February 22, 2010
The Internet is Important in Home Search Process
Did you know that the Internet is a critical information source among buyers looking for a home? The most recent survey by the U.S. National Association of Realtors found that buyers use a variety of resources in searching for a home: 87% use the Internet, 85% use a real estate agent, 62% rely on yard signs, 48% attend open houses and 47% consult print ads. The vast majority starts the search process online, and then works with an agent to narrow the search, select and view properties, and negotiate the transaction. If you want your listing to be seen early and often, by the greatest number of buyers, choose a listing agent with a well-designed, high-ranking web site.
January 8, 2009
How to Show Your Home in Winter
Did you know that you can show your home to its best advantage during the winter months? Here are a few tips from Royal LePage: (1) Fake a garden: Place frost resistant potted plants such as flowering kale or miniature trees in the walkway and garden, to create a sense of landscape. (2) Let it snow: Snow looks lovely on the trees, but driveways and walkways (front and back) must be carefully cleared. (3) Stay cozy: Set the heat at a comfortably warm temperature for showings. Fireplaces should be lit when possible. For a winter welcome, simmer cider with cinnamon. (4) A house for all seasons: Display photos of the home’s yards, gardens and patios in spring, summer and autumn.
November 19, 2008
Prepare your Home for Sale the Professional Way
Did you know that home preparation – sometimes called staging – can help your home show to its greatest advantage? Whether or not you use a professional advisor, here are some of the goals of staging your home: First, you want to make the home more generic looking, so its appeals to a wider audience. One of the easiest ways to do this is to tone a strong paint palette down into a more neutral zone. You want to move “décor,” which is personal, to the background and “architecture,” which is universal, to the foreground. Remove knick-knacks, extraneous furniture and personal memorabilia. And to make the house feel more spacious, continue the same flooring treatments from room to room. Following these simple rules can broaden the appeal of your home and help to sell it faster. Well worth the effort!
March 10, 2008
More Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale
Did you know that your home’s first impression on buyers is critical? Last time we looked at how to make the outdoors and entranceway look their best. You can extend a great first impression throughout the house. The condition of your kitchen is a make-it-or-break-it scenario. Update hardware, refresh cabinets with paint and put away 90% of what sits on counters. Freshen up bathrooms with new paint and store toiletries neatly away. Bedrooms should reflect one purpose – sleeping – so remove computers, desks and exercise equipment. Put personal photos and collections away so the prospective buyers can visualize this as their own home. You must remove your clutter AND keep attics, basements and garages looking clean and organized, so consider renting an offsite storage space if necessary.
February 25, 2008
Tips to Prepare your Home for Sale
Did you know that buyers make critical decisions in the first few minutes they view a home? HGTV’s “Designed to Sell” provides tips on how to make a great first impression. Curb appeal always ranks high on the list – you should remove all yard clutter, paint the trim around doors and windows, consider an exterior power wash, and update light fixtures and door hardware. Polish all hardware and add a new address plate for impact. If you decide to paint the exterior trim, you should usually opt for subdued exterior colours – a soft sage instead of kelly green, for example. Open the front door to reveal a simple, elegant entranceway. Install high quality flooring such as hardwood or tile. Remove boots, shoes, umbrellas and most coats. One entry table with a focal piece of art and a vase of fresh flowers is all you need. Next time, we’ll look at how to extend a great first impression through the rest of the house.
November 20, 2007
The Majority of Consumers Want an Eco-Friendly Home
Did you know that 63% of Canadians say they would be willing to pay more to buy an environmentally-friendly home? “The mood of Canadian homebuyers and sellers is changing… environmental concerns are impacting the decisions people make about their dwellings,” explains CEO Phil Soper. The recent Royal LePage Eco Home Survey found that the majority of respondents are concerned about the environment and are making “greener” lifestyle changes around the home. Soper says, “There are many simple and affordable measures that can actually save homeowners money.” When asked to identify the most influential factor for making their home greener, 35% say they are doing it for the health of the planet; 32% are motivated by cost savings; and 25% are seeking to improve their own health. Going green not only helps your health and our planet, it reduces your home-operating costs and may add real value to your home. If you would like to receive an electronic copy of the Royal LePage Eco Home Survey, email me. Perry is pleased to announce that he has completed the training to become an accredited member of the National Association of Green Agent and Brokers.
October 10, 2007
Marketing and Innovation Spell Success
Did you know that business guru Peter Drucker said the two most important functions of an enterprise are marketing and innovation? So if you are selling your home, be sure you have both. Your marketing plan starts with a clearly defined target. What segment of the population will be most interested in your home? With this target in your sights, you can custom-design a media program to reach them effectively. An innovative plan will use multiple channels, from traditional print media to the newest online tools. It will reach local, regional and international prospects. If you are listing your home, ensure you have an innovative marketing plan.
October 10, 2007
What’s Your Marketing Strategy?
