Have you ever heard the saying “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail?”  Well, we always plan to succeed and we do so by first taking an hour or two to meet with Buyers in advance of going out shopping for houses.  

The most successful Buyers are the ones that are prepared.  They know what their budget is, they have talked through what type of home would best suit their lifestyle, and they know what neighbourhood(s) would be the most convenient for their work commute or other activities they attend on a daily or weekly basis.

We help our clients to make a plan, then set their expectations accordingly and ensure that they aren’t doing anything that will be counterproductive and ending up costing them more in the long run, and, even worse, risk them losing out altogether.  We’ve heard of many cases where Buyers have been trying to purchase a property for over a year, and still haven’t been successful in doing so.  

Well, that isn’t going to happen with The Red Carpet Crew.  As long as our clients are realistic, put their trust in us as their representatives, and are willing to take the necessary steps towards success, they will win working with us.

• Do not compare your situation to your friends or family.  There are many variables.  All you can do is do your best with what you have to work with, and your next house purchase may not be your dream home but, if you have the right mindset about it, you can certainly make it a comfortable place to live.
• Try not to make emotional decisions.  Geez…that is tough advice because we are all emotional beings.  But, do your best to not make decisions based solely on emotions.   
• Do not waste time looking in the wrong places for listings.  Many sites are not updated regularly, and you don’t want to set your sights on something that sold last year.  Let us set you up on a daily search that will be up-to-date.
• Try to be flexible.  Your wish list may be a little unrealistic, so try to realize that your next home may not have everything your heart desires, but it doesn’t have to be your forever home.  On average, most people move every 7 to 10 years, as their needs change.  
• Use your imagination.  Maybe the listings you’re seeing online don’t show that well.  Perhaps the wall colours are a turnoff.  Perhaps the listing agent took photos with their iPhone.  Perhaps there is a tenant living there who didn’t make their bed or clear off the kitchen counters before the photos were taken.  You are looking for a house, and you can make it a home.  A good thorough cleaning and a fresh paint job can completely change the “feel” of the home.  Having an open mind could end up helping you get a better deal on your purchase.
• Try not to get hung up on the list price.  If you’re pre-approved for $600,000 you probably can’t look at homes priced at $600,000 in a strong seller’s market and expect to have a shot at buying it.  This is something that we will help you to understand.  On the flip side, sometimes homes that are overpriced and sitting on the market a long time can be purchased for a bit lower than the list price.  Most listings right now are being sold in competition for well over the list price, but that’s not always the case.  We will walk you through the whole process and help you to succeed.

The market used to be such that people could list everything they wanted in a home and usually purchase a home that had the majority of the features on their wish list.  But, it’s probably more realistic in this current market to look at your budget and see what you can buy, and then take it from there.

People don’t start out in their career applying for an executive position.  They know that they need to start with an entry-level position.  That’s just being realistic.  Sometimes people get a break, but most of the time, they need to start out by just getting their foot in the door and working their way up.  It isn’t always easy, but it is a reality.  

Buying real estate is much the same.  You have to start somewhere.  We encourage you to dream big, but if you’re buying your first home, you can’t expect to start out in your dream home. 

If you’ve already purchased your first home, you already understand this.  You may be looking to move into your next step up, or perhaps downsize to a smaller home in your retirement years.  No matter where you are in this process, make a plan for where you’d like to be 5 or 10 or 20 years down the road, and we’ll help you figure out the best way to navigate through and achieve your real estate dreams.  

Some people make lots of money in real estate by purchasing Fixer Uppers and improving them over the years.  Others can’t imagine living through a renovation.  (Believe us when we say that it’s not for the faint of heart!)

Others decide to duplex their homes or make an accessory apartment to help them with their mortgage.  That isn’t always easy either.

Others decide to move out of one area that is becoming unaffordable and into another area that is within their reach.  That also comes with sacrifices.

Whatever situation you find yourself in, whether you are a First Time Buyer, someone looking to move up, or someone looking to move down, or anyone in between, The Red Carpet Crew is up for the challenge and would love to help you in the process.

Side note—if you are thinking of moving out of the area, we are also very well-connected to a network of agents across Canada, the USA and the rest of the world, and we’d be happy to refer you to someone who will take great care of you.

Our wish for your Wish List is that you wish to work with us, because we would certainly appreciate the opportunity to work with you!