The Riz Team Blog

Exciting New Condo Opportunity in
Kitchener

Victoria Common is at the heart of a
new vision for

and executed by Queensgate Homes.

TOUR OF
KITCHENER-WATERLOO SALES EVENT

Saturday June 23, 2012 – CALL OR EMAIL
ME TODAY AND I CAN REGISTER YOU TODAY!!!

To all my clients, friends, collegues
and business partners….this is a huge “shout out” on this latest
project to hit the Kitchener area.

Victoria
Common condos at Louisa and Margaret in Kitchener – currently the largest new
residential build site in Waterloo Region.

This
4-storey midrise condominium, phase 1 of the new development community, will
have a contemporary design with a brick, steel and glass facade, and comprised
of 77 suites from 490 to 915 square feet. All units include patios (1st floor),
balconies (2nd and 3rd floors), or terraces (4th floor).

With prices cheaper than comparable units in Toronto by $100,000 or more,
Victoria Common now offers the discerning real estate buyer an unprecedented
opportunity. Units starting from $177900 with one underground parking spot
included.

Occupancy: April, 2014

You will get:

-One underground parking spot

-granite counters

-floor to ceiling windows

-glass backsplash in kitchen

-stainless steel appliances including over the range microwave

-9′ Ceilings

-guaranteed utility rates

In the heart of “Canada’s Technology Triangle’, Victoria Common is situated near
King Street, minutes from Kitchener’s downtown stores, restaurants, bars, parks
and the Farmers Market. The community is within walking distance to GO Transit
and the new LRT, and close to Kitchener-Waterloo universities and colleges.

Major highways nearby provide quick and easy access to Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton and London, including Pearson
International Airport.

When complete, Victoria Common will encompass 5
condominium buildings ranging from 4 to 12 storeys in height, along with a
collection of classic townhomes. Phase 1 of the community includes a 4-storey
midrise condominium, Canada’s most advanced green energy system for new
home communities. To tour the model suite or for pricing, floor plans or any other information about
this exciting project, please contact :

Riz Jadavji,

Real Estate Sales Representative

“I was just inToronto for the sales kick off today June 21, 2012 at the Westin Hotel and
purchased 2 units myself. The project is quite amazing and will take over the
incredible current landscape offering a vibrant addition to this area….and
yes prices are slated to go up after the first block of sales are done!!!

Q. We are thinking about selling our house on our own, without using a Realtor, to save money. Do you have any advice?

A. If you are thinking of selling your home without a Realtor, there are many things to consider.

• Do you have a background in real estate? Do you know what your house appraises for? Do you know the value of your home compared to other homes in your area? How does your house show compared to other homes in the same price range? How well do you understand real estate contracts? What will it cost you to have your attorney view the offer and other documents?
• What have you budgeted for advertising? How do you intend for others to find out that your home is for sale? Have you checked into the cost of running ads?
• Do you have a plan for showing your home to potential buyers? Are you able to put your life on hold every time someone wants to tour your home? How frustrated will you get if they make multiple appointments to view your home but never show up? Have you considered yours and your family’s safety when letting strangers in to view your home?
• Will your feelings towards potential buyers be affected if they criticize your decorating style, cleanliness or landscaping?
• How are your negotiating skills? Just as you, the seller, want a good deal, so too does the buyer.

Do you have the time to research the answers to the above questions so that you’re well prepared to sell your home yourself?

Sellers may believe that if they sell their home themselves, they’ll get more money for their house. At the same time, the buyer often believes he or she is entitled to a lower price if a Realtor isn’t involved in the transaction. Without a Realtor, when a buyer and seller try to agree on a price, there’s no one to negotiate the deal. The sellers are on one side and the buyer is on another, so the deal falls apart.

Buying and selling a home is a complicated process. Unless you have a background in real estate, you should reconsider selling your own home on your own. Because your home is your most valuable asset, wouldn’t you want professional help so you get the best deal possible when you sell it?

Realtors have all kinds of resources and experience that you may not. They have access to multiple listing services, or the MLS. This is a site many potential homebuyers visit. Many Realtors also have their own websites. Even if you took the time to create your own website about your home, how would potential homebuyers learn about the site to visit it?

There are so many reasons to seek out a professional to help you sell your house. I’ve seen too many deals fall through because sellers try to sell their own home but lack the necessary expertise, and they won’t negotiate with the buyer.

Good luck as you make a decision about selling your home

That’s why I say……Don’t put it on HOLD….call RIZ to get it SOLD!!! ™

“I will make your house stand out,” your Realtor says as he/she sits with you at  your kitchen table going over the paperwork to put your house up for sale.

Your Realtor lets you know that she will use every possible means, both  modern and traditional, to put your home in front of as many potential buyers as  possible. The more potential buyers who see your home, the quicker it will  sell.

That is the good news. All these steps will help sell your home as quickly as  possible.

The bad news is that this aggressive marketing and advertising of your home  might bring your home and family to the attention of individuals who may wish to  do you harm. Now, don’t panic. We all know there are bad and just plain evil  people in our world who commit crimes against other members of our society.  While we all continue about our daily lives as usual, we take common sense steps  every day to keep our families and homes safe and secure.

Your Realtor will give you some common sense tips and instructions to help  ensure you and your family stay safe while your home is on the market. These  include:

Be sure you know who you let into your home: Your Realtor or her office will  contact you in advance to set up appointments for Realtors to show your home to  their clients. The Realtor showing your home will give you his business card  when you greet him at the door. This allows you to confirm that he is the  Realtor who scheduled the appointment.

If you have not received advance notice, or if a Realtor does not provide you  with identification, do not let him into your home. If anyone shows up at your  door wanting to see your home without a Realtor, do not let him enter. Simply  refer him to the phone number on your yard sign to get information and to set up  an appointment to see your house.

