REASONS TO SELL YOUR HOME NOW… BEFORE THE SPRING RUSH..

The Spring market as we all know can be a very busy time in the world of real estate. That’s when there are usually an abundance of homes for buyers to choose from, making the choice difficult at times.  However we are not experiencing that in today’s market as there is a shortage of “invenoty” or homes for sale to accomodate the number of buyers looking to purchae a home.  A great opportunity for Sellers to be ahead of the competition!

A busy  Spring market also means that there is more competition for the Seller, where pricing the home accurately is more important than ever. Having several other listings in your neighbourhood which are competing with yours, may create a situation where it could take longer than usual to sell your home. This is also when curb appeal is so important to create a picture perfect outside to make them want to come inside and look further.  Remember,  first impressions are critical as it usually only takes a Buyer 6 seconds to form an impression once they step over the threshold into your front door.

Sellers should consider placing their home on the market before the Spring rush as a good strategy when there are the least amount of homes on the market that could be in competition with yours. There are still an abundance of Buyers looking to purchase a home, making it a supply and demand situation. This supply and demand could also, in some instances, create multiple offer situations, for the Sellesr.  If you currently own a home and are selling it to buy another one, then everything is relative.  This might not be the best situation for the first time home buyer.

What you don’t want is a real estate agent using your home to sell the one down the street, the home that is priced accurately, at fair market value, has more to offer and shows to perfection!

Still want to ”wait until Spring?”  Do it now, when you have the least amount of competition, and stand a chance of selling your home much quicker, making it significantly less stressful for you!

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I live and work in STREETSVILLE and have a vested interest in property values here. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluation of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331.

When you choose me to handle your real estate needs, you are choosing a real estate professional who cares about you and your family, and who will listen to your needs, work together with you, and protecting your intersts to achieve your objectives.

www.gloriavalvasori.com             gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate Agent

Experience, Service and Integrity in Every Real Estate Transaction

I am the proud recipient of the Quality Service Certified Platinum award for outstanding serivce to my clients – a rating of 100%

ARE YOU MISSING OUT ON THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS?

ARE YOU MISSING OUT ON THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS?

SOLD OVER LIST PRICE IN 4 DAYS! 137 North Carson – Popular ALDERWOOD neighbourhod in Etobicoke.

ARE YOU MISSING OUT ON THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS, IN YOUR FAVOURITE NEIGHBOURHOOD?

Despite the fact this property sold, I am still receiving emails from buyers requesting a showing on the property.  That’s because they are relying on the public website to search for their new home.  These sites are not current with information on listings that are posted.  It usually takes 24-48 hours for a new listing to be posted on public websites.  This also applies to any changes or amendments, such a price changes.  When the property has been sold, it is still posted as available, becuase it takes 24-48 hours to be updated.

If very often receive emails or phone calls from perspective buyers who fall in love with something they see on the public real estate website, only to fnd out it has been sold.

If you not are using the services of an agent to notify you when new listings come on the market, you may be missing out on the home of your dreams!

If you have an agent assisting you they can input the criteria you provide to them into their data base, and you will then automatically be notified by email immediately, before the general public, of any new listings that fall within the parameters of your search criteria.  When you see a property that is of interest to you, you call your agent and he/she will arrange a viewing for you, or provide you with any information you need.

Do you really want to take that chance in this busy real estate market?  Call me today and I will put you on my automatic emailiing program so you can start receiving listings today!

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I live and work in STREETSVILLE and have a vested interest in property values here. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluation of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331.

