why are open houses still held?

  1. There is still a VERY slim chance that the person who enters the open house will in-fact buy it (based on the opinion of at least 50 Real Estate Agents questioned, the response is about a 2% chance)
  2. The Seller may not believe, or has not been educated about the way in which buyers now purchase a home, and the Agent holds it to satisfy the Sellers demands.
  3. The Agent wants to draw in potential Buyer and Seller Clients, and this is a great way to meet new Clients.

The majority of Buyers, about 96%, now look at the Internet when searching for a home. Real Estate Agents look on the Internet within their own system, and email or call their Clients when suitable homes become available. The Real Estate Agents own system is the one that feeds the public realtor.ca website. Most real estate boards have now stopped issuing the printed MLS books.

In short, if your home or cottage looks like it may be suitable for someone, then they will make AN APPOINTMENT to come view your listing. Those are the type of people who you really want looking around your home!

Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Muskoka / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Sasha Dear / June 25, 2011 / No comments

So you want to sell your home or cottage, and need to select an Agent. Here are some tips to make the selection process easier:

  1. Write a list containing what services you expect, and the services you do not want (ie Open Houses)
  2. Personally meet the Agents at your home. During the meeting, you will determine if this is the person who you want to communicate with on a daily basis.
  3. DO NOT select an Agent solely based on the highest suggested listing price of your home! Listen to the Agent who brings a detailed report of comparable home or cottage sales.
  4. Ask for referrals. A great way of finding out if the Agent is ‘who’ you will be happy working with is to get opinions from their existing and past Clients.

Sasha Dear will provide you with as many references as you wish! From Toronto to Barrie to Muskoka…Sasha Dear has helped many families re-locate.

Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Muskoka / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Parry Sound Century Home on River

Sasha Dear / June 20, 2011 / No comments

This Century home offers plenty of space for family and entertaining! Full of unique re-finished original features, you will enjoy a beautiful character home with modern living in mind. Ideally located close to downtown boutique shopping and amenities, this home sits on a deep lot with the peaceful Seguin River at back. New roof shingles 2010 plus new flooring in bedrooms, newer furnace and windows. Original hardwood floors refinished beautifully. Bonus Loft Room large enough for rec/play/study/living room. Large rear covered deck/porch overlooking fenced level yard and gentle slope to river. Move-in condition. $259,900

Click Here for Pictures

Category: Listings / Tags: , , , , , , ,

Muskoka River Cottage – New Listing!

Sasha Dear / May 26, 2011 / No comments

Beautifully renovated cottage on extensively landscaped grounds with access to Lake Muskoka. Open concept kitchen/dining/living and 3 bedrooms. Refinished hardwood floors, new broadloom in bedrooms, roof shingles 2009, renovated kitchen and bathroom. Cottage built well, with good insulation and extra steel support beams. Spring fed well allows option to use year round. Freshly painted inside and out, and some newer windows.

Includes a well pump house, large utility shed, dock shed. Can be sold ‘turn-key’ if desired! Just move right in! If you are looking for privacy then this one is for you.

Located on quiet inlet off the Muskoka River, just 5 minutes from Bracebridge. Access for medium motorized boat at own dock. Boat to Lake Muskoka or just sit and enjoy the tranquil scenery. $229,900

Click here for pictures!

Category: Listings, Muskoka / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fix and Flip!

Sasha Dear / June 30, 2010 / No comments

Looking for a great fixer-upper? This 5 bedroom home is being sold under power of sale in an “as is” condition. This one is priced right to fix up and flip! Located near Utterson, Muskoka, just 10 minutes outside of Bracebridge, and on a large treed lot.