Did you know that many NOTL homebuyers come from out-of-town and especially from Toronto? That’s why it is important to advertise your home in media that is targeted to important buyer segments. I run an ongoing full colour campaign in the prestigious “Homes & Land” magazine, to showcase my listings in the 50,000 copies distributed across the GTA. I have access to high profile websites such as the New York Times, Luxury Homes and several others, where I can present my listings to audiences across North America. To profile my historic listings, I run an ongoing spotlight campaign with Canada’s largest antique publication and web site. My own web site, http://www.perryquinn.com has been custom-designed to attract home seekers to my site, and then to profile each listing in attractive detail. And of course, I advertise all my properties regularly in the Niagara region. If you are thinking about listing your home for sale, be sure there is a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategic marketing plan in place. Your home deserves it!
August 14, 2007
Female Buyers Are An Important Segment
Did you know that 25% of women searching for a home are looking for a ‘fixer-upper’ and plan to do the work themselves? A recent Royal LePage survey of female home buyers found that 30% of single women own their own home, while 45% of divorced women and 64% of widowed women are homeowners.
“Single women play a significant role in the housing market. We are seeing growing numbers of women buying their first home on their own, trading-up as they progress professionally and taking on home renovations,” says Lisa da Rocha, VP marketing for Royal LePage. “Today’s woman is well versed in real estate as a solid long-term investment.”
When asked what motivated them to buy, female owners said: it makes more sense than renting (36%); I want to put my money into a good investment (22%); and pride of ownership (13%).
July 10, 2007
Top Ten Reasons to List Your Home with Perry Quinn
Have an award-winning professional working for you
You will have the skills and drive of one of Niagara’s top agents working for you. In 2006, Perry received the Royal LePage Diamond Award for performance in the top 3% of all agents. He was also the second highest-performing independent Royal LePage agent in the entire Niagara region.
Become a featured listing on perryquinn.com
Your home will be featured on the popular web site perryquinn.com.
Qualitative research suggests this web site receives some of the highest hits among Niagara realtors. Representing your home will be a full portfolio of still photographs as well as a “virtual tour” providing sweeping, panoramic views of the most important aspects of your property. All photographs are taken by professional photographer and will appear in high-resolution crispness. The description of your home is crafted by an experienced professional writer.
Catch the attention of internet searchers early
Because of Perry’s online marketing strategy, your listing on the perryquinn.com web site will likely come up on the all-powerful Page One of a Google search. Research shows that 80-85% of home buyers start the process with an Internet search. You’ll be front and centre from the start!
Put the skills of a balanced team to work
You will have the benefit of a balanced team – Perry Quinn with his skills in sales and Mary Jane Grant with skills in marketing. Their complementary skills in real estate sales and marketing will ensure your home is well positioned, properly priced, creatively marketed and persuasively presented to prospective buyers.
Stand out in local media advertising
Your home will be profiled in the Niagara market through regular ads in the print media. Perry Quinn print ads are distinctively designed to stand out in the cluttered field of real estate advertising. In Niagara-on-the-Lake, you will have a powerful profile in the Niagara Advance, in Perry’s stand-alone ads that are custom designed to draw readers’ attention and engage their interest.
Be listed with Canada’s leading real estate company
The only major real estate company that is 100% Canadian, Royal LePage is Canada’s leader, with over 13,000 realtors in more than 600 locations. This creates a large and powerful network of associates who are motivated to profile your home to their buyers. Royal LePage is also known for the exceptional support services it provides to its agents and their clients – from superior professional training to market research to unparalleled technical and information technology support services. All this service excellence puts more power behind your listing with Perry Quinn, a top Royal LePage performer!
Put your home in front of high-income buyers from Toronto and area
Your home will be aggressively marketed to potential buyers outside Niagara. Through regular full-page ads in the market-leading, high gloss magazine “Homes & Land,” your home will appear in front of 45,000+ high income households in the Greater Toronto Area. Once again, Perry Quinn ads stand out from the crowd for their creativity and distinctiveness.
Appear on more web sites
Your home will also appear on the popular “Homes & Land” website, which receives 30 million visitors per month North America wide, and which also links back to the Perry Quinn web site. Your home may be eligible to be featured on certain US media websites. Ask Perry for more information on this opportunity.
Receive professional and attentive service
You will enjoy the benefits of excellent client communication and service. You will receive regular progress reports regarding the activity around your listing – web hits, inquiries, showings and comments. Perry will discuss your questions as they arise and there will be an open and collaborative dialogue throughout the life of your listing.
Have a professional represent you at the negotiating table
When it comes time to receive offers you will have a seasoned professional representing your interests at the table, guiding you through key decision-making points, and negotiating strategically on your behalf with confidence.
May 24, 2007
Make a Great First Impression
Did you know that first impressions are critical when you are showing your home to prospective buyers? Take the words “clean, tidy and clutter-free” to heart. Put away knick-knacks, photos and all the odds and ends of daily living. Ensure your entrance is spotless and that your doorbell works. Open the drapes and set the heating/cooling for maximum comfort. Then turn on some quiet music (91.1 FM for easy jazz), fluff up the fresh flowers and know that you have done your best!
May 11, 2007
Exterior Features that Drive Sales
Did you know the top three exterior features considered most important when selling a home are a well-maintained property (40%), a clutter-free driveway and yard (28%), and a newly painted exterior (18%)? (March 18, 2006)