When you choose me to handle your real estate needs, you are choosing a real estate professional who cares about you and your family, and who will listen to your needs, work together with you, and protecting your intersts to achieve your objectives.

www.gloriavalvasori.com             gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate Agent

Experience, Service and Integrity in Every Real Estate Transaction

I am the proud recipient of the Quality Service Certified Platinum award for outstanding serivce to my clients – a rating of 100%

JUST LISTED! FAMILY FRIENDLY ALDERWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD

Renovated Kitchen, granite, travertine, strip hardwood

137 North Carson – Popular ALDERWOOD neighbourhod in Etobicoke, this 3+2 bedroom home is situated on a large, 125 foot deep fenced lot.  Renovated kitchen with new cabinets, granite counter, glass backsplash, and travertine floor.  Strip hardwood throughout with crown moulding add character and charm.  Walkout from one bedroom to back yard deck.  Single detached garage with parking for 4 additional cars.  New Windows 2005, copper plumbing updated, new furnace 2008. Separate enterance to finished basement with 2 bedrooms, 3 piece bath and large rec room with fireplace.  OPEN HOUSE Saturday and Sunday, February 11 & 12 from 2:00 – 4:00.

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I live and work in STREETSVILLE and have a vested interest in property values here. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluation of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331.

When you choose me to handle your real estate needs, you are choosing a real estate professional who cares about you and your family, and who will listen to your needs, work together with you, and protecting your intersts to achieve your objectives.

www.gloriavalvasori.com             gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate Agent

Experience, Service and Integrity in Every Real Estate Transaction

I am the proud recipient of the Quality Service Certified Platinum award for outstanding serivce to my clients – a rating of 100%

STRONG CONDO SALES GROWTH Q4 2011

January 20, 2012 — Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 5,025 condominium apartment transactions in the Fourth Quarter of 2011. This result was up 10.5 per cent in comparison to the Fourth Quarter of 2010. Over 70 per cent of total transactions occurred in the City of Toronto, with Peel Region (including Mississauga City Centre) accounting for the second highest share of sales.
The number of new listings for condominium apartments was up by 14 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.
“The condo segment of the market continued to be a key driver of sales in the fourth quarter. Even with an uptick in new listings following strong condo completions over the last year, market conditions remained tight. Tight conditions were the foundation for a robust year-over-year increase in the average selling price,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver.
The average selling price for condominium apartments in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $336,748 – a seven per cent increase over the fourth quarter of 2010.
“In addition to the healthy situation in the ownership condo market, the condo rental market tightened up at the end of 2011, with the number of units listed down and the number of transactions up. This prompted above-inflation increases in average one-bedroom and two-bedroom rents,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Statistics as posted by the Toronto Real Estate Board.

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I live and work in STREETSVILLE and have a vested interest in property values here. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluation of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331.

When you choose me to handle your real estate needs, you are choosing a real estate professional who cares about you and your family, and who will listen to your needs, work together with you, and protecting your intersts to achieve your objectives.

www.gloriavalvasori.com             gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate Agent

Experience, Service and Integrity in Every Real Estate Transaction

I am the proud recipient of the Quality Service Certified Platinum award for outstanding serivce to my clients – a rating of 100%

TORONTO – STRONG SALES/PRICE GROWTH CONTINUE IN 2012

TORONTO, February 3, 2012 — Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 4,567 sales through the TorontoMLS® system in January 2012. This number was 8.8 per cent higher than the 4,199 sales reported in January 2011. Sales growth was strongest for low-rise home types in the regions surrounding the City of Toronto.

“A favourable affordability picture bolstered by very low posted fixed mortgage rates has kept home buyers confident in their ability to achieve the Canadian goal of home ownership,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver.

“The buyer pool remains diverse in the GTA with strong interest in home types across the pricing spectrum,” continued Silver.

The average selling price for January 2012 transactions was $463,534 – up by almost nine per cent compared to January 2011.

“Low inventory levels have kept competition between buyers strong, resulting in robust annual rates of price growth over the last year. Strong price growth is expected to attract more listings. A better supplied market should result in a slower rate of price growth, especially in the second half of 2012,” said Jason Mercer, the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Statistics as reported by the Toronto Real Estate Board

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I live and work in STREETSVILLE and have a vested interest in property values here. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluation of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331.

