It’s Condolicious … !

Beijing Olympics – what a fantastic and monumental event it was.  I haven’t been so glued to the Olympics since The 1996 Altanta Olympics while witnessing Donovan Bailey and Michael Johnson breaking world records and Kerri Strug’s heroic vault moment.  It almost feels awkward these days not being able to turn on CBC, NBC or watching the CBC live stream to watch the Olympics.  Guess I’ll have to wait another 4 years … oh well too bad. 

I’m not sure if you feel the same way but aren’t you curious to try out some of the sports you rarely have the opportunity to?   I’ll skip weightlifting (Video clip - *graphic* ouch! Hope he’s doing alright!), fencing and equestrian, but how about water polo, handball and pole vault?  Of course, accidents can happen in these sports as well (example) but for the most part it seems worth a try or two.  Well enough of the Olympics for now until 2010 and back to working hard and growing the business!

Beijing Olympics 2008

Recently, I just listed a home for sale in Scarborough.  Although the majority of my time is spent on condominiums in the city’s downtown core, I love listing homes as it’s like getting … some fresh air.  You work with different demographics, it can be more challenging to sell and you get to advertise yourself on the lawn – great stuff! 

Anyway, long story short … my company provides their sales agents with free for sale signs for the duration of the listing and all we need to do is attach our rider.  A sign rider is a board printed with your contact information that you attach to the top or bottom of the for sale sign.  I need to order a few riders so I enter a real estate signs store.  A gentleman serves me, answers all my questions and then takes my order.  Absolutely a pleasure to speak with.  I provide the information that I want to appear on the rider and he tells me a proof will be emailed to me for approval before it heads to the printer.  It’s standard procedure.  Excellent.  A few days later I receive the proof in my inbox.  When I opened the attachment I was in disbelief.  Nope it wasn’t a virus, but a horrendous looking thing!  Here it is …

Their Rider

Honestly, who in their right mind will attach this to their for sale sign?  Have clients approved of this design/template before?  It’s clearly looks unprofessional and needs a major makeover.  I understand I’m not paying a lot of money for the sign riders but I’ve seen this shop do some fancy things for other real estate agents so I’m expecting at least a half-decent job that 10 minutes can produce (more on this below).  I’m just very shocked they sent this to me.  Actually it’s more like I’m shocked with laughter.  I’m guessing their main designer was already on vacation.  No hard feelings though.

So it was time to take matters into my own hands!  I put on my superhero cape and stretched my fingers.

10 minutes later on Photoshop … ta da …

My Rider

It’s not the most fantastic piece of work, but I’m sending this off to the printers!  Not bad right?

I had also asked for another sign rider to be done.  The rider is to display the website address for the property a.k.a. single property websites.  Here’s the sign:

Single Property Website Rider

I was fine with the white print on the bright red substrate but I dispise the font and the spacing.  Seriously, am I just too nitpicky?   It seems that I can’t work with any templates offered by companies.  From postcards, websites and now sign riders, I recreate the wheel for everything!  Bad business decision or good business decision?

Anyway I’m off to giving a makeover for this single property website rider!

Have a safe and fantastic long weekend!

It’s fascinating to see how people perform under pressure.

It’s truly amazing and inspiring to witness the athletes perform at The Olympics.

I walked into a downtown condo unit for a showing recently and instantly it gave off a familiar odor.  It wasn’t BO or the scent of smoke, but turtles.  I had a pet turtle name ”Id” (last part of my name … very unimaginative I know ) once and if you’ve ever had turtles as pets you probably know the smell I’m describing.  It’s the smell they give off when you don’t change their water after a while.  The unit has never been lived in; it was brand spanking new.  I doubt a turtle somehow crawled into the unit and died, but I supposed it was the lake.  At first it struck me as odd.  Once in a while, the lake would give off a fish stench but never one of turtles.

So after a long day of showings, as you’ve probably experience before, the buyer asks to use the bathroom.  “Sure go on ahead,” I say “but first check to see if it flushes.”  After a while, she comes out looking a lot better and mentions “it doesn’t flush.”  Great, I see where the turtle smell is coming from now … the fluids of prospective buyers who couldn’t hold it any longer … and now she’s added hers!

Please, if you’re going to turn off the main water valve, tape a sign on the seat stating in bold “please do not use the toilet!“  No way should a buyer ever have to leave your property remembering only the foul smell it gave off.  It will obviously improve your chances of selling the property, but honestly what listing agent expects the toilet to be the most popular feature of an empty home.

Oh no … oh yes!  Doesn’t it sound like the most absurd thing?  Multiple offers on leases don’t happen very often throughout the year but I suppose September is a special month and the 1st is a special day.  Usually, it only takes one offer to seal the deal, but when properties are getting 2-5 offers (for a lease!) it’s pushing my average to three offers. 

It’s interesting to see the difference between, let’s say, leasing for April and leasing for September.  In April, tenants are casually looking at units and “ok this one”.  We wait a while and they get the place.  Simple.  For September, it’s like “Holy crap, I just lost out on property A, property B just got leased before I had the chance to see it and property C the landlord has decided to rent it to their dog! Forget it, throw my preferences away.  Give me what you can, I don’t have much time.  I don’t care if it’s a tad rundown, has no balcony or faces east.  Send the listing to me and let’s sign asap!”  Ok perhaps the difference is not that drastic but I think you get the picture.  It’s very frustrating – not just for me but especially for my clients.  As their agent, you want to give them the best, not leftovers.

In this sitution it’s tough, but here’s some advice:

• Ask yourself whether it is worth negotiating down the price by $25-50.  If the unit is reasonably priced and you try to reduce the price, you run the risk that the landlord simply brushes your offer aside as others may be lining up to give the landlord what s/he wants.  $300-600 a year may seem like a lot, but trust me when your offer doesn’t get accepted 2-3 times you’ll likely regret not coughing it up.
• Agree to a longer term e.g. 18-24 months.  You’ll have a good chance at reducing the price and securing the lease.  None of the “Let’s keep it at one year, I’ll move in and if I like it I’ll extend the term” talk.  Landlords treat it as BS.  Needs to be in writing.
• If you are an existing tenant and your landlord hasn’t found a new tenant yet, ask to stay for an additional month.  In October, you’ll find the units coming to you and not vice-versa.
• Offer an earlier closing date e.g. 2 weeks.  On a $2000 lease, it’s approximately $1000 that you’re “offering” the landlord.  Most tenants think this way.  I’m not saying it’s wrong to think this way.  It could hurt the wallet especially when no one will be moving in within those weeks.  But be aware that this is usually more attractive than an increase in price.  Over the long-run it could be beneficial as well.  Let’s say in 2009 you’re in the market for another unit, you’ll be looking for a lease for August 15 instead of the dreaded September 1st.  You’ll be in a much better position to get what you want without paying a higher price.
• Oh yeah … don’t forget to have your paperwork prepared and be ready to act … be decisive!

I’m sure once I’ve secured places for all my tenants and look back at the struggles, it will feel like enormous accomplishment!  I don’t know why, but I know it will.