Family house for sale in Utterson. Close to Bracebridge and ammentities. Large country lot. Handy man or woman needed! $127,900

Family room Lower level 14’6 X 14’6  
Bedroom Lower level 12 X 7’8  
Bath (# pieces 1-6) Lower level 1 X 2 PC  
Living room Main level 16 X 12’2  
Dining room Main level 16 X 8’3  
Kitchen Main level 14’6 X 14’6  
Master bedroom Main level 16 X 10  
Bedroom Main level 10 X 10  
Bedroom Main level 10 X 9’10  
Bedroom Main level 15’8 X 11’8  
Bath (# pieces 1-6) Main level 1 X 4 PC

 

MLS® 445302001300200

Have a question about this article, or anything about Muskoka Real Estate?

email me and I will get back to you the same day. info@sashadear.ca

Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Listings, Muskoka / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Find better ways to heat and cool your house

Sasha Dear / June 30, 2010 / No comments

Energy loss in home     As much as half of the energy used in homes goes toward heating and cooling. The following are a few ways that energy bills can be reduced through adjustments to the heating and cooling systems:

  • Install a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans can be used in place of air conditioners, which require a large amount of energy. This depends on where you live, as some areas are extremely hot in summer months. Simply reducing the degree of coldness will help.

 

  • Periodically replace air filters in air conditioners and heaters. It can be hard to remember when this should be done. Set an alarm on your calander to remind you.

 

  • Set thermostats to an appropriate temperature. Specifically, they should be turned down at night and when no one is home. In most homes, about 2% of the heating bill will be saved for each degree that the thermostat is lowered for at least eight hours each day. Turning down the thermostat from 75° F to 70°F(24c to 21c), for example, saves about 10% on heating costs.

Use thermostat wisely to reduce heating bill

  • Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat saves money by allowing heating and cooling appliances to be automatically turned down during times that no one is home and at night. Programmable thermostats contain no mercury and, in some climate zones, can save up to $150 per year in energy costs.

 

  • Install a wood stove or a pellet stove. These are more efficient sources of heat than furnaces. Wood or pellet stoves can actually heat the house without the need for using the furnace in most cases.

instal wood stove to help with heating

  • At night, curtains drawn over windows will better insulate the room, especially if you have single pane windows.

Home inspector  Thankyou to Greg Thomson with Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections in Muskoka for contributing towards this article on how to make our homes more energy efficient.

Have a question about this article, or anything about Muskoka Real Estate?

email me and I will get back to you the same day. info@sashadear.ca

 
Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Muskoka, recommended contractors/services / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

H.S.T.

Sasha Dear / April 2, 2010 / 2 comments

The provinces of Ontario and British Columbia have agreed to implement the harmonized sales tax (HST), which would replace existing provincial sales taxes and the federal goods and services tax in those provinces beginning July 1, 2010 and would be administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. Legislation to enact the HST has been passed into law by the Governments of Canada and Ontario.

Legislation to enact the harmonized sales tax (HST) has been passed by the Governments of Canada and Ontario. The HST will be applied on most supplies of goods and services made in Ontario at a rate of 13%, consisting of the 5% federal portion and an 8% provincial portion.

Businesses in Ontario that are registered for the GST would be required to collect the HST and would report their HST according to their current GST filing frequency. Retailers and service-providers should begin to upgrade their point-of-sale, cost and accounting systems as early as possible to ensure that they meet the implementation date of July 1, 2010.

For additional information on Ontario’s sales tax reform, visit the Ontario Ministry of Revenue Web site.

Category: Buyer & Seller Info / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Newer homes in demand!

Sasha Dear / March 30, 2010 / No comments

Anyone thinking of selling their newer home this year should take action now!

There is a demand for homes in Bracebridge that are less than 5 years old and close to town. I have potential buyers waiting for more to come on the market. If you are thinking about selling, then please consider listing your home very soon.

Category: Buyer & Seller Info / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Cottage Life Show

Sasha Dear / March 26, 2010 / No comments

Hi everyone! Are you going to The Cottage Life Show this weekend?

It is being held at The International Center on Airport Road Mississauga. The show runs from 10am Friday till 5pm Sunday 28th March. I will be working at the Royal LePage Lakes of Muskoka booth on Sunday 1:30 – 5pm. I hope to see you there!

Category: Buyer & Seller Info / Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
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