When you choose me to handle your real estate needs, you are choosing a real estate professional who cares about you and your family, and who will listen to your needs, work together with you, and protecting your intersts to achieve your objectives.

www.gloriavalvasori.com             gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate Agent

Experience, Service and Integrity in Every Real Estate Transaction

I am the proud recipient of the Quality Service Certified Platinum award for outstanding serivce to my clients – a rating of 100%

THE POWER OF YOUR THOUGHTS… WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

Last we I attended our   2012 “kickoff” sales meeting.  I’ve attened many of these and thought it was going to be the typical “Rah-Rah” atmosphere, but I was pleasantly surpised.  At the meeting was a keynote speaker from Nova Scotia named Eddie Lemoine. Eddie has the ability to resonate with his audience with a sincere and forthright manner in which he engages with people.  He is insightful, collaborative and a great motivator. Eddie is the author of a book entitled “Bring About What You Think About” a practical guide to attracting the life you desire.

I left the meeting with a whole new way of thinking and immediately changed my thought process to thinking what I wanted to happen in my life.  I purchased his book before I left the meeting.

In the book he relates that the way we think is by far the most powerful tool for bringing success, abundance, health and happiness into one’s life.  It all starts with your thoughts.. “You can never achieve a postive outcome while filling your mind with negative thoughts.”  Quite often  we create thought patterns that are self defeating… i.e. “If I lose wait, I’ll gain it all back,” or “the market is not busy, that’s I’m not making any money,” “she’s really good at, and I’m not.”

He related some examples of the power of positive thinking in events that occured in his own life, just by changing the way he thought and it was impressive to say the least.

About three days after the meeting one of my clients called me to ask about a property he was interested in about 6 months ago that I had listed.  He sat on the fence and missed out on this property and asked me what the new owner had done with it.  It was a commercial property, and I had driven past it a few days prior and nothing had been done.  He asked if thought they might want to sell it.   I called the agent who represented the Buyer and asked if her client would consider selling the property.  Coincidentally, she told me that she and her client had been discussing it recently and were thinking about listing it. I called my client back and told him that they were interested in selling it.  He instructed me to prepare an offer.  I met with him later that day, got the offer signed, faxed it to the agent, and a few hours later, we had an accepted offer!

When I was hosting an open house yesterday I brought the book with me in the event it was slow.  I started to read the book and it truly enlightened me to the way of changing my thought process.  I had read about 3 chapters and I was in a very positive frame of mind, and had tuned my thought into selling the house, rather than just sitting there while people strolled about.  I left the open house when it was over and was just pulling into my driveway and my phone rang.  It was one of the women who had come into the open house and she said she had been thinking about the house and wanted to submit an offer!  I prepared the offer, went to see her to get it signed, and presented it later that evening.  We negotiated the contract which was ultimately accepted!

Coinidence?  Perhaps, but I do believe in the power of positive thinking, and we can all learn to “Bring About What We Think About” by merely changing our thought process..

If you are looking for a truly inspirational key-note speaker who can hold he audience’s attention, who is engagin with his forthright delivery, has the ability to engage his audience, making them laugh with his life experiences, you need to call Eddie.  Visit his webpage http://www.eddielemoine.com/content/home for more information.

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I live and work in STREETSVILLE and have a vested interest in property values here. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluation of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331.

When you choose me to handle your real estate needs, you are choosing a real estate professional who cares about you and your family, and who will listen to your needs, work together with you, and protecting your intersts to achieve your objectives.

www.gloriavalvasori.com             gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate Agent

Experience, Service and Integrity in Every Real Estate Transaction

I am the proud recipient of the Quality Service Certified Platinum award for outstanding serivce to my clients – a rating of 100%

ACCREDITED SENIOR AGENT..YOUR “GO TO” EXPERT

I am pleased to announce that I have earned my “Accredited Senior Agent” designation after taking an in-depth course.  I gained a wealth of information about this niche market where the needs of seniors are more than just selling their home.

Make the right choice for YOU!

What does this mean to you, my client?   I am now YOUR  “GO TO” expert to assist you in possibly finding alternative options for allowing you to remain in your home longer, or find alternative accommodations that suit your lifestyle and needs.

As an Accredited Senior Agent, I have received special training on many topics that are important to seniors and their families. I know your local housing options; I understand the many aspects of making a move later in life, and when you need advice beyond my scope, I have a network of exceptional specialists who can help you.

