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WHY CHOOSE A LOCAL AGENT? If you’ve read much real estate advice, you’ve heard: “Choose a local agent.” Why? Aren’t all agents pretty much the same? Can’t we all do the same job? Yes, we can all do the same job, but we don’t all have the same knowledge, and our knowledge is part of our service to you. If you’re selling a home in Brantford, your agent will help you determine the proper asking price for your home. If that agent is only looking at Multiple Listing Service photos and descriptions, he or she can’t be sure of how those homes really compare to yours. A local agent will have viewed many of them in person and will know things about the quality and condition that photos don’t reveal. If you’re buying a home in Brantford, a local agent will know if a house is priced right for the neighborhood – or if it’s way off in one direction or the other. The local agent will be familiar with things like the school district boundary lines, the cost and availability of local services, and the distance to a bus route. Your local agent will also be able to direct you to other local people you may need, like a handyman, a plumber, or someone to conduct an estate sale. If you’re buying or selling a home within a Homeowner’s Association, your local agent will probably be familiar with the association fees and bylaws. This could be important if the Association is about to implement a new fee or has authority to approve or disapprove of a buyer. Additionally, a local agent may have advance knowledge of a future development that will help or harm the value of homes in the neighborhood. You may want to direct commission dollars toward a good friend or relative in a city 100 miles away, but it isn’t a good idea. They’ll no doubt do their best for you, but they still won’t have the knowledge you need – and finding the answers for you will cut severely into their time, and thus their profits. You’ll be more of a burden than a benefit. A better solution, if a friend or relative sells real estate in some other community, is to ask him or her to find a good agent who knows your community, then refer you to them. He or she will get a share of the proceeds without having to take hours away from the clients she serves in her own community – and you’ll get good, local service. All real estate is local, even within a community. What is reasonable in one community or neighborhood could be completely unreasonable in another. So choose an agent who regularly serves the community where you plan to buy or sell. Here in Brantford and Brant County, we are that local agent, so get in touch when you need assistance. We’ll be happy to help you.

RENOVATIONS FOR GETTING THE BEST ROI. Getting top dollar for your Brantford home is almost always the bottom line when it comes time to sell. When faced with competitive markets, fewer buyers and a higher average of days-on- market – Brantford homeowners are finding themselves faced with the need to showcase their homes as the best of the best in order to attract buyer’s attention. So what is your best bet for getting the most return on your investment? While we recommend reaching out to a Sutton Team Realtor in advance to make sure your efforts aren’t misdirected, here are our top renovation tips to help you get the most value out of your home. #1: Update the Kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of the house and is often considered the single most important room relating to home value. Aside from leaving a strong impression on buyers, this if often the room where you’ll see the most return on the investment dollars that you put in to it. If a full kitchen renovation isn’t in the budget, making updates to countertops, floors, faucets or installing an island can often transform your outdated kitchen into something much more modern and appealing. #2: Add a Granny or Income Suite. Many families are faced with having adult children unable to afford housing on their own, as well as an aging population of baby-boomer parents, which can increase the need for a Granny or separate suite. By having the opportunity to lend assistance to a vulnerable family member, or simply to help pay the mortgage with an income property – adding a secondary suite to your home may make your home very desirable to the right buyers. If your floor plan or finished basement allows for this type of renovation, this move may help place you right at the top of the buyers’ interest list. #3: Bathroom Upgrades. Following the kitchen, a bathroom upgrade is considered next in line for the best renovation in order to see the return on your investment. Particularly if the home only has one bathroom – the addition of a second 3-piece bath will substantially increase the appeal to potential buyers. For remodeling an existing bath to make it more modern – rain-shower- heads and soaker tubs are popular options and experts suggest that the addition of glass doors can help smaller bathrooms look more spacious. If budget is an issue, a fresh coat of neutral paint and an updated light and tap fixtures can go a long way toward creating a fresh, tranquil feeling. #4: Updated Flooring. Wall to wall carpeting is no longer a popular feature with home buyers. With concerns due to allergens, wear and tear and general upkeep – most buyers today are looking for alternative flooring options, such as hardwood, laminate, bamboo or tile. Aim to cut costs by refinishing and resealing existing hardwood floors, or look to install new hardwood (at least on the main floor) as a better option to retain your investment and efforts. #5: Refresh the Walls. One of the most cost-effective ways to improve the look and feel of your house is to repaint the walls. If you have outdated wallpaper, remove it before listing your home and choose neutral paint colours to recover and refresh your walls. This inexpensive upgrade will brighten up your rooms and provide a fresh and clean feeling – all while getting you a solid return on the money you invested to do so. Keep in Mind: While there are countless home improvements that can be undertaken when preparing your home for sale, be aware that many may take a lot of time, effort and money – with very little return. Costly upgrades to landscaping, media rooms and high end appliances may look great on the surface, but may not give you the most bang for your buck. Make sure that you connect with a qualified Brantford real estate professional for advice and do your research before investing large amounts of money into your upgrades. Contact a Sutton Team Real Estate Professional for advice!

Dream Teams from Sutton Team Realty! Keep an eye out to see who tops the charts in April 2018! Learn more about Sutton Team Realty at: https://www.suttonteamrealty.ca

Another fantastic month in March with Sutton Team Realty! Our realtors get results - contact us today to find the right agent for you! https://www.suttonteamrealty.ca

November was HOT, so HOT in real estate that we kept away the snow! Keep an eye out to see who tops the ranks in December 2017!