Your Realtor usually will suggest that you try not to be at home when your  house is shown. Generally, a potential buyer will be more comfortable and spend  more time looking at your home if you are not there. If anything seems wrong  when you return to your home, such as the door being unlocked, do not go into  your home. Contact your Realtor to see when the last showing occurred, or if he  has any answers. If you are still concerned, you will want to contact local  police and have them inspect your home for you.

In today’s world, many older children and teenagers are home alone during the  day, particularly this time of year. It is very important that you tell them to  take the same precautions if someone comes to look at your house while they are  home alone. All of us, and particularly young people, can be swayed by a good  story. Remember, con artists and others seeking to do harm or steal are often  very convincing. Be sure you and your children do not fall for their  deceptions.

Take care of your valuables and your identity: I have walked into homes I was  showing and found jewelry boxes open in the bedroom with expensive items in  plain sight. This is just asking for trouble. When your home is on the market,  be sure to, at the very least, put all your valuables away. If possible, it is a  good idea to put expensive jewelry that you don’t wear frequently, or other  valuables like coin collections, in a locked cabinet or even a safety deposit  box.

If you are like me, yesterday’s mail probably is sitting on the kitchen table  or the counter. You may have even left your bank statement or credit card bill  open on the kitchen counter after you opened it. With just a mobile phone,  someone could take a picture of your statement or bill that you left on the  counter and have your account numbers.

De-personalize your home: All of us have photos of family and loved ones in  our home. These pictures can provide too much information to someone viewing  your home, such as your child’s name, school, etc. Also, lots of photos of your  family make it harder for potential buyers to picture their family in your home.  While I am not suggesting you leave empty nails on your walls where pictures  used to be, it is a good idea to remove pictures from end tables, dressers,  etc.

If you are home when your home is shown, it is best to stay out of the way of  the Realtor and her client. If you are asked questions, keep your information to  facts about your home and the neighborhood. Information about your family and  your children is none of their business. A professional, business conversation  is always the best and safest course.

Your Realtor is your guide to a safe, trouble-free home-selling experience.  By following a few simple, common sense precautions, you can make sure your  family is safe and secure as you get ready to move to your next home.

New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale

Event Details:

Location:
Fairgrounds, 251 Jacob Street, New Hamburg, ON

Tips for Renovating Your Basement

Want to add more space to your home without  building up or out?  Look no further than  your basement.  According to the  Appraisal Institute of Canada, renovating a basement can give you a 50-75%  return on your investment when it comes to selling your home. Here’s how to get  it done right:

Start with a plan
What type of space does your family require?  Is it an extra living space for your teenager,  a playroom for the little one, or perhaps an entertainment area for all to enjoy?  Once you decide on how you want to utilize  the space, you can layout your design.  If  budget allows, an architect or interior designer could assist you with the  layout design and make valuable suggestions.

Do it  yourself or hire a professional
Depending on your skill set, budget, and time, you  may want to enlist the services of a contractor who has the expertise required  to finish a basement.  If you do it yourself and don’t have the required time or  skill to do the job correctly, you may find yourself looking at a repair bill  far exceeding the amount you originally thought the project would cost.  Make an informed decision.  Be sure to carefully weigh all  factors when deciding which option is right for you, while considering costs, material,  labour, and equipment requirements.

Framing
Framing basement walls and ceilings is one of the  most important aspects of any basement renovation. Two popular wall framing options are wood or steel studs. Wood is the classic  choice.  It is versatile, easy to work  with, and cost-effective.  Whereas steel,  although more costly, adds a level of strength, rot resistance and won’t warp  and crack like wood might over time.  Two  popular ceiling framing options are dropped ceiling tiles or drywall. Dropped  ceiling tiles provide easy access to pipes and wires which can be a saviour if a  tub or toilet on the main level floor springs a leak.  Alternatively, dry wall ceilings offer a  smooth finish and require less vertical space – a great option if your basement  ceiling height is already low.

Flooring
There are  plenty of basement flooring choices to choose from including laminate,  linoleum, vinyl, wood and ceramic tiles.   Be sure to match your flooring choice with the intended use of the space  and your geographic location.  For  example, a game room may require more durable flooring than an office.  Do you live in an area with a tendency for  flooding or is your location dry?  Carpet  with high density under pad will offer cushion and moisture protection from the  typical condensation found in basements.  Engineered hardwood made for below grade  installation will flex and handle moisture better than traditional hardwood. Ceramic  tile is great for bathrooms and laundry rooms and is easy to install on  concrete.

Add a bathroom
Installing a bathroom in the basement is a great  way to add value to your home.  Determine  if you require a full bathroom or if a powder room will suffice.  Powder rooms are relatively simple to  install, easy to keep clean, and won’t take up too much room.  Full three or four piece bathrooms can provide  a comfortable, private, and even luxurious, space for overnight visitors to  enjoy. With either option, time and costs can be reduced if bathroom fixtures  are located near existing plumbing and are arranged in a line on one wall.  Be sure to check local codes for plumbing and  electrical aspects of your project.

Add storage
No matter what kind of plan you come up with for  your basement, remember to factor in plenty of closet or storage space.  This will enable you to de-clutter the rest  of your home to keep it tidy and inviting.   Further, if you ever decide to move, having this extra storage space  should appeal to just about any prospective buyer.

A  finished basement can not only increase your home enjoyment but it can also add  valuable square footage.  From everyday  living to financial value, finished basements provide many benefits to you as a  homeowner.

Welcome to my new Blog…..here I will be posting things that matter the most to all of us.  Check back often enough and subscribe for many great articles and information yet to come