If you are a senior find out why you should hire an ASA.

Click HERE for MORE valuable information on how I can help you make the decision that is right for YOU!

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I live and work in STREETSVILLE and have a vested interest in property values here. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluation of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331.

When you choose me to handle your real estate needs, you are choosing a real estate professional who cares about you and your family, and who will listen to your needs, work together with you, and protecting your intersts to achieve your objectives.

www.gloriavalvasori.com             gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate Agent

Experience, Service and Integrity in Every Real Estate Transaction

I am the proud recipient of the Quality Service Certified Platinum award for outstanding serivce to my clients – a rating of 100%

SOCIAL MEDIA, AND STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

MY INTERVIEW WITH “THAT INTERVIEW GUY,” MICHAEL KRISA

A short time ago I was interviewed by Michael Krisa, “That Interview Guy” about the world of real estate and how it has changed over the years.  When I began my career back in 1987 there was no such thing as the internet.. agents were provided a book every week with black and white photos of the house… that’s it!!  There were no lockboxes either…

Here is my take on real estate today, how it has changed and evolved, the world of social media, and stepping out of your comfort zone..

http://thatinterviewguy.com/gloria-valvasori-better-homes-and-gardens-social-media-marketing

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I live and work in STREETSVILLE and have a vested interest in property values here. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluation of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331.

When you choose me to handle your real estate needs, you are choosing a real estate professional who cares about you and your family, and who will listen to your needs, work together with you, and protecting your intersts to achieve your objectives.

www.gloriavalvasori.com             gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate Agent

Experience, Service and Integrity in Every Real Estate Transaction

I am the proud recipient of the Quality Service Certified Platinum award for outstanding serivce to my clients – a rating of 100%

THE VALUE OF AN EXPERIENCED AGENT…. PRICELESS

There is nothing quite as valuable as having an experienced real estate agent representing you when buying or selling real estaste to have that slight advantage.  They say that knowledge is King.. but knowledge AND experience are a good marriage.

I was working with a young couple looking for that perfect home.  Unfortunately, they could not agree on a house that both liked.  We started looking in one specific area of the city, but soon found out that the kind of home they really wanted was out of their price range.  The geographic search area had to be changd, and so the hunt continued.

I expanded my auto email search to include the entire city, which meant they would receive new listings that fell within their search criteria automatically in their in box.  It would also include any price changes to properties that prior were listed slightly higher than their budget, but now because of a price adjustment, fell into their price range.

We saw many suitable homes, suitable that is for one of them, but not suitable for the other.. And on it went.. house after house… couldn’t quite find that certain one that got them both excited.

After looking at about 25 homes, I had another outing scheduled for one Saturday afternoon to view 5 more properties.  I had been checking for new listings 3 times daily to ensure I was not missing anything. The night before, I checked the new listings again and came across something that looked really nice so printed it off and brought it with me.  After viewing all the homes on the list we took a break and went for a coffee.  My clients were reviewing the listings and noticed the one I printed off and asked to see it.

We got a confirmation for the appointment and off we went.  Well, much to my amazement, they both really liked the house!!  The home was in mint condition, and showed very well.  There was a bustle of activity on the property, agents lining up to show this home.  I had printed off a blank offer form and had it with me and my clients decided to submit an offer.  Back to their house we went where I completed the paperwork, registered the offer, and spoke with the agent.  I was back up to the house within minutes, trying to present the offer during an open house the agent had scheduled.

We sat down to present the offer and were interrupted numerous times by people coming in so we had to stop, put the paper work away while potential buyers came through.  I had asked my clients to sit in front of the house to be available in the event any changes were made to the offer by the Seller so we could address it immediately, before any other offers came in.  My clients came in during the open house and I pulled them aside.  I wanted to give them an opportunity to make changes to the offer as I knew by all the activity, this house was going to sell very quickly.  They revised the offer and we all went back to the negotiating table.

After reviewing the offer the sellers had a brief private dicussion with their agent, then came back and told us they had accepted our offer!

IF…. I had not checked for new listings the night before… and IF I had not brought a blank offer form with me… and IF I had not asked my clients to be available in front of the house… they proably would have missed out, OR been in competition with other offers AND could potentially been forced to pay over the asking price to secure the offer.   It all comes down to experience…

Referrals are probably still the best way to hire an agent.  If you do your job well, clients will not hesitate to refer you to their friends or family.  Referrals are a large part of my business … Service, Experience and Integiry in EVERY real estate transaction.

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I live and work in STREETSVILLE and have a vested interest in property values here. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluation of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331.

When you choose me to handle your real estate needs, you are choosing a real estate professional who cares about you and your family, and who will listen to your needs, work together with you, and protecting your intersts to achieve your objectives.

www.gloriavalvasori.com             gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate Agent

Experience, Service and Integrity in Every Real Estate Transaction

I am the proud recipient of the Quality Service Certified Platinum award for outstanding serivce to my clients – a rating of 100%

HOME ENERGY AUDIT – A PROACTIVE STEP TO SELLING YOUR HOME

Home Energy Audit Checklist

We all know and recognize that saving energy is cost effective, but you may not recognize how inefficient your home really is until you conduct an energy audit. You can spot many problems in your home with a simple walk-through. Keep a checklist of areas you inspect and any problems or issues you find. This will help you prioritize your energy efficiency upgrades.

Lighting

Energy expended by lighting accounts for about 10% of your hyrdo bill. Check the wattage of the light bulbs in your home. You can exchange 100 watt bulbs and in most cases use a 60 or 75 watt bulb. Compact Fluorescent lamps for higher uses area are also recommended.

Insulation

If insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum, heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be high. You likely have the insulation level in your home from the builder that was recommended at the time your home was built. This level might be inadequate by today’s standards and should be upgraded, especially if you have an older home.

•1. Check the attic hatch to ensure it has the same level of insulation as the attic, and ensure is it closes tightly

•2. In the attic check to ensure ductwork and chimneys are sealed and seal any gaps with expanding foal or other permanent sealant.

•3. Check that vapor barriers are in place beneath the insulation.

•4. Ensure any vents are clear and not blocked by insulation.

•5. Check for indoor air leaks along baseboards, junctures of the walls and ceiling, or the edge of flooring

•6. Make a list of any obvious drafts. The saving from reducing drafts could range from % – 30% at year, depending on the severity of the drafts or leaks you find.

•7. Check to see if air can flow through these places: electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames, baseboards, weather stripping around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches and wall or window mounted air conditioners, gaps around pipes and wires, foundation seals and mail slots.

•8. Check windows and doors for air leaks. Try rattling the, as movement means possible air leaks. If you see daylight around a door or window frame, then it leaks. Seal these leaks by caulking or weather stripping. New, high efficiency windows and doors should be considered.

Heating and Cooling Equipment

Having your heating and cooling systems inspected and cleaned annually to maintain their efficiency. If you have a forced air furnace, ensure you replace the filters on a regular basis, at least every 2-3 months, especially during period of higher usage.

You should consider replacing your heating and/or cooling system with a newer higher efficient units, if they are more than 15 years old. A new unit would greatly reduce your energy consumption.

Exterior

Inspect areas where two different building materials meet, i.e. all exterior corners, where siding and chimney meet, areas where the foundation and bottom of exterior brick or siding meet. Check the caulking around exterior doors and windows and check whether the exterior storm door and primary door seal tightly. Look for any cracks in the mortar, foundation and siding and seal with appropriate material.

with submitting an offer, and remove any doubts they may have about the property.

**************************************

I live and work in STREETSVILLE and have a vested interest in property values here. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluation of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331.

When you choose me to handle your real estate needs, you are choosing a real estate professional who cares about you and your family, and who will listen to your needs, work together with you, and protecting your intersts to achieve your objectives.

www.gloriavalvasori.com             gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate Agent

Experience, Service and Integrity in Every Real Estate Transaction

I am the proud recipient of the Quality Service Certified Platinum award for outstanding serivce to my clients – a rating of 100%